EDITORIAL
25 YEARS OF LINTON FESTIVAL: MUSIC, COMMUNITY & MEMORIES
When Linton Festival returns to The Alma Inn from 19th to 21st June, it will mark twenty-five incredible years of live music, great beer, and an unmistakable festival spirit. What began as a simple idea to host a few local bands one evening has grown into a much-loved three-day celebration, welcoming thousands of visitors, attracting international artists, and raising over £150,000 for local charities.
Like many great ideas, Linton Festival started in the pub! When Dave Cherrington bought a CD of The Producers, a group of locals were keen to see them live. But they couldn’t justify the trip to Dorset. So instead, The Producers came to Linton. With the support of the landlords Graham and Lin Webb, an event was organised at The Alma featuring several bands. And just like that, Linton Festival was born. It was the first proper real ale and music festival of its kind in the South-West Midlands Area.
The founding group were Graham Webb, John Smith, Chris and Hilary Orme, Dave and Chris Cherrington. A makeshift stage was quickly assembled by Chris, John, Graham and Kevin Eckley, using little more than a tarpaulin and copper pipes. Over the years it endured wind, rain and the occasional near-miss with the roof. Parts of that original stage still stand today.
In those early days, bands brought their own sound systems, and the stage was lit by fairy lights. Graham was finally persuaded to invest in a proper sound setup and professional lighting, which followed soon after, which were vital as the festival grew.
Over time, the committee has evolved with far too many people to mention individually, but special thanks go to Lin and Tom Welch, Rob and Jackie Dale, Rick and Patricia Kurcharski, Bob and Liz Muncey, and Stephen Lewis. A major turning point came in 2011, when a new directorship - Dave Long, Dave Lambert, Mike Bertenshaw and Paddy Smith - brought fresh ed shape the festival into what it is today.
Despite its growth, Linton Festival remains entirely volunteer-run, powered by an incredible network of people working behind the scenes, from marketing, ticketing and programming, to marshals, camping crews, signage and backstage teams. The Linton Village Hall team also deserve a special mention for keeping everyone fuelled with their much-loved breakfasts!
There are others without whom the festival simply couldn’t happen. Nick Jones has generously provided fields for camping, site access and backstage areas, whilst Chris Goulding has made parking possible year after year. And of course, heartfelt thanks go to our sponsors for their continued support and the local community for their patience!
The festival has shone a light on the sheer talent within the local music scene. Now it welcomes artists from across the globe. Over the years, legendary performers such as Ruby Turner, Suzi Quatro, Wilko Johnson, Walter Trout and Geno Washington have graced the stage, alongside rock icons including Bernie Marsden of Whitesnake and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac.
This year marks not only Linton Festival’s 25th anniversary, but also its final event at The Alma. To celebrate, organisers are pulling out all the stops to make it a fitting finale to a remarkable chapter. The 2026 line-up reflects that ambition, with three outstanding headliners: Dark Side of the Wall (Friday), delivering an unforgettable Pink Floyd tribute; King King (Saturday), bringing their multi-award-winning blues-rock sound; and The Magic of Motown (Sunday), closing the weekend with soul, sparkle and nostalgia. It’s a carefully curated bill featuring artists you’d normally see headlining their own shows.
After twenty-five years, Linton Festival remains a shining example of what can be achieved when a community comes together. Here’s to the final chapter at The Alma, and to celebrating everything that’s made it so special.