No summer motives locked in? Here’s all the festivals you can still attend this year
When those UK winters hit, and you’ve spent most of it in hibernation, there’s one thought that keeps most of us going – festival season is only a few months away. And now, the time has finally arrived for us all to dust off our raving shoes, order a new pair (or five) of shades, and plan every intricate detail of our outfits for whichever events we’ll be attending. If you’re still on the lookout for festivals to attend, not to worry HUNGER has got you covered. Whether you’re into rock, rap, or pop, looking for a boogie overseas or hoping to keep things low-key, you’ll find it all here in our festival guide…
All Points East – Victoria Park, London, 18th – 28th August
It’s almost a ritual in London, especially East London, to hit up All Points East for at least one day. The festival has quickly risen to an essential part of any capital-based ravers, partly thanks to its easy access venue in the heart of Victoria Park. When it comes to the line up this year, it’s Stormzy (who will be curating his own day) who is the highlight of the headliners, although appearances from The Strokes, Haim and Aphex Twin will more than put up a fight.
Primavera – Barcelona, Spain, May 29th – June 4th
Spain is the place to be to kick off your summer as the weather begins to warm up and excitement is in the air. Chart toppers of today, alongside icons from the 90s, adorn the lineup of Primavera sound to provide a unique set with something for everyone. Rosalia, Kendrick Lamar, Halsey, Pet Shop Boys, FKA Twigs and New Order make for one of the year’s wildest lineups.
Tickets: https://www.primaverasound.com/en/tickets
Reading – Reading, Berkshire / Leeds, West Yorkshire, August 25th – 27th
Reading and Leeds are very much a staple for festival-goers, and for good reason. This year, you can expect to see Billie Eilish, Sam Fender, The Killers, Lewis Capaldi and more at the dual running festivals.
BST Hyde Park – London, 24th June – 7th July
A staple in the beautiful Royal Park, there’s no better way to spend a summer’s eve than at BST Hyde Park. Appearing on the famous stage this year will be none other than the likes of Lana Del Rey, Guns N’ Roses, Take That, Blackpink and many more – so get your tickets while you can and avoid the disappointment.
Tickets: https://www.bst-hydepark.com/tickets
Wireless Festival – Finsbury Park, London, July 7th – 9th
For the UK’s hip-hop, drill and R&B fans, Wireless is once again the place to be this summer. And fans will have the chance to see all their favourite stars from the states, including Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, while home-grown talents like Lancey Foux, Headie One and Clavish will also be leaving their mark.
Barclaycard presents Latitude Festival – Suffolk, July 20th – 23rd
As always, Latitude has more to offer than just music — there’s everything from film and comedy to literature, theatre and poetry to feast your eyes and ears on. And this year’s lineup isn’t one to miss with the likes of Pulp, Paolo Nutini, George Ezra amongst others…
We Out Here – Wimborne St. Giles, Dorset, August 10th – 14th
Giles Peterson’s award-winning weekender presents a diverse range of over 100 artists on their latest bill. The festival doubles down on its ethos of championing genre pioneers alongside emerging talent. Thanks to a lineup that includes Knucks, Nia Archives and Black Midi just to name a few, an eclectic mix of artists present ensure there’s something for all.
Tickets: http://www.weoutherefestival.com
Secret Garden Party, Cambridgeshire, July 20th – 23rd
When packing your festival essentials for this year’s Secret Garden Party, make sure you don’t forget your Jedi robes and lightsabers, because this year’s event looks to be Star Wars themed. This year SGP is embracing the space theme and have produced an “interstellar” line-up that includes The Libertines, Underworlds and De La Soul.
Kappa Futur – Parco Dora, Torino, Italy, June 30th – July 2nd
The Kappa Futur festival is back! Returning to Torino’s Parco Dora after last year’s sell-out event, Italy’s 3-day celebration is set to kick off with a bang to mark its 10-year anniversary. The impressive lineup will see the return of Black Coffee and Major Lazer, as well as The Swedish House Mafia and Fatboy Slim.
Mighty Hoopla – Brockwell Park, London, June 3rd – 4th
Since its inauguration, Mighty Hoopla has become well-known for having the biggest pop moments of the calendar year, with 2023 being no exception. Kelly Rowland will be headline on June 3rd, while Years and Years will be closing proceedings on the 4th. Also featuring on the stellar line-up are FLO, Confidence Man, Kelis and Natasha Bedingfield.
Tickets: https://kaboodle.mightyhoopla.com/book/17665/ticket
Field Day – Victoria Park, London, August 19th
Now in its 16th year, Field Day is returning this summer with its most eclectic line-up ever. The day-long session, which takes place at Victoria Park on August 19, is set to feature a wide variety of electronic and experimental artists, including Aphex Twin, Bonobo, Jayda G, Sudan Archives and more.
Tickets: https://kaboodle.fielddayfestivals.com/book/18830/ticket
Lost Village – Norton Disney, Lincolnshire, August 24th – 27th
This deep woodland expedition is one of the weird and wonderful gems of the festival season, combining breathtaking stage designs and unmissable acts – including Four Tet and Peggy Gou – to take its attendees on a four-day journey into the unknown.
Creamfields South – Hylands Park, Chelmsford, May 26th – 28th
A new, 50,000-capacity sister event to the big-hitting dance music festival up north, Creamfields South returns for its second edition. And this year they’ve got a headliner you won’t want to miss: Calvin Harris.
