The folks behind Milkfest have just dropped a massive announcement for their 2026 event. The award-winning vocal powerhouse Elles Bailey has been confirmed as a special guest for the one-day charity blues festival, which is set to take over the Indigo at the O2 in Greenwich, London on Sunday, 1st March.
If you haven’t been before, Milkfest is quickly becoming a staple in the blues calendar. It’s a full day of music running from 2pm right through to 10pm, and the best part is that it’s all for a cracking cause. While the 2025 edition raised a brilliant £8,000 for the Brain Tumour Charity, the 2026 event is dedicating its efforts to Dementia UK.
The line-up was already looking like a belter before this announcement. Joining the fray are Squeeze legend Chris Difford, the iconic Climax Blues Band, and UK Blues Band of the Year winners Brave Rival. If that wasn’t enough to get you down to Greenwich, you’ve also got:
- Alice Armstrong (Vocalist of the Year)
- Mississippi MacDonald (Acoustic Act of the Year)
- Errol Linton (UK Blues Challenge Winner)
- Hamish Stuart & Robbie McIntosh (boasting CVs that include Average White Band, Paul McCartney, and The Pretenders)
- The Milk Men (event hosts)
Adding Elles Bailey to the bill is the icing on the cake. She’s been absolutely smashing it lately, hosting her own show on Planet Rock and generally proving why she’s one of the most respected artists in the scene today. Milkfest organiser Adam Norsworthy seems pretty chuffed about it, noting that “Elles is a bit of an all-round superstar, and we couldn’t be happier having her on the bill.”
Elles herself is clearly gutted by the impact dementia has on families, but excited to help out. She commented:
“It’s an honour to be part of the Milkfest 2026 line-up alongside so many friends. I’m really looking forward to this very special event celebrating the wonderfully eclectic British blues scene, all in support of the incredible charity Dementia UK. Having experienced first-hand the devastation dementia can bring to the whole family, I’m proud to be able to support such an important cause.”
It’s a serious cause. Dementia is now the leading cause of death in the UK, affecting one in every two people, either as a sufferer or a carer. Dementia UK provides Admiral Nurses—specialist dementia nurses who offer life-changing advice and support to families. They work on the free national helpline, in clinics, and out in the community. It’s vital work, and buying a ticket helps keep it going.
Tickets are on sale right now. You can grab them from AXS, Eventim, Ticketmaster, or directly from the venue. It’s going to be a heavy day of top-tier tunes for a charity that really needs our support, so get stuck in.
Tickets: Available here via the O2 website.
Learn more about the charity: Dementia UK
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
Header image by Kit Foster
Elles Bailey: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify | youtube
