Christopher BarrettBilled as ‘the UK’s largest music and BBQ festival’ by its promoter Festival Republic, the State Fayre festival will debut in Chelmsford next summer.
With headliners including Kings of Leon and Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts, the Live Nation-owned event will run from 26-28 June at Hylands Park. The promoter said State Fayre will have an Americana theme, with inspiration taken from American state fairs and tailgate parties. It said, “State Fayre is a celebration of music, food and culture, blending contemporary and classic sounds with a distinctive American theme.”
With a line-up spanning rock, country, and folk music across the event’s three stages, among the other acts confirmed so far are The Lumineers, The Black Crowes, Elvis Costello and The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, and Counting Crows.
State Fayre is being founded by Live Nation senior promoters Alex Simmonds and Anna-Sophie Mertens. Mertens established country and Americana event the Highways Festival at the Royal Albert Hall. She was also integral to bringing US country star Chris Stapleton to the UK for his first headline tour there.
They issued the following statement: “We are thrilled to unveil a brand new camping festival that builds on the phenomenal UK growth in Americana, rock and country over the past few years. We’re so excited to present this music in an immersive outdoor setting complete with the authentic food, activities and big open skies of an American state fair.”
State Fayre will also involve a team from BBQ festival FUME, which was co-founded by social media influencer EatingWithTod, who will host The FUME Pit on-site. Organisers said State Fayre will also feature vegetarian and vegan food traders, live food talks and demonstrations, whiskey, craft beers and cocktail bars plus non-alcoholic drinks options, boutique camping options, and festival rides.