There are now just two weeks to go until the 2026 Salt and Tar Music Festival, which this year's event takes up temporary residence at Bootle’s The Lock & Quay event grounds. Now a well-established highlight of Sefton's summer events programme, the hugely popular festival will bring five days of live music and fantastic food and drink to the canal-side venue from the Thursday 13^th to Monday 17^{th of} August entertaining up to 4,000 music fans per day.

Salt and Tar on the move 

Although away from its usual home this year, while work continues on the exciting transformation of Bootle Strand, the festival promises the same vibrant atmosphere that audiences have come to expect at Salt and Tar. It features a packed line-up that includes Nile Rodgers & CHIC. Billy Ocean, The Waterboys and The Saw Doctors

Gates open at 4pm each day, with food, drink and live entertainment in the Festival Village before the main stage performances.

Grassroots artists 

The Festival Village stage will feature grassroots artists from Scrapyard Studios CIC and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) from 4pm each day.

Sefton based traders

Food traders at the festival are all Sefton based including The Bus Yard, Pitamu, TikTaco and 600 Degrees Pizza and Bootle based business The Crafty Scouse Birds will return with her festival accessories stall.

Councillor Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills, said:

"We're delighted that the Salt and Tar festival is returning for another fantastic year. With just two weeks to go, excitement is really building.

"While the transformation of the Strand site continues, Lock & Quay is the perfect temporary home for the event, allowing us to continue bringing great live music and entertainment to Bootle.

"The festival has become a firm favourite in Sefton's events calendar, attracting visitors from across the borough and beyond, and supporting local businesses along the way."

Bootle Strand transformation continues 

The move to Lock & Quay comes as work progresses on the redevelopment of the Strand area, which will see Salt and Tar evolve into a major destination for events, leisure and culture in the heart of Bootle.

Visitors to this year's festival can look forward to a packed programme of live performances across the weekend, celebrating a wide range of musical genres.

Last chance to grab tickets 

Remaining tickets for the Salt and Tar Music Festival are available with full event details, line-up information here.