It’s only 4 weeks until Dixie Fields – Essex’s first country music festival, scheduled for the weekend 12th-14th July 2019. What started as a small family dream has now become the real deal. This boutique country music festival, listed by the Telegraph last month in the top 50 UK festivals this summer, has attracted some serious Nashville and UK talent.
Earlier in the year Dixie Fields surprised a few people by naming ACM New Female Vocalist of the Year and American Idol star Lauren Alaina as the festival’s first headliner. In 2017 Alaina had become the only female to top both Billboard country charts when Road Less Traveled topped the Country Airplay chart and What Ifs topped the Hot Country Chart and the album’s popularity continued to grow through 2018. Alaina wins hearts with her warm stage personality and her honesty about personal issues as well as her undeniably gorgeous voice. This will be only her second appearance in the UK.
Dixie Fields is proud to present “Britain’s first country stars” Ward Thomas as second on the bill. Twins Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas were the first UK country act to reach No 1 in the UK all-genre album charts with their second album Cartwheels and are now officially the most successful UK country act ever. Their style is developing: their future exciting.
Lauren Alaina and Ward Thomas will be joined at Dixie Fields by Holloway Road, Royal South, Jackson Michelson, Megan O’Neill, Remember Monday, Hannah Paris, Gary Quinn, Stevie O’Connor, Lucy Blu and the Jackson Line.
And it’s not just music on offer…
The festival kicks off on the evening of Friday 12th July with an outdoor cinema showing of Alaina’s Road Less Traveled film (rarely seen in the UK). Over the weekend there’s country karaoke, a songwriter’s workshop, line dancing, mobile recording studio (your chance to shine!), campfire acoustic sets and the pleasure of an outdoor summer’s day in good company. They’ll also be some serious BBQ on offer, as well as a complimentary American style brunch served for campers on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Dixie Fields has certainly grown from Georgie and Frank Thorogood’s initial idea of utilising the family farmland bordering Hylands Park, which had previously been rented to the V Festival. The family have learned a lot over the last few months about the detail of festival organisation and dealing with big time Nashville agents, and very soon, their dream will become a reality. Nashville will arrive in Essex for an amazing weekend of Dixie culture and true country music.
Also featuring at the first Dixie Fields Festival:
Royal South are an original Nashville powerhouse trio, featuring Dallas-born SaraBeth, Vickie Vaughn (Kentucky) & Glen Mitchell (from Essex!) They’ve been described as offering, “Some southern twang, a British accent and undeniably brilliant three-part harmony”.
Jackson Michelson is an Oregon native and now Nashville resident. He’s performed with the likes of Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton and Zac Brown Band and will be making his UK debut performance at Dixie Fields.
Megan O’Neill is a multi-award winning Irish country star who has played C2C, Nashville Meets London, Black Deer. Her music was featured on ABC’s hit TV drama Nashville.
Remember Monday made music headlines this year as the first trio to turn all the judges’ chairs on ITV’s talent show The Voice. They’re now working with Jennifer Hudson.
Holloway Road is a high-energy Essex country music act, born and bred in the county but making a name for themselves across the UK, US and beyond.
Gary Quinn has won multiple British Country Music Association awards for best male vocalist and organises the annual Buckle’n’Boots festival.
The boutique country music festival will take place on the weekend of 12-14th July 2019 on farmland bordering the beautiful Hylands Park, near Chelmsford, Essex. Tickets are on sale now for Dixie Fields festival from www.dixiefields.com
