From Dream to Reality: The Story of the Kent Country County Fair

Updated:

The Story Behind the UK’s Newest Country Music Festival and Its Vision for Celebrating Country Heritage

We’re excited to introduce an exclusive interview with Met, the visionary founder of the Kent Country County Fair, a brand new one day country music festival set to take place on Sunday, August 3, 2025 near the town of Deal on the Kent coast.

Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 3, 2025, as Met shares the inspiration behind creating one of Kent’s most anticipated new country music events. In this interview, we dive into the challenges faced in bringing the festival to life, the exciting plans for its inaugural year, and what attendees can look forward to. With a passion for bringing a taste of Texas to Kent, Met has curated an incredible lineup of live country music, fun and games, line dancing, and mouth-watering American-style food.

Met, the visionary founder of the Kent Country County Fair, shared the inspiration behind creating this exciting new event. “We began the business in July this year and initially aimed to start smaller localised events. One evening, while watching Yellowstone and seeing a famous scene at a county fair, we thought, ‘we need to do a county fair.’ So, we did our research, embraced the idea, and turned it into a festival and county fair.”

brandon davis 2
Brandon Davis (photo: Facebook/Brandon Davis)

Explaining what sets their festival apart, Met said, “There are many amazing festivals in the UK, but ours isn’t just a festival. It’s about bringing a taste of the US to Kent with a county fair vibe. That’s where we’re different.” Met emphasized why country music fans should attend this particular festival: “We have a superb lineup, carefully chosen to include a mixture of raw British country artists, reputable and outstanding tributes, and a name famous within the country scene. Bringing Brandon Davis over to perform is a real feather in our cap! We wanted him & we got him. To not only treat our audience to such a big name and one that’s up coming more & more since touring with Tim McGraw for example, we wanted to support Brandon & his music.”

lineup collage 2
Lineup includes: Billy Bubba King, Smokin Mavericks, Adam Harding Music, The Gamblers, The Luke Combs Experience, The Worlds Leading Tribute to Morgan Wallen & Ryan Evans

But we really focus on being a county fair more than a festival. If fans want to know what an American county fair feels like, our event is the one they should choose.”

smokin mavericks
Smokin Mavericks

Met also highlighted some of the unique experiences planned for attendees: “We have a fantastic line dancing instructor, Sara King, who will be showing everyone a couple of line dances during the day. Line dancing is incredibly popular, and people are keen to learn, so we just had to add this to the event’s lineup.”. Hosting the event is Rattlesnake Johnny who will also be DJing, Met says “He is such a great character & coming from South Carolina, it just adds an American flavour to the day.”

Discussing the incorporation of local culture and community elements, Met mentioned, “We’re holding the event in a popular country park in Kent, which was the largest coal mine in the county, adding lots of local history. We’re also supporting local independent businesses and featuring two acts from Kent (The Gamblers and the Smokin Mavericks) to keep the day authentic and community-spirited.”

betteshanger country park overview
Betteshanger Country Park, Kent

To ensure a welcoming and family-friendly environment, Met assured, “We’ve chosen a prestigious venue and have a professional security team to ensure a swift entry. Our excellent team of stewards, family, and friends will assist in ensuring the event goes smoothly and safely. Our team are very warm, considerate & know what is expected of them to ensure our guests have a wonderful time & keep an eye on their surroundings to make sure everyone is looked after. We’ll also have a qualified medical team on site, including paramedics and medical assistants.” While opportunities for fans to meet their favourite artists or participate in exclusive Q&A sessions are being considered, Met cautioned, “We may offer such opportunities, but we don’t want to overpromise and underdeliver.”

the luke combs experience
The Luke Combs Experience

Regarding accessibility, Met stated, “The venue has a safe route to the event location, and the amphitheatre is very safe and flat, perfect for anyone with special needs or who needs assistance getting around. Our professional medical team will be on hand as well.” As for food and drink options, Met excitedly shared, “We have superb options, including The Cow Shed Bar & Grill with amazing American-style food, The Baking Nanny offering delicious treats, and three bars to keep queues to a minimum. One of our vendors, Neptune Bars, is 30 feet long with many staff to ensure swift service. We’ll also have a cocktail bar, The Cheeky Tipple, offering frozen mocktails and other drinks.”

The festival has a unique mix of local and international talent, and it’s set to become a regular feature in the UK’s festival lineup. Met’s vision has laid the foundation for a community-focused event that highlights the best of country music.

As we look ahead, there’s no doubt that the Kent Country County Fair will continue to grow and thrive, thanks to Met’s dedication and enthusiasm. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey for both the festival and its founder.

Full listing details for the event can be found here. Tickets are on sale now.

Share this: