CHART-topping rocker Bryan Adams has been revealed as the first headliner for next year’s Cornbury Music Festival.

The Canadian star, who last played the event at Great Tew Park, near Chipping Norton, in 2017, will top the festival’s Friday night line-up on July 9.

This year’s festival was cancelled – along with practically everything else – due to the coronavirus pandemic. But with the vaccine here, organisers are optimistic they will be able to stage a safe event employing socially-distancing techniques, but have been unable to reveal any concrete details yet. Capacity will be reduced.

The festival, which began life at Cornbury Park near Charlbury, before moving to Great Tew, has previously played host to Paul Simon, Robert Plant, Tom Jones, Bryan Adams, Amy Winehouse and The Beach Boys.

Adams played what was billed as the festival’s last ever year, though organiser Hugh Phillimore revived it the following year and it has retained its popularity as one of the county’s leading music events.

The 2020 edition – which would have been its 17th instalment – was due to take place in July with Van Morrison, Dido, Jack Savoretti and Ronan Keating.

Other names are expected to be release in the new year. Organiser Hugh Phillimore said: “Bryan was a triumph back at our ‘finale’ in 2017 so we’re completely over the moon that he’s decided to return to Cornbury.”

He added: “We’re re-designing the site to incorporate a range of Covid safety measures which will be in place throughout the festival weekend. We’ll have to limit our capacity and change to a slightly different format but we’re determined to stage another edition of our lovely little festival.”

Friday day tickets along with weekend tickets are available now.

Adams has achieved enduring success internationally with a string of multi-million selling albums. In the UK he’s had 12 top 10 singles and still holds the record for the longest consecutive No 1 with (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, which topped the charts for 16 weeks in 1991.

Mr Phillimore said: “Like everyone, we’ve had a miserable year with no festival this summer but we’re feeling positive and really looking forward to putting on another great event next July.

“We are counting down the days to a weekend of fantastic music, delicious food, hopefully sunshine and, above all else, being together again.”

Day Tickets from £85, Weekend Tickets from £180, Weekend with Camping Tickets from

£215. Senior, Teen & Child Concessions available. Under 3s FREE.

Cornbury Music Festival runs from 9-11 July at Great Tew Park, near Chipping Norton,

Oxfordshire.

For tickets and more information see cornburyfestival.com