The ultimate summer festivals guide
There are over 300 festivals in the UK. That's rather a lot, so here’s our definitive guide to a summer of music
Some of us plan our festivals at the end of the winter, but for less decisive folk here's our very own guide to summer festivity in the UK and abroad. Whether you like things underground and friendly or epic and mind-blowing there's guaranteed to be a musical gathering to suit you.
Jump straight to:
SMALL AND CHILLED
The Big Chill (August 7th-9th), £145
Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire
The Big Chill describes itself as ‘more than a music festival, a way of life’. While a lifetime of festival frivolity would certainly be fun, the Big Chill Actually lasts for three days - allowing plenty of crashing back down to reality time once it’s over. This is probably a good thing, as this festival promises plenty of raucous party action and a diverse and rousing line up including Orbital and James Brown, to name a couple.
Headlining: Bassment Jaxx, Aplhabeat, James Brown, Mr Scruff’s Tea Party, Noah and the Whale, Orbital
Weekend tickets available for £145 (some discounts apply for students, minors, and those receiving JSA), www.bigchill.net
Secret Garden Party (23rd – 26th July), £137
Secret location in East Anglia
Secret Garden Party is the single most fun festival ever created. Fact. Raft building competitions, fancy-dress as standard attire (seriously, you’ll be out of place if you’re not sporting something fancy), and the whole thing takes place on an island built around a pirate ship (reachable only by means of aforementioned raft) where the closing ceremony is marked by a huge firework ceremony. All this on top of the friendliest crowd you’re ever likely to encounter, and a killer line-up to boot. Top marks.
Headlining: Jarvis Cocker, Fat Freddy's Drop, Emiliana Torrini, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, VV Brown, Those Dancing Days, Little Comets, Bombay Bicycle Club, Dear Reader, Detroit Social Club, Phoenix, Emmy The Great, Fight Like Apes, Caribou.
Weekend tickets available from £137, www.secretgardenparty.com
Creamfields (29th – 30th August), £100
Daresbury, Cheshire
If it’s a little too indy for you so far, dance fans fear not – Creamfields is the festival for you. A huge selection of DJs will be performing over the weekend, and headliners Fatboy Slim and Underworld promise intense dance-based performances.
Headlining: Basement Jaxx, Paul van Dyk, Dizzee Rascal, 2manydjs, Calvin Harris, Erick Morillo, Sasha, Ferry Corsten, Deadmau5, Diplo, Pete Tong, Tiesto.
Standard weekend ticket with camping available from £100, www.creamfields.com
Get Loaded in The Park (30th August), £35
Clapham Common, London
Now, for those of you who wilt at the thought of sleeping in a tent for three nights in a row, or who can’t stomach waking up with your hairdryer in easy reach, Get Loaded in The park – which only takes place over the course of a day – could be for you. A taste of the festival season, whilst still being able to retire to your own bed at the end of it (provided, of course, you live in London). Not to mention a good few pretty special acts to spur your party on... Maybe you’ll end up wishing it lasted the whole weekend after all!
Headlining: Orbital, Roni Size, Royksopp, Carl Craig, Laurent Garnier, Felix Da Housecat, Peaches, Freeland, Sneaky Sound System, Pendulum.
Day tickets available from £35, www.getloadedinthepark.com
Jump straight to:
SMALL AND CHILLED
The Big Chill (August 7th-9th), £145
Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire
The Big Chill describes itself as ‘more than a music festival, a way of life’. While a lifetime of festival frivolity would certainly be fun, the Big Chill Actually lasts for three days - allowing plenty of crashing back down to reality time once it’s over. This is probably a good thing, as this festival promises plenty of raucous party action and a diverse and rousing line up including Orbital and James Brown, to name a couple.
Headlining: Bassment Jaxx, Aplhabeat, James Brown, Mr Scruff’s Tea Party, Noah and the Whale, Orbital
Weekend tickets available for £145 (some discounts apply for students, minors, and those receiving JSA), www.bigchill.net
Secret Garden Party (23rd – 26th July), £137
Secret location in East Anglia
Secret Garden Party is the single most fun festival ever created. Fact. Raft building competitions, fancy-dress as standard attire (seriously, you’ll be out of place if you’re not sporting something fancy), and the whole thing takes place on an island built around a pirate ship (reachable only by means of aforementioned raft) where the closing ceremony is marked by a huge firework ceremony. All this on top of the friendliest crowd you’re ever likely to encounter, and a killer line-up to boot. Top marks.
Headlining: Jarvis Cocker, Fat Freddy's Drop, Emiliana Torrini, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, VV Brown, Those Dancing Days, Little Comets, Bombay Bicycle Club, Dear Reader, Detroit Social Club, Phoenix, Emmy The Great, Fight Like Apes, Caribou.
Weekend tickets available from £137, www.secretgardenparty.com
Creamfields (29th – 30th August), £100
Daresbury, Cheshire
If it’s a little too indy for you so far, dance fans fear not – Creamfields is the festival for you. A huge selection of DJs will be performing over the weekend, and headliners Fatboy Slim and Underworld promise intense dance-based performances.
Headlining: Basement Jaxx, Paul van Dyk, Dizzee Rascal, 2manydjs, Calvin Harris, Erick Morillo, Sasha, Ferry Corsten, Deadmau5, Diplo, Pete Tong, Tiesto.
Standard weekend ticket with camping available from £100, www.creamfields.com
Get Loaded in The Park (30th August), £35
Clapham Common, London
Now, for those of you who wilt at the thought of sleeping in a tent for three nights in a row, or who can’t stomach waking up with your hairdryer in easy reach, Get Loaded in The park – which only takes place over the course of a day – could be for you. A taste of the festival season, whilst still being able to retire to your own bed at the end of it (provided, of course, you live in London). Not to mention a good few pretty special acts to spur your party on... Maybe you’ll end up wishing it lasted the whole weekend after all!
Headlining: Orbital, Roni Size, Royksopp, Carl Craig, Laurent Garnier, Felix Da Housecat, Peaches, Freeland, Sneaky Sound System, Pendulum.
Day tickets available from £35, www.getloadedinthepark.com
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