STATE FAYRE: 50 Days to Go until The UK's Largest Music and BBQ Festival - KINGS OF LEON, ALANIS MORISSETTE, THE LUMINEERS and more!..
- Desh Kapur
- 12 minutes ago
- 6 min read
50 DAYS TO GO UNTIL THE INAUGURAL STATE FAYRE:
A BRAND NEW FESTIVAL CELEBRATING MUSIC, BBQ AND MORE FOR ALL AGES
HEADLINERS ANNOUNCED:
KINGS OF LEON
ALANIS MORISSETTE
THE LUMINEERS
PERFORMING ALONGSIDE:
STEPHEN WILSON JR, SKUNK ANANSIE, THE BLACK CROWES,
COUNTING CROWS, ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS WITH CHARLIE SEXTON, JACK SAVORETTI, RAZORLIGHT, THE CORAL,
KT TUNSTALL, AMBLE, KINGFISHR, DYLAN GOSSETT,
SIERRA FERRELL, ORVILLE PECK, NINA NESBITT
AND MANY MORE...
THE UK’S LARGEST MUSIC AND BBQ FESTIVAL
THE FUME PIT FOOD LINE-UP ANNOUNCED:
KG BBQ · EMBER · RACK CITY RIBS · TEMPER · BLACKSMITH SMOKERS · CRAFT AND CLEAVER · GINGER WINGS · POOR BOYS · LD'S KITCHEN · THE DRAGON FLAME BBQ · YELLO YARD · SHWINGS · E8 FISH · GAME AND FLAMES · WHOLESOME JUNKIES
PLUS GUEST APPEARANCES ACROSS THE WEEKEND FROM:
BIG JOHN (JOHN FISHER),
EATING WITH TOD AND OLLIE EATS
26 – 28 JUNE 2026
HYLANDS PARK, CHELMSFORD
Less than 30 minutes from London by train
Day tickets and weekend camping tickets on sale now:
Festival Republic and Live Nation are introducing State Fayre, a brand-new major weekend festival taking place 26-28 June in Chelmsford, Essex. The UK’s largest music and barbecue festival, will feature spectacular headline performances from Kings Of Leon, Alanis Morissette, and The Lumineers. Also joining them across the weekend at Hylands Park will be Stephen Wilson Jr., Skunk Anansie, The Black Crowes, Counting Crows, Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, Jack Savoretti, Razorlight, The Coral, KT Tunstall, Amble, Kingfishr, Dylan Gossett, Sierra Ferrell, Orville Peck, Nina Nesbitt and many more. Day tickets and weekend camping tickets are available now.
State Fayre will bring a true taste of Americana to the UK in June 2026, with an incredible line-up spanning rock, country, and folk music. Inspired by American state fairs, long summer nights and tailgate parties, State Fayre is a celebration of music, food and culture, blending contemporary and classic sounds with a distinctive American theme all less than 30 minutes from London.
Multi-Grammy and BRIT Award winning band Kings of Leon will headline the first night of the inaugural State Fayre. Recognised as one of the biggest alternative rock bands of the last 20 years, they have headlined the world's most prestigious festivals including Coachella, Glastonbury, Roskilde and numerous Lollapalooza's in Berlin, Sao Paulo, Chicago and Santiago, to name but a few. Since their debut in 2003, the band have released nine studio albums, selling over 20 million albums and nearly 40 million singles worldwide.
Seven-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist Alanis Morissette will headline the Saturday night of the inaugural event. For 30 years Alanis Morissette has been one of the most influential women in contemporary music with her deeply expressive song-writing and performances earning vast critical praise.
Founded in 2005 by Wesley Schultz (lead vocals, guitar) and Jeremiah Fraites (drums, percussion, piano), The Lumineers have risen to become one of the most successful and influential bands of their generation, blending alternative rock, Americana, and heartfelt storytelling.
The Black Crowes stand as one of rock and roll’s most iconic and unapologetic bands, defined by raw energy, soulful swagger, and a catalog that has shaped generations. Since reuniting in 2019, the Robinson Brothers have reignited the fire that first made them a global force, bringing their thrilling live show to more than 20 countries worldwide. The band remain committed to delivering stripped-down, bare-boned rock and roll: gritty, loud, and in your face. No gloss, no glitter, just rhythm and blues at its very best.
Formed in London in 1994, Skunk Anansie are known for their powerful fusion of hard rock, punk, and funk influences. Fronted by the charismatic and dynamic Skin, whose distinctive voice and commanding stage presence have become the band’s signature
Legendary British singer-songwriter Elvis Costello’s genre-spanning career has earned him induction into both the Rock and Roll and Songwriters Halls of Fame. Performing with his acclaimed band The Imposters, featuring longtime collaborators Steve Nieve, Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher alongside Charlie Sexton, Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton continue to showcase their dynamic live show brimming with lyrical brilliance and musical versatility around the world.
