Words/Pictures: Louise Phillips / (C) Louise Phillips Photography
Red Rooster founder Harry Grafton has created the seemingly impossible—the ultimate hedonistic escape for blues and country lovers, the effortlessly cool kids, and their kids! Set against the stunning backdrop of his ancestral home, the jaw-dropping Euston Hall, this is one of those “pinch-me” perfect festivals.
While the music is undoubtedly the biggest draw—in fact, so important is the music to its founder that he searches the globe for the perfect acts to curate this very select line-up—this festival offers so much more. The best-kept secret of the festival circuit, Red Rooster is an intimate alternate reality, pure escapism with wild swimming, archery, incredible food, and just about anything else you could possibly want.
And while it would be easy to get lost in the pure magic of this incredible place, it was the music that truly stole the show. Three days of the most delicious blues, cow-punk, country, and rock acts currently out there, performing on intimate stages in a serene setting.
Every day was pure, unadulterated perfection, but it was Thursday night—usually seen as the warm-up night at most festivals—that truly set the tone. The undeniable highlight? The magnificent and refreshingly down-to-earth Samantha Fish. From the very first emotion-drenched note of her divine slide guitar, Fish stole the show—in fact, she stole the entire festival. A fearless, beautiful woman who owned the stage in every sense, a blues legend who sang from the heart and left the audience spellbound.
Her latest single, “Paper Doll,” spoke from the soul with fearless yet exquisite rawness, showcasing just how far the Nashville icon has come. She’s high-octane and clearly bulletproof.
But Fish wasn’t the only act to leave the crowd in their happy place. The three other main stage acts were all on another level of so-damn-good.
First up, country-billy rockers Vagaband delivered their snappy blend of Americana, prog, and ’70s country funk. A mainstay of the roots music scene, with a catchy bluegrass twist.
Next, The Zipheads didn’t just take the stage—they blew it to pieces. Their electrifying rockabilly-punk-swing set was unlike anything else on the bill. Frontman Ray Waters’ stage persona was reminiscent of the early Stray Cats, with an energetic and frankly hilarious edge that made them feel completely fresh, compelling, and dangerous—like Tigger on acid crossed with Elvis (in his super-cool bad boy days). Pure genius. Just brilliant.
Before the crowd could even catch their breath, Dutch psychedelic southern rock-inspired trio DeWolff took to the stage. Like Fish, they’re a band Red Rooster must be pinching itself to have booked. With massive, anthem-esque riffs, catchy-as-hell lyrics, and a dazzling stage presence, their set was both visually stunning and gritty, with a glam rock edge—but cooler.
Day Two brought another glorious day in musical paradise. Country boys Dom Glynn & His Sunday Best kicked things off before Savannah Gardner and The Recovering Good Girls elevated the mood with their genre-bending soulful storytelling. Their joyous, boot-stomping set was driven by Gardner’s powerhouse vocals, reminiscent of a young Patsy Cline.
By this point, everyone was well and truly in the festival spirit. But it was when Jenny Don’t & The Spurs hit the stage with their unique brand of cow-punk blended with garage rock that the party really ignited. Fresh off the release of their highly anticipated new album Broken Hearted Blue, Jenny’s tremendous voice and punk attitude could make even the most die-hard rocker don a Stetson and cowboy boots.
Early James was another blinding addition to an already impressive line-up. His voice and attitude channeled a young Jerry Lee Lewis, with a rich, dirty rasp and sardonic lyrics. His intimate connection with the crowd made the performance feel raw and edgy—as though anything could happen.
Toby Lee then set the stage on fire with a balls-to-the-wall, full-throttle blues and rock’n’roll set. Every track was executed with seamless precision that rivalled legends like Gary Moore and Jimi Hendrix. Lee, in a trance-like state, tore up and down the fretboard like it was ablaze. He played with a howling intensity that had to be seen to be believed. Utterly spectacular!
Jim Jones & The All Stars followed, delivering a satanic, down-and-dirty Mississippi sound that whipped the crowd into a frenzy. If ever you needed proof the devil can play rock’n’roll—this was it. As Jones lurched into the audience, the tent’s energy hit fever pitch. Their entire set was a hell-raising explosion of musical madness. Visually stunning with duelling saxophones and Jones’s explosive energy, this band consists of first-class musicians performing every song with glorious intensity.
Next up were JP Harris & The Tough Choices, who unfortunately felt like a slightly flat follow-up to Jones’s explosive set. While good in their own way, the audience seemed distinctly underwhelmed.
The night’s headliners, Red Rooster favourites The Sheepdogs, closed the evening with groove-based psychedelia blended with swaggering rock’n’roll. The crowd loved them—a fitting end to a triumphant day.
Day Three brought a more mellow vibe. Headliner JD McPherson—playing his first UK show in seven years—was undoubtedly the evening’s biggest draw. His blend of rockabilly, surf rock, post-punk, and new wave had the crowd dancing from the first note. But other acts also left a lasting mark.
Contemporary country blues artist Jontavious Willis delivered a soul-stirring set of traditional blues and gospel that took the ecstatic crowd on a musical journey they’ll never forget.
Twinnie, meanwhile, high-kicked her way around the stage, singing songs of heartbreak while swigging Jack Daniels. While her voice was incredible and she certainly had star quality, much of her performance was directed into her phone camera—something of a waste, given the real-life audience fully engaged in front of her.
Thee Sinseers and The Altons also stood out, reinforcing the top-tier calibre of this year’s line-up.
Thee Sinseers delivered mellow, doo-wop-inspired soul with a rich brass section and smooth vocal harmonies—easy listening at its finest for winding down.
The Altons, half of whom also play in Thee Sinseers, added a Latin twist to their soulful rock sound, with energetic licks and funky grooves.
The final act that absolutely deserves mention in this stellar line-up is Danny & The Champions of the World, who played their hearts out with deep Americana and rock’n’roll. They were tight as tight could be and shared a beautiful connection with the audience.
To sum it up: This is a festival that has absolutely nailed it—offering attendees the chance to see both major acts and future stars in an intimate, stunning setting. Unlike any other UK festival, Red Rooster has struck a perfect balance between luxury and grassroots. It’s more family-friendly than most, and incredibly, it’s also one of the most affordable tickets around.
Red Rooster—I salute you!
https://www.redrooster.org.uk/
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