Music festivals
A great man once said you haven't lived until you've stood in a muddy field watching your favourite band while singing aloud with thousands of complete strangers. From T in the Park in Scotland to Isle of Wight Festival in...well, the Isle of Wight there's amazing music blasting out all over the UK.
All Tomorrows Parties
When: May
Where: Camber Sands, near Rye, East Sussex
Why: ATP is THE music festival for people who take music seriously, a ‘mix-tape’ selection of acts from around the world and you stay in a chalet instead of a tent.
Guaranteed to impress people in the record shops!
>> ATP (www.atpfestival.com)
We Love... Homelands
When: May
Where: Near Winchester, Hampshire.
Why: The UK’s largest one day urban and dance festival with a day crammed full of different stages, top live acts and world famous DJs playing Rock, Drum and Bass, hip hop and Dance music for an unforgettable 17-hour dance marathon.
Guaranteed to get ya body talkin’!
>> We Love Homelands
Download
When: June
Where: Donnington Park, Leicestershire
Why: Download is Britain's premier metalfest with the hottest new bands and the living legends rocking the joint.
Guaranteed to get you moshing like a maniac!
>> Download Festival (www.downloadfestival.co.uk)
Isle of Wight Rock Festival
When: June
Where: Newport, Isle of Wight
Why: Recently re-established after the legendary status of the original festival, which included Bob Dylan, The Doors and the last live performance of Jimi Hendrix.
Guaranteed to impress your parents!
>> Isle of Wight Rock Festival
NASS Festival
When: July
Where: Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset
Why: The National Adventure Sports Show is Europe’s biggest extreme sports, music and lifestyle weekender. Masses of activities, including a Skate and BMX park and Bungee Jumping as well as watching the world’s leading daredevils push the limits of adventure.
Guaranteed to reach extreme levels of adventure!
>> NASS Festival (www.nass04.com)
T in the Park
When: July
Where: Near Kinross, Scotland
Why: In true Scottish style, this is the festival that shows the rest of Britain how to have a good time. There’s amazing rock line-ups and even a traditional Ceilidh dancing area.
Guaranteed to rock ya body!
>> T in the Park (www.tinthepark.com)
Wakestock
When: July
Where: Pwllheli, Gwynedd, North Wales
Why: Europe’s largest Wakeboard festival as well as loads of great bands and some of the best DJs around. What’s a wakeboard? You may ask, check out the website to find out.
Guaranteed to pump your adrenaline!
>> Wakestock (www.wakestock.co.uk)
The Eden Sessions
When: July & August
Where: St Austell, Cornwall
Why: This superb venue and backdrop provides the setting for some of the UK’s most exciting performers playing to the crowds…and plants.
Guaranteed to make other venues seem ordinary!
>> The Eden Sessions
The Big Chill
When: August
Where: Eastnor Deer Park in the Malvern Hills, Herefordshire
Why: An oasis of calm and social interaction of all kinds: music, visuals, art and happy vibes, a haven for chillers from around the world.
Guaranteed to chill you out!
>> The Big Chill
V Festival
When: August
Where: Chelmsford - Chelmsford, Essex / Weston Park, Staffordshire
Why: The V festival attract the big name acts from around the world as well as acts that don't usually do the festival circuit.
Guaranteed to see big name bands and a few surprises!
>> V Festival (www.vfestival.com)
Leeds and Reading Festival
When: August Bank Holiday Weekend
Where: Leeds, West Yorkshire / Reading, Berkshire
Why: The UK’s premier rock festival, attracting some of the best rock, alternative, hip-hop and dance acts from around the world in two locations on alternating days.
Guaranteed to get your fingers to heaven!
>> Leeds and Reading Festival (www.meanfiddler.com/displayPage.asp?PageID=233)
CREAMFIELDS
When: August Bank Holiday Weekend
Where: Daresbury, Halton (near Liverpool)
Why: Creamfields has been voted the UK’s best dance festival two years running in the UK Festival Awards, and Festival Event of the Year in the House Music Awards. The Prodigy are headlining this year’s event, which has a capacity of 45,000.
Guaranteed to blow your whistle
>> Creamfields
Bestival
When: September
Where: Robin Hill Country Park, Newport, Isle of Wight
Why: Ensuring the UK festival season goes out on a high, the Isle of Wight Bestival combines the best bits of Glastonbury, Reading and Woodstock all thrown together. Big enough to attract big name acts like Fatboy Slim but small enough to be personal.
Guaranteed to hear the great and the good!
>> Bestival (www.bestival.net)