Looking for big names?
Download
14 to 16 June, Leicestershire
The headliners at the 21st staging of metal’s marquee event – Queens of the Stone Age, Fall Out Boy and Avenged Sevenfold – are glitzy and blokey, but not particularly heavy. Thankfully it’s a different story elsewhere, including Friday’s eardrum-rattling prospect of hardcore must-sees Scowl, Speed, Ithaca and Zulu in quick succession. Huw Baines
Isle of Wight
20 to 23 June, Isle of Wight
The epitome of something for everyone, the Isle of Wight festival again offers up a plethora of big names, including dance-punk maverick headliners the Prodigy, urbane pop legends Pet Shop Boys and US brat-rock stalwarts Green Day. Elsewhere on the bill you’ve got 90s indie darlings Suede, pop star Zara Larsson and the bard of UK garage Mike Skinner AKA the Streets. Michael Cragg
TRNSMT
12 to 14 July, Glasgow
The return of TRNSMT promises as many beery shoutalongs as it does moments of nostalgic reverie, with Liam Gallagher, Gerry Cinnamon and Calvin Harris topping a bill that also features Natasha Bedingfield, Sugababes and Rick Astley. Fans of pyrotechnic rock and post-punk, meanwhile, should make a beeline for Nova Twins and Dublin’s Sprints. HB
Wireless
12 to 14 July, London
Routinely hosting the most extravagant, chart-topping rap and R&B acts from the US, Finsbury Park’s Wireless is a juggernaut in the London day festival calendar. This year’s lineup is no different, boasting appearances from American hip-hop heavyweights Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice and Doja Cat, as well as London’s own J Hus. Ammar Kalia
Reading and Leeds
23 to 25 August, Reading and Leeds
No longer just a post-exam-results blowout, Reading and Leeds has outgrown its rock roots and thrown it all at the wall, lineup-wise. This year you can rock out with Blink-182 then dance yourself stupid to Fred Again before swandiving into melancholy with Lana Del Rey, among other big-name options. Gird your loins, check your guy ropes and give into the chaos. Kate Solomon
After something more intimate?
Knockengorroch
23 to 26 May, Galloway
With a capacity of less than 3,000, Scottish greenfield festival Knockengorroch is a close-knit affair. Programming with a focus on global music, acts such as Guinean balafon player N’famady Kouyaté and soundsystem stalwarts Mungo’s Hi Fi will be taking to the festival’s stages, including the intimate acoustics of a traditional turf-roofed Celtic longhouse. AK
Timber
5 to 7 July, Leicestershire
Situated in the national forest at Feanedock, Timber is billed as a celebration of the landscape. Think workshops on sustainable food, live nature podcasts and a flower show featuring attendees flaunting homemade costumes, alongside music curated by Kiiōtō (comprising Lamb’s Lou Rhodes and songwriter Rohan Heath) and composer Jason Singh. HB
El Dorado
11 to 14 July, Herefordshire
The small but perfectly formed El Dorado festival is one of the UK festival scene’s best-kept secrets. Hedonism rules in the Malvern Hills with a lineup that ricochets from Boney M to SBTRKT and back. There are 18 gorgeously designed stages to bop between over the course of a July weekend, with the Vice City area bringing the art deco Miami beachfront to middle England. KS
Krankenhaus
23 to 25 August, Cumbria
Held in the Lake District, Krankenhaus prides itself on a thinktank approach to music, bringing together live performance and cultural talks to celebrate the power of the creative grassroots. If you’re looking to meet a future bandmate or get inspired to start that new zine, you never know what like-minded person you might meet around the campfire … JW
Lost Village
22 to 25 August, Lincolnshire
Promising to take revellers to “the outskirts of reality” (actually a forest near the village of Norton Disney), Lost Village is an immersive fest where live sets from Yaeji, Floating Points and Crazy P will nestle between installations, forest banquets, comedy sets, yoga classes and crafts ranging from candle painting to T-shirt printing. HB
Fancy some family fun?
