The Long Road Festival
Stanford Hall, Leicestershire
25th-27th August 2023
Welcome home old friend. The Long Road Festival returned this bank holiday weekend to celebrate three days of country, Americana and roots, bringing with it over 80 artists across the weekend, both international and some home grown talent to boot.
I started my festival catching the First Time Flyers, delivering a performance totally worthy of the excitement that surrounds them. Each already talented solo artists, it’s not hard to see why they are quickly making a name for themselves in the UK country music scene. The only reason for leaving their set being to catch Gasoline & Matches on the other stage. With their high energy, catchy melodies and audience participation of songs such as Never Have I Ever, it’s unsurprising they’re adorned with the popularity of their Friday night set.
With out any Rhinestone main stage action, Tenille Townes headlined the Friday night on the Interstate stage. Before Tim Hicks got the night time party started ready for Buck’ N Bull with their iconic country music party.
Saturday opened up with artists such as Megan McKenna and Jordan Harvey, a Scottish native paving his way over in Nashville. Other audience favourites included Jackson Dean, Tenille Arts, Sons of the East, Miko Marks and Nickel Creek.
Headlining Saturday night, Blackberry Smoke. The powerhouse southern rock band used their Long Road appearance to announce their new album, debuting their new single, Dig A Hole.
Sunday brought us Jill Andrews, The War and Treaty, Sierra Ferrell and Eli Young Band finally making their UK debut. Alana Springsteen and Kezia Gill, both with extraordinary sets of their own also joined Breland on the main stage that evening.
You can’t cover this years Long Road with out a nod to Rissi Palmer’s exhilarating Color Me Country set during Sunday afternoon. The purpose of Color Me Country is to offer a platform for artists of colour in Country music and Americana. Artists brought to the stage included Gabe Lee, Michael B. Whit, Lady Nade, Sacha and the unforgettable Chapel Hart. Chapel Hart tore up the Interstate stage just the night before when they left their elated audience booing the nights DJ, demanding for more Chapel Hart, and I don’t blame them!
Sunday headliner Jon Pardi sadly made a last minute postponement of his UK and European tour. Unfortunately this included The Long Road this weekend. With just a couple of days notice and with out checking with her band, Cam was coming to the rescue. What better way to close the weekend?
Early bird tickets go on sale at 10 am Thursday 31st August, tickets available here
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All photos by Tessa Carroll, more of her work can be found via her Website Facebook or Instagram
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