Strap on your cowboy boots, grab your sunnies, and loosen your belt a few notches, because State Fayre 2026 is rolling back into Hylands Park, Chelmsford — and this year’s lineup is hotter than a Carolina Reaper dipped in molten lava. 🍗🌶️🔥
We’re talking three days of massive headliners, BBQ madness, smoky pit flavours, and good vibes only under the Essex sky. Imagine Download Festival, Glastonbury, and a Texan smokehouse had a chaotic love-child — that’s State Fayre, mun. 🤣
And this year? They’ve gone BIG.
🎸 FRIDAY 26TH JUNE – KINGS OF LEON SET THE SKY ON FIRE
Headlining opening night are the global stadium-slayers Kings of Leon, ready to bring “Sex on Fire,” “Use Somebody,” and whatever new bangers they’ve cooked up. Expect the kind of singalongs that make strangers hug, couples cry, and the entire field sway like a tipsy gospel choir.
But the support? ABSOLUTE chef’s kiss.
🔥 The Black Crowes – blues-rock royalty shaking the dust off every denim jacket in Essex.
🔥 Kingfishr – indie-folk rising stars ready to charm the masses.
🔥 Max McNown • Nina Nesbitt • Bec O’Malley • Dug – the perfect warm-up acts to get your BBQ-fuelled adrenaline pumping.
Proper Friday-night-don’t-talk-to-me-I’m-vibing energy. 💥
🎸 SATURDAY 27TH JUNE – NEIL YOUNG BRINGS LEGENDARY CHAOS
That’s right. NEIL. BLOODY. YOUNG. 🤯
The godfather of grunge himself, backed by The Chrome Hearts, rolling into Chelmsford like it’s Woodstock 2026.
Add in the absolute icon Elvis Costello & The Imposters (with Charlie Sexton!) and you’ve got a Saturday that’s basically a boomer fever dream in the best possible way.
🔥 Kip Moore – country-rock swagger to keep your feet stomping
🔥 Sierra Ferrell – Appalachian folk-magic queen
🔥 Muireann Bradley • Caroline Grace – two lush acts bringing chill, dreamy vibes perfect for golden hour
If State Fayre had stopped here, it’d already be festival of the year. But oh no — they’re only getting warmed up. 😈🔥
🎸 SUNDAY 28TH JUNE – THE LUMINEERS LEAD THE FOLK FRENZY
“HO! HEY!” — prepare to scream it louder than a Welsh Nan at Bingo Night. 🏴
Folk-pop heroes The Lumineers close out Sunday with a mass singalong that’ll echo across the A12.
And the support hits just keep coming:
🔥 Counting Crows – “Mr. Jones” live under a summer sunset? YES MUN.
🔥 Amble • Dylan Gossett • The Coral • KT Tunstall • Avery Anna • Buffalo Traffic Jam – a dreamy mix of Americana, indie, folk, and festival-friendly bops.
PLUS:
+ More Acts To Be Announced, which usually means we’re getting some tasty curveballs.
🍖 THE FUME PIT – WHERE BBQ DREAMS (AND DIETS) DIE GLORIOUSLY
Now… the FOOD. Buckle up. 🤣
The Fume Pit returns — the UK’s biggest and smokiest BBQ takeover. Expect:
🔥 The UK’s top pitmasters and chefs
🔥 World-class BBQ dishes from all styles
🔥 Vegan & veggie options (yes, they exist — miracle of science)
🔥 Cooking demos
🔥 Eating competitions that would make Man v. Food cry
🔥 All hosted by FUME, the premium BBQ festival legends
Basically: come hungry, leave rolling.
🌅 WHY THIS FESTIVAL SLAPS HARDER THAN A CYMRU CROWD SURFER 🤘🏴
✔ Massive headliners from across rock, Americana, alt-folk & indie
✔ BBQ that could make a grown man teary
✔ Family vibes meets party vibes
✔ Boutique camping for those who don’t fancy sleeping in a sweaty nylon coffin
✔ Perfect warm-up for the rest of the festival season
This isn’t just a festival — it’s a proper summer knees-up with guitars, smoke, sunshine, and stories you’ll be telling for years.
State Fayre 2026 is shaping up to be lush, loud, and finger-lickin’ legendary, butt. 🤘🔥
Tickets?
Food?
Good craic?
C’mon butt — what more do you want?!
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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