Best alternative festivals in Britain

Rugby Rocks

When & where: The Athletic Ground, Richmond, 4 – 5 June
Why: Because the only thing better than a music festival, is mixing sport with a music fest. And not just any sport, but the game they play in heaven plus a dash of netball. Get your ruck on during the day and your rock on into the night!
Who: Pidgeon Detectives, Eddy Temple Morris

RockNess
When & where: Inverness, Scotland, 10 – 12 June
Why: Get your rock on, search for Nessie and eat some haggis. Who would want anything more?
Who: Kasabian, The Chemical Brothers, Paolo Nutini, The Wombats, Example, Magnetic Man, Glasvegas and The Bombay Bicycle Club + more

Cornbury Music Festival
When & where: The Great Tew Park, Oxford, 1 – 3 July
Why: A mix of music’s old and new guard in the grand old setting of Oxfordshire. Mix in some farmers and a dash of English eccentricity and you’ve got yourself a winner.
Who: James Blunt, The Faces, Status Quo, Wilko, Cyndi Lauper, Eliza Doolittle, Ray Davies, Imelda May, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Olly Murs, Deacon Blue + more

The Secret Garden Party
When & where: Huntingdon, 21 – 24 July
Why: If the festival is anything like their website, then you are in for a very special treat. This ‘Party’ apparently brings people together by removing all barriers and lets you do things you never thought you had the nerve to do. Trippy, but tres cool!
Who: Leftfield, Mystery Jets, Blondie, I Am Kloot, Guillemots, The Bees, Mylo, CW Stoneking, Gypsy and the Cat, Bag Raiders, Alabama 3, The Jim Jones Revue +more

Also see: What is The Secret Garden Party?

Full Secret Garden Party line-up

The Big Chill festival
When & where: Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire, 4 – 7 August
Why: Wanna mix your music with a bit of art, a dot of digi media, maybe some theatre and a few comedy chortles? Big Chill it! Plus Empire of the Sun will be shining bright.
Who: Chemical Brothers, Kanye West, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, 2manydjs, Neneh Cherry, Jessie J, Metronomy, Robert Plant and Band Of Joy, Warpaint + more

Bestival
When & where: Isle of Wight, 8 – 11 September
Why: With 15 stages of live music, a roller disco ballroom, fireworks, freakshows and the ‘wishing tree’, Bestival is slightly round the twist but deliciously so. Get dressed up, pumped up and then f**…well, you know the rest.
Who: Pendulum, The Cure, Primal Scream, Brian Wilson, P J Harvey, The Maccabees, Fatboy Slim, Public Enemy, Grandmaster Flash, Big Audio Dynamite, Paloma Faith, Groove Armada, Village People + more

RETURN TO MUSIC FESTIVALS GUIDE HOMEPAGE