Sunshine, Sounds and Smiles at LeeStock 2026

What a glorious late May bank holiday it was with record temperatures across the UK.

We didn’t have far to travel to enjoy the sunshine as we headed to the lovely grounds of Kentwell Hall in Long Melford, Suffolk (with Factor 50 sun cream and parasols) to enjoy LeeStock Music Festival a former winner of our EAFN Suffolk Festival of the Year awards.

LeeStock has raised more than £200,000 for the Willow Foundation since its inception 18 years ago in memory of Lee Durnford who battled against Hodgkin’s Lymphona until 2006.  This year’s festival was an especially emotional one paying tribute to the event’s “visionary founder” Edd Keogh, who passed away last November.  The main stage was renamed in his memory and we toasted Edd with a pint of Eddit a beer brewed by the local Nethergate Brewery to remember him and raise more money for the foundation.

The festival has such a friendly atmosphere from the moment you enter.  As well as the great music the event offered plenty for children of all ages.  There was face painting, bouncy castles, arts and crafts, raffle prizes and lots of fun and games including a huge football area available throughout the weekend, an escape space provided by local EO Escape Rooms and a great selection of Food stalls including Project Seven who raise funds for the local community groups and charities.

Stage 2 provided a great line up of music and comedy over the weekend with: local DJs from IOMOO vinyl, Norfolk’s Hooma Comedy Club and great music from Kinder this Way, George Erith, The Secret Set, James Burrage and Thin Revolution.

On the Saturday the crowds enjoyed performances from Connor Adams, the Happy Sounds Community Choir, Oscar November, Oblivious, Phoebe Austin, Acrobat, a DJ Set from Marvin Hughes and chart-topping headliners Louise (Redknapp) and Sonique.

On the Sunday there was more great music from Joe Carter (DJ Set), Tom Anderson, Reigns, Myopia, High Points, Gabby Rivers, Dirty Nice, Beans on Toast, a DJ set from the one and only Craig Charles and headline sets from the legends that are Aswad and the Furious Five.

There was something for everyone and we loved it all but there were a few stand outs for us including Gabby Rivers who has played for us on stages at Strawberry Fair and at our EAFN Show in the past (catch her at First Light Festival and she is also headlining the BBC Introducing Stage at Latitude this year!).  We also loved Essex based wild folk act Beans on Toast (Jay Mcallister) who is a regular performer at Glastonbury and Boomtown and becoming something of a cult with his quirky and poignant ‘protest’ songs.  It was also good to see Craig Charles getting the crowd going with a great set of funk and soul music.  We are still singing ‘Don’t turn Around’ by Aswad several days later. The legendary Furious Five (The godfathers of Hip-Hop) including superstar lead singer Melle Mel resplendent in a white cowboy suit ended the Festival with a high energy set including seminal tracks ‘The Message’ and ‘White Lines’ sending everyone home happy.

Shiny happy people, beautiful weather, great entertainment food and beverages in a lovely setting. A great weekend had by all and a fitting tribute to Edd.