Get ready this festival season and kick things off with brand new UK Country Music Festival Country On The Eye. The event takes place on June 13th 2026 at Play Close Park, Melton Mowbray.

An exciting lineup which includes Gary Quinn, Karli & James, Jeff Cohen and more, the festival has also added the Song Suffragettes for a songwriters showcase.

The festival brings together the heart of Nashville and the soul of the East Midlands, blending US songwriting traditions with standout original artists.

Curated by Ben Atkinson, host of the internationally syndicated Ben’s Country Music Show, Country on the Eye opens with a Nashville-style Songwriters Series on Friday night, inspired by iconic venues such as the Bluebird Cafe and The Listening Room. 

Saturday delivers a full day of live performances celebrating storytelling, musicianship and authentic Americana sounds.

The full lineup adds Song Suffragettes London, and Jeff Cohen to the main stage on Saturday, 13th June. In addition, Jeff Cohen will be performing at the Songwriters Showcase on Friday, 12th June.

Song Suffragettes is Nashville’s pre-eminent, all-female acoustic showcase and collective founded in 2014 to combat systemic gender disparity in country music. Performing weekly at The Listening Room Cafe, they feature rising female singer-songwriters under the mantra #LetTheGirlsPlay. In 2022, Song Suffragettes announced their first monthly residency outside the US, in London. In partnership with Country Women UK, Song Suffragettes London will bring the best female singer-songwriters from the UK to share songs and stories in a one-of-a-kind show. The Country On The Eye lineup will feature Emilia Quinn, Sophie Rose, Nicola Allan and Kier.

Jeff Cohen is a distinguished, 6-time BMI Award-winning, Grammy and CMT Award-nominated songwriter, producer, and publisher based in Nashville, Tennessee. His compositions have collectively sold over 25 million albums, featured in more than 100 film and television placements, and appeared in over 10 million video games. Cohen’s songwriting prowess is evident in chart-topping hits like “Crazy for This Girl” by Evan and Jaron, “Postcard from Paris” by The Band Perry, “Holy Water” by Big & Rich, and BBC Radio 2 A-list hits for The Shires, including “Thousand Hallelujahs,” “Daddy’s Little Girl,” “Echo,” and “I See Stars.” Before fully immersing himself in songwriting, Cohen served as a music executive at BMI, where he played a pivotal role in the careers of talents like Jeff Buckley, Lisa Loeb, Joan Osborne, and Spin Doctors.

Alongside the main stage, festivalgoers can explore an Acoustic Tent featuring intimate sets and artist interviews, take part in line-dancing workshops, enjoy Americana-inspired food and drink, and soak up the relaxed riverside atmosphere.

Hosted by the Melton Mowbray Town Estate, Country on the Eye is designed as a warm, inclusive festival for dedicated music fans and curious newcomers alike.

Tickets and full details available at:https://countryontheeye.co.uk/