We do excel at music festivals here in Blighty and this summer’s offerings more than pass muster. So give the tent a once-over and pick a party or two from our list of the top 20 summer UK music festivals 2024, put together by Travel Begins at 40 music editor Robert Spellman.
UK Music Festivals 2024
All Points East at Victoria Park, London
August 16-25
A nifty-looking line-up this year with LCD Soundsystem, Pixies, Yo La Tengo, Teenage Fanclub, The Decemberists, The Kills, Jai Paul and production wizard Floating Points booked for the east-side park. It’s all about pop, R&B, hip hop and electronica between the 16th and 18th, with Arlo Parks, Victoria Monet and British jazz-funk legends Cymande featured. See: allpointseastfestival.com
Tartan Heart Festival at Kiltarlity, Scotland
July 25-27
Much-loved 20-year-old Scottish festival with a family bent and where the theme for 2024 is “love” no less. Deacon Blue, James Arthur, Teenage Fanclub, King Creosote, Bill Bailey, Sugababes, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Toyah Wilcox and Robert Fripp are billed and there’s comedy, cabaret and a magnificent Kids Area offering theatre and much art and music-making activity. It all plays out on the handsome Belladrum Estate in Kiltarlity. See: tartanheartfestival.com
Big Feastival at Kingham, Oxfordshire
August 23-25
Cotswolds jolly hosted by Blur bassist Alex James. The Big Feastival is noted for its culinary aspect as much as music, taking in street food, rustic dining and pop-ups of every stripe. There are interviews and demos with world-class chefs and cookery classes. Acts featured: Ash, Johnny Marr, Cat Burns, Becky Hill, Natasha Bedingfield and Scouting For Girls. Actor Simon Pegg returns for his third DJ slot. See: thebigfeastival.com
BST Hyde Park, London
June 28-July 14
An event popular with bankers that trades on big-name performers and a selection of VIP and hospitality packages. This year it’s Stevie Nicks, Kylie, Robbie Williams, Shania Twain and Andrea Bocelli, with more acts to be announced. See: bst-hydepark.com
Cambridge Folk Festival, Cherry Hinton Hall
July 25-28
Utterly adorable stalwart of the festival circuit, the Cambridge Folk Festival is now in its 60th year (although it’s the 58th event). This year Robert Plant’s Saving Grace collective is the big Friday night draw, a gorgeous melange of folk, blues and Americana. Other notables include Peggy Seeger and Family, Nitin Sawhney, Fantastic Negrito, Turin Breaks and Ralph McTell. If real ale is your poison along with picnicking boffins and a laid-back, wholesome vibe then this one is for you. See: cambridgelive.org.uk/folk-festival
Camp Festival
Dorset July 25-28 and Shropshire August 15-18
The presentation is hippy-lite but the billing solid. There are two Camp Festivals, Dorset for July and Shropshire for August, and Paloma Faith, McFly, Orbital, The Darkness, Jake Shears and Gok Wan (DJ set) all play both. Unique to Dorset are James Arthur, reggae’s David Rodigan, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Roger Sanchez, while Shropshire features Faithless, Level 42, Sarah Cox and Bandini. The chill factor looms large here, so there’s much yoga (even “laughter” yoga), massage, reiki and so on. See: campbestival.net
Cropredy, near Cropredy village, Oxfordshire
August 8-10
No frills shindig hosted by British folk-rockers Fairport Convention, who always treat revellers to the delights of their superb back catalogue on the Saturday night. Before that we have prog titan Rick Wakeman and his English Rock Ensemble on Thursday and as well as surprise booking Tony Christie, best known for his 1972 hit Is This The Way To Amarillo. Production king Trevor Horn and his band headline on Friday night and lesser known acts offer support throughout. Expect friendly folkies and foaming mugs of ale. See: fairportconvention.com
Deer Shed at Topcliffe, North Yorkshire
July 26-29
Mellow party strong on family situated in the landscaped 18th-century grounds of Baldersby Park. Remember The Coral? The Wirral band headline on Friday with their folk-cum-psychedelic rock tunes, perfect for a late-night singalong. Other biggish names include Bombay Bicycle Club, King Creosote and Stornoway. Then there’s a glorious looking bill of indie and and alt-folk lesser-knowns to enjoy such as Cerys Hafana, Brown Horse, Group Listening, John Francis Flynn and many more. Interesting one. See: deershedfestival.com
Download at Donnington Park, Leicestershire
June 14-16
Not too many yoghurt workshops here, instead a weekend of pure rock bombast, featuring Queen of The Stone Age, Fall Out Boy, The Offspring, Limpbizkit and Royal Blood. In support we have Bambie Thug, Lord of The Lost, Wargasm, Bleed From Within and many, many more. I couldn’t see the chill-out area on the website. See: downloadfestival.co.uk
