the skiddle festival guide
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04 — 18
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Kendal Calling
Festivals
Armand Van Helden
Blossoms
Top Ten festival tips
Even if you don’t have a ticket, we could be sending you there for free.
Your biggest guide to what festivals to visit this year.
We speak to him about his recent Ministry of Sound compilation Masterpiece.
Hotly tipped Blossoms are one of the most exciting new bands in recent times.
Going abroad for a festival? We look at the top ten things you need to do before you go.
02 skiddle.com - your guide to the best festivals
It’s one of the nation’s favourite festivals, with Kendal Calling once again selling out in record time ahead of its ten year anniversary from Thursday 30th July to Sunday 2nd August. This year Elbow, Snoop Dogg, James, Kaiser Chiefs and The Vaccines are the five headliners and, even if you don’t have a ticket, we could be sending you there for free. We’ll kit you out with all the equipment you need for the weekend AND even hook you up a seat on the amazing Kendal-ino Express – the first ever festival on a train featuring headline performances from Beardyman and Black Rivers plus drinks and festival registration to get you there in style. Here’s what is up for grabs:
• 2 Tickets to Kendal Calling 2015 • 2 Tickets on the Kendalino Express from Manchester Piccadilly to Penrith, including live on board performances, an abundance of alcoholic or non-alcoholic refreshments, luggage porter service at Manchester Piccadilly and free shuttle bus transfer from Penrith to campsites. • 1 Festival survival pack courtesy of Regatta consisting of the ultimate festival tent, those staple stylish wellies, a handy rucksack for all of your festival essentials and of course, a trusty jacket to keep you partying whatever the weather.
Sound good? Well to ensure this great prize we need you to justify it with photographic evidence of why you deserve to be the person we send to the Lake District in July. Simply upload your picture of you showcasing your festival credentials to either Instagram or Twitter with the right caption: Instagram: ‘I want @skiddleuk to send me to @kendalcalling with @virgintrainsuk @regattaonline because #weekendsmatter’ Twitter: ‘I want @skiddle to send me to @kendalcalling with @virgintrains @regattaonoline because #weekendsmatter’ We’ll pick the best image as a winner on Wednesday 10th June. Good luck! More info on skiddle.com/news/competitions
03 skiddle.com - your guide to the best festivals
the best experience of our lives Festivals; they’re great aren’t they? Whether it’s singing along with thousands of others to the biggest bands in the world or getting lost in some secret cavern soundtracked by a DJ you’ve never heard of before, there’s something reassuringly brilliant about the summer ushering in some of the best experiences of our lives.
Who knows what will be the defining moment of this year’s festival season. Hip hop fans will be expecting Kanye to prove the petition mob wrong at Glasto or for Kendrick to deliver his stunning new music at Wireless and Leeds & Reading.
More traditional rock fans will eagerly await the operatic outcome of Muse at Download, whilst techno fiends must surely be overjoyed at the prospect of Carl Craig performing with Underground Resistance’s Mad Mike Banks at SW4. Whoever steals the show, the best way to find out who is on where is with Skiddle, the UK’s festivals experts. Come rain or shine, festival season is a world of possibility. For some they’re life changing moments of scintillating euphoria, others just a simple chance to escape real life for a fleeting afternoon. Whatever purpose they serve you can find pretty much any festival to satiate your needs with us, and this newspaper runs down a handful of some of the best festivals in a number of categories for you to find inspiration in. Remember there’s much more choice at the nation’s biggest festivals guide at skiddle.com/festivals and plenty of festival related info on our social networks
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contents 04 / Rock, indie and metal festivals
14 / Top ten tips for festivals abroad
06 / Dance festivals
15 / Pop music festivals
08 / Boutique and grassroots festivals
16 / Festivals under £100
10 / Armand van Helden interview 11 / Blossoms Interview 12 / Foreign festivals
17 / Family Friendly festivals 18 / Scottish festivals 19 / Get involved with Skiddle
04 skiddle.com - your guide to the best festivals
rock, indie & metal festivals Leeds Festival (Credit Giles Smith)
If it’s big guitar licks and mesmerising riffs you’re after then you’ve reached your destination. It’s these festivals that welcome the greatest bands on the planet and administer an abundance of monumental spectacles year on year.
