Highways Festival Returns To The Royal Albert Hall For 2024

Live Nation Entertainment and the prestigious Royal Albert Hall are thrilled to announce the return of the eagerly anticipated Highways Festival in 2024. Building on the resounding success of the inaugural edition in 2023, Highways 2024 is set to elevate the excitement over two unforgettable days, featuring a star-studded lineup of top Country and Americana artists headlined by Brett Young and The Cadillac Three and featuring Shane Smith & The Saints, Grammy-nominated The War & Treaty, Tanner Usrey, Josh Ross, BOWEN * YOUNG and William Prince.

Live Nation’s Vice President of Touring, Anna-Sophie Mertens says: “We are back! After a hugely successful inaugural edition, it fills me with great pride to bring to life Highways Festival for its second year alongside our partners at the Royal Albert Hall. And this time even bigger and better with two days of programming across the Country and Americana genre”. 

Matthew Todd, Director of Programming and Engagement at the Royal Albert Hall, says: “We’re thrilled to welcome back Highways for a second year, for two days across our 153-year-old building. The Hall has a proud history promoting Country and Americana in the UK, from Johnny Cash to Kacey Musgraves, but what makes Highways especially exciting is the range of music for the audience, from family events and songwriting sessions in our smaller spaces to the incredible headline artists that light up the auditorium.”

Highways 2024 will once again ignite the heart of London and extend to two days of programming on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18, 2024. This year’s extraordinary roster promises an unparalleled celebration of the full spectrum of Country and Americana genres.  

The event will captivate attendees with its unique blend of intimacy and grandeur. The festival will immerse fans in the rich tapestry of Country and Americana music, as it takes over every corner of the Royal Albert Hall. From main-stage performances in the iconic auditorium to meticulously curated showcases within its intimate rooms and authentic culinary offerings that pairs exquisitely with soul-stirring music throughout the festival, Highways 2024 will bring the full country music experience to London against the breathtaking backdrop of the iconic Royal Albert Hall. 

Back to host the main auditorium is Baylen Leonard, the vibrant voice of Absolute Radio Country’s Americana and Roots show, The Front Porch. A two-time CMA International Broadcaster of the Year, Baylen will guide the festival through its musical journey, celebrating the vibrant world of country music.

The Cadillac Three: “Touring the UK has always been special. Ever since our first trip over in 2013, the crowds have embraced us in a wonderful way. To headline the Royal Albert Hall during Highways is another check on the bucket list. We can’t wait to bring ‘The Years Go Fast’ to the UK! See y’all soon!”

Brett Young: “I always love getting to play for the fans in the UK but having the opportunity to perform at a venue as legendary as Royal Albert Hall during Highways 2024 is a real honor,” says Young.  “We’re looking forward to headlining this exciting new festival.”

Auditorium line-up on Friday, May 17, 2024: 
The Cadillac Three
Shane Smith & The Saints
Tanner Usrey 
BOWEN * YOUNG

Auditorium line-up on Saturday, May 18, 2024:
Brett Young
The War & Treaty
Josh Ross 
William Prince

In addition to the Auditorium performances, the event will once again feature carefully curated showcases as part of the festival: 

Country for Kids is back again to kick off the second day of festivities. This family-friendly event is the perfect opportunity for children to let loose and express themselves in a relaxed environment, with no expectation to stay still or be quiet. Recommended for ages 4-11, but babies and budding musicians of all ages are welcome! Doors open at 9.30am, and the event runs 10am – 11am. 

For those looking for a more intimate experience, the incredible Songwriter’s Round will return on Saturday afternoon. This event promises to be a musical masterpiece, with each artist taking turns to perform some of their favourite tracks acoustically, talking about the inspiration for their music and the stories behind their songs. Doors open at 2pm, and the event runs from 2.30pm – 4.30pm. 

Each night after the main auditorium action concludes, the party is far from over! Attendees can keep the celebration going by joining us at the Official After Show Party. The event runs 11pm – 12:30am.

For those who just can’t get enough of the sweet sounds of Country and Americana, join us after the main show at the Late Night Special to cap each night with one more exclusive live performance, not to be missed! The event runs 11.30pm-12:30am.

Due to capacity restrictions, tickets to all additional events are sold separately. Line-ups to be announced.
Age restriction – All customers aged 14 years or below must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or over. All timings are subject to change. 

 Photo Supplied By Live Nation UK Press Office

Highways Festival 2024 takes place on Friday 17th May 2024 and Saturday 18th May 2024 at The Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom. 

Dining, VIP & hospitality packages are available for purchase. Tickets for the festival will go on sale to the public on Friday 8th December 2023, at 10 a.m. (GMT) and can be purchased at www.highwaysfestival.co.uk