England my England – QRO’s U.K. Festival Guide returns! Our North American Festival Guide is bigger than every for the eighth year in a row. Over the Northern Hemisphere winter, QRO went Down Under for a fifth year. And now we go back to where the mother tongue began, to take on the little country that oh-so-could, Great Britain! See last year’s U.K. Festival Guide
Updated continuously throughout the year with new acts, dates, festivals & coverage
April & May
June
July
August
September
October
to December
View QRO Magazine 2014 U.K. Festival Guide in a larger map
April & May
What: Hit the Deck
Where: Bristol & Nottingham, England, U.K.
When: April 19-20
Who: Brand New, Saves the Day, The Blackout, Kids In Glass Houses, Hawthorne Heights, A Plastic Rose, Memphis May Fire, Seahaven, The Summer Set, and more
Why: Hit the Deck with some emo in Bristol & Nottingham.
Web: www.hitthedeckfestival.com
What: Liverpool Sound City
Where: Liverpool, England, U.K.
When: May 1-3
Who: Gruff Rhys, Fuck Buttons, Kodaline, Clean Bandit, Albert Hammond Jr., The Kooks, Jon Hopkins, The Hold Steady, Jagwar Ma, The Neighbourhood, Tennis, Public Service Broadcasting, Blood Red Shoes, Factory Floor, 65daysofstatic, And So I Watch You From Afar, Ratking, Bad Rabbits, DZ Deathrays, PINS, Gambles, Big Ups, Bipolar Sunshine, Dolomite Minor, Jungle, Lanterns On the Lake, The Districts, The Wytches, We Were Evergreen, Wolf Alice, and more
Why: Venues across Liverpool try to find the next Beatles.
Web: www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk
What: Live at Leeds
Where: Leeds, England, U.K.
When: May 2-5
Who: Albert Hammond Jr., The Neighbourhood, Los Campesinos!, The Hold Steady, Dum Dum Girls, Blood Red Shoes, I Like Trains, Fuck Buttons, Yuck, Tennis, Bipolar Sunshine, King Charles, Kodaline, Nina Nesbitt, Pulled Apart By Horses, Wolf Alice, Arc Iris, Big Ups, Cheatahs, Dolomite Minor, Gambles, Honeyblood, Lanterns On the Lake, The Wytches, We Were Evergreen, Clean Bandit, Palace, and many more
Why: Venues across Leeds are live. See much more in our 2013 photo gallery here
Web: www.liveatleeds.com
What: The Great Escape
Where: Brighton, England, U.K.
When: May 8-10
Who: Albert Hammond Jr., Little Dragon, The Subways, The Neighbourhood, Charli XCX, The Hold Steady, Phantogram, Tennis, Example, Wild Beasts, Kelis, Flux Pavilion, P.S. I Love You, TRUST, Pulled Apart By Horses, Future Islands, These New Puritans, Augustines, Bear Hands, Ratking, Team Me, Le1f, Dry the River, Hannah Georgas, Rah Rah, AgesAndAges, Kate Miller-Heidke, Panama Wedding, Young & Sick, Gambles, Arc Iris, Ásgeir, Honeyblood, Big Ups, The Districts, Cheerleader, Clean Bandit, Dolomite Minor, Jungle, Lake Street Dive, Tove Lo, We Were Evergreen, and more
Why: Get away from it all with the new music showcase that is The Great Escape.
Web: www.escapegreat.com
What: Dot to Dot
Where: Manchester, Bristol & Nottingham, England, U.K.
When: May 23-25
Who: Peace, The Midnight Beast, Drenge, Real Estate, Wolf Alice, The Pizza Underground, Caveman, We Were Evergreen, and more to be announced
Why: Manchester-to-Bristol-to-Nottingham – connect the Dot to Dot.
Web: www.dottodotfestival.co.uk
What: Threadfest
Where: Bradford, England, U.K.