GLASTONBURY
Wed 24th - Sun 28th June £220 www.skiddle.com/festivals/glastonbury Glastonbury is without question the ultimate for any festival goer. Whether it’s taking a trip to the iconic Pyramid Stage or the mind blowing Shangri La, Glastonbury is so vast in scope that would take a lifetime of visits to take in entirely.
READING & LEEDS
Fri 28th - Sun 30th Aug £59.50 - £205 www.skiddle.com/festivals/reading www.skiddle.com/festivals/leeds Providing no other alternative to August Bank Holiday weekend, Reading and Leeds showcase the entire musical spectrum to provide the ultimate festival all rounder. Prepare for madness, mud and mammoth headliners across its enormous number of festival stages.
DOWNLOAD
Wed 10th - Sun 14th June £75 - £205 www.skiddle.com/festivals/download-festival Acting as a kind of rock and metal Valhalla, Download at its spiritual home of Donington Park has this year enlisted the likes of Kiss, Muse and Slipknot at the peak of its 2015 programme.
THE GREAT ESCAPE
Thu 14th - Sat 16th May £54 www.skiddle.com/festivals/the-great-escape Picture this, your favourite band in their infancy, playing in a festival setting before you even knew they existed. The Great Escape is Europe’s biggest festival to discover new music, and we can assure the 2015 line up is clustered with artists destined for the big stage, including Blossoms (read our interview with them on page 11).
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Liverpool Sound City
CALLING FESTIVAL
CAMDEN ROCKS
T IN THE PARK
Building on last year’s Clapham Common success, Calling Festival returns to the greenery of the inner city grounds for a further bout of rock & roll. Acting as London’s live music flagship, it makes our cut as an essential all dayer.
In tandem with its edgy surroundings, Camden Rocks welcomes a troop of forward thinking acts both under the radar and established for one day only. All played out in intimate venues, this year’s event welcomes the likes of New Model Army, Little Comets and Funeral For A Friend.
Each year it stands as Scotland’s premier festival occasion, with an awe-inspiring line up to rival any beyond its borders. Relocating to Strathallan Castle, T in the Park will reaffirm its metal with a line up led by Noel Gallagher and Kasabian.
Sat 4th July £57.50 www.skiddle.com/festivals/calling-festival
LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY
Fri 22nd - Sun 24th May £65 www.skiddle.com/festivals/liverpool-sound-city Located in the cultural heartland of Liverpool, the world renowned Sound City sparks the bustling metropolis into life over three days. Celebrated throughout the area, it paints the city with an unparalleled music and arts programme. The Vaccines, The Flaming Lips and Belle and Sebastian headline this year.
Saturday 30th May £30 www.skiddle.com/festivals/camden-rocks
BRITISH SUMMER TIME
Thu 18th - Sat 27th June £65 - £150 www.skiddle.com/festivals/bstlondon Scattered across multiple huge dates, there’s arguably no better location in the capital than the vast green landscape of Hyde Park. Stapling together a bulk of titanic acts, this year’s bill sees Taylor Swift, Kylie Minogue, Tho Who and Chic featuring Nile Rodgers plus many more adorn the festival stage.
Fri 10th - Sun 12th July £75 - £194 www.skiddle.com/festivals/t-in-the-park
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dance festivals Creamfields (Credit Anthony Mooney
Internationally renowned electronic music stars, combined with dazzling pyrotechnics and some rowdy revellers - the UK know how to do dance music festivals properly.
CREAMFIELDS
Fri 28th – Sun 30th August £85 - £200 www.skiddle.com/festivals/creamfields As a major British clubbing institution, it’s natural that Cream are the driving force behind one of the most prestigious dance music festivals in the world. Creamfields boasts standout tents led by world-renowned brands, labels and artists. This year they welcome Avicii, Jamie Jones, Fatboy Slim and more to Cheshire.
BESTIVAL
10th – 13th September £130 - £196 www.skiddle.com/festivals/bestival The Chemical Brothers, Todd Terje and Erol Alkan will make their way to the awardwinning Isle of White fest for Rob Da Bank’s themed musical extravaganza. Bestival takes the festival experience to a new level, offering equal helpings of style and substance, and this year it’s the Summer of Love at Robin Hill.
