FESTIVALS OF BRITAIN
From Glasto to Poshstock (where you could bump into Sam Cam), where should YOU go this summer?
WHETHER you want a star-studded spectacular or a family-friendly weekend, ADRIAN THRILLS says there’s something for every taste on this year’s festival circuit . . .
ISLE OF WIGHT
Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight; June 8-11. Weekend tickets £195 (isleofwightfestival.com). DUBBED the english Woodstock after a 1970 bill that featured Jimi Hendrix and The Doors, the Isle Of Wight is one of the few pop music gatherings to rival Glastonbury for tradition (despite a 32-year break after the 1970 event). And the curtain raiser to the musical summer again boasts a big-hitting line-up, with Rod Stewart, Arcade Fire, Run DMC and David Guetta, plus Rag ’n’ bone Man, The Pretenders and Melanie C.
DOWNLOAD
Donington Park, Leicestershire; June 9-11. Weekend tickets £205 (downloadfestival.co.uk). LOVERS of the mosh-pit will find plenty to detain them at the country’s premier rock and metal event. Guitar stalwarts biffy Clyro are among the headliners, but the major draw is Aerosmith (with lead singer Steven Tyler, above). The boston band’s future was in doubt after guitarist Joe Perry collapsed onstage last year, but they are now bringing their Aero-vederci baby! tour to Download for what could be their last UK show.
STRAWBERRIES & CREEM
Haggis Farm, Cambridge; June 17. Day tickets £40 (strawberriesandcreem.com). DANCE music in an unexpectedly tranquil setting, Strawberries & Creem is a relative newcomer. but the oneday event, launched three years ago, is growing fast. This year’s line-up features 40 acts over three stages, led by reggae star Shaggy, rapper Wiley and Mike Skinner, once of The Streets.
GLASTONBURY
Worthy Farm, Somerset; June 21-25. Weekend tickets £243 (glastonburyfestivals.co.uk). STILL the daddy of them all. This year’s bill doesn’t disappoint, either, with Radiohead, Foo Fighters and ed Sheeran joined by Katy Perry, Chic, Lorde, barry Gibb and Craig David. A limited resale of returned tickets starts on April 20 for fans who register with the festival website before Tuesday. For those staying home, the BBC’s coverage will be extensive.
BRITISH SUMMER TIME
Hyde Park, London; June 30July 9. Day tickets from 59.90 (bst-hydepark.com). THIS is the perfect festival experience for capital dwellers keen to avoid getting mud on their boots.
Launched in 2013, when the Stones headlined, this year’s lineup features six events across two weekends. Phil Collins, Green Day, Justin bieber, Kings Of Leon, The Killers and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers are joined by support acts blondie, Tears For Fears and Stevie Nicks.
HENLEY
Henley-On-Thames, Oxfordshire; July 5-9. Day tickets from £45 (henley-festival.co.uk). NOW in its fourth decade, the Henley Festival consists of five dressy evenings by the Thames. Headline acts Jess Glynne, Pet Shop boys, Chaka Khan (below), Goldie and All Saints all play on a floating stage, and there are earlyevening performances by Geno Washington and vonda Shepard.
In keeping with its plush nature, the dress code is black tie.
CORNBURY
Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire; July 7-9. Weekend tickets £170 (cornburymusic festival.com). THE festival dubbed Poshstock has seen David and Samantha Cameron as guests in the past. but this year’s event is destined to be the last, with promoter Hugh Phillimore keen to move on after running it for 14 years. The familyfriendly Cotswolds jamboree bids farewell with help from bryan Adams, Jools Holland, Sophie ellis-bextor, Jack Savoretti and Imelda May.
TRNSMT Glasgow Green, July 7-9. Weekend tickets £155 (trnsmtfest.com).
TO replace T in the Park, Glasgow will play host to the first TRNSMT festival.
With Radiohead, Kasabian and biffy Clyro headlining over the three days, TRNSMT hopes to hit the ground running. Situated in the east end of Glasgow overlooking the River Clyde, the line-up also includes belle and Sebastian, Catfish and the bottlemen and George ezra.
CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL
Cherry Hinton Hall, Cambridge; July 27-30. Weekend tickets £167 (cambridgefolk festival.co.uk). LAUNCHED in 1965, Cambridge embraces folk in its broadest sense. This year’s bill includes acoustic rocker Jake bugg and Olivia Newton-John, who performs with beth Nielsen Chapman and Amy Sky (the three worked together on the recent Liv On album). Others sampling the weekend’s relaxed atmosphere include veteran singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III and country siblings Ward Thomas.
BELLADRUM TARTAN HEART FESTIVAL
Belladrum Estate, Beauly, Inverness, August 3-5. Weekend tickets £142 (tartanheartfestival.co.uk). NOW in its 14th year, this festival is its known for its varying music offerings. It has a friendly vibe, with a very large camping area dedicated to families. This year’s headliners include Scotland’s own Franz Ferdinand, The Pretenders and Sister Sledge. The festival will once again take place in the small village of beauly in the north of Scotland, less than half an hour drive from Inverness.
V FESTIVAL
Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire; August 18-20. Weekend tickets £175.15 (vfestival.com). v MARKS the spot for pop and dance, and this year’s line-up has a strong homegrown slant, with busted, Clean bandit, George ezra and ellie Goulding on the bill and veteran DJ Pete Tong putting a fresh spin on some Ibiza club classics with the help of the Heritage Orchestra. The star turns are American, though: rapper Jay Z (above) will stir memories of his 2008 Glastonbury show and Pink returns a decade after her v Festival debut. Let’s hope they fare better than last year’s uninspired Justin bieber.
READING AND LEEDS
Richfield Avenue, Reading and Bramham Park, Leeds; August 25-27. Weekend tickets £205 (readingandleedsfestival.com). THE traditional destinations for teenagers digesting GCSE exam results. Rock heavyweights Muse and Kasabian are hardened festival-pleasers, as is fellow headliner eminem, but the most intriguing set could be from Liam Gallagher, who will mix Oasis hits with tracks from a forthcoming album. Dance acts include Fatboy Slim and electronic producer Mura Masa — who’s from Guernsey.