Music festivals and the British summer go hand in hand. Every year we flock to fields in the middle of nowhere, hopeful that the weather holds up and we don’t end up trying to rave in a mud bath. Oh to be an optimist! Either way, the United Kingdom plays host to a veritable smorgasbord of festivals every year, catering to pretty much any music taste. Not even the seemingly inevitable downpours get us down! It can be difficult to keep up with the humungous line-ups and unique quirks of each festival, though, so we’ve prepared a bit of a lowdown for this summer’s bigger events, as well as some of the quirkier ones.
Download Festival, Castle Donnington, June 9-11
Generally regarded as the most prestigious heavy metal festival in the world, Download brings together the biggest rock bands, new and old, every year. In 2016 there was something of a vintage feel to the headliners, with Jane’s Addiction, Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath chief among them. This year there is a similar vibe, with System of a Down, Rob Zombie, Aerosmith and Slayer soaking up much of the attention across the four stages. However, Biffy Clyro will give things more of a modern edge.
Glastonbury, Somerset, June 21-25
The mother of all festivals! Well over 100,000 people converge on the small Somerset town of Glastonbury every year for what has to be the most engrossing festival of them all. There are no fewer than 29 different areas, each with its own unique angle. Music, poetry, political debates and comedy – you’ll find it all at Glastonbury, with hundreds of performers set to appear. However, most go for the music and that’s similarly diverse. From Foo Fighters and Radiohead, to Katy Perry and Dizzee Rascal, the organisers have most tastes covered.
Boardmasters Festival, Newquay, August 9-13
If a weekend of music, surfing, skateboarding, BMXing and yoga by the beach in Cornwall is your idea of paradise, Boardmasters might just be the event for you. The festival brilliantly combines professional board (and bike!) competitions with live music performances and has a whole range of other quirks too. Two Door Cinema Club, Jamiroquai and Stormzy are among the biggest names, while actor (and hip-hop soul musician) Idris Elba also has a set. So, if the coast is your ideal festival location, look no further!
Creamfields, Daresbury August 24-27
There won’t be many more lively or energetic festivals this summer than Creamfields! Every year the dance music event is a hive of activity, as ravers from all over the country flock to Cheshire. But this year they’ve really pushed the boat out with an all-star line-up including deadmau5, Eric Prydz, Diplo, Fat Boy Slim and Tiesto. They’ve also got DJ sets from Faithless, Chase & Status and Annie Mac, plus a BBC Music Introducing stage for the first time, showcasing with the best up-and-coming talent on the scene.
Sziget, Budapest, Hungary August 9-16
Fancy tying your festival adventure in with a trip abroad? If so, Sziget is worth a look. The festival takes place on the leafy Obuda Island, located on the Danube and right in the heart of the gorgeous Hungarian capital of Budapest. You won’t find many more eclectic line-ups, either. Almost everything is catered for, with Kasabian, Pink, Wiz Khalifa, PJ Harvey and Steve Aoki highlighting the vast range of genres on offer. It’ll be warm as well!
Festivals aren’t only great for the music, they could also help you make lifelong memories and mates. Perhaps you’ve got yourself an acoustic guitar and fancy striking a few chords to get your group singing along when you’re back at your tents. At The Insurance Emporium we offer Unattended Vehicle cover as Standard on our Music Insurance policy, so you could get back rocking in the event your instrument is stolen from the boot of your car.
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