The Long Road festival, combining country, Americana and roots, is an annual fixture in my diary – taking place over the bank holiday weekend at Stanford Hall, Leicestershire, which falls on the 22nd to 24th August this year. The great joy of festivals, for me, is seeing a combination of familiar much loved artists, and discovering new artists, and the 2025 lineup promises much.
Kicking off the headline spots on Friday night is Drake Milligan, a UK exclusive appearance. Hailing from Fort Worth, Texas, Milligan references Elvis Presley and George Strait as his musical heroes, and a full on country rocking performance beckons. Continuing the up-tempo country rock vibe on Saturday night, headliners Midland have a strong UK following, with a main stage appearance at the Country to Country festival in London, in 2023.
Headliner on Sunday night, closing the festival, is James Bay, perhaps best known for his big hit in 2015, ‘Hold Back the River’, and the headlining artist with the greatest Americana leaning in his recorded output, and live shows.
As well as James Bay, UK Americana and country artists have a strong showing at the festival. Will Varley, Kent-based and well-known as an indie artist and troubadour, has been moving in an Americana direction, which shines through on his 2025 album release ‘Machines Will Never Learn to Make Mistakes Like Me’. Other well-known names in the UK Americana scene include Elles Bailey, Danny and the Champions of the World, First Time Flyers, Robbie Cavanagh and Simeon Hammond Dallas.
Each year the Festival features stage takeovers, with Chris Linton, Jade Turner, David Unlayao and Denitia joining Rissi Palmer on her ‘Color Me Country’ stage, on Saturday on the Front Porch.
The Loose Music stage takeover features Birds Flying Backwards, Greasy Alice, Bonnie Dobson and the Hanging Stars, Gill Landry, The Rockingbirds, Bobbie, and Danny and the Champions of the World, at Buddy’s Good Time Bar on Saturday, while the new Snakefarm Music takeover lineup on Sunday at Buddy’s includes Alyssa Bonagura and Kezia Gill.
Of course, US artists feature strongly on the lineup, and old favourites on my “must see” list include Ashley Monroe, and Fancy Hagood. Seasick Steve is always guaranteed to put on a big show, and other highlights of the US acts appearing include Alana Springsteen, Larry Fleet, Charles Wesley Godwin, Darren Keeley, The White Buffalo, and Evan Honer.
And I’m looking forward to seeing for the first time long-established Canadian artist Bonnie Dobson, best known for composing ‘Morning Dew’, and ‘I’m Your Woman’. Backed by the Hanging Stars, their collaborative 2025 album ‘Dreams’ is a personal favourite from the current years crop of new releases.
So – lots of great acts to enjoy, and discover, and undoubtedly one or two special surprises along the way!
