Time to Be Thinking About CrownFest 2026

Not just a pretty spiral church, there’s plenty for Bishop’s Cannings to be proud about. Evidence with the personal touch recently defeated a brazen landgrab, conveying a parish council dedicated to its community. Likewise, The Crown is the community hub which seems to bounce back whatever the odds….

A minority of pitchfork and torch wielding killjoys may’ve chased away the proprietors who hosted two years of a most memorable and charity fundraising festival, but the replacement Tory councillor election fraudster departed with their tale between their legs far faster.

If, in this sorry era of village pubs closures, the two best methods of keeping afloat are either good food or entertainment, the latest landlords of their only village pub honour both options. Isn’t it time we helped them celebrate? Because, what we thought was history, CrownFest, returns this year, and looks better than ever before.

Across this country you could trek, finding great festivals everywhere, but here’s one early in July you can catch the bus to! A landmark charity music festival garnished with some of the finest local acts, highly recommended by us at Devizine, and supporting Wiltshire Hope and Harmony, a charity providing essential support to those with SEN needs and to families caring for loved ones living with conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s, as well as those at end of life, offering compassion, dignity, and a true sense of hope.

And we have high hopes for CrownFest’s exceptional live music program, community spirit, and deeply meaningful cause, on Saturday 4th July. My only concern, with twelve performances including our favourites Talk in Code, George Wilding, Ruby Darbyshire and Lucas Hardy, plus Kinisha, whose Tina Turner tribute stole the show as the penultimate slot at the last CrownFest and my personal fav tribute, Mitchell and his ants as those kings of the wild frontier, is how they’re going to fit them all in!

Now, the press release sent to us, though I rarely accept a copy & paste job, called the lineup “impressive,” and they’re not kidding. Irish folksters The Publicans are also on that roster, with Salisbury cover darlings Innovator, Mother Ukers Ukulele Band, and three newcomers Braydon Lees, Dylan Bratley, and 5 Nights Adyans.

Beyond the music, CrownFest is a fully inclusive, family-friendly environment. Attendees benefit from a Sensory & Wellbeing tent, interactive drumming circles, on-site camping facilities, and a range of food and drink options, ensuring an enjoyable and accessible experience for all.

A spokesperson for the event said, “CrownFest 2026 is about more than great music, it’s about people coming together to support one another. We’re incredibly proud to create an event where enjoyment and purpose go hand in hand, and where every attendee plays a part in making a difference.”

A bit more press release detail, with gates opening at 11:00am, tickets are priced from £32.50, with family packages available at £75. My part, that is actually very reasonable for what you’re getting. With every ticket sold contributing to the ongoing work of Wiltshire Hope and Harmony, it’ll turn a day of entertainment into tangible community impact; exactly what a village pub needs to be, a community asset, and with the gorgeous and spacious surroundings, The Crown can achieve, only if the community backs it.

Tickets are available online and from the Crown Inn Bishops Cannings, hope to see you there?! 

---