Glastonbury
June 26-30
Sold out months ago but the whole shebang’s available on telly. On the Pyramid stage: Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Cyndi Lauper, PJ Harvey, LCD Soundsystem, Little Simz, Keane and Paul Heaton. Featured elsewhere: Idles, The National, Avril Lavigne and The Streets. See: glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park, Newport
Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park, NewportJune 20-23
Another festival squarely focussed on music. Plenty to chew on at the Isle of Wight Festival with Simple Minds, Pet Shop Boys, The Prodigy, Green Day, Crowded House and Beverley Knight on the main stage and Suede, The Pretenders, Johnny Mar and Feeder among those gracing the Big Top. See: isleofwightfestival.com
Kendal Calling at Lowther Deer Park, Lake District
August 1-4
A setting of real beauty with all sorts of wooded nooks and crannies for immersion into the creative and bizarre. The line-up scrolls and scrolls but here’s a taster: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Paolo Nutini, The Streets, Sugababes, Lightning Seeds, Tim Burgess and The Pigeon Detectives. There’s cinema, comedy, talks and plenty to entertain the kids. See: kendalcalling.co.uk
Krankenhaus at Munster Castle, Cumbria
August 23-25
Another Lake District festival and one priding itself on a more cerebral approach. There are talks, readings and local walks connected with the event and people are encouraged to visit restaurants and pubs beyond the festival grounds. Local band Sea Power host and this year Snapped Ankles, BBC Camplight, Nadine Shah, Goat Girl and Lanterns of The Lake are the guests with more acts to be announced. See: krankenhausfestival.com
Latitude at Henham Park, Suffolk
July 25-28
July favourite with a very competitive line-up this year. Scratching the surface: Friday sees Kasabian, Khruangbin, The Vaccines and Caity Baser. Saturday is London Grammar, Keane, Rick Astley, Reverend & The Makers and Seasick Steve and on Sunday there’s Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers, The Darkness, Lottery Winners and The Zombies. John Cooper Clarke, Jo Brand and Judi Love feature in the comedy tent. See: www.latitudefestival.com
Lost Village, near Norton Disney, Lincolnshire
August 22-25
Boutique revelry taking place in a forest festooned with strange relics and bits of buildings. The dancing, theatre and various stagings promise “outsider” experiences and there’s wooded banquets and crafts galore. The music leans towards the obscure but more familiar names include Floating Points, Horse Bombay Bicycle Club and The Blessed Madonna. See: lostvillage.com
Love Supreme at Glynde Place, East Sussex
July 5-7
Matchless jazz, funk and soul party with an ever-splendid bill. The big billings are Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick, Kool & The Gang, Joss Stone, Billy Cobham’s Time Machine, Black Pumas and a debut headline performance from Olivia Dean. See: lovesupremefestival.com
The Notting Hill Carnival, London
August 24-26
London’s most important musical and cultural get-together is free and a visual feast of floats, costumed dancers and revellers. The street food is spicy and plentiful and the sound systems play everything from samba to house, but best of all you get to hear old school reggae in the right way — LOUD! See: nhcarnival.org
Reggae Land at Milton Keynes National Bowl
August 3-4
Aptly named as all the acts either play reggae or have been heavily influenced by it. Top names include Burning Spear, Aswad, Shabba Ranks, UB40, Dawn Penn, Yellowman, Maxi Priest, Skip Marley and Sanchez. The “Bowl” also includes a vast circular grass perimeter to recline on. See: reggaeland.co.uk
Timber at Feanedock Forest, Leicestershire
July 5-7
Woodland gathering that celebrates nature and sustainability. So there are workshops on sustainable food, homemade clothing and costumes and live podcasts. Artists include Hacienda DJ legend Dave Haslam, Mercury Prize nominated singer Kiioto and synth and tape manipulations from Frankie Archer. Wellness workshops and pop-up bars nestle in the greenery. See: timberfestival.org.uk
Womad at Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Wiltshire
July 25-28
Number 42 for Womad, the daddy of world music festivals that invites artists from across the globe to ply their wares. Obviously the theme cannot exclude homegrown music of a poppier persuasion, so this year Alison Goldfrapp and Glasgow hip hop trio Young Fathers join Senegal’s Baaba Maal, Ghanaian Afro-beat giant Pat Thomas, Italian reggae singer Alborosie, Zambian psychedelic rockers Witch, Malian husband and wife singing duo Amadou and Miriam, Neapolitan folk collective Ars Nova Napoli and much, much more. See: womad.co.uk
