The time has come again… the sun is beaming through the windows in the morning and I can’t think of anything better than being surrounded by incredible music, and making some lovely summer memories.
Let’s chat through the best festivals to be attending this summer.
We can all gather that I live, and breathe for music festivals and the history of music. They make me feel alive, and from the first the last they’re some of the best memories I have. Today I’ll be walking you through the hot ones from the batch and why they’re killer!
LEEDS FESTIVAL, BRANHAM PARK 26-28TH AUGUST
Oh how they’ll be screaming ‘Leeds u wot, u wot’ from the rooftops, Leeds Festival boasts such vibes from the moment the festival is over, because people are screaming to get back into Branham Park for more. I’ve already had various conversations of trying to find a way of staying with the sheep because it just oozes utter rock’n’roll cool.
The lineup this year, like every other year never disappoints, with new additions to the lineup being announced this week it’s getting all the northerners very excited. The beauty of Leeds is that if you’re southern you can go to Reading and have the benefit of the same lineup!
With last year hosting Mumford and Sons, The Libertines, Metallica, Royal Blood, Jamie T and more I don’t think I ever got a true moment to sit down, because I was always bouncing from stage to stage. Luckily this year is no different as to keeping us all on our toes and jumping around to new and old talent.
2016 is opening doors to some revivers like Foals, Disclosure, Chvrches, Die Antwoord simply on day one. Whilst day two is Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Two Door Cinema Club, Imagine Dragons, Courteeners, Haim, Eagles Of Death Metal and Slaves. Finally day three we’ve got the revival of Biffy Clyro, Fall Out Boy, The 1975, The Vaccines, The Wombats and more. It’s impossible to not walk to a stage and find something you like, some of my favourite bands were discovered simply through nosing around.
With much more to be announced, and August being so very far away, we’re all jumping in our wellies for the months to fly by. If you want some rock’n’roll and the party to carry on at the Relentless stage or Piccadilly Party, Leeds Festival is the go-to! 4 years my wristbands have remained on my wrists, because year after year Leeds blows my mind, and the memories behind each year are unforgettable.
See last years Leeds Festival Diary; day one, day two and day three.
SOUND CITY, LIVERPOOL 28-29TH MAY
Down by the docks of good ol’ Liverpool, we’ve got another belter that is Sound City, it’s progressive upward movements have it on everyones lips for both new talent, and the best from the music realm.
You’ve never known Scouse vibes till you’ve been to this festival, whether you want to party on a pirate ship, have musicians floating over your head in space orbs or yellow rubber dinghies, Sound City never fails to impress, and pull out the joker in a deck of cards.
With only a short amount of time to go until the gates start flooding with festival goers in 6 weeks time, you cannot miss the cracking lineup ahead!
Last year was unforgettable partying out at The Vaccines dressing room backstage, meeting some of my favourite acts around, travelling in style in party tuctucs from one stage to another and finishing off the night with a big bang of confetti and celebrations, Scousers never hold back on a weekend!
Last year was The Vaccines, The Flaming Lips, Belle and Sebastian, Peace, Gaz Coombes, Everything Everything, Spector, Bill Rhyder Jones, Blossoms, Findlay and more. This year they’ve stepped it up condensing down all the best into two days instead of three, so energy drinks are required if you want to see everything possible.
So Sound City 2016 is going to be memorable with acts like Catfish And The Bottlemen, The Coral, Sleaford Mods, Circa Waves, Palma Violets, Shura and lots more to come!
Grab your tickets whilst you can as it’ll swing by so quickly and sell out soon!
See Sound City 2015’s festival diary; day one, day two and day three.
Y NOT FESTIVAL, DERBYSHIRE 29-31ST JULY
With tickets clearing up quickly, it’s a must must must to attend Y NOT as they recently won the best medium sized festival! That’s not the only thing they’re winning at this year, their line up is hot stuff, and whilst this festival is more intimate the closeness and overall feel of everyone will vibe around, and the beauty of not having to walk 40 minutes back to a tent!
(Photography: Y NOT)
Over one weekend the gorgeous Peak Districts turn in a haven of colour, music and magic. Whilst Y NOT is a certified mind blower all night partier, it still retains the importance of chill atmospheric wonder! They pride themselves in two important factors; the music and the memories. Couldn’t have nailed it better for the key things we need in a damn good festival.
We’re seeing a few re-shows from other festivals, but through Y NOT they’re are class acts like The Editors, Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds (a total must see!), Madness, The Cribs, Catfish And The Bottlemen and The Hives appearing just to name a few, see the full Y NOT line up here.
Like all fabulous festivals they do Glamping but with the most competitive prices I’ve seen, you can stay in a luxury bell tent or upgrade to a tentzilla for a reasonable spend, so you can have all your festival needs right in the comfort of a secure tent!
You can also go for the full experience by upgrading to VIP, words cannot define how much VIP has changed my opinion of festivals, of course there’s nothing better than being out with fellow festie-goers but having the little things like posh toilets, cocktail bars and a much more spacious camping area is ultimate goals! It’s like going from a pile of mud to Coachella. You’ll no doubt get a better nights sleep and bump into all the bands, which is always worth the extra money!
FESTIVAL NO 6, PORTMEIRON, WALES 1-4TH SEPTEMBER
The beautiful Portmeirion ahhh, which is a sight to behold all year around, but throughout the beginning of September this gorgeous place lights up a spectacular site with so much to see and do, you’ll feel like you need to be in a few places at once.
My favourite thing about Festival No 6 aside from the music they present year after year is the location, it’s simply beautiful. Within walking distance of the beach, mountains and the prettiest pastel village you’ll ever see, Festival No 6 is a total dream! It also means Port mermaid so that’s a unique selling point in itself, well for us mermaids anyway.
Take a walk in the woods, go canoeing, become part of culture as you’re absorbed into a colourful world of music, dance, entertainment with all the people you love, it’s got such a friendly atmosphere and perfect for families and partiers, as they live harmoniously over 4 days.
This years line up is stars Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds, Hot Chip, Bastille, Super Furry Animals, Echo & The Bunnymen, Aurora, Broken Social Scene, Lucy Rose, Temples and much more, see Festival No 6’s full line up here.
LATITUDE FESTIVAL, SUFFOLK 14-17TH JULY
With endless awards under their belt and a field full of pink sheep, Latitude for the past 9 years have been smashing the festival scene, and as it creeps up to their 10th anniversary I’m sure they’ve got some tricks up their sleeve.
One of the most family friendly festivals going, and set in the beautiful Suffolk countryside. Latitude Festival is becoming more colourful by the year. They also pride themselves in being the most economically green festival to reduce their environmental impact on this green lovely Earth, they’re all about preserving the planet which is very cool, we like Latitude because that rocks!
This years line up is introducing The Maccabees, The National, New Order, Beirut, Chvrches, M83, Grimes, Of Monsters And Men and many more to the fields of Suffolk.
Latitude has much more to offer than just music, they’ve got big comedy stars like Russell Howard, Josh Widdicombe, Reggie Watts, Mark Watson and Al Murray gracing their comedy tents. Offering as well poetry, cabaret and theatre, so there really is something for everybody across 9 stages.
Photography: Latitude
What festivals is everyone going to this year? Give us some of your tips, and what you like to see as my festival guide develops throughout the weeks!
