The long-running Fife Fest returns to Silverburn Park in Leven this weekend under new ownership and with a considerably altered format for 2026. Brothers David and Andrew Ure have taken the reins from founder Jordan Black and repositioned the festival as a single-day event, increasing the number of tribute acts while retaining familiar touches such as steady bar prices.
New hands, new shape
David Ure said he and his brother were already embedded in the festival before the takeover, having worked the bar at Fife Fest every year since 2022. The siblings run music events in Falkirk and operate a similar festival there — Falkirk Fest — and had been preparing another event called Clyde Fest, making Fife Fest a natural addition to their portfolio.
“My brother Andrew and I had worked the bar at the festival every year starting in 2022 for Jordan. We had a conversation with him last year to take over the event in its entirety, because we have been running music events in the Falkirk area since 2019.”
Under the new stewardship, the festival has been reshaped from a two-day programme into a single-day show. Where the event historically featured a mixture of tribute acts and local bands, the Ures have shifted the balance back towards tributes while preserving space for grassroots performers.
Programming and visitor experience
For 2026 the organisers have expanded the number of tribute acts from four to six. The day will open with a covers band before moving into the tribute sets, and there will also be a busker’s stage early in the day to showcase local talent. The event will include a silent disco as part of the admission.
- Format: Changed from two days to one day
- Tribute acts: Increased from four to six
- Local music: Busker’s stage and early local acts retained
- Extras: Silent disco included in ticket price
- Prices: Ticket and bar prices kept the same as last year; bar prices unchanged for three years
| Aspect | Before (to 2025) | Now (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Two days | One day |
| Tribute acts | Four | Six |
| Bar prices | Set in previous years | Unchanged (three years) |
The line-up will still feature familiar names from the tribute circuit that have previously drawn the festival’s regular crowd, including acts portraying Simply Robbie, an AC/DC tribute called Volts and Just Beatles, among others cited by organisers.
Food, timing and crowd dynamics
One practical change for attendees is that organisers will allow visitors to bring their own food — though not liquids — a move the Ures said does not materially affect trading for food trucks and often encourages earlier arrival and picnicking. David Ure explained that allowing food means people “will come in earlier, bring a picnic and make a day of it.”
Keeping ticket and bar prices the same as the previous year appears designed to preserve the festival’s established audience, which organisers describe as a “solid group of people who come to Fife Fest each year”. That existing loyalty will be important as the event reconfigures its offer and identity under new management.
For observers of the UK festival scene, the Ures’ approach is a reminder that small to mid-sized events often rely on pragmatic adjustments — compressing schedules, leaning into acts with broad appeal and protecting price points — to remain sustainable while still providing space for emerging local talent.
Fife Fest’s refreshed branding aligns the event with the organisers’ other festivals, giving it a more streamlined visual identity that mirrors the programming changes. The festival is due to take place at Silverburn Park in Leven this weekend.
