There are still some blazing festivals to come in the UK’s 2015 calendar. Even though Latitude is but a distant memory and there is a massive dark hole in your mind where those days spent at Glastonbury should be, the dance is not over my friend. There are twelve of the biggest and most popular parties still to happen, and who knows what legendary sets might be played and new friendships formed against the backdrop of night on these fallow fields. Not everyone can be a long term planner, and some of the greatest memories you’ll have are a result of a spur of the moment decision. So if you’re wondering how to wile away these last days of summer, and beat away the summertime blues, then these are the parties you need to check.
V Festival – 22-23 August, Hylands Park, Chelmsford/Weston Park, Staffordshire
One of the most popular events of the UK circuit, the long celebrated V Festival is undergoing its 20th Anniversary in 2015. Expect a whole lot of special with the spectacle here as the booming basslines see a return with the resurrection of the famous Dance Music tent. The big boys are out in force with leftfield legends Kasabian heading up a bill that’s nothing short of eclectic, boasting the likes of Nero, Olly Murs, Andy C and Hannah Wants. Expect a mainstream crowd with a positive vibe and bags of fun at every turn.
Creamfields – 28-30 August, Daresbury, Cheshire
Cream is one of the oldest and most respected Dance music brands in the whole of the UK. To celebrate this event’s 20th Anniversary they’re pulling out all the stops. Expect an out of this world production, the centrepiece of which is without question a 14k capacity mega arena. A spectacular line up that’s stuffed with big names including Armin Van Buuren, The Chemical Brothers, Tiesto and Andy C. If you want to trip the light fantastic and lose yourself that one more time then this is the party for you.
Reading & Leeds – 28-30 August, Little John’s Farm, Reading/Branham Pk, Leeds
You can’t call yourself a UK festival head until you’ve taken in either the Reading or Leeds festival. This August Bank Holiday Rite of Passage includes some of the best music, comedy and cinema you can find anywhere this summer. Expect a sonic thumping with an exclusive set from Metal Gods Metallica, while Azealia Banks, Libertines and Limp Bizkit more than make up the numbers in what promises to be another audio extravaganza smoothly put in place by these esteemed party organisers.
The Garden Party – 29-30 August, Tetley Brewery, Leeds
It does exactly what it says on the ticket. We’re talking about a party embedded in the heart of Leeds, metro style. With ten years of hitting the high notes under their belt, this very special birthday festival teams up with close friends The Warehouse Project, Canal Mills, Now Wave and the delightfully titled Eat Your Own Ears to bring you musical mayhem in the form of Roisin Murphy, Grandmaster Flash and Julio Bashmore. There’s no camping so you’ll have to find your own accommodation, but if you don’t like fields this could definitely be your thing.
SW4 – 29-30 August, Clapham Common, London
With eleven years’ worth of solid beat backed entertainment under their belts, SW4 deserved their Best Festival Award 2014 in DJ Mag. This sweet celebration of everything to do with Dance music sucks in all genres from Dubstep through to Disco. This party has a big enough pull to bring together scene legends Faithless for an exclusive event and backs up this billing with superstar DJ heroes including Fatboy Slim, Eric Prydz and Basement Jaxx. Even though the party shuts down at 11pm on both nights there’s still plenty on offer around the capital’s nightlife hotspots from the club brands that collaborate together to help bring this party to life.
Festival No 6 – 3-6 September – Portmeirion, Wales
If you are not a number, you may want to grab tickets whilst you still can for the hugely popular Festival No 6. Endearingly described as the Welsh Latitude, this palace of pleasures has a ton of fun for everybody including Black Grape, the Grace Jones Mirror Ball Parade and the Brythoniaid Male Choir. Indie superstars James will have everyone on their feet for the final throes of this amazing event. Finally there’s actually going to be a 3D immersive Prisoner reconstruction for those who know the true meaning of the phrase “lovely day”.
Sundown – 4-6 September, Norfolk Showground, Norwich
Nothing ever happens in Norfolk? Not if the Sundown festival has something to say about it. This slightly beat-centric event kicks off with a campers only party on the first night to really get the party started hosted by legendary club label SubSoul. Expect a fresh, young crowd who’ve come to rock around whilst the speakers blare out the crisp and clean sounds of Rudimental, Gorgon City, Sub Focus and Grime heavyweight Lethal Bizzle. Just don’t expect to see Alan Partridge in amongst the faces.
End of the Road – 4-6 September, Larmer Tree Gardens, Salisbury
If anything out there can make an Indie fan put down their gluten free mung bean wrap then it’s the End of the Road festival. This year the Garden Stage, the event’s cult location, will be curated by the esteemed Heavenly Records who are bringing St Etienne with them to perform their 1991 album, Fox Base Alpha in full. More than making up the numbers are Sufjan Stevens, Tame Impala and an exclusive show from The War on Drugs. What more could you want?
One Love – 4–6 September, Popham Airport, Coxham Down, Hants
Roots, Reggae and everything with a heavy dread bass-line will come together in a glorious red, yellow and green crescendo at the One Love festival. Named after Bob Marley’s legendary One Love concert this is the only camping based event of its type in the UK. Serious booty shakers can make their way to this event for a week of revelry following the Notting Hill Carnival for a sound-clash of the most epic proportion.
Bestival – 10–13 September, Isle of Wight
Relive those Summer of Love days at Bestival. There’s a theme of music, freedom, peace, love and euphoria running through the 2015 party, giving more than a casual nod to the 20th Anniversary of the Sunday Best parties that were the forerunner of this fantastic event. This year sees the usual blend of comedy and music, with an unexpected twist in the form of rave knitting. An exclusive set from Missy Elliot alongside appearances from The Chemical Brothers, Underworld and Duran Duran completes what promises to be an exceptional array of audio.
On Blackheath – 12–13 September, Blackheath Common, London
One for the older crowd to bring their little ‘uns too, OnBlackheath gives you two days packed full of arts and crafts workshops for kids, allowing the adults to try food from a bunch of Michelin starred chefs. If that isn’t enough to attract you to this festival, then try a musical roster punctuated by such great names as Madness, Elbow, The Manics, 808 State and Kelis. It’s going to be a walk down memory lane with all the modern comforts.
The Social – 12 September, Mote Park, Kent
A cracking one day party that’s been dreamt up by Nic Fanciulli to bring a taste of Ibizan style closing parties to the South of England. It might sound like a strange idea, but our sources say the last two outings have been a runaway success. With Marco Carola and Joris Voorn playing alongside Nic Fanciulli in an environment that blends beats with local beer, what could they possibly do better?
Now you know what’s at stake this late summer, if you haven’t been to a big event then you absolutely have no excuses. All you need to do is ask yourself this, with the bloody Christmas adverts only a few weeks away, can you really risk not having some super-sonic festival memories to tuck you in and keep you warm during those, cold, cold months?
For all upcoming events see our festival listings.
