If you’re anything like me, sitting around watching Glastonbury on television while at the same time talking about how you will “definitely go next year” has become a bit of a tradition.
This is then followed up with completely forgetting about this summer declaration when it comes time to order Glastonbury tickets in the fall.
Surely, I can’t be the only one. Right?
Well, instead of pinning all my hopes on next year (well, 2019 actually, as they’re taking a fallow year in 2018), what I should probably do is go to one of the other great festivals going on in July and August of this year. After all, the UK festival season isn’t all about Glasto you know.
But which one? Well, here are five ideas.
Love Supreme – June 30th to July 2nd
You’ll have to move fast for this one, as it is going down this weekend, but it is certainly bound to be well worth it. Love Supreme is a smooth jazz, funk, soul, and R&B festival that takes place near Lewes, Sussex. This year’s headliners include The Jacksons (fresh off their set at Glastonbury), Herbie Hancock, Gregory Porter, and The Hot 8 Brass Band.
Perhaps just as impressive are the festival glamping options. These include Bluebell Tents, Podpads (essentially little homes fit for gnomes), Whoopee Wagons (gypsy caravans, and Teardrop Pods. Or, you could always just go camping the old fashioned way with your best friend.
The Leeds Festival – August 25-27
The Leeds Festival brings the goods when it comes to top notch tunes, and is perhaps the only festival that can rival Glastonbury when it comes to music. This year’s roster in Leeds (and at its sister festival in Reading) features Muse, Kasabian, Eminem, Haim, Two Door Cinema Club, Major Lazer, Marshmello, and Fatboy Slim.
There is also a stage that will feature comedy, with Katherine Ryan and Bill Bailey being two of the most notable performers.
The Big Feastival – Aug 25-27
This is the one for the foodies and foodies with families, as The Big Feastival will once again feature a roster of quality live acts and a mouthwatering array of chef talent. The headliners are Olly Murs, Madness, and Hacienda Classical (a like-nothing-else act that combines the club hits from Hacienda’s heyday with classical music – gotta get a Manchester mention in here somewhere).
The food at this Oxfordshire festival is the big draw though. Chefs like Sophie Michell, Rick & Jack Stein, Antonio Carluccio, Candice Brown, and Neil Rankin will be taking part in cooking demonstrations and street food stalls, supper clubs, and even a food market will make things tastier.
Bestival – September 7-10
Making the move from the Isle of Wight to the mainland for 2017, Bestival is back with its annual goal of inspiring peace, love, and dancing – lots of dancing. The kaleidoscopic party will take place on the wooded Lulworth Estate in Dorset this year, and the lineup is headlined by The XX, Pet Shop Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, Dizzee Rascal and Rag’N’Bone Man.
This is just the tip of the iceberg though as the festival prides itself on presenting the most diverse roster of acts out there. In addition to great tunes, the festival also boasts some other record-breakers; namely, the world’s largest confetti cannon, the world’s largest bouncy castle and the world’s largest disco ball. As always, the signature Bestival Love Bot will be overseeing everything.
Festival No. 6 – September 7-10
No, it’s not the name of a new perfume, Festival No. 6 is the name of the eclectic festival that takes over Wales’ Portmeirion each year. If the Mediterranean surrounds of this utterly unique town aren’t enough to take you away to another place, the sounds of Flaming Lips, Mogwai, and Bloc Party will definitely do the trick.
In addition, there will be stand-up paddleboarding, hot tubs, a budget-friendly vintage fair, and the ever-popular Carnival No. 6, a flamboyant and raucous procession through the streets of Portmeirion.
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