fbpx 
Independent Country presents..
British Indie legends The House of Love and the sublime Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band headline as the Ryland Caravan rolls into Cannon Hill Park for its fourth year.


 


This unique, boutique one-day music festival returns to the Outdoor Theatre at MAC Birmingham at the height of summer with another indie cavalcade, hosted as always by Birmingham’s favourite alt.cowboys Independent Country.


 


Also on the bill are acclaimed duo Johnson & Finnemore and their band, rising Americana stars Ollie Cook & The Hogwash, plus DJ sets throughout the day from Indie Kid Jo, and compere Adrian Goldberg. 
2-10pm, Saturday 6th June 2026
MAC, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham
The House of Love
The House of Love are one of the most distinctive and influential British bands of the last 40 years, and we're delighted to have them headline the 2026 Ryland Caravan. 


 


Formed in London and fronted by songwriter Guy Chadwick, the band helped define a sound that fused shimmering guitars, melodic intensity and emotionally direct songwriting. Their sound bridged the gap between indie pop, psychedelia and post-punk.


 


Rising to prominence on the legendary Creation Records, The House of Love earned widespread acclaim with a run of era-defining singles including “Shine On”, “Christine” and “The Beatles and the Stones”, before achieving mainstream success with the UK Top 10 hit “Destroy the Heart.” 


 


Renowned for powerful and immersive live performances, The House of Love continue to captivate audiences with sets that balance classic material and deeper cuts, delivered with conviction and emotional weight.


 


When they headline at Ryland 2026, we'll experience a band whose songs have soundtracked generations, and whose influence still resonates across alternative music today.
Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band
Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band return to the stage this spring following a short hiatus, and we're delighted to be welcoming them to the Ryland Caravan.

This May marks two years since the release of Loophole, the acclaimed follow-up to Dear Scott, continuing a catalogue that has earned Michael Head a devoted audience and lasting critical admiration.

Across a career spanning more than four decades, Michael has established himself as one of Britain’s finest and most distinctive songwriters. Emerging in the early 1980s as the frontman of cult Liverpool band The Pale Fountains, he then formed Shack, whose much-loved albums, including Waterpistol and H.M.S. Fable, cemented his standing as a songwriter of rare subtlety and emotional depth.

In the late 1990s he also led Michael Head and The Strands, recording the album The Magical World of the Strands, which has since rightly become regarded as one of the great lost records of its era.

With The Red Elastic Band, he has entered another rich chapter, with Adiós Señor Pussycat, Dear Scott and Loophole drawing widespread praise for their warmth, melodic grace and enduring craftsmanship.

Taken together, these records reaffirm Michael Head’s place as one of Britain’s most treasured songwriters, and we're so happy he'll be bringing his band to town for Ryland 2026.
Your Hosts, Independent Country
Independent Country are 6 cowboys from Birmingham (UK) who take Indie classics on a rollicking ride to Nashville and back.


 


Floppy fringes and baggy jeans are swapped for pedal steel guitars and four-part harmonies as the NME meets The Grand Ole Opry. You ain’t heard nothing like this!


 


The band have played festivals and venues all over the UK, including The Union Chapel, Shiiine On and Moseley Folk Festival. They bring either full-band sets that'll tear the house down on a raucous Saturday night, or else a laid-back acoustic show that will provide the ideal soundtrack to a regretful, hungover Sunday.


 


Saddle up your ponies and say hello to the best gang in town. Find them online at the places below.
Johnson & Finnemore
Hailing from the Midlands, Stew and Dan began collaborating back in 2018 on the first Swampmeat Family Band LP “Too Many Things to Hide”. Two more records followed as the relationship evolved and 2020’s “Muck!” and 2023’s “Polish Your Old Halo” saw the duo dig even deeper into the pedal steel arrangements for Dan’s original compositions. 


 


Prior to this, Stewart had toured the globe for over two decades with various projects including his band The Toy Hearts and even a West End stint with the musical Great Balls of Fire.


 


Also, previously, Dan spent almost a decade writing, recording and touring with US act Low Cut Connie, winning many accolades for his songs, including from President Barack Obama and Jack White. In 2023, Dan began producing a documentary about Stew ’s life entitled “The Many Lives of Stewart Johnson” directed by filmmaker Jez Alsop. 


 


This led to discussions about new material, this time as a duo and work began in earnest on the forthcoming release "Find A Love That Brings You Home”, released in the autumn of 2025 on Gulf Coast Records.


