Strummerfest '26 brings 15 original acts to Banbury for three-day BARKS fundraiser

Fifteen original acts will descend on Banbury over the August Bank Holiday weekend as Strummerfest '26 brings three days of grassroots live music to The Apothecary Tap while raising funds for local animal rescue charity BARKS.

Taking place from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August 2026, the festival is presented by Strummer Room Records Presents and features an eclectic line-up of independent artists across three days.

The event follows the success of ApTap Fest '26, which raised nearly £3,000 for BARKS - Banbury Animal Rescue & Kindness Service - earlier this year.

Chris Oakes, owner of Strummer Room Records and spokesman for Strummer Room Records Presents, said:

"Strummerfest brings together everything we've been trying to do for the past 13 years - supporting original artists, helping people discover new music and creating a friendly grassroots environment where musicians and audiences can connect."

"After the fantastic support for ApTap Fest earlier this year, when we raised nearly £3,000 for BARKS, we're hoping Banbury will get behind us again and help us raise another significant amount over the Bank Holiday weekend."

Three days, 15 original acts

Strummerfest '26 opens at 7.30pm on Friday 28 August with Dilemma, BarrelHaus and Spank Hair.

The festival continues from 1.30pm on Saturday 29 August, featuring Screamin' Irene, Dead Anyway, HööF, Selver, Family of Noise, Erinferno and Matt Phillip Hale.

The final day begins at 1.30pm on Sunday 30 August, with Neon Nights, Mary's Garden, Sinews, Lunar Kites and Lone Voice completing the weekend.

"We've never wanted Strummer Room Records Presents to be restricted by genre. What matters is that artists are creating original music and doing something they genuinely believe in."

"You might come because you know one band, but hopefully you'll leave talking about two or three artists you'd never heard before. Finding a band you've never heard of and wondering where they've been hiding is still one of the great things about live music."

Thirteen years of supporting original music

Strummer Room Records Presents traces its live music roots back to BodFest in 2013 and has since presented hundreds of bands and musicians.

Its regular Banbury shows have found a home at The Apothecary Tap in Butchers Row, where the intimate setting puts audiences just feet away from the performers.

"The Apothecary Tap is a big part of what makes these events work. Bands meet other bands, musicians meet the people watching them and genuine friendships and collaborations come out of it. There's a community around these gigs, and Strummerfest is a celebration of that."

Music making a difference for BARKS

Fundraising for BARKS has become an important part of Strummer Room Records Presents' activities. Following the nearly £3,000 raised at ApTap Fest '26 earlier this year, Strummerfest gives local music fans another opportunity to support the charity while enjoying original live music.

"Nearly £3,000 from ApTap Fest was a fantastic result. It showed what can happen when musicians, a venue and the local community come together. If we can put on three days of brilliant original music and hand BARKS another worthwhile donation at the end of it, everybody wins."

'One Dalmatian Under a Groove' charity compilation

As with previous Strummer Room Records Presents fundraisers, every band and artist appearing at Strummerfest '26 has donated a track for a special compilation supporting the event and BARKS.

Entitled One Dalmatian Under a Groove, the compilation brings together music from across the festival line-up. It will be available to buy on CD at Strummerfest '26 and as a digital download through Strummer Room Records Presents on Bandcamp.

"The compilation CDs have become an important part of our fundraisers. Every artist has generously donated a track, so One Dalmatian Under a Groove is almost a snapshot of the whole Strummerfest weekend."

"It means the fundraising doesn't have to stop when the last band finishes on Sunday night. People can pick up the CD at the festival or download it through Bandcamp and continue supporting BARKS. We're incredibly grateful to all the artists for donating their music."

Strummerfest '26 - at a glance

Friday 28 August - 7.30pm

Dilemma | BarrelHaus | Spank Hair

Saturday 29 August - 1.30pm

Sunday 30 August - 1.30pm

Neon Nights | Mary's Garden | Sinews | Lunar Kites | Lone Voice

Venue: The Apothecary Tap, 10-11 Butchers Row, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 5JH

In aid of: BARKS - Banbury Animal Rescue & Kindness Service

Tickets: Weekend and individual day tickets available via WeGotTickets

Prices: Weekend £30 | Friday £7 | Saturday £15 | Sunday £10, plus booking fees

Ticket link: https://wegottickets.com/f/22167

Compilation: One Dalmatian Under a Groove - CD at the event and digital download via Bandcamp

Ticket revenue, excluding booking fees, will be donated to BARKS.