The best live music at IF: Milton Keynes International Festival

Festival Central in Campbell Park is the beating heart of IF: Milton Keynes International Festival and the perfect setting for live music. An array of musical offerings includes Festival favourite Karine Polwart with her latest project, the Peatbog Faeries’ mix of jigs, jazz and African influences, Sarah-Louise Young’s Kate Bush homage, Big Fish Little Fish’s family rave plus the chance to spot emerging talent and unsigned bands at The Stables Sessions: Acoustic Stage.

Listings follow:

Friday 21 July, 8.45pm
Abandoman Future Music
The Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes MK9 3FT
Booking: https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/
Tickets: £13.50
Abandoman, Ireland’s finest improvising musical comedian, brings his Future Music to Milton Keynes on Friday 21 July. Using his trademark blend of audience interaction and razor-sharp improvisation, Abandoman creates an exhilarating live experience, transforming the audience’s likes, loathes and daydreams into songs and stories. Trailer: https://bit.ly/400jBD9

Saturday 22 July, 11am & 1.30pm
Nick Cope Family Concert
The Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes MK9 3FT
Booking: https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/
Tickets: £14.50
Age 2+
The Nick Cope Family Concert make its Festival debut, following the success of his CBeebies show. For audiences of 2 years and upwards, he performs a one-hour acoustic set of his own distinctive songs with guitar and beautifully-animated projections. Trailer: https://bit.ly/3TtzK1o

Saturday 22 July, 9pm
Peatbog Faeries
The Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes MK9 3FT
Booking: https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/
Tickets: £27.50
Hailing from the Isle of Skye, the Peatbog Faeries mix jigs and reels with dance music, jazz and African influences. From the moment they take to the, the mood is set for a no-nonsense feel-good atmosphere. Trailer: https://bit.ly/40lhAAX

Sunday 23 July, 8pm
Sarah-Louise Young An Evening Without Kate Bush
The Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes MK9 3FT
Booking: https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/
Tickets: £20
Following sold-out and critically-acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe and Soho Theatre runs, An Evening Without Kate Bush comes to the Spiegeltent. Sarah-Louise Young and co-creator Russell Lucas pay glorious homage to the music, fans, and mythology of one of the most influential voices in British music. https://bit.ly/3AgqGnN

Monday 24 July, 8pm
Los Pacaminos featuring Paul Young
The Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes MK9 3FT
Booking: https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/
Tickets: £25
Tex-Mex band Los Pacaminos, featuring Paul Young, are now in their 30th year and show no signs of hanging up their boots with this Spiegeltent gig. With an unmatched live reputation, two acclaimed studio albums and two live albums under their belts, they continue to explore and perform the music of the Southwest USA. Trailer: https://bit.ly/3Z0Onuj

Wednesday 26 July, 8pm
Karine Polwart and Dave Milligan Still As Your Sleeping
The Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes MK9 3FT
Booking: https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/
Tickets: £20
Multi-award-winning Scottish singer songwriter and festival favourite Karine Polwart is back this year with renowned jazz/folk pianist Dave Milligan in her new project, Still As Your Sleeping. It’s an intimate, stripped-back collection of songs performed entirely with voice and piano. Trailer: https://bit.ly/3UR8B9a

Thursday 27 July, 8pm
Turin Brakes
The Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes MK9 3FT
Booking: https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/
Tickets: £25
Turin Brakes’ Festival performance is part of a nationwide tour marking the release of the South London band’s ninth studio album, Wide-Eyed Nowhere. Trailer: https://bit.ly/3TrGwEQ

Friday 28 July, 7.30pm
Toyah Willcox & Robert Fripp
The Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes MK9 3FT
Booking: https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/
Tickets: £38.50
Music legends (and husband and wife) Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp perform a joyful and upbeat set of hits and much-loved rock classics with a full band. Trailer: https://bit.ly/3obGOV5

Saturday 29 July, 8pm
La Voix
The Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park Milton Keynes MK9 3FT
Booking: https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/
Tickets £25
Age 14+
La Voix aka Britain’s Funniest Redhead is swinging into town with her most ambitious show yet. Expect huge vocals, a live band and side-splitting comedy. Trailer: https://bit.ly/3MWKR1F

Sunday 30 July, 1pm – 3pm
Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave
The Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park Milton Keynes MK9 3FT
Booking: https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/
Tickets: £15.50, under-16s £13.50
Age 2+
The award-winning, family rave sensation, Big Fish Little Fish, brings the tunes to the family massive with an old skool drum & bass and jungle set from DJ Raks. A multi-sensory dancefloor is filled with bubbles, balloons, snow foam, smoke rings and topped off with a giant parachute finale. When the younger ravers need a break craft activity and a homemade playdough table are on hand. Trailer: https://bit.ly/2Ab1PDK

Sunday 30 July, 7.30pm
Monster Ceilidh Band
The Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes MK9 3FT
Booking: https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/
Tickets: £16.50 (concessions available)
The nightclub-influenced Monster Ceilidh Band push the boundaries of contemporary folk in all the right directions. They will be unleashing their infectious blend of folk and drum & bass to provide the soundtrack for a Festival Wrap Party. Trailer: https://bit.ly/3ZX8MS5

Friday 21 to Sunday 30 July
Festival Central, Campbell Park Milton Keynes MK9 3FT
The Stables Sessions: Acoustic Stage
Free
The Stables Sessions: Acoustic Stage in the sumptuous surroundings of the Arabian Bar Tent in Festival Central is a chance to hear new sounds and spot emerging talent and unsigned bands.
Friday 21 July: 5.45pm Daria Kulesh; 8.45pm Hannah Scott
Saturday 22 July: 2.30pm Joe Bygraves; 3.30pm Robert Lane; 4.30pm Navaro; 6.15pm; 8.15pm Billy Watman
Sunday 23 July: 1.15pm Lilac Fall; 3.15pm Sunsinger & the High Seas; 4.15pm Detweiler; 5.15pm Tom Duggan; 6.15pm Anna Hester; 7.15pm Rob Wheeler
Monday 24 July: 7pm Palmerston
Tuesday 25 July: 7pm Roses & Pirates
Wednesday 26 July: 7pm Smith & Brewer
Thursday 27 July: 6pm Emily Faye, 7pm Tremaine Dawkins
Friday 28 July: 5.45pm Barbara Nesbitt; 6.45pm Natasha Seale
Saturday 29 July: 1pm Elizabeth & Jameson; 3pm Ebony Buckle; 4pm
Jinder; 5pm George Montague; 6pm Chris Cleverley; 7pm Amit Dattani
Sunday 30 July: 12.15pm Hope in High Water; 3.30pm Midori Jaeger; 4.30pm
Roses & Pirates; 5.30pm Minnie Birch; 6.30pm Manny & the Coloured Sky