When: May 23-25
Who: Nisennenmondai, Dean McPhee, and more
Why: Follow the Thread for a third year.
Web: www.bradfordthreadfest.com
What: BBC Radio One’s Big Weekend
Where: Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
When: May 24-26
Who: Pharrell, Pete Tong, Paolo Nutini, Annie Mac, The 1975, Rita Ora, and more to be announced
Why: The biggest free ticketed event in Europe, BBC Radio One’s Big Weekend this year heads to Glasgow.
Web: www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bigweekend
What: Slam Dunk
Where: Leeds, Hatfield & Wolverhampton, England, U.K.
When: May 24-26
Who: The All-American Rejects, Less Than Jake, We Are the In Crowd, Motion City Soundtrack, The Devil Wears Prada, I Am the Avalanche, and more to be announced
Why: Slam Dunk gets in the hoop in Leeds, Hatfield, and Wolverhampton.
Web: www.slamdunkmusic.com
What: Wychwood
Where: Cheltenham, England, U.K.
When: May 30 – June 1
Who: The Boomtown Rats, The Levellers, The Stranglers, Bad Manners, King Charles, Wolf Alice, and more to be announced
Why: Which way to Wychwood? See much more in our 2012 photo gallery here
Web: www.wychwoodfestival.com
What: Camden Rocks
Where: London, England, U.K.
When: May 31
Who: The Subways, Reverend & The Makers, The Virginmarys, Nine Black Alps, and more to be announced
Why: Camden area of London rocks hard.
Web: camdenrocksfestival.com
June
What: Wychwood
Where: Cheltenham, England, U.K.
When: May 30 – June 1
Who: The Boomtown Rats, The Levellers, The Stranglers, Bad Manners, King Charles, Wolf Alice, and more to be announced
Why: Which way to Wychwood? See much more in our 2012 photo gallery here
Web: www.wychwoodfestival.com
What: Lunar
Where: Warwickshire, England, U.K.
When: June 6-8
Who: British Sea Power, The Polyphonic Spreed, Donovan, Tim Burgess, Temples, Lanterns On the Lake, TOY, MONEY, Laura J Martin, and more to be announced
Why: Head outside of Birmingham to be Lunar.
Web: lunarfestival.co.uk
What: Field Day
Where: London, England, U.K.
When: June 7-8
Who: Pixies, Metronomy, Thurston Moore, The Temper Trap, Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks, Future Islands, Pond, Blood Orange, Warpaint, Danny Brown, Tim Burgess, SBTRKT, Simian Mobile Disco, Sky Ferreira, Temples, The Horrors, The Wytches, Omar Souleyman, Oneohtrix Point Never, Ghostpoet, Jagwar Ma, Jamie xx, Jessy Lanza, and more to be announced
Why: Victoria Park’s Field Day makes Hackney a whole lot more liveable – now two days!
Web: fielddayfestivals.com
What: Parklife Weekender
Where: Manchester, England, U.K.
When: June 7-8
Who: Snoop Dogg, Foals, B∆stille, Rudimental, Disclosure, London Grammar, Kendrick Lamar, SBTRKT, Flying Lotus, Warpaint, Sam Smith, Moderat, Public Enemy, Pusha T, Chromeo, Clean Bandit, Danny Brown, Gold Panda, Captain Murphy, Factory Floor, Bipolar Sunshine, Jessy Lanza, Zomby, and more to be announced
Why: Take the weekend and go to the park for this electronic festival. Parklife!
Web: parklife.uk.com
What: Summer Break
Where: Newquay, England, U.K.
When: June 8-12
Who: To be announced
Why: Make your way to the beach at Newquay.
Web: www.summerbreak.co.uk
What: Isle of Wight
Where: Isle of Wight, England, U.K.
