Girl in cowgirl outfit and boot earrings
Country music fans use the Long Road festival in Leicestershire to mark the passing of Dolly Parton
Izzy in her bespoke cowgirl outfit and boot earrings at the Long Road festival of country, Americana and roots at Stanford Hall, Leicestershire. Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
Sat 29 Aug 2026 14.34 EDT Last modified on Sat 29 Aug 2026 15.20 EDT
Fans dance to the Bec O’Malley band. The Stockport-born singer-songwriter blends modern country, folk and Americana with unmistakably northern storytelling Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
Friends let their hair down during a set by Florida-based sextet The 502s on the Rhinestone stage at the Long Road festival Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
Festival-goers are reluctant to leave their prime spot by the main stage, despite organisers urging everyone to shelter in their tents because of lightning. The festival is in the grounds of Grade II-listed Stanford Hall in Leicestershire Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
Overlooking the festival (including the Front Porch Stage) from the Lighthouse Slip helter skelter, which is styled to look like a lighthouse. Stanford Hall is approximately 4,000 miles from Nashville Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
One of the many unusual T-shirt designs celebrating American cowboy culture. Country music’s share of the UK singles market has more than doubled in two years Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
Friends Olly, Will, Coops and Mike have gone the extra mile in coordinating both their outfits and footwear. Festival-goers came kitted-out in star-spangled dungarees, stetsons, cowboy boots and hats, and plenty of plaid Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
The estate’s grand old oaks probably do not usually provide shelter for a crowd clad in full country regalia underneath their waterproofs Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
Hannah in her unique pink sequin outfit. The outfits were heavily accessorised, often as tributes to Dolly Parton. Blue butterfly hair clips were spotted, along with Dolly-inspired pins and earrings Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
Mother and daughter Linda and Rosie in matching red gingham and Dolly Parton earrings Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
Olivier, a barman, enjoys a moment of calm before heading to his shift at Buddy’s Bar Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
Patiently waiting for the return of the music. The crowd stayed good-spirited throughout the intermittent rain and thunder storms Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
English sporting tradition meets US music culture with an impromptu game of cricket in the camping areas Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
Trying on hats at Hadlow’s Trading Post, a Blackpool shop that specialises in county and western clothing Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
Fans gather to pay tribute to the queen of country music at an impromptu memorial wall to Dolly Parton who died earlier this week at the age of 80 Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
No more need for plastic rain covers as a reveller parties into the night Photograph: Orlando Gili/The Guardian
