State Fayre Festival Review

I’ll admit it,  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from State Fayre. Replacing the much-loved V Festival was always going to be a big ask, but after spending the weekend there with my two kids in tow, I can honestly say they’ve absolutely nailed it.

We arrived late on Friday after school and had a bit of a trek from the back of the car park, but as soon as we made it onto site, the welcome was warm and friendly. First impressions count and State Fayre got them right.

Now, can we take a moment to talk about the toilets and showers? Because festival veterans will know this is important information! They were genuinely the nicest festival facilities I’ve ever used. Clean, well-stocked all weekend and, for the first time in festival history, I didn’t have to break out my emergency toilet roll stash. A miracle.

The weather couldn’t have been hotter if it tried. It was one of the hottest weekends of the year, but there were plenty of water refill points and the welfare team were fantastic, keeping everyone safe and hydrated.

Is VIP Worth It?

In my opinion, absolutely.

The PaypalVIP area opened earlier than the main arena, which meant you could grab a coffee, find some shade, play a bit of cornhole or simply chill out before the crowds arrived.

One of my unexpected highlights was the pop-up salon. Normally I wouldn’t bother with festival beauty treatments because they can be eye-wateringly expensive, but the team from Studios Salon (whose home salon is in Chelmsford, Essex) were brilliant. Lovely staff, great service and surprisingly affordable. Festival hair without festival prices? Yes please.

There were a couple of little tweaks I’d love to see next year. The Main arena doesn’t open until midday there is a campsite shop and food truck outside the gates but that felt quite minimal for early risers. The spa area was also tucked away in a spot that wasn’t particularly easy for day visitors to access. But honestly, these are tiny points in what was otherwise an incredibly well-organised event.

The Line-Up Was Incredible

The thing that really sets State Fayre apart is the music.

Over the weekend I managed to catch The Coral, Elvis Costello, Skunk Anansie, Kings of Leon, Razorlight, The Magic Numbers, The Lumineers, Counting Crows, KT Tunstall and the absolutely incredible Alanis Morissette.

And the reason I managed to fit so much in? The layout.

Whoever planned the stages and programming deserves a medal. It was so easy to move between the main stage and the smaller stages without missing half a set walking across a packed field. Even with two kids in tow, I packed in more live music than I normally manage at a festival.

My personal highlights? KT Tunstall and Skin from Skunk Anansie. Pure girl-power energy from start to finish. Both absolutely owned the stage.

More Than Just Music

Although the music was the main draw for us, my tweenagers loved the arcade area.

There was karaoke, Mario Kart and a selection of retro games that could be played using tokens. It gave them something fun to do between sets and provided a welcome break from standing in front of stages all day.

There were also a few stalls selling cowboy hats and western-inspired accessories, checkout Vera blacks and the uk country hat bar if your into your western fashion and a few activities including a bullride, Ferris wheel and axe throwing for those wanting to fully embrace their inner cowboy.

Let’s Talk About The Fume Pit BBQ

As a self-confessed meat lover, this deserves its own section.

The Fume Pit BBQ was phenomenal.

Usually at festivals I’m cooking on a camping stove to save money, but this weekend I barely touched the frying pan. The food was so good, with huge portions, excellent quality meat and prices that felt fair for what you were getting.

The Fume Pit stage also hosted cooking demonstrations and all-you-can-eat experiences throughout the weekend. I’d have happily joined in, but my children would never have forgiven the second-hand embarrassment of watching their mother enthusiastically attack a leg of lamb on stage.

It was already hot enough without adding the meat sweats into the mix.

Vegetarians weren’t forgotten either, with several vendors receiving rave reviews, including Club Mex.

Relaxed Festival Vibes

One thing I really loved about State Fayre was how relaxed it felt.

The western theming was spot on, with loads of great photo opportunities dotted around the site and plenty of chances to show off your cowboy boots and hats.

The bars never seemed overly busy and even during the headline sets we never felt crushed by crowds.The site staff and security were absolutely brilliant, you felt safe and well looked after rather than intimidated and they were great with my kids.

VIP ticket holders have access to a grandstand viewing area, which was particularly useful for Kings of Leon, but honestly we hardly used it after that. We found plenty of space near the left-hand side of the main stage by the food vendors, and several times we were able to wander surprisingly close to the front.

People seemed more interested in chilling, dancing and enjoying the music than fighting for barrier space, which created a lovely atmosphere and made it much easier with kids.

A Festival You Can Actually Do With Kids

State Fayre isn’t marketed as a family festival, but if your children are slightly older music lovers, I’d absolutely recommend it.

My two had a fantastic time. I’d imagine older teenagers would love it even more.

As someone who tackled the entire weekend solo with two children, I should also mention how easy the site was to navigate. It’s flat, spacious and very well laid out, which makes a huge difference when you’re carrying bags, finding tents or dealing with tired kids at the end of a long day.

Final Thoughts

State Fayre, you were brilliant.

What a way to fill the gap left by the old V Festival.

Great music, fantastic facilities, excellent food, friendly staff and a genuinely relaxed atmosphere. I left with some great merch, some very happy kids and after finally seeing a couple of my teenage idols perform live.

Most importantly, I left already planning my return.

And for me, that’s the sign of a great festival. See you next year, State Fayre.