When: June 12-15
Who: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kings of Leon, Biffy Clyro, Suede, The Specials, Calvin Harris, Boy George, Travis, Fall Out Boy, Rudimental, The 1975, Inspiral Carpets, The Polyphonic Spree, The Horrors, Clean Bandit, The Waterboys, Tom Odell, Peace, The Pretty Reckless, The Selecter, Deap Vally, and more to be announced
Why: In 2002, the massive Isle of Wight Festival was revived for the first time since 1970 (when it out-drew Woodstock), and is one of the biggest today.
Web: www.isleofwightfestival.com
What: Download
Where: Donington, England, U.K.
When: June 13-15
Who: Aerosmith, Linkin Park, Avenged Sevenfold, Rob Zombie, Fall Out Boy, The Offspring, Bring Me the Horizon, Bad Religion, Twisted Sister, The Pretty Reckless, Killswitch Engage, Volbeat, Flogging Molly, Seether, Skindred, Powerman 5000, Bowling For Soup, Joe Bonamassa, Buckcherry, Miss May I, Winger, twenty one pilots, Chevelle, Skid Row, The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Used, Against Me!, Memphis May Fire, Radkey, New Politics, Reignwolf, and more to be announced
Why: Download the hard rock.
Web: www.downloadfestival.co.uk
What: Meltdown
Where: London, England, U.K.
When: June 13-22
Who: UNKLE, Chrissie Hynde, Mark Lanegan, Edwyn Collins, Neneh Cherry, Radkey, and more to be announced
Why: The Southbank Centre arts complex, which includes Royal Festival Hall, holds another season of concerts throughout the complex, chosen by this year’s curator, James Lavelle, a.k.a. UNKLE.
Web: meltdown.southbankcentre.co.uk
What: Bushstock
Where: London, England, U.K.
When: June 14
Who: Alexi Murdoch, Farao, Hozier, Farewell J.R, The Felice Brothers, and more to be announced
Why: Events around Sheperd’s Bush in London.
Web: www.bushstock.co.uk
What: Camden Crawl
Where: London, England, U.K.
When: June 20-21
Who: of Montreal, Atari Teenage Riot, Au Revoir Simone, Shabazz Palaces, The Field, Yuck, Jeffrey Lewis & The Jrams, Dirty Beaches, Mimicking Birds, The KVB, and more to be announced
Why: If you can stay upright, or even if you can’t, make your way London.
Web: thecamdencrawl.com
What: Glastonbury
Where: Pilton, England, U.K.
When: June 26-30
Who: Arcade Fire, Dolly Parton, Lily Allen, Disclosure, Blondie, The Black Keys, and many, many more to be announced
Why: Coming in full-force this year, with five days, putting all other festivals to shame (on any continent), Glastonbury’s what the likes of Coachella & Bonnaroo wish they could be. U.K. still does festivals the best.
Web: www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
What: Calling
Where: London, England, U.K.
When: June 28-29
Who: Aerosmith, Joe Bonamassa, and more to be announced
Why: Calling drops the ‘Hard Rock’ and moves from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to Clapham Common.
Web: www.callingfestival.co.uk
What: Westport
Where: Westport, Ireland
When: June 28-29
Who: Bryan Adams, David Gray, Kool & The Gang, Sinead O’Connor, Tinariwen, and more to be announced
Why: Head west to Ireland for Westport. See much more in our 2013 photo gallery here
Web: www.westportfestival.com
July
What: Blissfields
Where: Winchester, England, U.K.
When: July 4-5
Who: Sleigh Bells, 2manydjs, Hercules & Love Affair, tUnE-yArDs, Dan Croll, Wolf Alice, and more to be announced
Why: Head to Vicarage Farm in Winchester from some Bliss(fields).
Web: blissfields.co.uk
What: Godiva
Where: Coventry, England, U.K.
When: July 4-6
Who: Buzzcocks, The Selecter, Happy Mondays, and more to be announced
Why: Three-day free, ticketless, family-friendly festival with on some stuff that you want to see.
