The British Country Music Festival: A Homegrown Revolution
When Martin and Marina Blore first conceived The British Country Music Festival (TBCMF), they weren’t chasing trends—they were tracing roots. The seeds were planted during their time producing Folk On The Dock in Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock, where they noticed a compelling musical crossover.
“We used to book artists like Robert Vincent and Wildwood Kin,” Martin recalls. “And we thought, there’s potentially a new festival here.” As their focus shifted from folk into country and Americana, the idea of a new kind of event began to form—one rooted in UK talent and cultural exchange. “As we’re based on the Fylde coast, we said, let’s launch something in Blackpool and bring it home.”
A Mission Grounded in Heritage
Launched in 2019, TBCMF set out with a clear purpose: to spotlight grassroots UK singer-songwriters and trace the cultural currents that connect the UK to the American South.
“We wanted to celebrate how UK folklore and culture influenced early American music,” Martin explains. “The Anglo-Celtic settlers in the Appalachian Mountains brought fiddle playing, storytelling, and folk songs. Blend that with African rhythms and blues and you get the melting pot that is country music.”
That circular journey—UK to USA and back—is at the heart of the festival’s identity. And unlike many festivals that focus on importing Nashville names, TBCMF flips the script. UK artists are given headline slots, not just supporting roles.
“We believe UK artists have their own country sound now. They sing about open countryside, not open plains. About pubs, not saloons.”
A Family-Run Festival With a Theatre Heart
Despite the grandeur of its Empress Ballroom setting, TBCMF is an independent labour of love.
“It’s just Marina and me,” Martin says with a smile. “We curate the festival, built the website, run the ticketing system, listen to every Apply to Play submission. That’s actually our favourite part—discovery.”
With a background in theatre, the Blore duo bring West End production values to the festival experience—intelligent sound design, thoughtful lighting, and seamless scheduling. But what truly sets TBCMF apart is its culture.
“We have a central catering area where every artist eats together—no VIP riders. It levels the playing field,” Martin says. “Some of our favourite collaborations have come from that space—artists writing together, jumping on each other’s sets. It’s organic.”
Challenges, Growth, and a Commitment to Discovery
Launching a new festival is never easy—launching one in 2019, even less so. But Martin believes the resilience of TBCMF reflects its purpose.
“When we told people we were creating a country and Americana festival for UK singer-songwriters, they said we were mad. That it would never work,” he remembers. “Now, country music streams in the UK have grown by 78% year-on-year.”
Funding remains a challenge, especially in the face of rising costs and limited support for independent festivals. As members of the Association of Independent Festivals, the Blores have been vocal advocates for VAT reductions to support smaller events.
“We’re part of the ecosystem,” Martin says. “Without grassroots festivals, there’d be no 50,000-capacity headliners in the future. Where would the next Ed Sheeran or Adele come from if we didn’t nurture them here?”
Curating Community, Not Just Lineups
Artist selection at TBCMF is meticulous, with every application listened to personally by Martin and Marina—often during road trips or late-night sessions.
“We listen to two tracks from every artist. We consider genre variety, performance energy, and we check their live sets online—even if they’ve never played a festival before,” Martin says. “If we think they’re ready, we’ll give them the chance.”
The festival also gives a significant platform to Northern artists, many of whom are performing at a national level for the first time. And the impact doesn’t stop when the lights go down.
“Artists tell us they’ve gone on to tour together or write together after meeting here. We’ve even got a couple of big projects in the works that came out of the festival,” he teases.
One of the standout moments each year is the Songwriter’s Carousel, an intimate setting where connections are forged in real-time. “Last year, The Liver Girls performed, and this year, Neeve Zahra returns with her full band. That kind of growth—it’s exactly what we want to see.”
A Festival That Feels Like Family
Part of what makes TBCMF so distinctive is the atmosphere it cultivates—not just for artists, but fans too. The indoor venue, with its grand gilt ceilings and world-famous dance floor, creates a uniquely welcoming environment.
“We get a lot of solo women attending,” Martin notes. “They tell us they feel safe here, and they end up making friends they come back with every year. It’s become a community.”
That sense of connection extends to the memories that stay with the organisers, too. Martin shares two that stand out.
“In 2023, we brought Graham Nash back to his birthplace in Blackpool. He hadn’t been here since 1967. I drove him past the hotel he was born in—it was emotional for everyone.”
And in another moment, Amy Wadge—one of the UK’s most accomplished songwriters—headlined Friday night.
“She got on stage and said, ‘This is the first time a festival promoter has recognised me as a country songwriter.’ That meant a lot.”
Shaping the Sound of UK Country
If TBCMF has helped shape a British country music identity, it’s because it’s done so with intention.
“From day one, we avoided artists using American tropes,” Martin says. “We chose people who sing about UK life—with our countryside, our dialect, our experience.”
And it’s paid off. TBCMF is now a staple in the UK festival calendar, known for unearthing talent long before it breaks through.
“We programmed artists back in 2016 who are now playing C2C and international festivals. We believe in trusting our ears and instincts.”
Looking Forward
As Blackpool undergoes its own cultural renaissance, TBCMF is poised to grow alongside it. Plans are already underway for major initiatives in 2026 and beyond, with continued support from key partners like Ariat and new international collaborations.
Martin Blore
“We want to grow, but never at the expense of what makes us unique. This festival is about homegrown artists and authentic music. That won’t change.”
The British Country Music Festival
In an era of commercial saturation, The British Country Music Festival stands as a reminder that grassroots passion, personal vision, and cultural integrity still matter. And that sometimes, to shape the future of music, you have to bring it home.
The British Country Music Festival 2025 Key Facts
- Date: August 29-31, 2025
- Location: Winter Gardens, Blackpool (indoors)
- Headliners: Brittney Spencer (Saturday), Sam Palladio (Friday), Janet Devlin (Sunday)
- Activities: Live music on multiple stages, artist meet-and-greet sessions, exclusive Q&A sessions
- Accessibility: Blue Badge parking, fully accessible facilities. Disabled Go provides a comprehensive access guide to the Winter Gardens Access Guide. Free carer ticket for qualified general admission ticket holders.
