STYLE etc rounds up the best small festivals to visit in the UK for weekends away for fun, music and entertainment.
Set in the picturesque landscape of Portmeirion, Festival No 6 is a truly unique experience. Revellers can enjoy music and entertainment at the beach, castle, fields, swimming pool or pretty Italian inspired village. Restaurants and luxury accomodation are mixed with classic camping options to suit families, couples and groups of friends.
When: 7- 10 September 2017
Where: Portmeirion, Wales
Cost: £190 Weekend Pass
What: A luxury, bespoke banquet of music, arts and culture
Headliners: Flaming Lips, Mogwai and Bloc Party
Selected other acts: Rag’n’Bone Man, The Cinematic Orchestra, Wild Beasts and Laura Mvula
Mixing science and music, Bluedot befits it’s Jodrell Bank location set in the grounds of a deep space observatory. Fit for families and younger crowds, talks and exhibits throughout the day are accompanied with music, taking guests through to a more party style evening. The mix of both topics makes the crowd at this an interesting one, giving space to chill or dance as your mood suits.
When: 7- 9 July 2017
Where: Jordell Bank, Cheshire
Cost: £149 weekend pass
What: An intergalactic festival of music, science and the exploration of space taking place at the iconic radio telescope
Headliners: Orbital, Pixies and Alt-J
Selected other acts: Soulwax, Moonlandingz and Warpaint
A popular up and coming choice for first festival goers and chart fans alike, Wild Life is the south’s answer to Parklife in Manchester. Filling its lineup with big names sure to draw crowds, it is easy to see why more people are getting on board with Wild Life. Only a 2-dayer, it’s perfect for those who don’t like the camping experience and want the excuse to work some out there festival fashion.
When: 9-10 June 2017
Where: Brighton City Airport
Cost: From £105
What: A filled lineup with chart favourites, with plenty of dance names in the list. Contemporary styles with the odd legend thrown in
Headliners: Fatboy Slim, Dizzee Rascal, Stormzy, Jess Glyne
Selected other acts: George Ezra, Clean Bandit, Chaka Khan and Eric Prydz
Suitable for families and veteran music lovers amongst current chart fans, Kendal Calling doesn’t discriminate in its lineup. This year shows no exception, naming Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonics alongside Tinie Tempah and Jake Bugg. Set in a pretty region, surrounded by the lake district, this gives good excuse to explore the town of Kendal and make a mini-break out of it.
When: 27-30 July 2017
Where: Lowther Deer Park, Lake District
Cost: £135 camping
What: A festival made to make use of Cumbria’s pretty greenery for seasoned music fans, Kendal Calling is fun for all ages.
Headliners: Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics
Selected other acts: Franz Ferdinand, Jake Bugg, Tinie Tempah and Editors
If you’re into your electronic music and favour Warehouse Project and Parklife, then We Are Fstvl will be right up your street. Providing an enviable lineup sure to keep you on your feet dancing all night, some of dance musics biggest names of both past and present make the billing for a weekend of non-stop fun. An event sure to keep you entertained until the early hours.
When: 26-28 May 2017
Where: Damyns Hall Aerodome, Upminster
Cost: £114.50 weekend pass
What: Specialists in dance music, epic light shows and atmosphere are pretty much guaranteed
Headliners: Carl Cox, Armand Van Helden, Basement Jaxx
Selected other acts: Dixon, Duke Dumont, Jamie Jones and Wiley