Web: www.godivafestival.co.uk
What: Wireless
Where: London & Birmingham, England, U.K.
When: July 4-6
Who: Kanye West, Drake, Bruno Mars, Pharrell Williams, Outkast, Rudimental, Ellie Goulding, Tinie Tempah, Knife Party, Robin Thicke, Basement Jaxx, Wiz Khalifa, Azealia Banks, 2chainz, Pretty Lights, J. Cole, Iggy Azalea, Chance the Rapper, Giorgio Moroder, ScHoolboy Q, Salt-n-Pepa, B.o.B., Earl Sweatshirt, Clean Bandit, A Great Big World, YG, and more to be announced
Why: Finsbury Park in London and Perry Park in Birmingham welcomes a mostly mainstream, mostly dance, and many Americans for Wireless.
Web: www.wirelessfestival.co.uk
What: 2000 Trees
Where: Gloucestershire, England, U.K.
When: July 10-12
Who: Band of Skulls, Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, Public Service Broadcasting, The Bronx, Jamie Lenman, Wolf Alice, Tall Ships, Cerebral Ballzy, DZ Deathrays, Three Trapped Tigers, Johnny Foreigner, and more to be announced
Why: A line-up studded with buzzing U.K. bands & more.
Web: www.twothousandtreesfestival.co.uk
What: T In the Park
Where: Kinross, Scotland, U.K.
When: July 11-13
Who: Arctic Monkeys, Calvin Harris, Biffy Clyro, Ed Sheeran, Paolo Nutini, Ellie Goulding, Pharrell Williams, Jack Bugg, Imagine Dragons, Elbow, Disclosure, Pixies, B∆stille, Rudimental, Ben Howard, Example, James, Steve Angello, Tinie Tempah, Franz Ferdinand, Bombay Bicycle Club, Alesso, Kaiser Chiefs, HAIM, London Grammar, The 1975, The Charlatans, Manic Street Preachers, Tame Impala, CHVRCHES, Kodaline, The Human League, Sam Smith, The Stranglers, Metronomy, Maxïmo Park, The Twilight Sad, We Are Scientists, Inspiral Carpets, Pretty Lights, twenty one pilots, Wolf Alice, and more to be announced
Why: T In the Park goes for big names British & not.
Web: www.tinthepark.com
What: Wakestock
Where: Abersoch, Wales, U.K.
When: July 11-13
Who: Tom Odell, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, John Newman, Razorlight, Clean Bandit, Frightened Rabbit, and more to be announced
Why: Have some water sports with your musical festivities.
Web: www.wakestock.co.uk
What: Latitude
Where: Southwold, England, U.K.
When: July 17-20
Who: The Black Keys, Damon Albarn, Two Door Cinema Club, Editors, Tame Impala, Bombay Bicycle Club, Mogwai, Royksopp, Robyn, Lykke Li, HAIM, First Aid Kit, Crystal Fighters, Slowdive, Anna Calvi, James Vincent McMorrow, Clean Bandit, Julia Holter, Nils Frahm, James, Keli, Phosphorescent, Hall & Oates, The War On Drugs, Temples, Dawes, Cass McCombs, Eagulls, The Afghan Whigs, Billy Bragg, Conor Oberst, Parquet Courts, Jungle, Tinariwen, Damien Jurado, and more to be announced
Why: Suffolk’s Sunrise Coast welcomes another great line-up to Latitude. See much more in our 2011 photo gallery here
Web: www.latitudefestival.co.uk/home
What: Lovebox
Where: London, England, U.K.
When: July 18-19
Who: M. I.A., A$AP Rocky, Bonobo, Chase & Status, Crystal Fighters, Annie Mac, Katy B, Sub Focus, Moderat, The Horrors, Banks, Joey Bada$$, Mount Kimbie, Hercules & Love Affair, The Gaslamp Killer, and more to be announced
Why: Victoria Park holds a two-day Love(box)-in.
