Rainford Junction Bluegrass and Old Time Festival
A family festival event, based on youth, inclusivity and community.
Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th July 2026
Rainford Junction Youth Fund
Rainford Junction Festival is about sponsoring youngsters on their journey through bluegrass and old time music. The fund supports individual tuition, residential courses, online lessons and any other forms of education and research. £14 of your ticket money goes directly to this fund.
All persons under 21 are entitled to free festival access and those under 18 also get to bring a chaperone for free. All youngsters may choose to be housed in our Scratch Band Village, a safeguarded welcoming community arranged around a communal picking area.
In search of that jelly-quivering high lonesome sound...
The Battle of The Sessions
Madness, mayhem, chaos and blisteringly fast bluegrass! It's back by popular demand! Five of the best sessions from around the UK get to battle it out for a slice of that UK Bluegrass Sessions Pork Pie Prize. All topped off by a set from one of the UK's bluegrass glitterati.
A Festival of Communities
Our festival site is arranged with small communities, each with public picking areas where everyone is welcome to join. That's a lot of music, in many places and all going on at the same time! Here's just some of the communities you'll find at Rainford Junction...
Your FOAOTMAD community leaders, Andy and Lily present a weekend of concerts, short workshops and sessions covering old-time music and dance. We wish we could spend the entire weekend in this community!
FOAOTMAD
Old Time Community
The Cotton Pickers are a group of elder players who have been picking up and down the hollows and plains of Cheshire for the best part of 20 years. If you're looking for a sing-along in a nice friendly atmosphere be sure to spend some time with these guys, you'll not be disappointed!
Cotton Pickers
As well as headlining our Friday Night jamboree some of the best bluegrass and old time sessions from all over the UK will be creating their own special community environment. Guaranteed music for the entire weekend and always open to newcomers. Man, what we'd give to spend the entire weekend picking with these guys!
Session Village
Three concentric circles, sit on the outside to watch or play along and gravitate to the inner sanctum if you're up for it! The Big Session starts at 18:00 on the Thursday and session leaders revolve every two hours! Everyone welcome, regardless of ability!
