State Fayre Festival
Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex
26th – 28th June 2026
The inaugural State Fayre Festival comes to Hylands Park in Chelmsford this June. Boasting impressive headliners in Kings of Leon, Alanis Morissette, and The Lumineers, the line up mixes rock, country, folk and blues and bills itself as the UK’s biggest music and BBQ festival.
Friday is headlined by Kings of Leon, with The Black Crowes and rising Irish band Kingfishr in support. There are also high profile slots for the much hyped Stephen Wilson Jr with his mix of rock and country, and bluegrass star Molly Tuttle. Country flavoured UK artists Kezia Gill and Nina Nesbitt also feature.
Alanis Morissette, replacing the previously billed Neil Young to headline Saturday with her angsty pop rock, is sure to be popular. There’s alt rock from the inimitable Skunk Anansie and appearances from songwriters Elvis Costello and Jack Savoretti. Fast rising flamboyant American Sierra Ferrell also takes a main stage slot, as does highly rated blues singer/guitarist Muireann Bradley.
Closing the event on Sunday are boisterous, crowd pleasing folk rockers The Lumineers. There’s roots rock from the USA’s Counting Crows, while singer songwriters Dylan Gossett and KT Tunstall also grace the main stage. Headlining the second stage are Irish folk act Amble, with The Coral and others providing excellent support.
Away from music there’s a big emphasis on food with high quality eateries providing for vegans, vegetarians and carnivores. There are award winning chefs and BBQ pitmasters, demonstrations, and food related competitions across the weekend.
The event appears to have taken Kent’s now defunct Black Deer Festival as a template and supersized it. There’s no doubting the quality of music on offer. If State Fayre manages to replicate Black Deer’s bucolic atmosphere on a much grander scale it should be a great weekend.
Weekend and day tickets, VIP and various camping upgrades, plus other details can be found here: State Fayre | Home
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