Web: www.lovebox.net
What: Truck
Where: Steventon, England, U.K.
When: July 18-19
Who: White Lies, The Cribs, Stornoway, Andrew W.K., Los Campesinos, Peace, Deap Vally, Cerebral Ballzy, Dan Croll, Johnny Foreigner, The Wytches, Kevin Devine, and more to be announced
Why: Truck delivers the Anglo for its sixteenth year. Read & see much more in our 2013 recap here
Web: truckfestival.com
What: Beat-Herder
Where: Lancashire, England, U.K.
When: July 18-20
Who: Happy Mondays, The Bloody Beetroots, 2manydjs, The Orb, Eats Everything, Gramatik, Jagwar Ma, Bipolar Sunshine, Wolf Alice, Elite Force, and more to be announced
Why: Beats are herded in Lancashire country. Read & see much more in our 2013 recap here
Web: www.beatherder.co.uk
What: Shakedown
Where: Brighton, England, U.K.
When: July 19
Who: Basement Jaxx, Groove Armada, and more to be announced
Why: U.K.’s party capitol welcomes a fourth year of Shakedown, this time in the hot summer.
Web: www.shakedown.co.uk
What: Splendour
Where: Nottingham, England, U.K.
When: July 19
Who: Happy Mondays, Tom Odell, The Boomtown Rats, Reverend & The Makers, and more to be announced
Why: Nottingham’s Wollaton Park holds a Splendid little festival.
Web: www.splendourfestival.com
What: Secret Garden Party
Where: Cambridge, England, U.K.
When: July 24-27
Who: Public Enemy, Morcheeba, Little Dragon, Big Gigantic, Hercules & Love Affair, Jagwar Ma, Alabama 3, Honeyblood, Deap Vally, Bipolar Sunshine, Clean Bandit, Wolf Alice, Palace, and more to be announced
Why: An estate, including Georgian farm house, hosts the unusual Secret Garden Party.
Web: www.secretgardenparty.com
What: Deer Shed
Where: North Yorkshite, England, U.K.
When: July 25-27
Who: Johnny Marr, British Sea Power, Stornoway, Steve Mason, TOY, Summer Camp, Cate Le Bon, Wolf Alice, We Were Evergreen, PAWS, PINS, Cheatahs, Post War Glamour Girls, and more to be announced
Why: A kid-friendly festival at Baldersby Park – whose theme this year is ‘Time Travel’.
Web: www.deershedfestival.com
What: Indietracks
Where: Ripley, England, U.K.
When: July 25-27
Who: Gruff Rhys, Allo Darlin’, Dean Wareham, , and more to be announced
Why: Of course the English would combine a music festival with their love of trains…
Web: www.indietracks.co.uk
What: Wickerman
Where: Kirkcarswell, Scotland, U.K.
When: July 26-27
Who: Dizzee Rascal, Del Amitri, Alabama 3, The Zombies, Big Country, and more to be announced
Why: While other festivals feast on imports, Wickerman is 100% Made in the U.K.
Web: www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk
What: Cambridge Folk
Where: Cambridge, England, U.K.
When: July 31 – August 3
Who: Van Morrison, Sinead O’Connor, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Richard Thompson, Rosanne Cash, Loudon Wainwright III, Peggy Seeger, Jason Isbell, North Mississippi Allstars, Sarah Jarosz, and more to be announced
Why: The U.K. has folk festivals, too.
Web: www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk
What: Camp Bestival
Where: Dorset, England, U.K.
When: July 31 – August 3
Who: Basement Jaxx, De La Soul, James, Johnny Marr, Sinead O’Connor, Laura Mvula, Steve Mason, The Skatalites, Peter Hook & The Light, The Wedding Present, Public Service Broadcasting, and more to be announced
Why: The “baby sister” of Bestival (see below), Camp Bestival hosts some older acts and some newer electronica at Lulworth Castle.
