There are easier ways to grow a festival than deciding not to grow it too much.

But that is essentially what Buckle & Boots has said.

Back in 2023, co-founder Gary Quinn talked about improving the festival and growing the audience while being careful not to lose the atmosphere that made people love it in the first place. More importantly, he said the original premise had not changed: promote, showcase and support UK Country artists, writers and musicians, while introducing British audiences to emerging acts from elsewhere.

The point has always been bigger than simply booking the largest possible names.

British Country isn’t there to keep the stage warm until somebody lands from Nashville.

It belongs on the bill.

TEN YEARS WITHOUT LOSING THE PLOT

The first Buckle & Boots happened in 2016. The 2026 festival marked its tenth anniversary, and the official site still describes it as an independent Country festival, bringing UK and international artists together around the music, songwriting and community rather than simply building the biggest possible event.

An independent 2026 review made the same point rather more enthusiastically, praising the festival for still feeling passionately curated rather than driven by a major corporate or label machine. That is one reviewer’s judgement, but it lines up rather nicely with what the founders have been saying about the place for years.

That independence shows up in the bill.

It means Buckle & Boots can still make room for the artists, writers and slightly less obvious bookings that help a scene grow — while bringing enough international talent over to keep things interesting.

AND NOW THE REST OF UK COUNTRY HAS NOTICED

Buckle & Boots is currently one of the five finalists for BCMA Festival of the Year 2026.

The other finalists are C2C, The Long Road, The British Country Music Festival and Country Calling.

That is quite a line-up to find a festival from a farm in Greater Manchester sitting among.

The shortlist puts the last decade into perspective.

Buckle & Boots did not have to become C2C to matter.

It spent ten years being Buckle & Boots.

The BCMA shortlist suggests the wider scene has noticed.

BUCKLE & BOOTS — USEFUL LINKS & GOOD TO KNOW

2027 dates: 27–30 May, Whitebottom Farm, Greater Manchester. Tickets are on sale; the 2027 line-up is still to be announced.

Before booking: line-ups, ticket availability, camping and festival arrangements can change, so check the official site before travelling.