Country or Crossover? State Fayre’s 2027 Wish List Shows How Festival Audiences Are Changing

State Fayre has thrown an intriguing question to fans following the success of its debut festival: who should headline the 2027 edition?

At first glance, it’s a straightforward fan survey. Festival-goers are invited to vote for up to ten artists they’d most like to see next year, with one lucky participant winning a pair of VIP weekend camping tickets for State Fayre 2027. Voting closes at 5pm on Monday 27 July.

Look a little closer, however, and the survey reveals something far more interesting about where both the festival—and perhaps the wider UK country scene—is heading.

Rather than restricting the shortlist to country stars, State Fayre has cast its net much wider, inviting fans to consider artists from across the worlds of country, Americana, indie and rock. It is a recognition that today’s festival audiences rarely confine themselves to a single genre.

For many UK country fans, playlists already move effortlessly between country heavyweights, Americana storytellers, indie favourites and guitar-driven rock bands. Artists who value authentic songwriting and live performance often share audiences regardless of how record stores might categorise them.

That crossover has become increasingly apparent across Britain’s festival landscape. Events that began as traditional country festivals now regularly feature Americana, roots, blues and southern rock alongside mainstream country acts. Likewise, fans who discover artists through country music often find themselves exploring neighbouring genres with the same emphasis on storytelling and musicianship.

State Fayre appears keen to embrace that reality.

Instead of asking fans to choose between country artists alone, the festival is effectively asking what kind of event they want State Fayre to become. Should it remain firmly rooted in modern country, or continue evolving into a broader celebration of American-inspired music, where country sits comfortably alongside indie, rock and Americana?

It’s a smart conversation to have after a successful first year. Building a new festival is about far more than booking headline acts; it’s about defining an identity. By handing some of that decision to its audience, State Fayre is giving fans the opportunity to shape its future direction.

The approach also reflects a confidence that today’s audiences are open-minded. While country music remains at the festival’s heart, the organisers clearly recognise that many ticket buyers don’t listen exclusively to one genre. The strongest live events increasingly reflect those varied tastes rather than rigid musical boundaries.

Whether the final 2027 line-up leans more heavily towards Nashville, Americana or guitar-led crossover acts, one thing is already clear: State Fayre isn’t simply asking who fans want to see. It’s asking what kind of festival they want it to become.

Perhaps the biggest surprise isn’t who appears on the list, but the balance of genres. Just over a quarter of the 74 suggested artists are recognisably country stars, while the majority come from Americana, rock, indie and singer-songwriter backgrounds. It suggests State Fayre sees its audience less as country purists and more as fans of guitar music, great songwriting and authentic live performance, regardless of genre.

Fans can vote for up to ten artists in the survey, which also includes the opportunity to suggest acts that are not already listed. Entries close at 5pm on Monday 27 July, with one participant winning two VIP weekend camping tickets for State Fayre 2027.

State Fayre 2027

Survey closes 5pm on Monday 27th July. T&Cs Apply.

Click Here for the Survey

2027 Tickets

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