Web: www.campbestival.net
August
What: Cambridge Folk
Where: Cambridge, England, U.K.
When: July 31 – August 3
Who: Van Morrison, Sinead O’Connor, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Richard Thompson, Rosanne Cash, Loudon Wainwright III, Peggy Seeger, Jason Isbell, North Mississippi Allstars, Sarah Jarosz, and more to be announced
Why: The U.K. has folk festivals, too.
Web: www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk
What: Camp Bestival
Where: Dorset, England, U.K.
When: July 31 – August 3
Who: Basement Jaxx, De La Soul, James, Johnny Marr, Sinead O’Connor, Laura Mvula, Steve Mason, The Skatalites, Peter Hook & The Light, The Wedding Present, Public Service Broadcasting, and more to be announced
Why: The “baby sister” of Bestival (see below), Camp Bestival hosts some older acts and some newer electronica at Lulworth Castle.
Web: www.campbestival.net
What: Farm
Where: Somerset, England, U.K.
When: August 1-2
Who: Public Service Broadcasting, Melt Yourself Down, Skinny Lister, Beans on Toast, and more to be announced
Why: How ya gonna keep ‘em down on the Farm?
Web: farmfestival.co.uk
What: Kendal Calling
Where: Cumbria, England, U.K.
When: August 1-3
Who: Suede, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, De La Soul, Happy Mondays, Tom Odell, 2manydjs, Razorlight, Clean Bandit, Athlete, Frightened Rabbit, Reel Big Fish, The Heavy, Team Me, Admiral Fallow, Lanterns On the Lake, We Were Evergreen, and more to be announced
Why: The lake district is calling… See much more in our 2013 photo gallery here
Web: www.kendalcalling.com
What: Y Not
Where: Derbyshire, England, U.K.
When: August 1-3
Who: White Lies, Dizzee Rascal, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, Razorlight, The Fratellis, Reel Big Fish, Swim Deep, Andrew W.K., Yuck, Cerebral Ballzy, DZ Deathrays, The Wytches, and more to be announced
Why: Why not Y Not? Why not indeed…
Web: www.ynotfestivals.co.uk
What: Lounge On the Farm
Where: Canterbury, England, U.K.
When: August 2
Who: Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Peter Hook & The Light, and more to be announced
Why: Lounge On the Farm with Anglo acts telling Canterbury Tales.
Web: www.loungeonthefarm.co.uk
What: Visions
Where: London, England, U.K.
When: August 2
Who: Andrew W.K., Poliça, Baths, Eagulls, Perfect Pussy, Jacco Gardner, Sean Nicholas Savage, and more to be announced
Why: See Visions.
Web: visionsfestival.com
What: Beacons
Where: Skipton, England, U.K.
When: August 7-10
Who: Darkside, Daughter, Jon Hopkins, The Fall, Charli XCX, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, METZ, TOY, Eagulls, Cate Le Bon, The Wytches, Speedy Ortiz, MONEY, PINS, Cheatahs, and more to be announced
Why: Heslaker Farm shines like a Beacon. Read and see much more in our 2013 recap here
Web: www.greetingsfrombeacons.com
What: Rebellion
Where: Blackpool, England, U.K.
When: August 7-10
Who: The Dickies, The Selecter, Stiff Little Fingers, Killing Joke, Biohazard, U.K. Subs, Subhumans, NOFX, DOA, Agnostic Front, and more to be announced
Why: The punks (including ska-punks) come to Blackpool – but it’s the older bands who still do it best.
Web: www.rebellionfestivals.com
What: Belladrum Tartan Heart
Where: Inverness, Scotland, U.K.
When: August 8-9
Who: Tom Jones, Razorlight, Frightened Rabbit, Billy Bragg, The Mekons, and more to be announced
Why: That’s pretty far north…
Web: www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk
What: Lake Fest
Where: Gloucestershire, England, U.K.
