A major new greenfield music and lifestyle camping festival is set to bring the world-famous, inimitable sights and sounds of the country music scene to the UK in 2018. Taking place within the grounds of Stanford Hall in Leicestershire, England from September 7th – 9th 2018, The Long Road will present one of the UK’s largest, most authentic celebrations of country, Americana and roots music featuring five stages of live performances, bespoke food events and a wide range of themed outdoor activities.
Curated by Tennessee-born country music specialist and radio presenter Baylen Leonard, The Long Road will present a broad array of artists, from iconic US stars to up-and-coming home-grown talent, and the first wave of acts to be announced for the inaugural event includes US country star Lee Ann Womack, acclaimed singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter Angaleena Presley, British country duo The Shires, popstar turned country music singer Una Healy and Texan singer and winner of The Voice USA Danielle Bradbery. Reflecting the extraordinary surge in popularity that country music has enjoyed in the UK in recent years, The Long Road will also feature a strong contingent of rising star UK acts across the weekend including hotly-tipped London-based duo Ferris & Sylvester and country-soul singer songwriter Yola Carter.
Much more than just a music festival, The Long Road will embrace all aspects of the country and Americana scene and, alongside its live music offerings, will incorporate an array of themed activities including Moonshine and bourbon tasting, instrument and songwriters’ rounds, lake swimming, a Southern-inspired food & shopping village and much more, providing festival goers with a unique, authentic country music lifestyle experience.
Marking the first time the platform has teamed with a country music event, BBC Music Introducing will host their own stage at the festival, which will be fronted by presenter of BBC Radio 2’s weekly country show Bob Harris and will showcase some of the UK’s best unsigned talent. The festival has also partnered with a carefully selected pool of specialist country and Americana organisations including The Birthplace of Country Music, which showcases the role that Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia played in the birth and development of country music, The Bluegrass Situation (BGS), an online music magazine and curator promoting the continued growth of bluegrass, roots, progressive folk rock, Americana music and culture, The Americana Music Association UK, and independent UK label Loose Records, who celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2018. These organisations will all be involved in bringing artists to the festival to showcase a broad array of talent from across the spectrum of country, Americana and roots music.
The Shires:
“We are very excited to be playing the first Long Road festival. Country music in the UK is starting to really gain momentum and an outdoor festival dedicated to it will be great fun to play.”
Angaleena Presley:
“I’m so excited to be a part of The Long Road Festival. I love the inclusive vibe. I’m not only looking forward to performing, but also hanging out and enjoying all the fixins’. Great Food, good old-fashioned country music and salt of the earth people. It’s gonna be yeehawsome y’all.”
The Long Road’s Creative Director Baylen Leonard:
“Being from Tennessee and having lived in the UK for close to 20 years, I’m thrilled to bring the music and culture of both together in one festival. The dedication and passion of the UK country community is so amazing, we wanted to put together a festival that celebrated the music and lifestyle they love as a thank you to the fans for supporting country music. Whether you’re a country fan, an Americana fan, or a fan of great music in general, we wanted a welcoming place where everyone could come together to celebrate. This is a festival for the fans and we’re excited to share it with you.”
The full line-up to date is as follows:
Angaleena Presley
The Shires
Billy Bragg
Striking Matches
Danielle Bradbery
Ashley Campbell
Brent Cobb
Aaron Watson
Lee Ann Womack
Danny and The Champions of the World
Catherine McGrath
The Wood Brothers
Megan O’Neill
Two Ways Home
Holloway Road
Kevin McGuire
Twinnie
Laura Oakes
Ruby Boots
Jess and The Bandits
Gary Quinn
Parker Millsap
Yola Carter
Treetop Flyers
William The Conqueror
The Arlenes
Joana Serrat
Ferris & Sylvester
Kasheena Sampson
Danni Nicholls
Midnight Skyracer
Worry Dolls
The Lone Bellow
Frontier Ruckus
Folk Soul Revival
Amythyst Kiah
Andrew Alli
The Long Road will take place at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from September 7th – 9th 2018. Day tickets start at £40*, Weekend No Camping tickets at £85* and Weekend Camping tickets start at £99* (*plus booking fees).
BBC Music Introducing
BBC Music Introducing is BBC Radio’s platform supporting unsigned, undiscovered, and under-the-radar UK talent. It gives artists the opportunity to be played on BBC local radio and nationally on BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, 6 Music, the Asian Network and Radio 3, as well as playing Introducing stages at festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds, Radio 1’s Big Weekend and now The Long Road!
The Bluegrass Situation
The Bluegrass Situation (also known as BGS) is an organisation designed to encourage and support the continued growth of bluegrass, progressive folk rock, Americana, roots and everything in between. As well as curating stages at festivals and producing their own one of a kind events and shows, their online hub creates unique editorial and video content which has become a valuable resource for the international roots music fanbase.
Americana Music Association
The AMA-UK is a professional trade association representing and advocating for the voice of American roots music in the UK. Our aims are to have greater recognition of Americana music in the UK and build a vibrant network of like-minded businesses to promote Americana music in the UK and foster links to similar networks internationally, not least the Americana Music Association in the US. We aim to Nurture and support UK artists in the Americana field and support international Americana artists touring the UK.
Stanford Hall
Stanford Hall is a beautiful stately home set in 700 acres and located in the heart of the Leicestershire countryside, near Stanford on Avon. Avenues of established, majestic trees radiate in all directions from the Hall, most prominently the North Avenue which stretches as far as the eye can see. Woodland, ridge and furrow pasture and ancient remains of buildings of a previous age and the enclosed rose garden nurture an atmosphere of profound tranquillity and peace.
Loose Records
Started in west London 20 years ago by Tom Bridgewater, Loose has grown to become Europe’s premier Americana label. Loose released the first albums by The Felice Brothers, Neko Case, M.Ward, Grand Drive, Mark Mulcahy, Hurray For The Riff Raff & Dawes. In its 20 year existence highlights for the label have included securing the theme tune to HBO’s True Detective with their first signing, The Handsome Family, a Grammy nomination for Sturgill Simpson’s Metamodern Sounds In Country Music and two Number 1 albums in the UK Americana Chart for Courtney Marie Andrews. US acts on Loose include Andrew Combs, Jim White, Joe Pug, Israel Nash, The Americans, Gill Landry, Ian Felice, The Handsome Family, Courtney Marie Andrews and Frankie Lee. UK acts include multi AMAUK Awards winners Danny & The Champions Of The World and AMAUK nominated acts William The Conqueror & Treetop Flyers.
Birthplace of Country Music
The Birthplace of Country Music is a non-profit organization that seeks to perpetuate, promote, and celebrate Bristol’s rich musical heritage; to educate and engage audiences worldwide regarding the history, impact and legacy of the 1927 Bristol Sessions; and to create recognition, opportunities, and economic benefit for our local and regional communities. BCM accomplishes this mission through its three primary branches (The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, and Radio Bristol), special projects and events, and a multitude of community and educational outreach programs.
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