I was asked by a sound engineer at this year’s Glastonbury to put into writing something I related during my set on his stage. This concerns the history of ‘At The Wood’, in what is now the Woodsies area of the festival.
Wise Busking
My first Glastonbury appearance was in 1993, at The Wise Crone Café in the Field of Avalon. I was on percussion, flute and backing vocals with the wonderful Wise Wound. This was an all-acoustic band from North London, led by the visionary Sue Chewter. I’d joined them in 1992, shortly after they returned from that year’s Glastonbury festival. They’d busked in the Wise Crone Café and been rewarded with food and drinks.
Electric Line-Up
As a consequence of that relationship, a small stage was introduced to the Wise Crone the following year (1993). That then grew into the Avalon Café. In 1995, Wise Wound played there multiple times, introduced by Jim Fox (who now hosts the main Woodsies stage). It was quite a substantial space at that time, so we tried out our new electric line-up. We augmented the usual acoustic guitar, cello, double bass, flute, percussion and multiple-voice configuration with keyboards and electric guitar.
Legendary Lineup
On stage with Wise Wound, that year, were: Sue Chewter (songwriter, lead vocal, acoustic guitar); Den Levitt (AKA Rock Solid, now known as Wobbie Wobbit – double bass, vocals); Marianne de Chastelaine (‘Maz’ – cello, vocals); Brian Madigan (‘Bri’ – er, me – percussion, flute, vocals); Belinda Jones (‘Bill’ – keys, flute, vocals); Paul Fleishman (electric guitar); Sally Handley (‘Sal’ – backing vocals). Den has since had a successful career as a comedy performer, playing both the Theatre and Cabaret stages at Glastonbury in subsequent years. Maz, became a psychoanalyst and is currently a researcher at the University of Texas in Dallas. Bill has had a stellar solo career as a folk singer, winning Best New Artist at the 2001 BBC Folk Awards. Sal works as a children’s entertainer and early years educator. Paul continues to – in his own words -‘beat guitars for money’. And I do whatever the hell it is that I do.
Constantly Adapting
The Avalon Field has since been through a number of changes, its main stage growing and contracting, with the Avalon Café adapting to accommodate it. By 2024, the Avalon Stage had expanded to such an extent the café was removed altogether. And in 2025, a new stage popped up in the woods next to Woodsies. This stage ‘At The Wood’ is curated by Lisa Pickering, who previously managed the Avalon Café stage, with Will Angeloro – also formerly of the Avalon Café crew – on sound.
Inspirational Songwriter/Healer/Friend
I had the great pleasure of performing At The Wood in this, its first year of existence and can report it’s truly a magical space. It also provided an ideal opportunity to pay tribute to the late, great Sue Chewter – inspirational singer-songwriter/healer/ friend – who sadly left us in November 2023. I have Sue to thank for introducing me to Glastonbury and all it has to offer. And I’m proud to have played a small part in both her journey and the festival’s evolution.
Rest in peace, Sue. You’ll always be remembered in those enchanted fields… and far beyond.