KIDDSTOCK
Sat 1st August £35 - £49 www.skiddle.com/festivals/kiddstock -beach-festival Following a five year break and huge demand from hard-edged ravers, the UK’s only hard dance beach festival, Kiddstock, returns for 2015. The likes of Tidy Boys, Isaac and Andy Whitby will lead the pack for the day-long event, complete with an open air main stage facing the ocean on the coast of Cleveland.
SW4
29th – 30th August £57.50 - £112 www.skiddle.com/festivals/south-west-four The finest electronic selectors including Luciano, Skrillex and Marco Carola will be wreaking havoc at Clapham in London for South West Four this August. Carrying on the momentum from last year, the festival will be filled again with exclusive back to backs and next level production.
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EDC
MADE FESTIVAL
Electric Daisy Carnival is one of the most spectacular dance music festivals in the UK, framed by the same installations and staging that make their New York and Vegas counterparts so unique. The one day festival boldly showcases the best in electronic music and the likes of Claude VonStroke, Hardwell and Shy FX are set to play this year’s event.
The multi-genre festival utilises both indoor and outdoor spaces within the heart of Birmingham. The city has secured itself as one of the biggest UK hubs for innovative events and creative brands, and MADE is set to cement this reputation with the likes of Pleasure State, Heidi and David Rodigan making an appearance.
Sat 11th July £60 www.skiddle.com/festivals/edc-london
Sat 25th July £29.50 - £49.50 www.skiddle.com/festivals/MADE-Birmingham
LOVE SAVES THE DAY
LOVEBOX
Fri 17th – Sat 18th July £49.50 - £85 www.skiddle.com/festivals/lovebox Lovebox maintain their quality status with another line up filled with giants like Rudimental, Despacio and MK plus an abundance of newcomers for the weekender at London’s oldest public park. As a celebration of music and love, the festival shines a light on the best talent and art from around the world.
OUTBREAK
Fri 22nd – Mon 25th May £46.50 - £150 www.skiddle.com/festivals/Outbreak-Festival Leicestershire based Outbreak Festival takes the title of the UK’s fastest growing electronic festival. Yielding a spectacular line up featuring Sven Vath, Steve Lawler and Wilkinson, Outbreak have proved that they’re in it for the long run.
Love Saves the Day (Credit Khris Cowley / Here & Now)
Sat 23rd - Sunday 24th May £35 - £45 www.skiddle.com/festivals/love-saves-the-day Love Saves the Day was developed by some of Bristol’s best event organisers, the collective minds that put the likes of Secret Garden Party, See No Evil and GlobalGathering into motion. Their backgrounds transfer to the line ups, and these festival heads know how to curate stages that result in the right musical melting pots.
From techno to house, EDM to garage, the rave experts have got it covered come rain or shine.
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boutique & grassroots festivals Festival Number 6
Offering an eclectic experience free from the stresses of bigger festivals, grassroots and boutique festivals don’t just concentrate on music but offer vast attractions taking in the arts, workshops, comedy and theatre, leading to a well rounded weekend of easygoing, exciting programming that leaves you wanting more.
FESTIVAL NUMBER 6
UNDERNEATH THE STARS
Perhaps the most unique festival on the calendar, Festival Number 6 is located in Portmeirion, a Mediterranean inspired coastal village complete with palm trees, beaches, mountains and forests. With a huge line up of artists, musicians, DJs, poets, public speakers and more, the Welsh festival is perfect for those looking to soak up a hefty amount of cultural offerings during their festival experience.
As a brand new celebration of arts, music and food, Kate Rusby’s debut festival will bring a searing selection of jazz, blues, swing, folk and rock & roll to Cannon Hall Open Farm, South Yorkshire this summer.
THE BIG FEASTIVAL
Relaxed, calm and serene, Farmfestival’s uber chilled atmosphere is a huge part of its charm, whilst its eclectic programme of dance, rock, electronic, folk and reggae caters for even the most obscure of musical persuasions.
Thu 3rd - Sun 6th September £170 - £185 www.skiddle.com/festivals/festival-no-6
Fri 28th - Sun 30th August £50 - £130 www.skiddle.com/festivals/the-big-feastival Blur’s Alex James teams up with Jamie Oliver for a shindig on the former’s farm, where Paloma Faith, Grandmaster Flash and Groove Armada DJing provide the musical counterpoint to a celebration of food in this family friendly delight.
