Their first show sold out during pre-sale
Salt & Tar returns in August(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Nile Rodgers & CHIC have announced an additional date for next year’s Salt & Tar Music Weekender following “exceptional demand”. The Bootle-based festival, which returns in August 2026, will once again showcase major international artists alongside emerging local talent.
Previous years have seen industry heavyweights including Tom Jones, Status Quo, Billy Ocean, the Sugababes, The K’s and Ocean Colour Scene draw thousands of visitors. The latest headliner confirmed for 2026 is Grammy Award-winning and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Nile Rodgers, who will perform with CHIC.
A second date, Monday, August 17, has now been added after the first show sold out during pre-sale.
Announcing the news on Instagram, Salt & Tar said: “Due to exceptional demand and a sold-out pre-sale for show #1, we’ve added a 2nd ‘Nile Rodgers & Chic’ show to our 2026 Music Weekender.
“Pre-sale tickets are live now. If you signed up to our mailing list, the link sent out this morning will now include the extra date.”
Nile Rodgers & Chic On the Waterfront concert at the Pier Head hosted by Cream(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Rodgers, co-founder of CHIC, is behind some of the biggest hits of the last five decades, including Le Freak, the best-selling single in Atlantic Records’ history, and Good Times, a track credited with helping to inspire the birth of hip-hop.
His work also includes classics such as We Are Family by Sister Sledge and Diana Ross’ I’m Coming Out.
General sale tickets for the extra date go live at 10am on Friday, December 5.
Two other headliners have already been announced for the 2026 festival. The Waterboys will open the weekend on Friday, August 14, while Irish folk-rock band The Saw Doctors will perform on Saturday, August 15.
Salt & Tar will also undergo a venue change for 2026.
The festival, which opened next to Bootle Strand in 2024 with backing from local band Red Rum Club and Sefton Council, is temporarily relocating due to major regeneration works, including the demolition and planned expansion of the Salt & Tar site.
Festival organisers said: “Due to exciting venue updates to our home site, we will be relocating our 2026 Music Festival to our neighbours down the canal at the Lock and Quay.
“See you there.”
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