Counting Crows have enchanted listeners worldwide for more than two decades with their intensely soulful and intricate take on timeless rock and roll. Exploding onto the music scene in 1993 with their multi-platinum breakout album, August and Everything After, the band have gone on to release seven studio albums, selling more than 20 million records worldwide, and are revered as one of the world's most pre-eminent live touring rock bands.
Stephen Wilson Jr brings a raw, cinematic edge to modern Americana, blending gritty storytelling with blues-soaked guitar work and a voice that feels both haunted and defiant. Following the release of his debut album Son of Dad in 2023, he has continued to build momentum through growing streaming numbers and wider recognition across the US and UK Americana scene. Irish trio Kingfishr combine indie and folk influences, gaining traction with a series of singles that have performed strongly on streaming platforms and radio, positioning them as one of Ireland’s more visible emerging acts heading into 2026.
Orville Peck brings a modern take on country, drawing on classic influences while maintaining a distinct identity through his baritone voice and visual style. His 2024 album Stampede and subsequent collaborations, alongside a 2025 Broadway debut in Cabaret and an upcoming film role, mark a continued expansion beyond music. British-Italian singer Jack Savoretti will deliver melodic, acoustic-driven songwriting to the Saturday night. He has a whopping nine studio albums under his belt and shows no signs of slowing down with the 2026 release of album We Will Always Be The Way We Were which was recorded live at Eastcote Studios in London. This album is described as a "full-circle" return to his roots, focusing on raw, intimate, and cinematic songwriting.
Razorlight formed in 2002 in London by lead singer and guitarist Johnny Borrell will inject a burst of early-2000s indie energy. Their sharp hooks and restless spirit promise a set packed with anthems that defined a generation. Kip Moore will bring heartland country from Georgia to the Friday night at State Fayre, with introspective lyrics speaking to freedom, resilience, and the open road.
Also appearing across the weekend at the first edition of State Fayre are (in alphabetical order) Amble, Anna Graves, Aubory Bugg, Ava Hall, Avery Anna, barrett, Bebe Stockwell, Bec O'Malley, Benny G, Brenn!, Buffalo Traffic Jam, Caroline Grace, Dave Lofts, Dermot Henry, DUG, Dylan Gossett, Elles Bailey, Emma Ogier, Hannah Hill, Hayden Blount, Ike Dweck, Isak Benjamin, Jamie McIntyre, Joe Jordan, Juno James, Kezia Gill, KT Tunstall, Landon Smith, Leah Blevins, Lily Moore, Linka Moja, Mae Estes, Marfa, Max McNown, McGrath, Molly Tuttle, Muireann Bradley, Nate Bergman, Nina Nesbitt, Ryman, Sarah Julia, Sierra Ferrell, Sons of Habit, The Brudi Brothers, The Coral, The Magic Numbers and Tooth.
State Fayre has also revealed the eagerly anticipated line-up for the inaugural FUME Pit. Hosted on-site by FUME, the UK’s premier live-fire BBQ festival, The FUME Pit will feature a mouth-watering collection of some of the country’s finest and most exciting pitmasters and traders. Confirmed names include Netflix’s Barbecue Showdown star KG BBQ from Austin, Texas and renowned for bold Texas-Egyptian fusion barbecue; multi-award-winning chef James Peck of the acclaimed wood-fired restaurant Ember; dramatic open-flame theatre and oak-smoked meats from The Dragon Flame BBQ; London’s best ribs from Rack City Ribs (overall champion at FUME Festival and masters of slow-cooked soul food with Southern and Caribbean flair); multi-award-winning wings from Shwings and Ginger Wings; standout plant-based offerings from Wholesome Junkies (as seen on Netflix and BBC Two’s Million Pound Menu) and London’s leading vegan smokehouse LD’s Kitchen.
Audiences will be able to immerse themselves in the sounds, sights, and tastes of Americana across the whole weekend. The full line-up of traders has been revealed, featuring even more tasty offerings from Poor Boys, Temper, Blacksmith Smokers, Yello Yard, E8 Fish, Game & Flames. All traders will offer a selection of dishes, with the majority priced under £10, creating the perfect opportunity for a full, accessible BBQ tasting experience across the weekend.
The FUME Pit will also feature the largest live-fire cooking display ever seen in the UK, an epic spectacle of giant rigs specially delivered from as far as Brazil and the USA, alongside the biggest offset smokers and BBQ trailers the country has ever seen.
Alongside global BBQ superstars and locally-based delicious delights, attendees will have the chance to get involved with on-site eating competitions and watch live food demonstrations from revered pitmasters alongside some special guest ‘headliner’ appearances from content creators such as ‘Big John’ John Fisher, Eating With Tod and Ollie Eats.
Co-founded by social media sensation Eating With Tod, FUME has set the standard for BBQ excellence, with the largest BBQ cages in the UK and demonstrations from some of the most talented chefs in the country.
Alongside three main stages packed with live music, 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, state fair festival rides and activities.
State Fayre takes place in Hylands Park, Chelmsford from 26-28 June
TICKETS
Tickets are available now: