Kings of Leon, Neil Young, and More to Headline New ‘State Fayre’ Festival in Essex

The ‘State Fayre’ festival, a new music event with an American-themed atmosphere, is set to take place at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex, from June 26-28, 2026. The festival will feature 30,000 capacity and showcase a range of music genres, including rock, country, and folk, across three main stages. Headliners include Kings of Leon, Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts, and The Lumineers, with performances by other notable acts like The Black Crowes, Elvis Costello, and Counting Crows. The event promises to celebrate American culture, barbecue food, and activities inspired by traditional U.S. state fairs and tailgate parties. Organizers, Anna-Sophie Mertens and Alex Simmonds from Live Nation, expressed excitement for the event, highlighting the rapid growth of Americana, rock, and country music in the UK. Festival-goers will also be able to camp at the festival, which is described as the UK’s largest music and barbecue festival. Tickets are set to go on sale on November 28, 2023. The festival adds to Chelmsford’s growing reputation as a hub for major music events.