A brand-new Country and Americana festival, Highways, is coming to London’s Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 20th May 2023! Showcasing Country and Americana’s biggest stars, the iconic London venue will shine even brighter with acclaimed acts such as KIP MOORE, MORGAN WADE, JACKSON DEAN and STEPHEN WILSON JR, already confirmed for Saturday 20th May 2023.
Intimate yet grand, Highways is set to be an unforgettable occasion for Country and Americana fans and artists alike. The festival will touch every corner of the Royal Albert Hall from main performances in the legendary auditorium, to carefully curated showcases speckled across adorning rooms. Fall in love with the deep south when music is paired with an authentic culinary offering, and the doors open to a first of its kind festival at the Royal Albert Hall!
Headlining the first edition of Highways will be multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter KIP MOORE. Known as “one of country’s more thoughtful artists”, KIP had toured the world earning acclaim and a rabid fanbase as an all-in performer in each setting, consistently selling out shows across the globe. He first broke onto the mainstream scene in 2012 with his double-platinum hit single ‘Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck’ and has since released a four ambitious, critically-praised albums and EPs.
It’s pretty overwhelming to think about playing such an iconic venue as Royal Albert Hall. It’s been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember. Audiences in the UK are some of my all-time favorites to play and I can’t wait to be back over there to launch Highways Festival. It’s going to be really special.
Kip Moore
The incredibly talented MORGAN WADE will bring her distinctly singular – turpentine and honeycomb – vocal tone to the first edition of Highways. After starting out writing music to speak her truth, save her own life and throw a rope to others struggling, Morgan released her debut album ‘Reckless’ in 2021 which topped Rolling Stone Country’s 25 Best Country and Americana Albums list. Recently she has been named in Forbes’ 2023 30 Under 30: Music list.
Maryland native JACKSON DEAN will be bring his old school, gritty style of Country to London next May. Mature beyond his years, Jackson has a daring and carefree spirit, having moved into a one-room shack on his grandfather’s property when he was 18. Bringing that same sense of adventure to his song writing, Jackson writes both independently and alongside other writers. 2022 saw him release his atmospheric, musically-forward debut album ‘GREENBROKE’ featuring top 10 hit ‘Don’t Come Lookin’ which was the highest charting Country single for a new artist since 2015 and has been streamed over 2.5 million times.
Also on the line-up is singer-songwriter and self-taught guitarist STEPHEN WILSON JR. After starting an indie rock band at University where he co-wrote songs and played lead guitar, he then turned his created focus to song writing and singing. After working with the likes of Brothers Osbourne and Tim McGraw writing music, he released his own debut single in 2016 and has since released other tracks including his latest single ‘billy’.
I am thrilled to bring to life this incredible festival alongside our partners at the Royal Albert Hall. It is every artist’s dream to play this legendary venue, and delivering such an unforgettable occasion for the Country and Americana community has been a longstanding dream of mine.
Anna Sophie-Mertens, Live Nation Vice President Touring