Kings of Leon and Neil Young to headline new festival in Essex

Kings of Leon, Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts and The Lumineers will headline a new music festival in Essex.

State Fayre will take place at Hylands Park in Chelmsford from June 26 to 28 next year, and will also see the likes of The Black Crowes, Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, Counting Crows, KT Tunstall and The Coral perform. Organisers Festival Republic and Live Nation described the camping festival, which will have a capacity of around 30,000 people, as “the UK’s largest music and barbecue festival”. Live music will be performed across three main stages, and there will also be food traders, live food talks and demonstrations, rides and activities and bars. State Fayre’s organisers Anna-Sophie Mertens and Alex Simmonds of Live Nation said: “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.” Councillor Natacha Dudley, cabinet member for an Active Chelmsford at Chelmsford City Council, said festivals have been a “longstanding feature” at Hylands Park. Hylands Park hosted V Festival, which was sponsored by Virgin, for 22 years until 2017, and earlier this year Radio 2 In The Park was held there. “We’re delighted to confirm another weekend of global music artists coming to the park in 2026,” said Ms Dudley. “With decades of experience in hosting high-quality music events behind us, we’re looking forward to working with Festival Republic to make this brand-new State Fayre festival another fantastic weekend for Chelmsford.” Meanwhile, Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts have also been announced as a headliner at Blenheim Palace Festival in Oxfordshire and are set to perform there on July 3. Tickets for State Fayre go on sale at www.statefayre.com from November 28.

Published: 21/11/2025 by Radio NewsHub