HUNGER’s guide to the festivals you need to book this summer
When those UK winters hit (and you’ve spent most of it hibernating in front of the TV), there’s one thought that keeps us going – festival season is only a few months away. And guess what? That time is now. Dust off your dancing shoes, order a new pair (or five) of shades, and plan every intricate detail of outfits that will invariably get covered in dirt and sweat. If you’re still on the lookout for festivals to attend, it’s not to worry, because HUNGER has got you covered. Whether you’re into rock, rap, or pop, looking for a boogie overseas, or hoping to keep things low-key, you’ll find it all here in our festival guide…
All Points East – Victoria Park, London, 16th – 25th August
All Points East has quickly become an essential part of any capital-based raver’s summer plans, and that’s partly thanks to its easy access venue in the heart of Viccy Park. This year, the likes of Loyle Carner and Kaytranada will be headlining. The support acts aren’t too bad either… Just some little known acts called Nas and Andre 3000.
Primavera – Barcelona, Spain, 29th May – 2nd June
If you’re not too fond of the British festivals and are looking for guaranteed sun, perhaps Barcelona is more your thing? Chart toppers of today and 90s icons adorn the lineup of Primavera sound to provide a unique set with something for everyone. This year, it’s girls to the front, with both Lana Del Rey and SZA set to take to the stage, alongside Charli XCX, Peggy Gou and more.
Reading & Leeds – Reading, Berkshire / Leeds, Yorkshire, 21st – 25th August
As they take place right after GCSE results day, these sister festivals have become a coming-of-age event for British teens looking to let off some steam – and escape their parents. But even if your school days are nothing but a distant memory, there’s still plenty to enjoy here, with a varied and stacked lineup of the world’s heavy hitters.
BST Hyde Park – London, June 29th – July 14th
This staple in the iconic Royal Park features one of the year’s most diverse lineups. There’s everyone from R&B songstress SZA to country phenom Morgan Wallen, to Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and Brit boy band royalty Robbie Williams. Plus, thanks to Open House, even if you don’t have tickets to the festival itself, there’ll still be a number of activities to partake in at Hyde Park, including pop-up bars, sports days and wellness sessions.
North Sea Jazz – Rotterdam Ahoy Centre, July 12th – 14th
Known as the world’s largest indoor festival, North Sea Jazz welcomes around 80,000 guests through its doors every year, and with over 1,000 musicians set to appear over 150 performances and 15 different stages, it’s no surprise as to why. This year, the festival will be welcoming global stars like Sting, Raye, Sampha, André 3000, Masego, Noname and many, many more.
Tickets: https://www.northseajazz.com/en/tickets
Wireless Festival – Finsbury Park, London, July 12th – 14th
For the UK’s hip-hop, drill and R&B fans, Wireless is once again the place to be this summer. Fans will have the chance to see all their favourite stars from the states, including 21 Savage, Ice Spice and Future. Meanwhile, home-grown talents like J Hus, Digga D and Nemzzz will also be leaving their mark.
Houghton Festival – Houghton Hall, Norfolk, August 8th – 11th
Houghton Festival is offering up an immersive, ethereal experience for all those willing to trek up to the Norfolk countryside. Celebrating world-class musicians, art and food, the event once again returns to the stunning grounds of the Houghton Hall mansion, which is set amongst picturesque (and, later on, quite trippy) sycamore trees. Thanks to its 24-hour licence and limited phone reception, it’s a festival built for escapism. There’s an endless lineup of acts too: with Chris Sullivan, Adam Shelton, and Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy announced so far, it’s certainly not one to be missed.
Latitude – Henham Park, Suffolk, July 25th – 28th
Though Kasabian and Duran Duran are sure to put on a good show, it’s not just the music that takes the headlines at Latitude. The weekender has blazed a well-heeled trail by blending a classy line-up of music with comedy, poetry, theatre, literature, podcasts, engaging family activities and wellness. And you can expect that level of variation once again this year.
Boomtown – Matterley Basin, South Downs National Park, August 7th -11th
Ah, Boomtown. It’s magical, it’s vibrant, it’s loud, and it can often get very wild. The festival prides itself on its theming, practically creating a whole new world for its guests to explore, with secrets to be unveiled around every turn. Most of the line-up is kept a secret until just before the festival, but expect everything from techno and disco to jungle, gabber and dancehall.
