Glastonbury. Image by James Bryant
See Living large in London for our list of London festivals
See Electrifying Europe for our list of the European festivals
RockNess
This monster festival on the banks of Loch Ness boasts an electric selection of bands. Plus you can enjoy alongside a pint and some haggis. What more do you want?
Aussie act: The Temper Trap
Who else: Basement Jaxx, Fatboy Slim, The Vaccines, Ellie Goulding, The Maccabees, Jessie Ware, Example, Bombay Bicycle Club, Plan B, The Futureheads
When: 7-9 June
Where: Loch Ness, Scotland
www.rockness.co.uk
Isle of Wight
Who wouldn’t want to party on an island? Especially when you’ll be joined by the likes of The Stone Roses, The Killers and the dulcet tones of Ben Howard, at this laidback family-friendly festival. With quirky offerings such as outdoor hot tubs, a Bohemian Woods and a ‘tea rooms’ serving cocktails in vintage crockery, this weekend is sure to be a unique UK festival experience.
Who: The Stone Roses, The Killers, Bon Jovi, Bloc Party, The Macabees, Paul Weller, Jake Bugg, Everything Everything, Sub Focus, Blondie, I Am Kloot, Ellie Goulding, Alex Metric, Damian Lazarus, Lee Foss, Mt. Wolf, Derrick Carter, The Boomtown Rats.
Where: Newport, Isle of Wight
When: 13-16 Junewww.isleofwightfestival.com
Download Festival
Like your music LOUD, with a side of rock? Download is UK’s hardcore home of metal, with this year’s line-up sure to get you pumped up and headbanging along to all the big hitters, as well as the latest emo and thrash.
Aussie acts: Karnivool, Naked Flame, Parkway Drive, Airbourne
Who else: Slipknot, Bullet For My Valentine, Korn, Down, Papa Roach, Iron Maiden, Queens Of The Stone Age, Limp Bizkit Motorhead, Alice In Chains, Mastodon, Rammstein, Thirty Seconds To Mars, The Gaslight Anthem, Stone Sou
Where: Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derby
When: 14-16 June
www.downloadfestival.co.uk
Aussie act Jagwar Ma
Glastonbury
Otherwise known (by whom we wonder?) as ‘The Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts’, Glastonbury is a rite of passage for Australians seeking to earn their stripes on the UK festival scene.
No Aussie can speak authoritatively on the music offerings in our adopted homeland if they have not yet experienced the toilets, tantrums and celebrity spottings of the mother of all festivals — Glastonbury. Not to mention, finally getting to let those Hunter wellies have their first outing.
Unfortunately this year is all sold out, so this is just to let you know what you’re missing out on if you haven’t got tickets, and to help you get excited if you have!
Aussie acts: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Tame Impala, and Jagwar Ma.
Who else: The Rolling Stones, Arctic Monkeys, Mumford And Sons, Dizzee Rascal, Primal Scream, Vampire Weekend, Elvis Costello, Portishead, Chase And Status, The XX, Foals, Example, The Smashing Pumpkins, Alt-J, Two Door Cinema Club, Alabama Shakes, Editors, Of Monsters and Men, Ben Howard, Rita Ora, Major Lazer
Where: Worthy Farm Pilton, Shepton Mallett
When: 26 June — 1 July
Missed out on tickets? Here’s how to have your own Glastonbury experience, with the added bonus of clean toilets:
- Watch Glastonbury: The Movie. A documentary celebrating 25 years of rock ‘n’ roll in the Somerset fields.
- Fill a paddling pool with mud, put on your swimmers with wellies and turn up the radio really loud.
- Invite all your mates around and watch your favourite act from your couch. BBC will be live streaming ALL of the festival’s stages.
- DO NOT buy resale tickets on Gumtree. ALL tickets have to have your photo on them, and tickets offered online through third parties will likely be a scam.
T in the Park
Known for attracting the liveliest of audiences, this is Scotland’s largest and longest established music festival and one of the best in Britain. This year it celebrates its 20th anniversary by featuring stacks of A-list headliners. One festival not to be missed.