Fri 24th - Sun 26th July £95 - £125 www.skiddle.com/festivals/ underneath-the stars
FARMFESTIVAL
Fri 31st July - Sat 1st August £59 www.skiddle.com/festivals/farmfestival
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Latitude Festival
GREEN MAN FESTIVAL
GOTTWOOD FESTIVAL
NORTHBOUND FESTIVAL
Located in the gorgeous Brecon Beacons, Green Man’s incredibly friendly reputation precedes it, as does its dedication to discovering exciting new musical talent. With 1500 performers embroiled in 24 hour entertainment, taking in comedy, poetry, literature, art and science, Green Man is rightly one of the best loved boutique festivals on the calendar.
Set deep in the Anglesey Forest, Gottwood is something of a breath of fresh air on the festival circuit. Aiming to give power back to the people whilst at the same time hook in a stellar cast of underground dance music heroes, the Welsh Festival delivers a safe, spontaneous and unique experience. Expect a genre bending, mind altering, rollercoaster ride that demands repeat visits.
The small but perfectly formed Cumbrian festival isn’t just about the music, it’s about the whole festival experience and the true ethos behind music festivals; finding new music, having new experiences and spending time with friends in a place where anything goes.
LEESTOCK
LATITUDE
The not for profit, charity based festival has so far raised a staggering total of £40,000 for the Willow Foundation, whilst the festival itself has found its way into the hearts of many with its notoriously chilled, feel good atmosphere, and regular selection of popular rock and indie bands.
One of the biggest boutique festivals on the circuit, Latitude goes all out on its comedy, poetry, theatre, cabaret and politics programming, topping it all off with top notch music, colourful sheep, and an unmatchable atmosphere.
Thurs 20th - Sun 23rd August £159 www.skiddle.com/festivals/Green-man
Sat 23rd - Sun 24th May £30 www.skiddle.com/festivals/leestock
Thurs 11th - Sun 14th June £75 - £95 www.skiddle.com/festivals/gottwood
Thu 6th - Sun 19th July £132.40 - £192.50 www.skiddle.com/festivals/latitude-festival
Fri 7th - Sun 9th Aug £50 www.skiddle.com/festivals/northbound-festival
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armand van helden Armand Van Helden is one of the all time legends of house music, and this summer headlines Outbreak festival in Leicester.
You rose to prominence in the nineties when Ministry of Sound was pretty much the biggest club in the UK, and now, twenty years on, there’s a three disc set of music you love available through the club itself. Can you tell us about it? The main concept for me was to have the discs being pretty separate from each other, to throw the wide spectrum in. I mean, I could make Ministry of Sound compilations every three months, I could do a Broadway show tunes collection, there’s no form of music I’m not really into or cringe at. So my childhood is on there, in a sense. The line that drives through them all, is what I grew up with. And that’s without really touching on my hip hop side, which I also grew up with. So the Yacht Rock is my early days, my parents would blast that, and then came the freestyle selection, then house, where obviously I made a career. You’ve had success recently with A-Trak as Duck Sauce. Were you attempting to introduce a younger audience to that classic sound? Oh yeah, they’re history lessons, for sure. I want people to feel like they’ve jumped into a time machine, to recall a certain summer of a specific time. And having worked with people like A Trak, and then Steve Aoki some time ago, did you feel a personal desire to reconnect with the roots of your taste? Well, since ‘U Don’t Even Know Me’ in 1998, from that point in my career, I wasn’t going to work that hard anymore. And by hard work, I mean running around trying to keep my name on people’s lips. I did that from ‘93 to ‘98, just hustling, and I love my career and it’s a blessing, but I thought I’d continue at a reasonable pace. So for me, I just kind of enjoy pretty much most of it! I just know when there’s too much of one thing now, just like anything in art, when that momentum of what feels like a revolution or renaissance is lost. It’s like electro or electro house, six or seven years later, a lot of pop music still sounds like that, but what’s interesting is that those records were never that big and actually often part of the indie rock thing. Just kids doing amazing, genius new production, but they weren’t on normal records. Someone like Erol Alkan was great at that stuff, I always felt like that guy. My little contribution to that music was ‘Bonkers’, with Dizzee Rascal. And that’s all I’m proficient at, as these other records had these amazing details, but I’m just from the old school, you know, I’d just do a two bar loop and that’s a song! Full interview on skiddle.com/news
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blossoms
Hotly tipped Blossoms are one of the most exciting new bands in recent times, and this summer will be playing The Great Escape, Liveprool Sound City, T in the Park and Kendal Calling, among others.