Camp Bestival
25 to 28 July, Dorset; 15 to 18 August, Shropshire
For parents with a passion for the dancefloor, Camp Bestival is an ideal weekend away. Split across two editions in Dorset and Shropshire, it keeps the little ones entertained with shows from the Horrible Histories team and Mr Tumble, alongside pop performances from the likes of McFly and Paloma Faith in both locations, while Ibiza stalwart Pete Tong headlines Dorset. AK
Latitude
25 to 28 July, Suffolk
The land of pink sheep and wild swimming, Latitude is a family-friendly valhalla. Sure, you have the middle-aged musical stylings of Duran Duran, London Grammar, Nile Rodgers, the Zombies and Keane to look forward to in the evening, but you can fill your days with a pristine comedy lineup headed by Jo Brand, Sara Pascoe and Judi Love, a dedicated kids’ arena and a foodie’s paradise of trucks and popups. KS
Stowaway
16 to 18 August, Buckinghamshire
Stowaway festival is only in its third year, but is already establishing a reputation for balancing the sometimes incompatible concepts of “electronic dance music” and “kid-friendly”. While parents enjoy the musical stylings of Groove Armada, Greentea Peng, Maribou State, Leftfield, Joe Goddard and Laura Misch, kids can hang out at the roller disco, try canoeing, or take over Tinkertown, getting crafty with “real tools and scrap timber”. Messy play without the cleanup – what sort of parenting haven is this? JW
The Big Feastival
23 to 25 August, Oxfordshire
Full-time cheesemonger and occasional Blur bassist Alex James opens up his idyllic Cotswolds farm again for this celebration of food and music. While adults can switch between Raymond Blanc and Becky Hill, kids have a dedicated rave stage, a circus school, and a performance from children’s TV superstar Justin Fletcher. MC
CarFest
23 to 25 August, Hampshire
Chris Evans’s fundraising family festival returns to Laverstoke Park Farm (home to 450 “friendly and curious” water buffalo, bovine fans). As well as music from the likes of Olly Murs, Beverley Knight, Sam Ryder, Deacon Blue and Reef, there’s also a dedicated kids’ area featuring the biggest names from CBBC, as well as art and sports zones. MC
Seeking epic scenery?
Gottwood festival
13 to 16 June, Anglesey
You’ll hear some of this summer’s most exciting electronic music emanating from the Welsh undergrowth at Gottwood festival. Hosted on the gorgeous Carreglwyd Estate in Anglesey, DJs do their thing from within the trees and across a shimmering lake – and there’s the beach nearby for a hungover dip. KS
HowtheLightGetsIn
24 to 27 May, Hay-on-Wye
Situated on the edge of the Black Mountains, on the banks of the River Wye, the world’s largest music and philosophy festival offers up a handful of stunning vistas to drink in while pondering life. Philosopher Slavoj Žižek and John “Orderrr!” Bercow are two of the speakers on offer, while music comes from Sea Power, Mad Professor and “Flowerkraut” psych collective Mandrake Handshake. MC
Belladrum Tartan Heart festival
25 to 27 July, Inverness
A peaceful and rural village, Kiltarlity in Inverness doesn’t necessarily seem like the most obvious destination for a massive knees-up. Indeed, the vibes of Belladrum Tartan Heart festival seem fairly laid-back (2024’s headliners: Deacon Blue, James Arthur and Sugababes), but it’s a great place to check out some eclectic talent, ranging from esteemed west African artist N’famady Kouyaté to Scottish indie greats the Vaselines. JW
Boardmasters
7 to 11 August, Newquay
Beloved by sixth-form leavers and seasoned surfers alike, Boardmasters is the perfect opportunity to kick back and enjoy some Cornish hospitality. Paddle it out by day, and by night enjoy a solid mix of stars across indie and dance: the likes of NewDad, English Teacher and Eliza Rose holding their own alongside Sam Fender, Chase & Status and Stormzy. JW
Boomtown
7 to 11 August, Winchester
Beloved for its hearty commitment to the “escapism” bit, Boomtown boasts 12 main stages and 50 hidden venues, offering numerous opportunities to lose yourself in art installations, improv character challenges and other rabbit-hole adventures. The 2024 musical lineup is still TBC, but with the theme being “Revolution of Imagination”, you can expect some pretty cutting-edge techno, jungle and drum’n’bass. JW
Want to leave the tent at home?
