With Glastonbury looming the festival bug has truly caught most of us. Whether you hate it or love it or simply want to go at least once, Glasto is the mother of all festivals but lets face it, its almost near impossible to grab tickets the conventional way! Fear not EF is here to the rescue and we’ve put together a list of amazing summer festivals that you can still grab tickets for. (These are in no particular order)
Bestival
If you want everything Glasto has to offer but on a much smaller scale then Bestival is it. Taking place on the Isle of Wight between the 4th and 7th of September Bestival is a bit of a trek to get to but once your there the rewards are endless. OK it’s a September festival and the weather can be a little hit and miss with the odd storm happening but if you look past all that then you’re in for a treat. Bestival is one of the few but very fun, fancy dress festivals with yearly themes (this year it’s Desert Island Disco in case you were wondering). Alongside that Bestival never disappoints when it comes to its line-up. This year Foals, Outkast (OMG) and Chic featuring Nile Rodgers are all on the bill and joined by the likes of Disclosure, Beck, Busta Rhymes, Chvrches, Temples, Bonobo, London Grammar and the list goes on and on and on.
What we like about it? It’s fun and feels like a mini version of Glasto
When is it? 4-7 September
How much? £169 – £220
Green Man
Greenman festival is out in Wales surrounded by the Black Mountains in Brecon Beacons. This lovely little gem of a festival was a complete revelation to us when we went for the first last year. Even though it’s a family festival this small yet spacious music event is both naughty, full of excitement and in a safe environment. From the stunning views down to its clean toilets (oh yeah) this festival seems to have managed to mix both tame and wild in one setting. There are great bands during the day and pop up raves hidden in forests for you to discover! This year Beirut, Neutral Milk Hotel and Mercury Rev are headlining plus Caribou, Daughter, First Aid Kit, Tunng, Toy, Ben UFO, Teleman and many more are joining them on the line up.
What we like about it? It’s stunning setting and its naughty side.
When is it? 14-17 August
How much? £159
Latitude
If you hate the idea of Glastonbury and it’s free thinking spirit and can’t handle portaloos deep with shit then maybe you want to party with the middle class folk who go to Latitude. Never in our life have seen cleaner punter toilets then at this festival. Taking place in a magical setting in Suffolk, Latitude is a festival for people that work hard, have nice things and expect their festival to be of a certain standard, with plenty of gastro food, clean toilets, bands that are both eccentric and mainstream and just generally people of the same pedigree. Don’t expect to cross paths with the crusty you’d see at Glasto or even the hipster you’ll see at Secret Garden Party, no this is a festival for families and their entourage. With its very own wine bar and fairy-like forest disco (oh pretty), Latitude is a festival that won’t require too much recovery time. If all that doesn’t appeal then the line-up might, winner of the best line up at the festival awards this festival does have pretty impressive artists and comedy acts year on year, this year it’s Two Door Cinema Club, Damon Albarn and The Black Keys who headline the festival and are joined by heavyweight comedians Dara O’Brien, Kevin Bridges and Simon Amstell and many more amazing acts are playing.
What we like about it? It’s sparkly clean and feels like you haven’t left civilisation.
When is it? 17-20 July
How much? £195
Wireless
Can’t be bothered with camping? Think willies are a crime of fashion and you’d rather ruin a pair of Vans then wear them? Wireless festival is the one for you. This London festival has been going for quite a few years now and is more of a social gathering than your soul awakening experience. Of late the festival has become more Urban and it is an easy pick if you really hate the idea of sleeping on an air mattress and having cold showers (if any) but instead can watch USAs biggest urban stars and then get the tube home! This year at Wireless you can catch Drake, Bruno Mars and Kanye West but more importantly Outkast, Rudimental, Pharrell Williams and many more acts that have been topping the UK and world charts these past few months.
What we like about it? It’s on the Jubilee line and close to bed.
When is it? 4-6 July
How much? £70 – £275
Reading
If you are between the age of 18 and 25 and rebellious then Reading festival might just be the thing you seek. This iconic festival has made a name for itself for bringing you some of the biggest names in the rock scene, its also made a name for itself for being party central for young teenagers who hate being middle class and think that throwing a pint of their own urine onto the stage is normal at gigs. This year’s line up is pretty special with Queens of Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys and Blink 182 headlining, also on the bill are You Me At Six, Young Guns, Vampire Weekend Paramore, Jake Bugg, Foster The People and more titillating bands.
What we like about it? It’s cool.
When is it? 22-24 August
How much? £99-£213
Sonisphere
Feeling depressed coz you missed Download? Feeling low coz you’ve missed Metallica at Glasto? Well no you aren’t because Sonisphere is here to take care of all your metal needs. Sonisphere is relatievely new in the UK but it hasn’t lost its credibility as a decent metal festival for head banging lovers yet. This one takes place in Knebworth and is a lovely little thing full of polite longhaired, bearded and tattooed folk. At Sonispher this year you can catch Metallica, Iron Maiden and The Prodigy. Also playing across the festival are Slayer, Deftones, Limpbizikit, Alice is Chains and many more loud bands.
What we like about it? It’s chilled and loud.
When is it? 4-6 July
How much? £63 – £215
Beat Herder
Beat Herder is a small festival in Lancashire and as such has yet to be ruined by your average festival wanker. As a festivalgoer you quite often find that you are looking for the festival that defines you and often that search leads in trying to find the next big thing and Beat Herder is on these festivals you will stumble upon. One of the smallest festivals on this list, Beat Herder is a secret well kept for ravers that want to crash a great party and enjoy the best up and coming bands. This year the festival has a decent line-up comprised of 2ManyDJs, Eats Everything, Gramatik, Happy Mondays, Vitalic and The Bloody Beetroots.
What we like about it? It’s great party on a field.
When is it? 18-20 July
How much? £127
In The Woods
And here we are at the end of our journey and what best way to end it than with this charming little festival. In the Woods might be one of the smallest festivals in the UK but it most certainly is one of the best too. Forget line-ups and forget everything other festivals try to be, In The Woods is a simple festival, full of simple things. You won’t see any big bands at In The Woods instead you’ll only see new bands and you’ll see all of them. With only two stages and sets that last 30 minutes each band gets the attention it deserves and craves and festivalgoers can enjoy them whilst feasting on a delicious hog roast and a locally pressed cider. All that obviously happens in a secret location in some woods in Kent
What we like about it? It’s not pretentious (but it is).
When is it? 29-30 August
How much? £? (resale on 11th July)