We see you were at SXSW for BBC introducing, how was that, did you ever see yourselves heading there as a band? You can’t really put the experience we had into words, it was five days we’ll never forget and an absolute pleasure to be sent over by the messiah of radio himself, Mr Steve Lamacq.There were nerves and excitement in equal measure, which were soon overcome by the more-than-positive reception we received at both shows.
You’ll take that sound with you for one of the Great Escape Festival showcases in Camden. What’s it like to be invited back by a festival that offers so much to new music? We’re privileged to have been added to the bill this year. There’s a plethora of great new artists playing and what better way to celebrate the music than on the English Seaside. Sunshine please. Looking at this year’s line up, who do you think is worth looking out for?
Upon starting the band, we always aimed to get overseas with our music, so to play our debut USA show at SXSW was electrifying. You’ve just finished a UK tour, tell us about your highlights? To gig from the top to toe of the UK and see punters singing your words back into your eyes is priceless, not to mention the healthy flow of sold out shows there’s been. Grateful isn’t the word. In comparison to our previous tour, it’s great to see some familiar faces and new fans jumping on board and backing us. There’s been a highlight in every nook and cranny of old Blighty, impossible to tell all, but one thing’s for sure, we’ve had an absolute ball - is it time to start the van up again yet?
I think we’ll be giving Gaz Coombes a watch as his new LP is a lovely journey through the detours of sound. Perhaps Gengahr and Boxed In, who we were on the BBC Introducing bill with back at SXSW. It’ll also be nice to get lost and stumble across someone or something we’ve not heard before, we’re very receptive when it comes to new music. Full interview on skiddle.com/news
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foreign festivals Electric Elephant (Credit www.heathershuker.co.uk)
The foreign festival scene has exploded over the last few years, and it’s easy to see why with significant advantages over their British counterparts - guaranteed weather, open air clubbing, local culture and a full holiday experience alongside some of the most impressive musical line ups.
ELECTRIC ELEPHANT
SOUNDWAVE
Thurs 9th – Mon 13th July £130 www.skiddle.com/festivals/ electric-elephant-festival
Thurs 6th – Mon 10th August £125 www.skiddle.com/festivals/ Soundwave-Festival-Croatia
As one of The Garden Tisno’s leading music festivals, Electric Elephant has set the bar for electronic line ups in Croatia with a bill featuring DJ Harvey, A Guy Called Gerald and The 2 Bears. From the beach stage to the boat parties, they welcome music royalty and some of the most innovative artists to the Adriatic Coast.
Jay Electronica, Mr Scruff and Maribou State sit at the top of the roster for Soundwave, one of Europe’s most friendly and intimate gatherings. The festival is another one of The Garden site’s gems, proudly showcasing an abundance of genres and artists at their unique location on the stunning Dalmatian coast.
EXIT
CAPTURED
Exit has undoubtedly put Serbia on the festival map. Held at the Petrovaradin Fortress, the festival will host over 20 stages, all boasting cutting-edge rosters.
Captured was created when Driftwood Ibiza and Island of Trance joined forces with the vision of bringing something fresh and innovate to the White Isle.
The line up for this year is equally as epic as the location - The Prodigy, Dixon and Faithless are amongst those visiting the fort.
The festival takes place at Benimussa, more commonly known as the old zoo.
Thurs 9th – Sun 12th July £89 – £250 www.skiddle.com/festivals/exit
Sun 6th September £29.50 - £35 www.skiddle.com/festivals/captured-festival
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SEA DANCE
CROATIA ROCKS
Wed 15th – Sat 18th July £54 - £125 www.skiddle.com/festivals/Sea-Dance
Sun 19th – Thurs 23rd July £119 - £179 www.skiddle.com/festivals/Croatia-Rocks
Montenegro’s award-winning, sun-soaked paradise is in partnership with Exit, resulting in some of their favourite artists and stages making their way to Sun Dance’s beach. Forward thinking line ups make it a go-to spot for lovers of electronic music and this year they welcome Sigma, Bondax and Soul Clap.