The Great Escape
15 to 18 May, Brighton
If you’re after an “I was there when …” moment, head to Brighton to join music industry execs and young hipsters wandering the city for a glimpse at the next big thing. With gigs taking place in every available nook and cranny, the festival has hosted early shows from Lizzo, Little Simz and Wolf Alice – Belgian synthpopper Bolis Pupul and much buzzed-about band Picture Parlour are among this year’s highlights. As it’s a city-wide festival, tents are out and Airbnbs are in – or simply leave on the last train. KS
AVA Belfast
31 May & 1 June, Belfast
Celebrating its 10th year, AVA Belfast, which takes place on the thankfully mud-free slipways where the Titanic was built and launched, showcases a plethora of dance music renegades. My Barn My Rules hitmaker Horsegiirl rubs shoulders with jungle exponent Nia Archives and homecoming production and DJ duo Bicep. MC
Parklife
8 & 9 June, Manchester
Heaton Park is the home of this two-day, camping-free festival, with coach transfers available for those not hopping on the tram. Offering up a platter of musical gems, the bulging lineup is basically a who’s who of current streaming trendsetters, from Doja Cat, J Hus and Peggy Gou to Disclosure, Becky Hill and Four Tet. MC
BST Hyde Park
30 June to 14 July, London
If parenting or minimal annual leave has reduced your ability to swan off on a three-day extravaganza, BST Hyde Park is an easy opportunity for a nostalgic dance. Just take your pick between Robbie Williams, Kings of Leon, Shania Twain and Kylie Minogue (or Andrea Bocelli, if you’re feeling classy). Meanwhile, South Korean megastars Stray Kids close out this years lineup for the gen-Zers, playing their first ever UK headline show. JW
All Points East
17 to 25 August, London
This annual takeover of east London’s Victoria Park is a slice of corporate-sponsored festival fun that doesn’t outstay its welcome. This year’s day events are dedicated to early-00s emo heroes (the Postal Service), ageing club kids (LCD Soundsystem), introspective 6 Music darlings (Loyle Carner) and eclectic DJ producers (Kaytranada). APE has also subsumed Field Day, with a thrilling mix of the old (Justice) and the new (Pink Pantheress). KS
Keen to broaden your horizons?
Terminal V
13 & 14 April, Edinburgh
Taking over the Royal Highland Centre for a post-Easter blowout, the bumper 10th edition of Terminal V promises five stages from which to dive into the outer reaches of techno, with the acid-dosed shapeshifting of New York’s Volvox situated alongside trance-inflected homegrown DJ talent such as Hannah Laing and Aisha. HB
Cheltenham jazz festival
1 to 6 May, Cheltenham
Don’t be fooled by commercial headliners such as Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Cheltenham jazz festival still programs some of the UK and America’s finest improvising talents across its densely packed lineup. Highlights for this year’s edition include British luminary Courtney Pine, multiple Grammy-winner Dionne Warwick, a jazz, hip-hop and Afrobeat double bill of Orchestra Baobab and Nubiyan Twist, rising Glaswegian trombonist corto.alto and powerhouse American saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin. AK
Womad
25 to 28 July, Wiltshire
Peter Gabriel’s Womad festival has spent the past four decades championing some of the world’s most diverse musical traditions. Previously hosting renowned performances from the likes of Sufi singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Brazilian star Gilberto Gil, the Wiltshire weekend promises an array of established legends and hidden gems. AK
Reggae Land
3 & 4 August, Milton Keynes
Spanning the range of music produced by the Jamaican diaspora, Reggae Land platforms everything from dub to dancehall, lovers rock and even drum‘n’bass. The 2024 edition is typically eclectic, featuring performances from Jamaican stars Koffee and Popcaan, as well as soundsystem-shaking sets from David Rodigan and Aba Shanti-I. AK
ArcTanGent
14 to 17 August, Bristol
Without the foundational music of Explosions in the Sky, Meshuggah and Mogwai, ArcTanGent likely wouldn’t exist. It’s fitting, then, that they have been tapped to headline its 10th anniversary, which will span four exploratory days filled with post-rock, polyrhythmic metal, abrasive electronics, virtuosic prog and a genuine sense of community. HB