We Out Here – Wimborne St. Giles, Dorset, August 15th – 18th
It doesn’t get much better than having André 3000 and Sampha as your headliners, does it? Alongside those two icons, We Out Here features a sumptuous selection of artists and selectors specialising in soul, house, hip-hop, jazz, electronica and more. The festival aims to celebrate club-culture and showcase the world’s best records collections amongst a whimsical wooded venue. In a world where festivals are ruled by commerce, it’s refreshing to see one focus on what really matters: the music.
Parklife – Heaton Park, Manchester, June 8th – 9th
Since its introduction in 2013, Parklife has cemented itself as one of the big boys in the festival world, consistently pulling huge headliners from across the world. This year’s no different, with Doja Cat, J Hus, Disclosure and more taking to the stage. One more thing: bring a pair of wellies. This is Manchester after all.
Tickets: https://parklife.uk.com/tickets/
Lost Village – Norton Disney, Lincolnshire, August 22nd – 25th
This deep woodland expedition is one of the weird and wonderful gems of the festival season, combining breathtaking stage designs and unmissable acts. This year, they include Ben UFO and Jyoti. Festival attendees should expect a four-day journey into the unknown.
Tickets: https://lostvillage.com/tickets/
Jazz Cafe Festival – Burgess Park, London, September 15th
The Jazz Cafe has cemented itself as one of the most iconic venues in London, and now, they’re putting on their first-ever festival, with an unsurprisingly legendary lineup of acts. Taking place in Burgess Park, the festival will feature R&B star ELIZA, hip-hop super producer Alchemist, and Nils Frahm, who closes out the event with his only outdoor UK performance of the year.
Tickets: https://ra.co/events/1855330
Wide Awake – Brockwell Park, London, May 25th
Featuring the likes of Young Fathers, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and Alice Glass, Wide Awake is an independent festival you’ll certainly want to be championing. The festival is brought to life by various iconic promoters and music venues such as MOTH Club, Shacklewell Arms, and Bad Vibes. If you’re looking for the perfect mix of established stars and rising talent, Wide Awake is the place to be.
Tickets: https://kaboodle.wideawakelondon.co.uk/book/19888/ticket
Love Supreme – Glynde Palace, East Sussex, July 5th – 7th
As Europe’s largest outdoor jazz festival, Love Supreme is gearing up for another big year. As well as a headlining set from Chaka Khan and jazz music from around the world, Love Supreme will also have a wellness and yoga area, a host of activities aimed at children, the Supremium area (with a range of premium benefits plus the opportunity to watch exclusive artist performances), and the Jazz Lounge, which will present a range of artist interviews, talks, panel discussions, breakfast news reviews and film screenings.
Cloud X – Crystal Palace Bowl, London, August 2nd
Split across two stages, London’s leading independent festival for R&B, soul & alt-rap is back in South London’s iconic Crystal Palace Bowl. Cloud X features live music and DJs from the likes of Grime MC Ghetts, rising singer-songwriter Sam Tompkins, London soul artist Jaz Karis, and UK rap king Skrapz… And much, much more.
Cross The Tracks – Brockwell Park, London, May 26th
Yet another entry at Brockwell Park, Cross The Tracks has the kind of lineup that’ll soothe your soul for a thousand summers. That’s mostly thanks to Erykah Badu, who is set to headline. Plus, there’s plenty of craft beer and street food on offer for those of you who want to appease your inner hipster.
GALA Festival – Peckham Rye, London, May 24th – 26th
This three-dayer in Peckham Rye showcases the very best in electronic music, as well as a serving of jazz, soul and afrobeats. This year, Jay Orbison, Chaos in the CBD, Girls Don’t Sync and plenty more will all be putting on a show in the south London sun.
Tickets: https://ra.co/events/1795134
Electric Castle Transylvania – Bánffy Castle, Romania, July 17th – 21st
Yes, you read that right – a castle in Transylvania. This totally unique 24-hour party experience will host the likes of Bring Me The Horizon (perhaps the most fitting band ever to perform in a gothic castle), Massive Attack, and Chase and Status. You might arrive looking fresh and alive, but don’t be surprised if you look like Dracula himself by the end of it.
Flow Festival – Helsinki, Suvilahti Power Plant, August 9th – 11th
Despite first opening in 2004 to an audience of 4,000, the latest 20th anniversary edition of Flow is set to bring in 90,000 guests. And for good reason, too – the likes of RAYE, Fred Again.. and Halsey are all set to make the journey over to Helsinki.
