Watch Kings Of Leon headline first ever State Fayre Festival: "It feels like coming home"

Kings of Leon have taken the stage at the inaugural State Fayre festival, bringing their signature sound to the UK's biggest music and barbecue festival. For Caleb Followill, the band's frontman, this set felt like a homecoming. With their hits-packed performance at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, the Tennessee band kicked off the festival, which promises a weekend of rock, Americana, and country-leaning music, paired with American-inspired food, decor, and fairground attractions.

State Fayre is a response to the UK's love for music festivals, but with a twist. The brainchild of the event's organizers, the festival aims to combine the best of British summer with the classic American experience of a music festival. With a record-breaking UK heatwave, the smell of barbecue wafting across the site added to the festival's laid-back atmosphere. The line-up, which includes The Black Crowes, Stephen Wilson Jr, and Kingfishr, has been carefully curated to cater to fans of rock, Americana, and country music.

The band's setlist was a mix of old and new, with fan favourites like 'The Bucket', 'Fans', 'On Call', 'Use Somebody', 'Waste A Moment', 'Closer', 'Molly's Chambers', and 'Sex On Fire' taking centre stage. The inclusion of new tracks from their 2024 album 'Can We Please Have Fun' added a fresh layer to their performance. Caleb Followill's comment about feeling like being home suggests that the band is still connected to their roots, even as they continue to evolve their sound.

The festival continues today with a headline set from Alanis Morissette, who replaced Neil Young earlier this year. Skunk Anansie are also set to appear today, while The Lumineers will close the festival tomorrow. Other artists across the weekend include Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton and Counting Crows. The variety of acts and the eclectic mix of music genres make State Fayre a unique experience for music fans.

As the festival continues, it will be interesting to see how the heatwave affects the event. With the smell of barbecue and the sound of music filling the air, State Fayre is shaping up to be a memorable summer event. For Kings of Leon, this set was a chance to reconnect with their UK fans and showcase their music in a new and exciting way.

As the festival draws to a close, one thing is certain: Kings of Leon's homecoming set will be remembered for a long time. With their music still resonating in the air, the band's connection to their UK fans is stronger than ever.