Whether it’s dancing to reggae in the glare of the sun or getting your rock on in a field of mud, it seems there’s nothing better than the combination of good friends and good music. With this in mind, it’s no wonder we Brits will be taking to festivals in our millions this summer. But with ticket prices forever on the increase, which event should you spend your hard-earned dollar on?
The UK’s most famous event on the musical calendar may be tucked away in sleepy Somerset, but Glastonbury is the world’s biggest open air festival and covers a whopping nine hundred acres of land. With music from hip-hop to folk, Glasto is the perfect destination for anyone with a broad music taste, and there really is something for everyone – from circus acts to comedy, this June event has the lot!
If you like your music a little on the heavier side, Reading and Leeds is a brilliant three days of rock, punk and indie. With Foo Fighters, The Cure and Kasabian heading up the seven stages in 2012, this August bank holiday weekend is set to be a massive one. Appreciators of alternative music can also choose from Donington Park’s Download in June, which holds 120,000 moshing, air-guitaring fans, or the lesser known Hevy Fest, which runs from June 3rd to 6th in Kent.
Another big date for festival-goers nationwide is V Festival, which runs two sites in Essex and Staffordshire. Established in 1996, this festival kicks off in the penultimate weekend of August and has a healthy spread of rock and pop acts – the Stone Roses and the Killers are this year’s headliners. Known as one of the most commercial festivals in the UK (a programme can set you back ten pounds), V Festival is noted for its ‘non-threatening’ atmosphere, so give it some thought if you’re taking to the music scene with some younger friends or family.
For those who can travel outside of England this summer, T in the Park will see the return of Snow Patrol , the Stone Roses and Kasabian, so tickets are sure to sell out fast. Don’t forget fancy-dress Friday if you’re planning on heading to this northern attraction – this tradition is a favourite among ‘T’ regulars so don’t forget to pack your face paint!
For those of you who love electronic and dance music, Bestival, Wireless and Creamfields all offer some of the summer’s hottest days out. Bestival is one of the music world’s latest festivals starting on September 6th on the Isle of Wight, while Hyde Park’s Wireless festival is fast approaching in the first week of July, with acts such as Jessie J, Rihanna, Labrinth and Drake ready to spice up central London. Creamfields is another August Bank Holiday date which will storm Cheshire across three days.
So take your pick and get partying!