The guys behind Ibiza Rocks will be bringing their infamous party spirit to Zcre Beach, one of Croatia’s most popular party spots for the first time this year. Clean Bandit, Years & Years and Hannah Wants are just some of the established artists that will be making history with Croatia Rocks this July.
SUNCEBEAT
SONAR
Expect sets from Kerri Chandler, Louie Vega and Motor City Drum Ensemble at Suncebeat’s home, The Garden Tisno. Developed by the creative minds behind the Southport Weekender, this idyllic festival is a heaven for those who want to partner a relaxing and blissful holiday with an eclectic musical backdrop.
Sonar is unique both in its format and its content. The International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art features the highest levels of visual production alongside a hugely diverse line up across various venues in the city, consisting of electronic tastemakers and pioneering bands.
Wed 22nd – Wed 29th July £135 www.skiddle.com/festivals/suncebeat
Thurs 18th - Sat 20th June £65 www.skiddle.com/festivals/sonar
Sonar (Credit to Ariel Martini)
Going abroad for a festival? Read our top ten things you need to do before heading overseas on page 14.
14 skiddle.com - your guide to the best festivals
top ten tips for festivals abroad Going abroad for a festival? Here’s the top ten things you need to do before heading overseas.
Croatia Park (Credit Becca Frankland)
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Make sure you get comprehensive travel insurance which covers you for your festival kit as well as everything you want to do while you are away.
If you are travelling to a European destination you’ll need to take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you. You can get one from www.ehic. com. This will entitle you to medicallynecessary care within the EU and EEA and should be accepted by all state hospitals. You will still need comprehensive insurance to ensure you are fully covered for all eventualities.
No-one wants to require consular assistance just to get to a festival, however great the anecdote might end up being. Before you go, check that your passport is still valid - some airlines require you to have a minimum of six months validity in your passport at return date.
Once you arrive, keep your passport and possessions secure. As you would in the UK, be alert and vigilant at all times. Some festivals provide a lock-up for important items.
Avoid any involvement with illegal drugs – the penalties are severe and could include the death sentence. Legal systems in foreign countries vary greatly so do not put yourself at risk. When drinking alcohol, know your limits and stay hydrated and protected from the sun.
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Turn off international roaming on your mobile phone and use the wifi when you can. You don’t want a huge bill greeting you when you come back to the UK, hitting reality will be hard enough without it.
Festival sites may not have easy access to ATMs so make sure you take enough money and have access to emergency funds.
Make the most of being abroad research local laws and customs and learn a few phrases. The locals will appreciate your efforts and it will help to ensure that you don’t find yourself in trouble accidentally.
Make a note of the number of the nearest British Consulate and familiarise yourself with what they can and cannot do to help in case of emergencies.
Remember, you can call 112 to contact the emergency services in any EU country.
For more information check out the FCO travel advice on a country-by-country basis at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
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pop music festivals
The biggest festivals on the calendar in both size and stature, the heavyweights of the rock and pop world head up mammoth festivals across the country, with huge crowds lapping up sets from the music world’s most renowned artists.
New Look Wireless Festival (Credit Rachael Wright)
NEW LOOK WIRELESS
ISLE OF WIGHT
Championing mainstream dance and urban music primarily, Wireless launches three days of immense headliners in Finsbury Park from July 3rd, with Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Avicii, David Guetta and Nicki Minaj just some of the luminaries in attendance.
A festival with a huge pedigree, Isle Of Wight has been a major player on the circuit since the seventies and continues to attract the biggest names in rock and pop, with this year seeing Fleetwood Mac play alongside The Prodigy and The Black Keys.
LYTHAM FESTIVAL
V FESTIVAL
A full week of music takes over Lytham from August 2nd, with eighties and nineties legends Marti Pellow, Billy Ocean and 5ive amongst the retro line up, whilst UK dance music veterans Faithless come North on Thursday 6th for a special 20th anniversary appearance.
With a typically younger crowd enticed by the leading lights of modern music, V’s production values blow most festivals out of the water, whilst its top line up is matched with a friendly, safe atmosphere, free from mud and large queues, creating the perfect first festival for many.
