Midsummer Festival 2026

Our first multi-venue music and arts festival took place over ten days of Midsummer, from 18th to 28th June 2026 and was a great success.

Following the 2025 successful season of pop-up events, which took place in a temporary event space built by volunteers in the Amulet, the Midsummer Festival festival took place in multiple small and outdoor venues across town.

There were both free and ticketed events, put on by Let’s Buy The Amulet together with other local venues and promoters, with something for everyone. Highlights include jazz and an outdoor ceilidh, both in the Market Place, punk in the Victoria Inn garden, folk & indie music shows plus spoken word and community art activities. The legendary ‘god of hellfire’ Arthur Brown performed at the Art Bank and the biggest Prison Yard Party closed the festival on Sunday 28th June.

Festival Opener – Snowgoose + Jayefel

Thursday 18 June – St Peter & St Paul’s Church

Timeless, harmony-rich folk-rock of Snowgoose live performing as an acoustic duo. Plus a live piano performance from Jayefel.

With wood-fired pizza from Soul Dough in the churchyard and Stephen Kin-Aesthetic playing vinyl before and after the show.

£7 to £10 – food available

Folk Friday: Steve Knightley ft. Daniel Salvatore + The McCrory Brothers + Harrisen Larner-Main

Friday 19th – Victoria Inn

Steve Knightley is a multi-award winning singer-songwriter and musician, best known as a founding member of the folk/acoustic band “Show of Hands”. The McCrory brothers fuse an eclectic mix of their own original songs with traditional Irish sensibilities and a hint of Floydian/Genesis/Horslipian spice. Harrisen is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who is also known for appearing on TV’s The Voice. 

£12-£16 – food available

Five Trees All Day Family Party

Saturday 20th June – Five Trees Bowlish

A full four hour celebration of music, community and good times outdoors, on the edge of Shepton Mallet. BIG FAM DISCO will be bringing the vibes and PIXEL FREE PLAY will bring a load of amazing large scale wooden game and puzzle fun.

free entry – bring a picnic

Punk In The Garden

Saturday 20th June – Victoria Inn

Five of the most exciting bands from the Victoria Inn’s monthly Punk night of the last year.

Free entry plus food options available.

Kilver Court Jazz Vinyl DJ’s

Saturday 20th June – Kilver Court

Chilled Saturday afternoon jazz mixed by Vinyl DJ’s all afternoon at Kilver Court.

Free entry, food available

DJ Karl’s Party Night At The Club

Saturday 20th June – The Club

A night of sizzling party classics with DJ Karl, DJ Neil & Anne Marie! Classic party anthems all night long Great music, great atmosphere, great company

Free entry, food available

Jazz Sunday: Cissy & Dan Hughes + Vinyl DJ’s

Sunday 21st June – Market Place

Duo Cissy + Dan Hughes sharing their love for jazz and folk styles. As well as performing their favourite standards from these genres, the pair also enjoy sharing their own tunes, touching on themes of love, loss and the natural world.

Free entry, food available

The Barefoot Ceilidh Band

Sunday 21st June – Market Place

The Barefoot Ceilidh Band are known for their high-energy playing and expert calling across Irish, English and Scottish dance traditions. Led by uilleann piper Dominic Henderson, the band also features fiddle, flute, guitar, and unforgettable callers that will lead everyone in the dancing.

Free entry, food available

Rock & Pop Showcase – Young Talent

Wednesday 24th June – Art Bank

A night of fresh talent and brilliant live music from at least five bands and performers from young people of The Blue School in Wells.

Free entry

Beans on Toast + Izzie Yardley + DJ Queen Kong

Thursday 25th June – Art Bank

Beans On Toast Essex-born folk troubadour Beans on Toast has been charming audiences with his candid songwriting and engaging live performances for nearly two decades. Blending humour, politics, and storytelling, he has built a dedicated fanbase through constant touring, playing festivals across the globe and packing out venues big and small.

£15

MUÉVETE!

Friday 26th June – The Crown, Pilton

Movimientos, Let’s Buy The Amulet & Fallowfest present: MUÉVETE!  The Legendary Latino Sound System & Fiesta Get ready for a red-hot, rum-fuelled carnival to kick off the summer! We’re bringing a heavy dose of Latino and Caribbean heat to Pilton with live acts, tropical DJs, and a massive outdoor vibe.

£10

The Big Draw

Saturday 27th June – Collett Park

Community sketching group led by Flock Arts is collaborating with SWEDA to get everyone drawing together in Collett Park. There’ll be a range of activities for all ages where BIG drawing will happen! Fun Portraits, Walk & Draw, Nature Designs, Print Making and a Giant Community Project

free entry – donations welcome

Mallet Fest

Saturday 27th June – Shepton AFC

Our Friends At Shepton Mallet AFC are holding ”MALLETFEST, ” a music festival. Headliners will be Absolute Oasis along with Luke Potter, Paper Planes, Eddie Dean, Sladest, Troy Ellis plus DJ’s all day.

£20 – food available

Arthur Brown & Friends

Saturday 27th June – Art Bank

Arthur Brown & Friends with several live-music delights from artists on Rose Hill Records and some choice DJ’s and artists chosen by Oli Moule.

£12-£18

Mapping Connections – Drop-in Arts Activity

Sunday 28th June – The Library

Where are YOU from? Where’s your family from? What places have shaped who you
are? Drop in any time and add your story to a large, collaborative artwork mapping
the cultural roots of Shepton Mallet — from just down the road to the other side of
the world.

free entry

Shepton Sunday Market

Sunday 28th June – Market Place

Before the big Prison Yard Party the Shepton Mallet Sunday Market is on 10-3pm this time with a star studded DJ line up Including: Banco De Gaia (Toby Marks), Himeko, Patmandu, Matt Ettle, Mixy Dust, Cydney, Jake Kómma, Philski, and on the live stage: Twoman Ting, B.E.Cooling, & Ruby Darbyshire.

Our biggest Sunday Market line up ever don’t miss it!

free entry

Prison Yard Party

Sunday 28th June – Shepton Mallet Prison

Featuring the legendary Firmly Rooted Sound System and Junglist Nicky Blackmarket plus market stalls, a great bar and six hours of back to back DJs.

£20

Team Viking + Community Spoken Word

Sunday 28th June – Victoria Inn

Ten years ago, my best friend Tom was diagnosed with heart cancer and given three months to live. His last wish was to have a full Viking burial. So I gave him one.

Team Viking tells the remarkable, hilarious and heart-lifting story of how I actually managed to give my best mate the send-off he wanted. Blending storytelling, music, comedy and even a genuine Viking helmet, it’s a comic ode to death, friendship and the beautiful absurdity of life.

free entry