Who: Rihanna, Emeli Sande, Phoenix, Of Monsters and Men, Mumford and Sons, Kraftwerk, Dizzee Rascal, Snoop Dogg, The Lumineers, Alt-J, Paloma Faith, Ke$ha, Modest Mouse, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Frank Ocean, Foals, The Killers
Where: Balado, Kinross-shire, Scotland
When: 12-14 July
www.tinthepark.com
Magic Summer Live
With a green, leafy park location, Magic Summer Live is a relaxed and chilled vibe set to a soundtrack of pop and rock. Jamiroquai is putting on his only UK performance, so well worth it for that alone. Plus – with a Surrey Sessions Stage featuring local music, and a busking at the festival bars, you may just witness the next Kings of Leon making their first mark on the festival circuit.
Who: Jamiroquai, Joss Stone, Bryan Adams, James Morrison, Level 42, Squeeze, Ocean Colour Scene, Beverley Knight, The Overtones, Kim Wilde, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, Soul II Soul
Where: Stoke Park, Guildford
When: 13-14 July
www.magicsummerlive.co.uk
Latitude
More than just music, Latitude is a sumptuous cultural festival. Set on the estate of a grand old English manor, it features magnificent forest and lakeside stages, and with a host of incredible activities including contemporary art exhibitions, theatrical installations and a literary arena — you certainly won’t get bored!
Aussie acts: Matt Corby, Jagwar Ma and Flume
Who else: Kraftwerk, Foals, Bloc Party, Maccabees, Hot Chip, Cat Power, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Local Natives, Yo La Tengo, Jessie Ware, James Blake, Grizzly Bear, Rudimental, Stornoway, Modest Mouse, Alt-J, Beach House, Richard Thompson Electric Trio, Tim Burgess, John Grant and many, many more
Where: Henham Park, Suffolk
When: 18-21 July
www.latitudefestival.co.uk
Image: Latitude
Secret Garden Party
‘A four-day party like no other’ promises Secret Garden, and year after year this ‘party’ festival attracts the craziest and most flamboyant of followers. With its other-worldly sounds and surroundings, including its own lake, this truly magical festival is an escape from normality. Leave your rational self at home — here silliness is encouraged and madness a prerequisite. This year’s theme — Superstition.
Who: Soulwax, Django Django, David Icke, Bastille, the Strypes, Little Comets, The Staves, Regina Spektor and Big Youth
Where: Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
When: 25-28 July
www.secretgardenparty.com
V Festival
Two venues, two days of chart topping acts, including Miss B herself. We can’t guarantee Dicky Branson will be there in his Virgin pantyhose and lipstick, but the festival will be serving up a decent dose of pop, rock and R&B that will satisfy the tastes of every good little consumer.
Who: Beyoncé, Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, The Script, Emeli Sandé, Calvin Harris, Beady Eye, Jessie J, Two Door Cinema Club, The Vaccines, Basement Jaxx, Olly Murs, Paloma Faith, James, Rita Ora, The Courteeners, Jason Mraz, Fun
Where: Chelmsford and Staffordshire
When: 17-18 August
www.vfestival.com
Reading
If they’re on the bill here, you know they love to play cos they tear the roof off in one town, then head to the next and do it all again the very next day. With a diverse line up of acts ranging from indie and alternative rock, to punk, metal and dance, this festival won’t disappoint. And to top it off, it’s over the August Bank Holiday. Winner!
Aussie acts: The Living End and Iggy Azalea
Who else: Green Day, System of a Down, Frank Turner, Eminem, Nine Inch Nails, Fall Out Boy, Major Lazer, Alt-J, Phoenix, Kate Nash, Azealia Banks, Lower than Atlantis, We Are The In Crowd, Skindred, Friction, Clean Bandit, Willy Moon and Flux Pavillion.
Where: Reading (and Leeds)
When: 23-25 August
www.readingfestival.co.uk
Bestival
Sporting fireworks, freak shows and a Bollywood bus bar, the Bestival is the Isle of Wight’s flower power love child. With diverse musical acts and a carnivalesque feel, you can let loose and embrace your inner hippie. Oh and don’t forget your fancy dress! This years theme — HMS Bestival.
Aussie act: Jagwar Ma
Who else: Elton John and his band, Snoop Dogg, M.I.A, Franz Ferdinand, Belle & Sebastian, Jessie Ware, Chic feat Nile Rodgers, Tom Odell, Johnny Marr, James Blake, Wu-Tang Clan, Sinead O’Connor, The Flaming Lips, Bombay Bicycle Club
When: 5-8 September
Where: Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight
www.bestival.net