Fri 3rd - Sun 25th July £62.50 - £69.50 www.skiddle.com/festivals/wireless-festival
Sun 2nd - Sun 9th August £35 - £37.50 www.skiddle.com/festivals/lytham-prom
Thurs 11th - Sun 14th June £185 - £195 www.skiddle.com/festivals/Isle-Of-Wight
Sat 22nd - Sun 23rd August £189 www.skiddle.com/festivals/v-festival
BBC RADIO ONE’S BIG WEEKEND
Sat 23rd - Sun 24th May FREE www.skiddle.com/festivals/radio-onebig-weekend The biggest and brightest names in modern dance and pop music join Radio One’s Big Weekend in Norwich this summer. With each year’s tickets being won by lucky applicants picked at random, the festival continues to have a sense of excitement about it, as everyone in attendance shares in their fortunate glee at being there.
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The only downside to festivals can be that they detract a hefty chunk from our bank balance, although it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’re tied to a budget this year or looking to sneak an extra break in, there’s plenty of festivals to be enjoyed for less than three figures.
festivals under £100
Detonate (Credit Sam Kirby)
DOT TO DOT
LINTON FESTIVAL
DETONATE
Showcasing a wealth of talent primed to burst into the mainstream as well as more established acts, Dot to Dot festival branches out to Bristol, Manchester and Nottingham. This year’s lineup features Best Coast, Saint Raymond and Rae Morris.
Taking place in a natural amphitheatre at the back of the Alma Inn, Linton Festival is the ultimate retreat if you’re looking for good food, beer and music. Quality guitar music is the order of the day and has been for 13 years now with a raft of blues, soul and rock specialists playing at the festival.
Although this will only be Detonate’s second festival, they’ve been hosting music events across major UK cities for over fifteen years, showcasing the best in the underground whilst picking up awards for Best Club Night along the way. Nas (playing classic album Illmatic), Skepta and Zed Bias are among the highlights for this soiree near Nottingham.
Fri 22nd - Sun 24th May £25 www.skiddle.com/festivals/dot-to-dot-festival
COCOON IN THE PARK
Sat 11th July £35 - £40 www.skiddle.com/festivals/cocoon-in-the-park Housed in the picturesque grounds of Temple Newsam, Leeds - Cocoon In The Park flaunts a line up that outmuscles a hefty proportion of its competitors. With Sven Vath, Carl Cox, Dixon and Ricardo Villalobos locked in place to prove that, there’s no to need look elsewhere for a budget rave up.
Fri 19th - Sun 21st Jun £38 - £72 www.skiddle.com/festivals/linton-festival
HIJACKED
Sat 30th May £19 - £24 www.skiddle.com/festivals/Hijacked-Festival Returning after a monumental debut in 2014, Hijacked are bringing more of the same this year only on a grander scale. Keeping their line up bass reliant, it’s encrusted with star names such as Congo Natty, Artwork and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.
Sat 30th May £40 www.skiddle.com/festivals/Detonate
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family friendly festivals
STANDON CALLING
VILLAGE GREEN
Remarkably, Standon Calling has developed from a small gathering of friends to a burgeoning flashpoint for music and the arts. Keeping the kids more than occupied, there are activities installed from morning till bedtime, and even a dedicated kids area at the main stage.
Where better to spend a summer’s day than in the picturesque grounds of Chalkwell Park, Southend with all of the family? Celebrating arts and culture, you can absorb anything from comedy to musical theatre with plenty more to see and do across eight magnificent stages.
CAMP BESTIVAL
AFRICA OYE
Judging from the theme of this year’s family extravaganza, you’re likely to be returning home from Camp Bestival with a car full of budding, mini explorers. With more than enough activities for the kids, including bushcraft and survival skills, adults can also expect to have a riot with the likes of Kaiser Chiefs and Clean Bandit at the peak of its music bill.
Since 1992 Africa OYE has stood as the UK’s largest free celebration of African music and culture. Taking place annually in Liverpool, the festival houses a fantastic range of culture, food, music and art in the OYE village to inspire reams of colour and vibrancy throughout the weekender.
