Correspondent and promoter Oliver Gray recommends an attractive festival that will entertain rather than overwhelm. It’s called Found, and it takes place this August Bank Holiday and is attracting some very classy acts indeed. “The band and I are very much looking forward to finding ourselves at the Found Festival this summer. We love how you Brits throw a party.” So says one James Felice, and Kate Stables of This Is The Kit adds her thoughts, “I can’t wait to head to Found festival this August. It’s such a decent festival run by decent folks who are genuinely passionate about the arts, and has such a long and important history from back when it started out as Towersey festival. It’s got proper roots!”
AUK followers may have been casting around for a festival that offers the kind of music and experience they seek: roots, folk, and americana in a truly inclusive setting in the style of the much-missed Folk In The Park, Red Rooster, and Towersey. The latter ran for sixty years until 2024, and now the same family is carrying on the tradition in the form of Found. It’s a not-for-profit, fully independent festival for just 2,000 people, held over the last weekend of August at Claydon Estate in Buckinghamshire, blending grassroots live music, dance, wellness, comedy, talks, and a full family programme, all set on a beautiful country estate.
Running from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August 2026, Found features over 100 acts across three stages. Music highlights this year include: Oxford’s indie-folk pioneers Stornoway, best known for their breakout hit Zorbing, and fresh from a huge anniversary show at the Royal Albert Hall. From upstate New York come AUK favourites The Felice Brothers, known for their free-flowing, Dylan-esque, literary songwriting and uniquely entertaining live presence. This Is The Kit is the project of singer-songwriter Kate Stables, blending folk with understated art-pop arrangements, and TITK is returning to Found after a standout Towersey set in 2023. Also featured on the 2026 bill are Joshua Burnside, Matthew and the Atlas, and Gecko, with comedy from Shappi Khorsandi, Robin Ince, and many others.
Tickets are on sale now at very reasonable prices here. And if you can prove you were left out of pocket by the cancellation of Red Rooster, there may still be a deal on offer by contacting the organisers directly. Early booking is advised; see you there!