 


This latest collaboration strips it back but still offers the rich and rewarding country Blues laments that bought them together in the first place. 
Ollie Cook and The Hogwash
Ollie Cook & The Hogwash are an Alternative Folk quintet and are the rising stars of the Birmingham scene - recently supporting the likes of Brown Horse and Midlake.


Having described themselves as “Brumicana Dad Rock”, Cook and his band embrace their slowly adopted ‘slacker’ ethos. After multiple years of performing Cook’s solo work, a spout of solitary songwriting came to an end. Favouring a more collaborative environment, Ollie would form The Hogwash with previous band members - Eddie Guthrie, Jack Brannon, Jaimie Jagger & Elliot Smith. What emerged was a new and fresh dynamic for Cook and the band, weaving through checked shirts and thick tweed.
About The Ryland Caravan
Like an old time passing show, The Ryland Caravan once again pulls in to MAC in Cannon Hill Park for a non-stop day of live music, conversation, and craft fair browsing.


 


Created by Independent Country as a celebration of the music they love, The Ryland Caravan is an one day mini festival set in the beautiful Brum brutalism of MAC's outdoor theatre.


 


2023's inaugural event saw fantastic sets from Teenage Fanclub songwriter Gerry Love, Laura J Martin, Swampmeat Family Band, and more.


 


For 2024, the Independent Country boys put together another tremendous bill, headlined by indie stalwarts Cud and Dexys Midnight Runners legend Pete Williams. The day also saw Ryan J Webb, The Bitter Lemons and Tilda Gebhardt tread the baords.


 


2025 was co-headlined by the Miki Berenyi Trio and The Tubs, and an intimate acoustic set from Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian. All of this followed sets from Lo-Ho-Li and The Leaking Machine, and of course your hosts, Independent Country.


 


For 2026 we're delighted to have The House of Love. More acts for 2026 to be announced soon. 


 
The 2026 Ryland Caravan Playlist
Join the mailing list 
Add yourself to the Independent Country mailing list to get info on forthcoming shows, discounts on merch, fried chicken recepies, cowboy shirt advice, and much, much more.




    

        

        

        
* indicates required



	
	
	




	
	
	


	

		
		
	
  
    
        

            

                
                
            

        

    






The Venue
A theatre under the stars! 


 


Nestled at the edge of Cannon Hill Park, a mile or so from central Birmingham, the show will take place in a stunning Roman Amphitheatre style, open–air theatre that forms part of Midlands Arts Centre (mac).


 


Please dress appropriately - the performance will go ahead whatever the weather!
Getting to MAC


Please consider planning your journey to MAC ahead of your visit by checking pages such as Edgbaston Cricket Ground to see whether any events might cause disruptions to your journey. When visiting MAC, we encourage you to use public transport, cycling and walking wherever possible.


 


By Bike


MAC is in the middle of National Cycle Route 5, as well as situated on the Rea Valley Cycle Road. It is readily accessible by bike from Birmingham City Centre and further afield. We have bike racks located at both entrances to the building. We also have another bike rack at the rear of the terrace facing Cannon Hill Park.


By Train


MAC is situated next to 4 train stations; Five Ways, University, Selly Oak and Birmingham New Street. The closest station is Five Ways - being 1.3 miles away, followed by University (1.4), then Selly Oak (1.5) and finally Birmingham New Street (1.7). The number 1 bus can take you to Five Ways station and 41 can take you just outside the QE Hospital by University station.


Alternatively, to walk it's around a 40 minute to both stations. The number 63 can take you to Selly Oak station and number 45/47 can take you to Birmingham New Street station (allow around a 7 minute walk from getting off to walking to the station however). 


By Bus


1: From Five Ways, Edgbaston, Moseley and Acocks Green. The no 1 stops right outside MAC on Edgbaston Road.


35: From City Centre, Balsall Heath, Moseley and Kings Heath. The no 35 stops just around the corner from MAC on Willows Road.


41: From Heartlands Hospital, Acocks Green Village, Moseley, Springfield Road, Pershore Road (right outside MAC) and QE Hospital.


45/47: From City Centre (Carrs Lane), Selly Park, Stirchley, Cotteridge and Kings Norton. The buses stop on Pershore Road, five minutes walk from MAC.


61/63: From City Centre (Carrs Lane and Smallbrook Queensway), Rubery, Rednal, Gannow, Northfield and Selly Oak. All three buses stop ten minutes walk from MAC on the Bristol Road, near the Priory Road/Bristol Road traffic lights.


Check NX West Midlands for more information.