State Fayre review: A stellar debut for UK’s newest festival

When State Fayre was first announced, there was understandable curiosity about whether another large-scale outdoor festival could carve out its own identity in an increasingly crowded UK calendar. Three days later, the answer seems clear: State Fayre has arrived, and if its inaugural weekend is anything to go by, it has every chance of becoming a permanent fixture for country and Americana fans.

Set against the expansive grounds of Hylands Park in Chelmsford, the festival blended country, Americana, folk and rock with Southern-inspired food, craft drinks and fairground attractions to create an event that felt different from the traditional music festival format. Rather than simply transplanting a concert into a field, State Fayre set out to build an experience, and for the most part it succeeded.

For country music fans, there was plenty to celebrate. While Kings of Leon, Alanis Morissette and The Lumineers topped the bill, the supporting line-up was packed with artists who reflected the incredible breadth of today’s country and Americana scene. Performances from Kip Moore, Orville Peck, Stephen Wilson Jr., Sierra Ferrell, Molly Tuttle, Avery Anna, Max McNown, Dylan Gossett, Kezia Gill, Leah Blevins and McGrath ensured that the genre was represented from the biggest stages to the more intimate performance spaces.

One of the most striking sights across the weekend wasn’t on stage at all—it was the audience. Cowboy hats were everywhere. From seasoned festival-goers to families attending for the first time, fans embraced the country aesthetic with enthusiasm, creating an atmosphere that felt welcoming, colourful and unmistakably part of the growing UK country community. Boots, denim and fringe were in plentiful supply, and there was a genuine sense that people had come not just to watch music, but to immerse themselves in the culture.

Just as importantly, the festival appeared to run smoothly throughout the weekend. Queues rarely became an issue, facilities were well maintained and the site was easy to navigate despite its size. Crowd management felt relaxed without ever appearing disorganised, allowing fans to move comfortably between stages, food vendors and the festival’s signature FUME Pit barbecue area. It’s easy to overlook good organisation because it’s often invisible—but at a first-year festival, getting the basics right is one of the hardest achievements, and State Fayre deserves credit for doing exactly that.

The atmosphere remained upbeat from the first acts on Friday through to the closing performances on Sunday. Whether watching headline sets, discovering a new favourite artist or simply enjoying the sunshine with friends, the mood across the site was consistently positive. Speaking to festival-goers over the weekend, there was a common feeling that State Fayre had exceeded expectations. Many were already talking about returning before the final artists had even left the stage.

No inaugural event is entirely without lessons to learn, and organisers will undoubtedly refine aspects of the festival before next summer. But those are relatively small considerations against what was otherwise an impressively polished debut.

Perhaps the clearest indication of State Fayre’s success came only days after the gates closed, when organisers announced the festival would return to Hylands Park from 18–20 June 2027. Given the reaction from fans over the weekend, that announcement came as little surprise. Early bird tickets go on sale on 8 July, – a sign that confidence in the festival’s future is already high.

For country music in the UK, State Fayre represents something genuinely exciting. It brings together major international artists, rising stars, authentic Americana culture and a welcoming community atmosphere in a way that feels fresh rather than forced. If this first edition is the benchmark, State Fayre hasn’t just launched a new festival—it may have launched a new tradition.