A brand-new festival is set to make its debut this summer, bringing a rich blend of country, folk and roots music to the heart of the East Midlands. Country on the Eye will transform Play Close Park in Melton Mobray into a celebration of transatlantic sounds — from Nashville storytelling to homegrown bluegrass — all against the backdrop of one of England’s most characterful market towns.
For Artistic Director Ben Atkinson, the launch is both professional milestone and personal homecoming.
“Melton Mowbray is my hometown,” he explains. “Although I don’t live there anymore, I was invited back to be the artistic director for a festival hosted by the Melton Mowbray Town Estate. I was given the opportunity to curate the kind of festival I’ve always wanted to attend myself.”
That vision is rooted in nearly two decades behind the mic. Atkinson’s Ben’s Country Music Show is now in its 18th year — the UK’s longest-running independent country programme — and the festival will double as a celebration of that landmark anniversary.
A Festival in the Heart of Town
There’s something quietly revolutionary about the setting. Country festivals in the UK are often rural, remote or destination-based. Country on the Eye, by contrast, unfolds in a town park — centrally located, well connected, and adjacent to camping facilities, yet steps away from local amenities.
“I haven’t seen a country music festival in a town park before,” Atkinson says. “That gives us a great USP.”
It also feels entirely fitting. Melton Mowbray — widely known as the Rural Capital of Food — already carries strong country-lifestyle associations. Now, it gains a soundtrack to match.
What You Need to Know
Dates and Times
Songwriter Showcase: Friday 12th June 2026 at 7.30pm. Doors open 6.30pm.
All Day Festival: Saturday 13th June 2026. Doors open 11am. Curfew 11pm.
Where It Happens
Play Close Park, right in the centre of Melton Mowbray. The festival site is surrounded by cafés, pubs, supermarkets and amenities — no long walks, no remote fields, just a genuinely town‑based festival experience.
Getting There
Melton Mowbray has excellent transport links. The train station is a short walk from the park, with direct services to Leicester (20 minutes), Peterborough (40 minutes) and Birmingham (just over 1 hour). London is approximately 1h30m, plus easy road access via the A607 and A606.
Camping
Camping pitches (not included in ticket) sit immediately adjacent to the festival grounds. Roll out of your tent and you’re practically at the gate.
Ticket Prices
- £30 – Adult (Festival Only)
- £40 – Adult (Festival + Songwriters Showcase)
- £20 – Adult (Songwriters Showcase Only)
- £12 – Children aged 5–14 (Festival Only). Under‑5s go free.
- Carers attend free of charge
On‑Site Extras
Line dancing, rodeo bull, funfair rides, hot food and snacks, licensed bar, games, competitions, and a dedicated Beer Tent Stage with acoustic sets and interviews.
Transatlantic Spirit, East Midlands Soul
From the outset, Atkinson wanted the debut lineup to reflect both his international connections and the strength of the UK scene. The result is a bill that bridges continents and styles.
Headlining is Belfast-born, Nashville-based favourite Gary Quinn, making his festival headline debut. Atkinson has known Quinn for more than a decade, first seeing him perform in the early days of C2C. “He was the first person I thought of,” he says. “He’s a great talent.”
Making their first-ever UK festival appearance are Nashville duo Karli & James, alongside acclaimed songwriter Victoria Banks, who has penned songs with and for major names including Mickey Guyton. Neither act has previously performed on these shores — a deliberate move to ensure Country on the Eye feels fresh and forward-looking.
The Legends Slot
In a coup for year one, the festival’s “legends slot” — inspired by Glastonbury’s teatime tradition — goes to Bob Cheevers, the Emmy-winning Texas troubadour personally chosen by Johnny Cash to open his final concert tour. Cheevers will come out of retirement especially for the event, promising one of the weekend’s most poignant moments.
Homegrown Strength
The UK contingent is equally compelling:
- Will Varley, the folk-punk storyteller whose recent Long Road Festival set drew rave reviews.
- The Often Herd, one of the UK’s most exciting bluegrass outfits, bringing high-energy picking and tight harmonies.
- Ben Atkinson, stepping out from behind the mic to perform his own material.
- Emily River Thomson, a rising voice in the UK roots scene.
- Additional artists still to be announced, ensuring the bill continues to grow.
Across the park, an acoustic Beer Tent Stage will host interviews, songwriter rounds, and intimate performances throughout the day — a nod to Atkinson’s broadcasting roots and a chance for fans to get closer to the music.
“The UK has some superb new talent which has grown over the last decade,” Atkinson notes. “It’s rare to find such great homegrown bluegrass.”
More Than a Label
Country on the Eye refuses to be boxed in by genre definitions. Its programming flows from modern, radio-friendly country to alt-country folk, bluegrass and classic singer-songwriter traditions.
“There’s a lot to be said these days about defining country music,” Atkinson reflects. “I don’t think you have to put a label on it. If you like great music, you’ll love this festival.”
That spirit is perhaps best embodied in Friday night’s Songwriters Showcase — an intentional nod to Nashville’s famed in-the-round sessions at venues such as the Bluebird Cafe. Audiences can expect stripped-back performances, stories behind the songs, and the kind of intimate musical moments rarely seen on a festival stage.
For Atkinson, who has spent years travelling to the US and forging connections within the songwriting community, it’s about bringing that authenticity to the East Midlands.
Giving Back to the Region
The festival also fills a geographical gap. While major country events have flourished in London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Essex, the East Midlands has remained comparatively underserved.
“I’ve spent much of my life travelling to other cities for concerts,” Atkinson says. “This is a great opportunity to give something back to country fans in this part of the UK.
We have good transport connections, camping adjacent to the site, and the park is at the very centre of town, so close to local amenities.”
Competitive ticket prices and a consciously family-friendly atmosphere are central to the long-term vision. Year one success, Atkinson insists, isn’t about scale — it’s about experience.
“All along, I wanted to create the kind of festival that I myself, as a fan, would love to attend.”
Ben Atkinson
If that ethos translates on the day, Country on the Eye could quickly become one of the most distinctive additions to the UK festival calendar — a celebration of storytelling, musicianship and discovery, set in the most unexpected of places.
For fans of authentic songwriting and roots-driven performance, Play Close Park might just be the place to be in 2026.