Tickets: https://creamfieldschelmsford.com/
We Love Green – Bois de Vincennes park, June 2nd – 4th
Phoenix, Bon Iver and rapper Orelsan are headlining We Love Green this summer in the Bois de Vincennes park in Paris. The event is known for pioneering sustainability in the festival space and has operated on renewable energy for over a decade. Food on the grounds is all locally sourced, while single-use plastics are banned.
Tickets: https://welovegreen.seetickets.com/content/billetterie
Somerset House – London, July 6th – 16th
Somerset House returns this year for its 20th anniversary with a bang, as 11 nights of gigs descend on the iconic venue. Somerset House’s courtyard will house the likes of Beabadoobee, Interpol, and Greentea Peng alongside Gabriels, The Comet is Coming, and Young Fathers – so there really is something for everyone. Even without the acts, the festival grounds itself in London’s heart, making for an impeccable location to groove all night this summer.
Tickets: https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/somerset-house-summer-series
Wide Awake – Brockwell Park, London, May 27th
Featuring the likes of Black Country, New Road, Caroline Polacheck and Shygirl, Wide Awake is an independent festival you’ll certainly want to be championing. The festival is brought to life by various iconic promoters and music venues such as MOTH Club, Shacklewell Arms, Bad Vibes and more. Wide Awake pride themselves on offering up an incredibly diverse selection of acts, as well as highlighting some of the best up and coming artists traversing the industry today.
Tickets: https://wideawakelondon.co.uk/
The Great Escape – Brighton, East Sussex, May 10th – 13th
It is the place to go to catch a glimpse of the most exciting up-and-comers, spread across various venues on the south coast. The Great Escape Festival 2023’s Spotlight Show will also take place over the same weekend at Brighton Done Concert Hall, with acts including Arlo Parks and Maisie Peters.
Tickets: https://greatescapefestival.com/
Victorious – Southsea, Portsmouth, August 25th – 27th
This festival on the south coast always draws in some of music’s biggest names, covering a range of genres from rock, indie, Britpop and more. This year is no different, with headliners Kasabian, Jamiroquai and Mumford and Sons all set to take to the stage in Portsmouth alongside other huge acts, including Ellie Goulding and Alt-J.
Tickets: https://www.victoriousfestival.co.uk/
Brighton & Hove Pride Festival – August 5th – 6th
The UK’s biggest pride event is back and bigger than ever. This year, the festival will see the likes of Black Eyed Peas, Zara Larsson, Steps, and former Spice Girl Melanie C take to the stage. Brighton Pride, which usually attracts crowds of over 250,000 people, celebrated its 30th anniversary last year and continues to raise incredible funds in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Tickets: https://www.pride-tickets.org/
Project 6 – Brockwell Park, Brixton, and various locations, May 26th
Aimed at lovers of all things drum & bass, this new festival, headed by Outlook Festival and Undivided, showcases the biggest names in D&B and jungle as well as wider genres. With SHY FX, D Double E and Ghetts all featuring, you’ll be two-stepping all night.
Tickets: https://www.project6festival.com/
Cloud X – Beckenham Park, London – August 20th
Split across five stages, this South London festival features a lineup catered to all music tastes, with live performances and DJ sets covering: R&B, rap, soul, pop, afrobeats, garage and much more. Standouts on this year’s lineup include Saint Levant, Berwyn, Samm Henshaw, JULS, Jaz Karis, and plenty of other names to get excited about.
Tickets: https://dice.fm/partner/idiot-savant/event/96r2d-cloud-x-festival
The Wild Wood Disco – Cambridgeshire, June 17th – 19th
This intriguing festival takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the city for something a little more relaxing. Based entirely in a woodland, the festival sees Dam Swindle, Fleetmac Wood and Crazy P Soundsystem headlining on Saturday, while Bradley Zero and Dr Banana headline on Sunday. Festival founder and director Vicky Fenton is also joining forces with renowned female DJs Sophie Lloyd and Scarlett O’Malley to launch a competition to encourage emerging female talent, the winner will join the line-up of incredible DJs and play at the festival.
Tickets: https://www.thewildwooddisco.com/
Cross The Tracks – Brockwell Park, London, May 28th
With a lineup that features NxWorries (Anderson .Paak and Knwledge), Ezra Collective and Masego, Cross The Tracks is the perfect way to kick off the festival season this coming May. Aside from music, the festival also features a creatives markets, insightful talks, panels and workshops from charity partners.
Tickets: https://www.xthetracks.com/
EFG Jazz Festival – Multiple London venues, November 10th – 19th
From cutting-edge artists pushing the boundaries in jazz to internationally renowned jazz superstars this is the place to be this year for any fans of the genre, or if you’re looking for something a little different.
VISIONS – various venues, Hackney, July 22nd
VISIONS has built up a reputation for giving attendees the chance to catch the most exciting talent right before they enter the spotlight. Previous years have seen Loyle Carner, Shygirl and Idles all grace the VISIONS stages. British rock band Spiritualized will be headlining this years event, while other rising stars such as Katy J. Pearson and Scalping also make the cut.
Tickets: https://dice.fm/event/vk3rg-visions-2023-22nd-jul-various-venues-east-london-london-tickets?lng=en
This Feeling By The Sea – Bridlington Spa, August 18th – 19th
The rock ‘n’ roll club night, record label and tastemakers This Feeling and Bridlington Spa – the largest indoor venue on the Yorkshire coast – have announced a brand new festival. This Feeling By The Sea features a number of leading guitar bands and up and comers, led by headliners The Lathums and Red Rum Club.
Tickets: https://thisfeeling.co.uk/bythesea
