June and July have been and gone, taking with them festivals like Glastonbury, Latitude and T in the Park. But with August and September just around the corner, more festivals are on the horizon…
The V Festival may not be able to equal Glastonbury’s hippy roots (last year, festival goers accused the organizers of being “greedy” given the price of food onsite) or size (a capacity of around 90,000 compared to Glastonbury’s 150,000+), but still it promises fantastic acts; the headliners this year include Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, Pet Shop Boys, Paolo Nutini and The Editors. With these acts and more, the V Festival holds hopes high for August. Reading and Leeds festivals share the same line up and happen simultaneously. This year, with around 70-80,000 festival goers at each location, the headliners are Blink 182, Guns N’ Roses and Arcade Fire. These bands will round off August in true style.
Bestival, with a capacity of 30,000, is one of the larger festivals awaiting fans in September. Boasting headliners including Dizzee Rascal, The Prodigy, Hot Chip and even Rolf Harris, there is extraordinary music to be heard on the Isle of Wight. Combine this with a fantasy fancy dress theme, and Bestival bodes well for September.
The End of the Road, along with Bestival, is one of the last festivals of the season. As a smaller, “boutique” festival it has a capacity of just 5,000 people, creating a more intimate atmosphere. This five year old festival features a line-up of artists including Modest Mouse, Yo La Tengo, Wilco and Woodpigeon. Coupled with entertainment ranging from a comedy stage, cinema tent and an enchanted forest with a piano stage, there is something for everyone. These festivals represent the distinct styles of music extravaganzas remaining this summer. Whether a massive festival with thousands of fans singing their hearts out to bands like Kings of Leon appeals, or a more mellow intimate experience is desired, the summer is still here and the festivals will continue.
Top Five Festival Tips:
If you're a seasoned festival-goer, you've probably got your rituals worked out. If this is going to be your first time, don't worry, it won't hurt a bit and we've prepared a few bits of essential advice...
1. Don't take anything you're not prepared to lose. Tents aren't the most secure things, and in the general chaos of festivals you can – and will – lose valuables if you're not careful. You don't need your hair straighteners, either.
2. Drink water. Sounds boring, but it stops you getting dehydrated, gives you more energy, and helps dodge hangovers. If the sun turns up your tent will become hell's own oven by eight in the morning, so keep some water by your sleeping bag for those sandpaper-mouthed wake-up calls.
3. Bring painkillers for mornings after, suntan lotion for protection (and contraceptives for the same reason), and baby wipes for instant showers. A plastic poncho with a hood is the best thing for rain, and you can sit on the wet ground with it too. BRING WELLIES.
4. The law still applies at festivals. Illegal drugs are still illegal there, and festivals can be huge and confusing – not be the best places to have a bad drug experience, in other words. If you do choose to take something, be aware of the risks (www.talktofrank.com) and make sure your mates look out for you.
5. Lose yourself. Festivals let you be whoever, and whatever, you want for a few days. If that means wrapping yourself in cling film or dressing like a lizard, go for it. See new bands, eat weird ethnic food, talk to trees, and hug strangers. It's all good. But if you're the person on day one who's having a mud bath? You WILL regret it. Trust us.
The Festivals
Big Ones
Big Chill (5-8 August, Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire)
Massive Attack, M.I.A., Lily Allen, Roots Manuva, Gregory Isaacs, Thom Yorke,
www.bigchill.net
V Festival (21-22 August, Hylands Park, Chelmsford & Weston Park, Staffordshire)
Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, David Guetta, Kasabian, Faithless, The Prodigy
www.vfestival.com
Reading / Leeds (27-29 August, Richfield Avenue, Reading & Bramham Park, Leeds)
Guns N’ Roses, Arcade Fire, Blink 182, Queens of the Stone Age, The Libertines, Paramore
www.readingfestival.com / www.leedsfestival.com
Creamfields (28-29 August, Cheshire)
David Guetta, Deadmau5, Tiësto, Calvin Harris
www.creamfields.com
Bestival (9-12 September, Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight)
Dizzee Rascal, The Flaming Lips, The Prodigy
www.bestival.net
Boutique Ones
Croissant Neuf Summer Party (13-15 August, Usk, Monmouthshire)
Max Pashm, The Magic Numbers, Stan Webbs Chicken Shack
http://partyneuf.co.uk
Beautiful Days '09 (20-22 August, Escot Park, Devon)
James, The Wailers, Levellers plus Newton Faulkner
www.beautifuldays.org
End of the Road (10-12 September, Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset)
Modest Mouse, Yo La Tengo, Wilco
www.endoftheroadfestival.com
Headliners previous live shows in 2010 featured on YouTube:
Massive Attack: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=massive+attack+live+2010&aq=0
Kings of Leon: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kings+of+leon+live+2010&aq=0
Guns N’ Roses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1WNt4y6muc#!q=guns%20n%20roses%20live%202010
David Guetta: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnb9e1VH-do#!q=david%20guetta%20live%202010
Dizzee Rascal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-nWlO-5fIU#!q=dizzee%20rascal%20live%202010
The V Festival may not be able to equal Glastonbury’s hippy roots (last year, festival goers accused the organizers of being “greedy” given the price of food onsite) or size (a capacity of around 90,000 compared to Glastonbury’s 150,000+), but still it promises fantastic acts; the headliners this year include Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, Pet Shop Boys, Paolo Nutini and The Editors. With these acts and more, the V Festival holds hopes high for August. Reading and Leeds festivals share the same line up and happen simultaneously. This year, with around 70-80,000 festival goers at each location, the headliners are Blink 182, Guns N’ Roses and Arcade Fire. These bands will round off August in true style.
