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How It Began!

Exeter recording artist Sarah Yeo has always had a huge love of Country Music and has taken inspiration for her own songwriting from many of the greats such as Garth Brooks, LeAnn Rimes, John Denver, Ashley McBryde, Gretchen Peters to name a few. Ever since she first walked through the gates at Glastonbury Festival some years ago Sarah has been hooked on the whole festival experience and has always held a big ambition to one day hold one of her own!

It was during the summer of 2021 that Sarah’s plan fell into place. Whilst performing at the very charming Muddifords Court Estate, Willand, Devon, she saw how the beautiful grounds and converted barn stage would be a fantastic festival site. The directors of Backstage Events,  father and son team Tom & Chris Skinner were eager to hear Sarah’s ideas as they too are keen Country Music fans. From that day onward the West Country Music Festival was born!

The 13th August 2022 was the inaugural WCMF and what a day it was! A scorching hot temperature was the backdrop for a day packed with many top artists from the UK Country Scene, Sarah Jory, Alan West, Tennessee Twin,  Donna Marie, Sarah Yeo band, Danny McMahon,  Nia Nichols, Adam Sweet, Gasoline and Matches.. all headlined by the UK's biggest female star of the moment  Kezia Gill. Kezia's Friday Night Crew turned up in force as well as Country music fans from across the UK. The amazing audience danced, sang, relaxed, ate, drank, and  shopped till they dropped! 

The Festival was topped off with a courtyard chill session with 'The Songs and Stories Collective' with campfires, marshmallows and whiskey shots.

Reviews and feedback flooded in many congratulating the whole team at Muddifords Court , Sarah Yeo and her volunteers , the sound and lights team at Pro Sound and Light and the quality of the artists and the fun that was had.. and there were many many calls to make it an annual event..Soooo we set the date for 2023, 5th August was our second festival and with completely opposite weather we made this another memorable year with out amazing headline act The Wandering hearts! Now with Two stages at the festival we hosted 20 acts including 

Stevie O'connor, Bob Fitzgerald, Sarah Jory, Luke Fleer, Sarah Yeo, Tennessee Twin, Donna Marie, Megan Rose, Concrete Prairie, Recovering Satellites, ROSSO, and more.. We even featured on Sky News on the day with Backstage management head Tom Skinner taking to the screen! 

So yes we are doing it again in 2024.. so watch this space!