Fri 31st Jul - Sun 2nd Aug £99.80 - £137 www.skiddle.com/festivals/ standon-calling
Thu 30th July - Sat 1st Aug Free - £195 www.skiddle.com/festivals/ camp-bestival
Standon Calling festival
It’s now easier than ever to involve the whole family in your festival experience, with plenty of events on the market tailored towards you and your tribe of little ones. Combining a colourful programme of music and family fun, these enable you to keep the childminder firmly on hold.
ALFRESCO
Sun 24th May £5 - £57 www.skiddle.com/festivals/ Alfresco Inviting you to bask in the summer sun at Blackpool Cricket Club, Alfresco also offers the chance to take in an eclectic DJ line up boasting A Love From Outer Space and the not so family friendly named Shit Robot. Not only that, you can bring the kids along too, with plenty of family focused entertainment to keep all of your clan upbeat.
Sat 11th Jul Free - £8 www.skiddle.com/festivals/ village-green
Sat 20th - Sun 21st June Free www.skiddle.com/festivals/ Africa-Oye-Festival
18 skiddle.com - your guide to the best festivals
From remote, boutique events to monolithic pop spectacles, via independant music showcases and celebrations of arts and comedy, Scotland boasts more than its fair share of high grade festivals across the Lowlands and Highlands.
scottish festivals
Neneh Cherry plays Wickerman Festival
KNOCKENGORROCH WORLD CEILIDH
LOOPALLU
AVIEMORE STOPOVER
With a free and easy vibe running throughout, there aren’t many friendlier gatherings out there. Bringing an impressive line up of world music, dub and electronica to a valley crammed with workshops, food stalls and and activities for all ages, Knockengorroch is a world unto itself - one you may not want to leave.
A small festival that packs a punch, Loopallu has managed to ensnare some huge names to its remote festival location, some 60 miles from the nearest town. Taking the bold move of hosting the festival at the end of September, it provides the perfect ending to the season - a two day, feel good event that perpetually defies expectations.
Curated by everyone’s favourite pop folk quartet Mumford & Sons - The Gentlemen Of The Road Stopover series acts as ‘a music festival that celebrates local people, food and culture, where everyone pitches in and everybody gets something back’. The Aviemore leg of the series sees them joined by Primal Scream, The Maccabees, Simian Mobile Disco, King Charles and Honeyblood amongst more.
WICKERMAN
COLOURFEST
Set in the rolling hills of Dumfries and Galloway, Wickerman, inspired by the classic Robin Hardy movie is one of the real gems on the Scottish Festival circuit. With a hugely eclectic music policy (including Neneh Cherry, main pic), a laid back, family friendly vibe, and a 35 foot Wickerman, there’s no other festival quite like it.
An array of dance music figureheads return to Glasgow’s Braehead Arena for a full day of high octane beats. With everything from trance to electro, via hard dance and big room house, ravers are well and truly catered for at Coloursfest, which matches jaw dropping production values with the finest in stadium sized dance music.
Thurs 21st - Sun 24th May £105 www.skiddle.com/festivals/Knockengorroch
Fri 24th - Sat 25th July £110 www.skiddle.com/festivals/cocoon-in-the-park
25th - Sat 26th September £85 www.skiddle.com/festivals/loopallu-festival
Sat 6th June £44.50 www.skiddle.com/festivals/Hijacked-Festival
Fri 31st - Sat 1st August £129 www.skiddle.com/festivals/aviemore-stopover
19 skiddle.com - your guide to the best festivals
This year we’ll be taking our infamous Skiddle Bus back to festivals across England and Scotland, providing festival-goers the chance to catch some respite from the intensity and get to know more about what we are about. If you see us out and about feel free to come and say hello. There’s no better hospitality than that of the Skiddle Bus and the team, plus you can sit down properly instead of cross-legged in your tent.
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You’ve seen throughout the newspaper the breadth of festivals that are on offer, and we’re on the lookout for some new writers to cover them, as well as other events we list on the site. If you fancy yourself reporting from your favourite festivals, club nights or gigs, we want to hear from you.
To top it off, you can expect to gain entry to these festivals and events for free, so you can save some major pennies whilst rocking out or raving to your favourite music. If you’re a budding music journalist this could be the perfect opportunity for you and could help build a portfolio of work featuring the most exciting and diverse live music events from the UK and abroad. If you’ve got a way with words and a passion for music email editorial@skiddle.com