Bestival, with a capacity of 30,000, is one of the larger festivals awaiting fans in September. Boasting headliners including Dizzee Rascal, The Prodigy, Hot Chip and even Rolf Harris, there is extraordinary music to be heard on the Isle of Wight. Combine this with a fantasy fancy dress theme, and Bestival bodes well for September.
The End of the Road, along with Bestival, is one of the last festivals of the season. As a smaller, “boutique” festival it has a capacity of just 5,000 people, creating a more intimate atmosphere. This five year old festival features a line-up of artists including Modest Mouse, Yo La Tengo, Wilco and Woodpigeon. Coupled with entertainment ranging from a comedy stage, cinema tent and an enchanted forest with a piano stage, there is something for everyone. These festivals represent the distinct styles of music extravaganzas remaining this summer. Whether a massive festival with thousands of fans singing their hearts out to bands like Kings of Leon appeals, or a more mellow intimate experience is desired, the summer is still here and the festivals will continue.
Top Five Festival Tips:
If you're a seasoned festival-goer, you've probably got your rituals worked out. If this is going to be your first time, don't worry, it won't hurt a bit and we've prepared a few bits of essential advice...
1. Don't take anything you're not prepared to lose. Tents aren't the most secure things, and in the general chaos of festivals you can – and will – lose valuables if you're not careful. You don't need your hair straighteners, either.
2. Drink water. Sounds boring, but it stops you getting dehydrated, gives you more energy, and helps dodge hangovers. If the sun turns up your tent will become hell's own oven by eight in the morning, so keep some water by your sleeping bag for those sandpaper-mouthed wake-up calls.
3. Bring painkillers for mornings after, suntan lotion for protection (and contraceptives for the same reason), and baby wipes for instant showers. A plastic poncho with a hood is the best thing for rain, and you can sit on the wet ground with it too. BRING WELLIES.
4. The law still applies at festivals. Illegal drugs are still illegal there, and festivals can be huge and confusing – not be the best places to have a bad drug experience, in other words. If you do choose to take something, be aware of the risks (www.talktofrank.com) and make sure your mates look out for you.
5. Lose yourself. Festivals let you be whoever, and whatever, you want for a few days. If that means wrapping yourself in cling film or dressing like a lizard, go for it. See new bands, eat weird ethnic food, talk to trees, and hug strangers. It's all good. But if you're the person on day one who's having a mud bath? You WILL regret it. Trust us.
The Festivals
Big Ones
Big Chill (5-8 August, Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire)
Massive Attack, M.I.A., Lily Allen, Roots Manuva, Gregory Isaacs, Thom Yorke,
www.bigchill.net
V Festival (21-22 August, Hylands Park, Chelmsford & Weston Park, Staffordshire)
Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, David Guetta, Kasabian, Faithless, The Prodigy
www.vfestival.com
Reading / Leeds (27-29 August, Richfield Avenue, Reading & Bramham Park, Leeds)
Guns N’ Roses, Arcade Fire, Blink 182, Queens of the Stone Age, The Libertines, Paramore
www.readingfestival.com / www.leedsfestival.com
Creamfields (28-29 August, Cheshire)
David Guetta, Deadmau5, Tiësto, Calvin Harris
www.creamfields.com
Bestival (9-12 September, Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight)
Dizzee Rascal, The Flaming Lips, The Prodigy
www.bestival.net
Boutique Ones
Croissant Neuf Summer Party (13-15 August, Usk, Monmouthshire)
Max Pashm, The Magic Numbers, Stan Webbs Chicken Shack
http://partyneuf.co.uk
Beautiful Days '09 (20-22 August, Escot Park, Devon)
James, The Wailers, Levellers plus Newton Faulkner
www.beautifuldays.org
End of the Road (10-12 September, Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset)
Modest Mouse, Yo La Tengo, Wilco
www.endoftheroadfestival.com
Headliners previous live shows in 2010 featured on YouTube:
Massive Attack: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=massive+attack+live+2010&aq=0
Kings of Leon: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kings+of+leon+live+2010&aq=0
Guns N’ Roses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1WNt4y6muc#!q=guns%20n%20roses%20live%202010
David Guetta: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnb9e1VH-do#!q=david%20guetta%20live%202010
Dizzee Rascal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-nWlO-5fIU#!q=dizzee%20rascal%20live%202010
By Penny Hill
Smaart Publishing 2010