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Thousands party at Shindig festival's new venue

Shindig/ Nathan Roach A man poses for the camera with his tongue out and an arm stretched in the air above him. He is pulling wheeled cart full of camping gear. It is a sunny picture with the imposing golden-stone Charlton Park country house behind.Shindig/ Nathan Roach
One excited festivalgoer arrives at Charlton Park in Wiltshire

Thousands of music fans have been partying at a festival in its new country estate home.

Shindig has moved from Somerset's Dillington Estate to Wiltshire's Charlton Park, where it will be held for three years.

Alongside the music stages – which are hosting guests including Gilles Peterson, and Sean Kuti & Egypt 80 – there has been a huge procession of samba drummers, a graffiti battle and various art installations.

Event director Simon Clarke said the festival's new contract with Charlton Park, in Malmesbury, "allows us to do a lot more creative things".

Mr Clarke said organisers had moulded the ten-year-old festival around its visitors.

"They bring kids, they like to dance and have a good time," he said, adding the staff aim to create "a bit of magical feel about the whole thing".

"I love seeing people coming back," Mr Clarke said. "Some of the people we know really well now, they've come for ten years."

Charlton Park has been the home of Womad festival for 17 years. But Womad is now moving to an as yet unannounced new home next year following a year off in 2025.

Nich Woolf A man in a red high-vis jacket with a green safari hat stands in front of a graffiti-covered board. He is holding a spray can and creating more artwork. Nich Woolf
The festival is hosting a graffiti battle this year
Debbie Perkins People in rows walk with samba drums through a festival site on a grey day. They are wearing yellow T-shirts, most in sunglasses.Debbie Perkins
A procession of samba drummers livens up a grey day
Shindig/ Nathan Roach Two people being taken across the festival site in a trailer with camping gear. They smile at the camera with thumbs up. Shindig/ Nathan Roach
Many visitors to the festival are repeat customers
Shindig/ Nathan Roach People crowd round the entrance to the site, which has a huge welcome sign above it, colourful with painted fruits, flowers and birds.Shindig/ Nathan Roach
Festivalgoers queue at the cheerful entrance
Andy Sims A giant metal sculpture designed to look like a wasp, looks like it has been made from a old vehicle cab, painted yellow and black. A sunny day with tents behind.Andy Sims
Art installations, many made from recycled materials, are dotted around the festival
Shindig/ Nathan Roach Art installations - one shaped a bit like a rocket with love written on it, another an adapted painted helicopter made to look like a giant fly .Shindig/ Nathan Roach
Even a helicopter has been repurposed into art for the weekend
Shindig/ Nathan Roach A festival staff member in a yellow hi-vis jacket writes what is going on at a holistic tent on a chalkboard, including yoga and healing workshops. A festival shop selling bright clothing is seen behind. Shindig/ Nathan Roach
Yoga and dance workshops are being held throughout the festival

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