OUTSIDE WALES
OUTSIDE WALES
Words : BILL KNOWLES
T IN THE PARK
Balado , Kinross-shire Fri 12-Sun 14 July
What : If you reckon it ’ s not a real festival without mud , why not swing on up to Scotland where you can fill your boots ( or rather , your wellies ) at the Radio 1-lovers ’ festival of choice , T In The Park . Who : Mumford & Sons , Chase And Status , Calvin Harris How much : £ 194 Info : www . tinthepark . co . uk
WIRELESS
Queen Elizabeth Park , London Fri 12-Sun 14 July
What : It ’ s the UK ’ s biggest city ’ s biggest park , playing host to the biggest acts in pop , and this year ’ s diverse bill sees Justin Timberlake headlining on Friday , Jay-Z headlining on Saturday , and ... wait for it ... Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake headlining on Sunday . Who : Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake How much : £ 83 ( Sun tickets only ) Info : www . wirelessfestival . co . uk
LATITUDE
Henham Park , Suffolk Thurs 18-Sun 21 July
What : What reasons are there to buy a ticket to a German festival , or a Croatian festival , when we ’ ve got our very own European-style festival in idyllic Suffolk ? Well , apart from the weather , of course . And the food . And the culture . Who : Bloc Party , Kraftwerk , Foals How much : £ 190.50 Info : www . latitudefestival . com
SECRET GARDEN PARTY
Abbots Ripton , Cambridgeshire Thurs 25-Sun 28 July
What : This hippie / hipster haven began life as a single stage next to a lake , but has since grown to become a big name in the world of summer gatherings . It still continues to exhibit a definite home-spun charm . Who : Bastille , Lee Fields & The Expressions , Django Django How much : £ 135- £ 191 Info : www . secretgardenparty . com
WOMAD
Charlton Park . Wiltshire Thurs 25-Sun 28 July
What : No longer just a bunch of hippies smoking grass and listening to African drumming in a field , WOMAD has become a welcoming family festival championing some of the best in global music and entertainment . Who : Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 , Toots And The Maytals How much : £ 145 Info : www . womad . co . uk
LOUNGE ON THE FARM
Merton Farm , Canterbury Fri 26-Sun 28 July
What : Combining food , music and lounging ( three of my favourite things ), Lounge On The Farm has a winning combination of noteworthy live acts , a great countryside setting and all the sumptuous local grub you could ever dream of . Who : Soul II Soul , Jessie Ware , Seasick Steve How much : £ 100 Info : www . loungeonthefarm . co . uk
BOOMTOWN FAIR
Matterley Estate , Hampshire Thurs 8-Sun 11 Aug
What : Cooler than a polar bear drinking a mojito on a skateboard , Boomtown Fair is rapidly becoming the festival of choice for all those dub / ska / punk scenesters out there . The festival combines a heady mix of underground music with an inventive streetparty vibe . Who : Toots & The Maytals , Lee Scratch Perry , Parov Stelar Band
How much : £ 20- £ 149 Info : www . boomtownfair . co . uk
BEACONS FESTIVAL
Skipton , Yorkshire 16-18 Aug
What : Not to be confused with Green Man : the family-friendly alternative music festival in the Brecon Beacons , Beacons Festival is an alternative , family-friendly music festival in Yorkshire . Or ... um ... is that the other way round ? Who : Bonobo , Django Django , Ghostpoet How much : £ 99.50 Info : www . greetingsfrombeacons . com
THE CARLING WEEKEND
Richfield Avenue , Reading + Branham Park , Leeds Thurs 23-Sun 25 Aug
What : Sounding , appropriately , like ‘ that time in Malaga when Tozza went mental ’, The Carling Weekend is Leeds ’ and Reading ’ s unique answer to all those loved-up hippies in Glastonbury . Forget aligning your chakras , grab a onesie and invest in a fireproof tent ! Who : Biffy Clyro , Green Day , Eminem How much : £ 202 Info : www . readingfestival . com / www . leedsfestival . com
END OF THE ROAD FESTIVAL
Larmer Tree Gardens , Dorset Fri 30 Aug-Sun 1 Sept
What : With its library , ‘ healing field ’ and secret sets in woodland clearings , End Of The Road Festival gives the impression of being either the most chilled out festival in the world , or the plot of a lost episode of The Prisoner . Who : Sigur Ros , Belle And Sebastian , David Byrne How much : £ 175 Info : www . endoftheroadfestival . com
BESTIVAL
Robin Hill Country Park , Isle Of Wight Thurs 5-Sun 8 Sept pic : JACK PASCO
What : Rob Da Bank ’ s family-friendly fun fest turns 19 this year , and – like idealistic freshers everywhere – it just loves environmentalism , charity fundraising and fancy dress . Oh , and dancing about while explaining how we ’ re all , kind of , the same ... y ’ know ? Who : Elton John , Snoop Lion , Flamin Lips , The Roots How much : £ 190 Info : www . bestival . net
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