Stonedead Festival – Nottinghamshire, UK 2026
Overview
The Stonedead Festival is a premier celebration of classic rock, hard rock, and heavy metal music that draws thousands of enthusiasts to the historic Nottinghamshire town of Newark-on-Trent, featuring a powerhouse lineup of tribute acts honoring legends like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and AC/DC over a high-energy weekend. Launched in 2018 as a grassroots passion project by festival organizer Dave Carroll, it has grown into one of the UK’s most beloved rock festivals, known for its family-friendly vibe, affordable tickets, and intimate setting at Newark Showground, where the roar of guitars meets the charm of Leicestershire’s countryside.
With a focus on authentic tributes and emerging rock talent, the festival offers camping, food stalls, trade stalls, and a kids’ zone, creating an inclusive atmosphere that blends headbanging nostalgia with community spirit. Supported by local sponsors and volunteers, it’s more than music—it’s a rock revival that raises funds for charities, leaving attendees with sun-soaked memories and a thirst for next year’s riff-fest.
Event Highlights
- Main activities or performances: Tribute bands delivering spot-on renditions of classics, including Black Sabbath Experience, Deep Purple Tribute, and AC/DC tribute acts on the main stage; late-night acoustic sets and emerging rock supports at secondary stages; DJ sets spinning vinyl rock anthems till dawn.
- Special traditions or features: Annual “Rock Legends Day” with fan meet-and-greets and signed memorabilia auctions, rooted in the festival’s 2018 origins; family rock workshops where kids learn air guitar and basic riffs, emphasizing its all-ages ethos.
- Unique attractions for visitors: Trade stalls with rare vinyl and band merch; kids’ zone with rock-themed crafts and bouncy castles; camping with bonfire pits for late-night jamming, all set against Newark Showground’s open fields for a picturesque rock retreat.
About This Event
- Focuses on tribute and classic rock to revive 70s/80s anthems in a non-competitive, inclusive format that spotlights UK tribute acts and local heroes.
- Organized by Dave Carroll and team, partnering with Newark Showground for seamless setups that prioritize affordability and family fun.
- Incorporates eco-elements like recycling stations and carpool incentives, aligning with Nottinghamshire’s green countryside for a sustainable headbang.
Why Attend
Crashing the Stonedead Festival is your backstage pass to rock nirvana, where £50 weekend tickets unlock tribute anthems that echo Sabbath’s doom from dawn till dusk, all in a family zone that’s kinder than a mosh pit—perfect for parents rocking out while kids craft guitar picks. The weekend’s seamless flow from main-stage madness to bonfire acoustics crafts those “legendary” tales, blending nostalgia with new bonds without the Glastonbury grind.
Deeper than decibels, it’s a tribute to rock’s rebellious heart, boosting charities while spotlighting unsung tributes in Nottinghamshire’s embrace. Solo shredders uncover vinyl rarities, groups groove to collective choruses, and families forge festival lore—emerging sweat-soaked, soul-shredded, and screaming for 2026’s encore.
Date & Duration
- Dates: July 24 – July 26, 2026
- Duration: 3 days
Venue / Location
- City: Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England; events at the expansive showground with easy town access.
- Main venues: Main Stage (headline tributes and rock sets), Acoustic Tent (late-night sessions and emerging acts), camping fields (bonfires and stalls), kids’ zone (crafts and funfair).
- Main event Google location address: Newark Showground, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire NG24 2NY, UK
Ticket Information
- How tickets are sold: Online via the festival website or Ticketmaster; advance sales for discounts; on-site on Friday (limited).
- Whether admission is free or paid: Paid for all, with under-5s free to encourage families.
- Ticket pricing in USD only: Weekend with camping $65 USD; day tickets $26–$39 USD; child (5–15) $13–$26 USD.
- Any special seating or VIP options: VIP passes with front-stage access and backstage meet ($91 USD); family bundles for camping.
- Minimum ticket price: $0 USD (under-5s); maximum $91 USD (VIP weekend).
- Camping included in weekend tickets; refunds up to 48 hours prior; accessible wristbands on request.
Booking with Euro Travelo
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Contact Information
- Email: info@stonedeadfestival.co.uk (general inquiries); tickets@stonedeadfestival.co.uk (bookings).
- Phone: Not specified; contact via email for festival office.
- Website: https://stonedeadfestival.co.uk; https://www.facebook.com/stonedeadfestival (updates and lineup).
