Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, one of St Albans' best-known historic pubs, will throw open its doors for a free, day-long music festival on Saturday 1 August. The annual Fighting Cocks Fest returns for its fourth year with eight live acts, food and family entertainment on the pub's site on Holywell Hill.
Line-up and highlights
Live music is scheduled to begin at 1pm, with bands performing through the afternoon and evening. The bill features a mix of local and regional acts across blues, country, Americana, indie and rock styles, with an evening DJ set to close the event.
- Kaspar 'Berry' Rapkin & The Swamp Dogs (blues)
- Two Gun Mathilda (1950s/60s rhythm & blues, soul, rock 'n' roll)
- Savannah Gardner & The Recovering Good Girls (country/Americana/blues)
- Paul Ryan Band (indie, folk, Americana, rock)
- Seb Wesson Band (blues-rock)
- Adam and Elsie Franklin (acoustic duo)
- Marta Valadon (singer-songwriter)
- Brooke Law (award-winning British blues-rock/country-pop)
The day will finish with a DJ set from Chris Clifford, who will play house and club classics after the live performances.
"Fighting Cocks Fest has become one of our favourite days of the year. It's all about bringing people together to enjoy great live music while supporting talented local artists in a relaxed and welcoming setting," said Martin Robinson of Ye Olde Fighting Cocks.
What visitors can expect
Entry to the festival is free and the event is promoted as family-friendly. As well as the music, attendees can buy food throughout the day and sample the pub's selection of beers and ales. The organisers say there will also be additional entertainment, including fire-breathing performances.
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday 1 August |
| Start time | 1pm (live music) |
| Entry | Free |
| Venue | Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, St Albans |
Last year's festival drew record crowds to the pub, which claims a long history as one of Hertfordshire's most historic drinking establishments. The event gives local performers the chance to appear on a bigger stage and offers residents a free day out in the city centre.
For those planning to attend: arrive early if you want a good spot for performances and to avoid queues at food stalls. The pub's indoor spaces will host later performances should weather or capacity require it.
The festival programme underlines a growing appetite in Hertfordshire for live, volunteer-friendly events that spotlight local musicians. Ye Olde Fighting Cocks' organisers say they are proud to support regional talent and to provide a relaxed setting for families and music fans.