When: August 8-10
Who: Shed Seven, Buzzcocks, Neville Staple, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, and more to be announced
Why: Have a Fest by the Lake.
Web: lakefest.co.uk
What: Green Man
Where: Brecon Beacons, Wales, U.K.
When: August 14-17
Who: Neutral Milk Hotel, Beirut, Caribou, Bill Callahan, Sharon Van Etten, Kurt Vile, First Aid Kit, Daughter, Anna Calvi, Real Estate, Poliça, TOY, Simian Mobile Disco, Jeffrey Lewis, Mac DeMarco, Hamilton Leithauser, I Break Horses, Lanterns On the Lake, Speedy Ortiz, and more to be announced
Why: Head to Glanusk Park in Wales because Green Man is totally saving your life right now, bro.
Web: www.greenman.net
What: Jabberwocky
Where: London, England, U.K.
When: August 15-16
Who: Neutral Milk Hotel, James Blake, Darkside, Caribou, Kurt Vile, Panda Bear, Liars, Thee Oh Sees, Sun Kil Moon, Pissed Jeans, Cloud Nothings, Chelsea Wolfe, I Break Horses, Amen Dunes, Perfect Pussy, Iceage, Speedy Ortiz, Yamantaka//Sonic Titan, METZ, Big Ups, and more to be announced
Why: All Tomorrow’s Parties might be no more, but ATP, Pitchfork, and Primavera Sound (QRO 2013 recap) have teamed up to bring the Jabberwocky.
Web: www.atpfestival.com/events/jabberwocky2014.php
What: Beautiful Days
Where: Devon, England, U.K.
When: August 15-17
Who: Steve Earle & The Dukes, Seasick Steve, Levellers, Jimmy Cliff, Dead Kennedys, Seeed, Reverend & The Makers, Public Service Broadcasting, Tinariwen, and more to be announced
Why: What a Beautiful Day(s)…
Web: www.beautifuldays.org
What: V Festival
Where: Chelmsford & Staffordshire, England, U.K.
When: August 16-17
Who: Justin Timberlake, The Killers, Ed Sheeran, Lily Allen, Paolo Nutini, Example, Elbow, B∆stille, Kaiser Chiefs, Rudimental, Alesso, Manic Street Preachers, Tom Odell, Train, Blondie, Sam Smith, Janelle Monae, Kodaline, The Human League, The Stranglers, The Wailers, Chic, and more to be announced
Why: The Virgin Group gives double your festival, in both Hylands Park & Weston Park, simultaneously, as artists play one park on Saturday, and the other on Sunday. See more in our Staffordshire 2012 photo gallery here
Web: www.vfestival.com
What: Shambala
Where: Northamptonshire, England, U.K.
When: August 21-24
Who: Mulatu Astake, Collie Buddz, Public Service Broadcasting, and more to be announced
Why: A varied & green line-up.
Web: www.shambalafestival.org
What: Leeds
Where: Leeds, England, U.K.
When: August 22-24
Who: Queens of the Stone Age, Paramore, Blink-182, Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Jake Bugg, Disclosure, Bombay Bicycle Club, Imagine Dragons, SBTRKT, CHVRCHES, The 1975, Jimmy Eat World, Foster the People, A Day To Remember, Warpaint, Die Antwoord, Metronomy, The Hives, Temples, Peace, Cage the Elephant, Boys Noize, Danny Brown, Eagulls, Klaxons, The Neighbourhood, and more to be announced
Why: Indie meets mainstream at co-festivals Leeds & Reading (see below) with a stacked line-up. Read & see much more in our 2011 recap here
Web: www.leedsfestival.com
What: Reading
Where: Reading, England, U.K.
When: August 22-24
Who: Queens of the Stone Age, Paramore, Blink-182, Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Jake Bugg, Disclosure, Bombay Bicycle Club, Imagine Dragons, SBTRKT, CHVRCHES, The 1975, Jimmy Eat World, Foster the People, A Day To Remember, Warpaint, Die Antwoord, Metronomy, The Hives, Temples, Peace, Cage the Elephant, Boys Noize, Danny Brown, Eagulls, Klaxons, The Neighbourhood, and more to be announced
Why: Indie meets mainstream at co-festivals Leeds & Reading (see above) with a stacked line-up.
