The Magpies Festival 2026
Venue: Sutton ParkTown: Sutton on the Forest, York
Date: 14th & 15th August 2026
Website: https://www.themagpiesfestival.co.uk/
The sixth Magpies Festival even managed to get the weather right. After a hot Friday start it cooled down on Saturday and the rain held off until Sunday morning, which nobody objected to even as the tents were being packed away.
This is a festival that has become an absolute must in my calendar because it's just so right. Set in a parkland, so there's plenty of space, the camping area is just a short walk to the arena which has two stages and a bar area sponsored by a local brewery. The stages are staggered so it's very easy to see all the acts, or you can just adjust your chair slightly because sound quality is excellent. Also in the arena are the good value food stalls, including still the best ice cream I've ever tasted, and traders.
What really makes this festival work is the number of musicians involved at all levels. Holly Brandon absolutely knows her stuff as Festival Director. Having seen festivals from both sides of the stage she knows what people want and makes sure they get it. Very much hands on she could also be seen running around with packs of toilet paper to make sure the facilities were kept well provided, as well as popping up on the stage several times. Fellow Magpie Bella Gaffney worked hard as an enthusiastic MC for Stage 1 and held a packed shanty workshop which is also becoming a tradition.
Blair Dunlop, artist liaison, and Jon Hart, chief sound engineer, along with very hard working stage and sound crews ensured everything ran to minute perfection. The stewards and volunteers, over a hundred of them, also put is sterling efforts.
<
p>Some festivals are struggling thisyear, as we've seen. The 2026 Magpies Festival sold out and, apart from all of the above, the common thread from returning visitors is that they come back for two reasons. First, the music is of the highest quality. Secondly, it's a beautifully relaxed and friendly festival. Everyone's there to have a good time, queues automatically form for the bar and is everyone is happy to chat away. On Saturday evening I was packing up all the gear ready to head back to the tent. Without being asked somebody switched on their torch for me so I could see what I was doing. It's that kind of festival. People in chairs generally leave a space for a mosh pit in front to stage 1 and the polite notice that it was to be kept free of chairs after 6pm was was observed without any issues.
The music, booked by musicians who know what they're doing, was of the very highest quality. Friday evening opened with my find of the year, True Foxes making even more fans with their [precisely written songs about everyday life with a slight Americana twist and wonderful harmonies. The main stage opened with Daraa Tribe from Morocco, who did wonder what all this fuss about hot weather was about. Although they come from the same town they have different tribal backgrounds and that gave an eclectic sound to an already different form of music to the ones we normally get in Europe.
Elizabeth Davidson Blythe and Daniel Quayle had an interesting start to their set. Starting at 7pm they found a new backing track as about 1,000 phones suddenly got a government alert message coming through. It's an effect that probably won't be used on their next album. Despite that they went on to give a terrific show of tradition tunes from across Europe with their own personal stamp on each one and a dynamic style.
Quite rightly The Magpies took their place on the main stage. They've never been afraid to push boundaries and try something new, adding to their unique sound. Of course, having formed just down the road on York the crowd loves them and there was a buzz through the audience throughout the set. There's a new album and tour coming in Spring 2027 that will be one to look forward to.
Closing the evening the tempo picked up. Supalung are rock and soul and wowed the audience. If you want a big main stage finish then Maran are hard to beat. It's incredible to think they've been around for 15 years but still entrance audiences. Again it's traditional music as it should be, always looking forward. Finally the New York Brass Band are from York, and new, and play brass across a wide range of genres, the only requirement is that the songs get the audience up and dancing the night away. We did.
Saturday wasn't as sunny as Friday but still hot, the ground acting like a giant radiator. If that didn't warm you up then the aforementioned shanty workshop did. To a packed tent Bella took us through a range of shanties and sea songs. It was funny to hear her ask "Do you know this one?" only for the participants to start singing it out.
Getting acts in the right order is a key to festival success and this festival got it right. Steady Habits eased us in to the day with some thoughtful Americana and indie-folk led by the vocals of Connecticut born Sean C Duggan. One of the many highlights of the festival was a songwriter's circle of Blair Dunlop, Chloe Foy and Katherine Priddy with Blair also acting as MC. We not only got to hear the songs bit about songwriting techniques as well. Alex Hart, with a full band, then showed why she is so highly regarded with a reputation that grows and grows.
Upping the pace just slightly Tarren are instrumental new-folk with an absorbing sound which again takes traditional music forward. Blair Dunlop and band then give a set that was jaw droppingly good. I've been seeing him for many years and he just gets better. His writing is of such high quality and he can tell stories on so may levels. It's not often you'll here both "trilobite" and "arthropod" in lyrics but this is a song worth hunting out.
A joy of festivals is finding new music and Ophelia's Beard were just that. It was a big, bold performance full of innovation and superb musicianship. That then compared to Katherine Priddy showing why I always enjoy seeing here. Probably one of the best voices around, that makes you want to listen, and songs that can both pull at the heartstrings and raise a smile. Another new act for me, Around About Dusk, were a great addition to the line up. Another outfit that refuses to be hidebound by convention they mix styles and genres, with quality being the only requirement.
Then you go big before you go home. Gnoss stormed the stage with the complete package of musicianship and songs that can raise the hairs on the back of your neck and a gave few laughs as we tried to negotiate some strong Orcadian accents. Sunto Susso brought more exotic music from Gambia playing a kora that still tunes faster than a banjo. I've seen him before, this was the first time with a band, and he doesn't just play music incredibly skilfully but explains what he's doing and how this this very complicated instrument works. It's fascinating to both watch and listen to.
Finally Cut Capers filled the stage with brass driven funk, soul and powerful vocals. It was a wonderful end to a magical festival that gets better and better. I firmly believe one of the reasons for this is that a winning format has been refined over the years. The size is right, the location is perfect and two days of high quality music leaves everybody happy. I don't see how it could be improved on and I will be back for the seventh iteration on the 13th and 14th August 2027. Early bird tickets will be available soon so get the date in the diary and keep an eye on the website.
Tony Birch - Words & Pictures
Check out more pics of the festival in our Gallery
Gig Reviews
There are only so many hours in a day and only so many gigs we can get to. We'd really like to expand our national coverage of the live scene as it remains the life blood of music.
Are you able to help us and the artist you're seeing out by dropping us a review once you get back home, and maybe even a picture. If you are able to help, Mail Us your review and we'll get it up as quick as we can
Silver Dagger Cover - Becca Rose
Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
Pirate is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.