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A NEW DAY FESTIVAL
A DECADE OF SOUND IN KENT
BY SOPHIE SHORTER
ANew Day Festival is set to celebrate its decennial anniversary in 2026 with the return of its renowned threeday summer celebration held within the stunning grounds of Mount Ephraim Gardens.
At the helm are David Rees and Frank Smith- enthusiastic music lovers with a deep appreciation for the sounds of the 1960s and the power of bringing people together to celebrate the now-veteran names in the industry. What began as a shared passion has, over time, grown into something far greater: a festival with a loyal following and a confident identity.
Rees’ s roots in music culture run deep. Alongside Martin Webb, he created a fanzine dedicated to Jethro Tull- a quarterly publication that has served as a longrunning source of news, interviews and archive material for fans since 1985. Still in circulation today, it became a natural stepping stone towards Weyfest, a boutique music festival Rees later went on to run.
Held annually at the Rural Life Museum in Surrey, Weyfest brought over 30 hours
of live music across four stages set within 10 acres of woodland. Building on both its success and its dedicated following, Rees and friends, Frank and Angela Smith, launched A New Day Festival in 2016- the largest music event to be held at Mount Ephraim since 2007.
Since then, the festival has become a celebration of prog rock, classic rock, blues and roots music, welcoming an impressive roster of talent including Wilko Johnson, HENGE and Ian Anderson of the Grammy Award-winning Jethro Tull.
As the festival returns to Kent from 21- 23 August 2026, acts such as The Blue Stragglers, The Mentulls and Hawkwind are set to take to the stage, with anticipation already building among both returning guests and first-time visitors.
Often described as a‘ little festival with the big bands’, A New Day has carved out a distinct identity- appealing to both diehard fans of the genre and younger audiences drawn to the enduring influence of 60’ s and 70’ s rock that the festival pays homage to.
From its earliest days, the festival has extended beyond music itself. Craft and clothing stalls, workshops, sci-fi characters and local food and drink vendors have long contributed to its atmosphere, creating a vibrant experience where guests can camp and reconnect with the soundtracks of their youth.
As the festival marks its 10th anniversary, Kentish melomaniacs can once again expect performances across two stages running consecutively alongside camping and glamping options, award-winning hospitality offerings and the charm of Mount Ephraim’ s Edwardian estate- widely regarded as one of England’ s most picturesque festival settings. A pre-festival evening on 20 August will also give early arrivals the chance to settle in and revel in the action ahead of the main event.
Early-bird tickets are now available, alongside exclusive anniversary merchandise and pictorial books reflecting on its journey- from a small, independent idea to the landmark celebration that it is today.
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