Guide to UK’s Music Festivals
2nd April 2019
The Best UK Music Festivals – 2019
It’s about time we announced where we’ll be over summer. But we’re everywhere, constantly, so it makes sense to break it down into categories. This blog will focus on some of the Music Festivals for 2019.
Our first music festival will be on the second weekend of May, following a set of three Oxford College Balls on the first weekend.
MAY
The Great Escape, Brighton – 9th, 10th, 11th
Pioneering themselves as the leading fest for new music, The Great Escape is set across 30 of Brighton’s venues and even on the beach. Steve Lamacq said it was “the Cannes of the music world”, which is a pretty large compliment.
… and that looks like it for May’s music festivals. The rest of May is heavily populated with College Balls, Cricket, Food Festivals – such as the illusive Watercress Festival – and a couple very exciting church festivals.
JUNE
The Ends, Croydon – 31st, 1st, 2nd
With headliners like Naz, Damian Marley and Wizkid, this is set to be a banging blend of huge international acts and Croydon/London locals like Nadia Rose, Ghetts & Donae’o. Special shout out to Nipsey Hussel who was announced for the Friday, performing just before De La Soul. RIP.
Alresford Music Festival – 8th
From the Ends to the Country, Alresford doesn’t just host a music festival, but the previously mentioned Watercress Festival. Three stages, and music from the Southampton Ukelele Jam, the Community Samba Band, and whatever Psychadelephant do.
Mighty Hoopla, Cross the Tracks, Brockwell Park – 8th, 9th
Two days, two different festivals, one site. Might Hoopla packs a mad pop explosion with music from Bananarama, All Saints and Chaka bloody Khan. Expect nuff glitter, and a huge LGBTQ+ infusion. Cross the Tracks does the Sunday, bringing Soul, Jazz n Funk up through London’s roots and pumping it out the loud ones.
Download – 14th, 15th, 16th
Don’t think we need to say much here. Last year, Barney, with Guns N Roses playing in the background, did a backflip off the top of a Sprinter van whilst wearing sliders. Not long before that we lost n then found the same sliders in a pit watching Babymetal. Was class.
Glastonbury – for a whole bloody week, starting on the 24th
We put a post up on our FB page asking for people to sign up for what events they want. Now we’re trying to negotiate 40 free tickets for Glasto. It isn’t looking favourable. Find the lucky ones at Stone Circle for 6am.
JULY
2000 Trees – 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th
With a host of independent, grass-roots festival awards up its sleeve, you know these guys care about you. Plus, Kerrang! said it was the coolest festival of 2018. Frank Turner, Deaf Havana, You Me At Six. That’s explains it all, right.
Lovebox, Citadel, Gunnersbury Park – 12th, 13th, 14th
Lovebox – mad line up. Will have to close up shop to go see Chance the Rapper. Citadel brings a very different line up, moving away from Hip Hop, Grime etc to an older, Indie crowd. Alongside this you get people that know how to queue without fighting, which is most appreciated. Both events are great, until you gotta pile on the tube after.
Truck Festival, Oxfordshire – 26th, 27th, 28th
Set in our back garden, Truck manages to blend You Me At Six with Ocean Wisdom and Johnny Marr with My Nu Leng. It works.
Kendal Calling, Lake District – 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th
Kendal Calling knows how to do it all. Firstly, it’s beautiful. You can head to the Glow Tent if you wanna boogie, or you can stick around the main stage and watch the Courteeners. Also, just spotted Slowthai on the lineup. Abandon everything to catch him.
AUGUST
Boardmasters – 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
If you stand at The Point and look to your left, you can watch the waves breaking against the beach. If you look to your right, you’ll look at us, watching the waves break against the beach. Plus, Wu Tang Clan & Giggs.
Houghton – 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th
24 hour license from the guys who brought you Gottwood, set on a Lake in the Norfolk countryside. The lineup isn’t out yet, and whilst it isn’t Craig Richard’s prerogative, the last few years have needed more dnb/jungle. Maybe I’m biased.
Big Feastival – 23rd, 24th, 25th
With a name like that, you’d imagine Big Feastival mainly caters to scran. But it packs a heavy line up that gets them families in and keeps them engaged. Catch Mum, with the kids safely tucked away somewhere, letting her hair down to DJ Luck & MC Neat. Gwarn Mum.
Victorious – 23rd, 24th, 25th
Bloc Party are performing a Silent Alarm set. I’m getting my name down on the rota right now. New Order and Rudimental are also headlining. But seriously: Silent Alarm set. Banging.
SEPTEMBER
The Good Life Experience – 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
You can watch Chefs Demos to a soundtrack of Jazz, World Music or Classical, and then go listen to a discussion on the merits of the Common Agricultural Policy with actual farmers.
BBC Proms – 14th, 15th
It may sound respectable, but it’s Hobbesian when every family is racing to the front to claim their own picnic ground. Honestly, I’ve never seen such presentable people elbow so viciously.
If you read this far, spud yourself. These are just a few of the events we’ll be at, as when I started writing this article I grossly underestimated how long it’d take to write em all up. Anyway, find us at one of em, tell the crew you read this article to the end, take a screenshot of this paragraph, and we’ll give you a free portion. Seriously. Google analytics tells us how many page views we get, but we don’t know who actually reads. Safe.