- Social Media: @stonedeadfestival (Facebook and Instagram); @StonedeadFest (X/Twitter).
- Key Staff: Dave Carroll (Organizer); festival team via email.
- Press/Volunteers: Email press@stonedeadfestival.co.uk (media); volunteer sign-ups via website (open spring).
- Note: Response time ~24–48 hours. English support available; lineup announcements on socials.
Getting There
- Nearest airports: East Midlands Airport (EMA), 25 miles/35-min drive via A46; Birmingham International (BHX), 50 miles/1 hour.
- Public transport: East Midlands Railway to Newark North Gate station (from London Kings Cross, 1.5 hours); short taxi to showground (5 minutes).
- Parking: Free on-site for ticket holders; carpool encouraged with overflow lots.
- Other access: Nottinghamshire cycle paths; rideshares like Uber from stations; pedestrian-friendly showground with ramps.
Accommodation Options
- Budget stays: On-site camping included with weekend tickets ($0 extra); nearby hostels like YHA Newark ($26–$39 USD/night shared).
- Mid-range hotels: The Grange Hotel, Newark ($65–$91 USD/night, central); Premier Inn Newark ($78 USD/night with parking).
- Luxury options: Langar Hall Hotel (15-min drive, $117–$143 USD/night, spa); Colwick Hall ($130 USD/night, estate views).
- Other: Airbnbs in town cottages ($52–$104 USD/night); book via Booking.com for July; pet-friendly camping available.
Reviews
- Tribute bands nailed Sabbath’s doom, camping vibes unbeatable—family rock heaven with kids loving the stalls; Stonedead slays.
- AC/DC homages shook the ground, affordable and intimate—better than bigger fests, Newark’s rock renaissance.
- Eclectic riffs and bonfires on point; emerging acts stole the show—already queuing for 2026’s shred-fest.
Maps
Contact
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FAQ's
What makes Stonedead Festival unique compared to larger rock events?
This gem thrives on its intimate tribute focus since 2018, delivering Sabbath and Purple homages at Newark Showground without arena excess, creating a 3-day family haven rarer than a flawless riff. $65 weekend tickets unlock camping and kids' zones, blending nostalgia with non-commercial joy through volunteer heart and charity ties. The July jam paces your playlist amid Nottinghamshire calm, with eco-recycling nodding to dales green. It's less mosh, more memory—anthems hug fields, drawing devotees for the evolving tributes. Families dig the under-5 freebies, repeaters the local lore under every power chord.
Is the festival family-friendly, and what activities for kids?
Yes, with under-5s free and kids' zones boasting rock crafts, bouncy castles, and tribute sing-alongs that tribute without tributes to overwhelm. Parents love the safe camping clusters, short family sets at the main stage, and volunteer-monitored stalls for play breaks. Acoustic tents welcome young troubadours, while trade stalls double as treasure hunts. Flat showground eases buggies, and feedback highlights the joyful, low-stress chaos that bonds generations under dales skies. It's a gentle rock gateway, nurturing mini-shredders in a summery, sunlit sanctuary.
How can I volunteer or perform at the 2026 festival?
Volunteering's a riff away—email info@stonedeadfestival.co.uk for stage crew or stall aid, with spring training and perks like free weekends. No axe needed; passion shreds—alums rave about forged fellowships and festival fire. Performers submit demos via email by April for tribute slots; priority for classic rock homages. Sponsors snag promo packages boosting town ties. It's hands-on harmony, tuning the fest from the fields. Follow Facebook for calls, as crews fill like a crowd surf—join to jam the joy.
What accessibility features support attendees?
Rock for all: Showground ramps and ground-level viewing for sets, with free companion entry via email and volunteer escorts for navigation. Quiet camping nooks ease sensory swells, large-print maps at gates, and BSL for announcements (advance). Flat fields suit aids, feedback praises seamless strolls for wheelchairs. Pre-contact for tweaks like reserved camping or priority stalls—ensuring every riff resonates for all in welcoming waves.
July weather in Newark and packing tips for the weekend?
Nottinghamshire summers cruise 59–72°F with shower whims—layer tees under hoodies, pack ponchos and sun hats for field fickles. Comfy boots brave grass; reusables for eco stalls, app for set swaps amid the stages. Families: kid wristbands, sun lotion for zones. Catch early trains to claim pitches, post-bonfire dales dawns. Festival rugged fits—leather vests optional—and dive in; the music masters any murmur into metal.
