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Alanis Morissette replaces Neil Young as headliner for State Fayre Festival after tour cancellation

February 11, 2026 Culture

Alanis Morissette has replaced Neil Young as the headliner for the State Fayre Festival after his recent tour cancellation.

Morissette will headline the Saturday night of the inaugural State Fayre 2026, a new festival taking place at Hylands Park, Chelmsford from June 26-28. She will perform alongside Kings of Leon, Skunk Anansie and The Lumineers.

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It comes after Young recently cancelled his entire UK and European tour, saying “this is not the time” for him to be playing shows.

Following his huge shows last year with the Chrome Hearts headlining Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage and topping of the bill for BST Hyde Park 2025, the Canadian-American folk rock icon had announced a string of outdoor dates for this summer.

These included shows at Cornwall’s Eden Sessions on June 17, Manchester’s Heaton Park on June 19 and the headline slot at the Fayre Festival. He was then supposed to head over to Scotland for a slot at the Glasgow Summer Sessions at Bellahouston Park on June 29, before performing at Blenheim Palace Festival in Oxford on July 3 and Cardiff’s Blackweir Fields on July 5.

The tour was then scheduled to head through Europe, wrapping up in Udine, Italy on July 26.

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However, Young confirmed that the shows would not be going ahead. In a statement posted to the website Neil Young Archives, he wrote: “I have decided to take a break and will not be touring Europe this time,” he wrote. “Thanks to everyone who bought tickets. I’m sorry to let you down, but this is not the time. I do love playing LIVE and being with you and the Chrome Hearts. LOVE Neil be well.”

Fans who have tickets will be contacted directly and will be fully refunded.

Meanwhile, the new State Fayre festival has been branded the UK’s largest music and barbecue festival. Designed to celebrate rock, country and folk, the inaugural edition will bring “a true taste of Americana” to the UK, and draws inspiration from American state fairs, long summer nights and tailgate parties.

Topping the bill for the first night of the 2026 festival will be Kings Of Leon, who are recognised as one of the biggest alternative rock bands of the last 20 years, and dropped their latest album ‘Can We Please Have Fun’ last year.

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The Lumineers will close out the final night, and were handpicked by organisers as they have “become one of the most successful and influential bands of their generation, blending alternative rock, Americana, and heartfelt storytelling”. The slot comes following the Wesley Schultz-led band releasing their new album ‘Automatic’ earlier this year.

Morissette will headline the Saturday, with Skunk Anansie now also added to the bill.

Others on the bill for State Fayre 2026 are The Black Crowes, Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, Counting Crows, Amble, Kingfishr, Dylan Gossett, Sierra Ferrell, Max McNown, KT Tunstall, and The Coral. More artists are set to be announced at a later date. Visit here to buy any remaining tickets.

According to organisers, other than music spanning across three stages, the UK BBQ festival FUME will host The FUME Pit on-site, featuring award-winning pitmasters and vendors from across the UK and beyond, and there will also be live food talks and demonstrations, whiskey, craft beers and cocktail bars plus non-alcoholic drinks options, and more on offer.

“We are thrilled to unveil a brand new camping festival that builds on the phenomenal UK growth in Americana, rock and country over the past few years,” said organisers Anna-Sophie Mertens and Alex Simmonds. “We’re so excited to present this music in an immersive outdoor setting complete with the authentic food, activities and big open skies of an American state fair.”