Web: www.readingfestival.com
What: Greenbelt
Where: Prestbury, England, U.K.
When: August 22-25
Who: Sinead O’Connor, Stornoway, and more to be announced
Why: An arts, faith and justice festival.
Web: www.greenbelt.org.uk
What: Bingley Music Live
Where: Bradford, England, U.K.
When: August 29-31
Who: Pet Shop Boys, Shed Seven, Example, Gaz Coombes, The Selecter, Bipolar Sunshine, The Wytches, and more to be announced
Why: The City of Bradford Council holds an affordable fest. Read & see much more in our 2013 recap here
Web: www.bingleymusiclive.com
What: Electric Picnic
Where: Stradbally, Ireland
When: August 29-31
Who: Beck, Outkast, Portishead, Pet Shop Boys, Foals, Paolo Nutini, Chic, Lily Allen, St. Vincent, Simple Minds, London Grammar, Slowdive, Metronomy, The Stranglers, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, The Wailers, White Denim, Temples, Jungle, and many more to be announced
Why: Ireland lights up thanks to Electric Picnic.
Web: www.electricpicnic.ie
What: End of the Road
Where: Salisbury, England, U.K.
When: August 29-31
Who: The Flaming Lips, Wild Beasts, St. Vincent, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Yo La Tengo, The Horrors, Gruff Rhys, White Denim, Richard Thompson, Tinariwen, Jenny Lewis, The Felice Brothers, tUnE-yArDs, Temples, British Sea Power, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Mark Kozelek, Cate Le Bon, Deer Tick, Juana Molina, Marissa Nadler, Woods, The Barr Brothers, Cold Specks, Eagulls, Black Lips, Arc Iris, Three Trapped Tigers, The Wytches, Lucius, Lonnie Holley, Wye Oak, The Districts, and more to be announced
Why: The end of August sees the End of the Road.
Web: www.endoftheroadfestival.com
What: Moseley Folk
Where: Birmingham, England, U.K.
When: August 29-31
Who: Richard Thompson, Johnny Marr, The Waterboys, Thurston Moore, The Felice Brothers, and more to be announced
Why: Folk & more comes to Moseley Park.
Web: www.moseleyfolk.co.uk
What: Jersey Live
Where: Jersey, England, U.K.
When: August 30-31
Who: To be announced
Why: U.K. music festivals come to the Channel’s Jersey Islands.
Web: www.jerseylive.org.uk
September
What: Bestival
Where: Isle of Wight, England, U.K.
When: September 4-7
Who: Outkast, Chic, Beck, Foals, Busta Rhymes, Disclosure, Paloma Faith, Basement Jaxx, Major Lazer, London Grammar, Sam Smith, Wild Beasts, Clean Bandit, Bonobo, Caribou, SBTRKT, CHVRCHES, Temples, Peter Hook & The Light, Cate Le Bon, Public Service Broadcasting, and more to be announced
Why: The biggest truly indie festival is still the Bestival.
Web: www.bestival.net
What: Festival No. 6
Where: Portmeiron, England, U.K.
When: September 5-7
Who: Beck, London Grammar, Bonobo, Neneh Cherry, Steve Mason, Temples, Los Campesinos!, and more to be announced
Why: The home of The Village from The Prisoner – including a real-life castle – welcomes Festival No. 6. But can you ever leave?…
Web: www.festivalnumber6.com
What: Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia
Where: Liverpool, England, U.K.
When: September 26-27
Who: To be announced
Why: The birthplace of The Beatles welcomes psychedelia from around the world.
Web: www.liverpoolpsychfest.com
October to December
to be announced