With 2012’s thrilling summer of sport grabbing our attention right now, Solopress.com provides a timely reminder that UK music festivals are still a big part of the sunny days ahead…
The start to this year’s music festival season got wellie and truly rained out at the Isle of Wight Festival last week, but that shouldn’t dampen our spirits for the rest of the great British summer. There’s some fabulous entertainment lined up for every kind of music lover over the coming months. And, at the very least, sales of brollies and boots could reach an all-time high!
So crack open that bottle of Peroni, Pimms or Perrier and enjoy Solopress.com’s essential guide to the UK’s hottest music festivals this summer.
Hop Farm Festival
When: Friday 29th June to Sunday 1st July
Where: Paddock Wood, Kent
What: The Hop Farm Music Festival is an event free of ticket registration, with no sponsorship or branding, concentrating instead on providing live music for avid festival goers. Children aged 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Who: Hop Farm Festival’s line up includes Billy Ocean, Bob Dylan, Sir Bruce Forsyth, Joan Armatrading, Kool and the Gang, Peter Gabriel, Primal Scream, Ray Davies, Suede, Tanita Tikaram and The Stranglers.
Web: www.hopfarmfestival.com
Solopress.com printed these 170gsm Gloss A2 Posters for Hop Farm Festival
The Cornbury Festival
When: Friday 29th June to Sunday 1st July
Where: The Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire
What: A dynamic summer festival disguised as a country fayre, promising everything from toffs, farmers and rockers to gourmet chefs, Morris dancers and little old ladies who make exceptionally tasty cakes. But will they beat the Solopress.com cupcake taste test? There’s also a heap of stuff to help keep the kids amused, such as African dance workshops, crazy comic club, kids yoga, mask making, parachute games, sand art and storytelling.
Who: The Cornbury Festival’s line up includes Alison Moyet, Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Hugh Laurie with the Copper Bottom Band, James Morrison, Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Macy Gray, Pixie Lott and Will Young.
Web: www.cornburyfestival.com
Solopress.com printed these 350gsm Gloss DL Flyers for The Cornbury Festival
T4 on the Beach
When: Sunday 1st July
Where: Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
What: Channel 4’s T4 on the Beach celebrates its 10th birthday this year. Over the past decade, the T4 OTB stage has seen the likes of Busta Rhymes, Dizzee Rascal, Girls Aloud, JLS, Kelly Rowland, Lily Allen, N-Dubz, Olly Murs, Pet Shop Boys, Sugababes and Will Young.
Who: The line up for T4 on the Beach 2012 includes DJ Fresh, Josh Osho, Little Mix, Lonsdale Boys Club, Taio Cruz, Stooshe, The Enemy, The Midnight Beast and Tulisa. Out of all these T40TB acts, who would you let lick your ice cream? See the poll results on the Channel 4 website. The beautiful people from Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, Made in Chelsea, Skins and other celeb guests will be dropping by too. Even T4 oldies June Sarpong and Vernon Kay are coming back to say: “Hello, where’s the green room and my VIP goodie bag then?”
Web: www.channel4.com/t4/
Chiswick House Festival
When: Thursday 5th July
Where: Chiswick House & Gardens, South West London
What: The Chiswick House & Gardens Trust was set up in 2005 to oversee the restoration, management and protection of this important historic London site. Chiswick House is a Grade 1 listed building, built during the reign of King George II in 1729. The funds raised through the Chiswick House Festival will contribute to the on-going maintenance of these gardens, as well as the Trust’s educational programmes. But the festival’s lavish feast promises to be equally historic – including BBQs, seafood, hog roasts and bars.
Who: This year’s festival will showcase exciting music from the likes of Basement Jaxx, Keane, Lana Del Rey, Labrinth and Rizzle Kicks.
Web: www.housefestival.com/uk
Solopress.com printed these 350gsm Gloss A5 Flyers for Chiswick House Festival
Bloc.2012
When: Friday 6th July and Saturday 7th July
Where: London Pleasure Gardens, Royal Victoria Docks E16
What: Bloc.2012 has been recommended as the “No. 1 festival in the world this July” by the online electronic music magazine, Resident Advisor. The Bloc project is the brainchild of the team behind the late night area of Glastonbury known as Shangri-La.
Who: The eclectic electronica Bloc line up this summer includes A.T.O.L., Carl Craig – 69, Gary Numan, Orbital, Richie Hawtin, Snoop Dogg and Squarepusher.
Web: www.blocweekend.com
Solopress.com printed these Leaflets for Bloc.2012
Latitude 2012
When: Thursday 12th July to Sunday 15th July
Where: Henham Park, Suffolk Sunrise Coast
What: Described as the “kingpin of the multi-arts festivals” by The Observer newspaper, Latitude began in 2006 and is now one of the UK’s leading festivals for music and the arts. Sponsors this year include Lucozade, Pepsi, Spotify, Tuborg and Vodafone.
Who: Latitude festival goers will be enjoying headline performances from Bon Iver, Elbow and Paul Weller. But there’s more to Latitude than just music. The stages are also set for an explosion of cabaret, comedy, film, literature, poetry and theatre. The brilliantly titled, ‘The Inbetweeners Teen Area’, will also keep the 12+ teens amused… Greenpeace log cabin and treetop adventures included!
Web: www.latitudefestival.co.uk
Solopress.com printed these Recycled Pulp Bookmarks for Latitude 2012
Music 4 Festival
When: Sunday 15th July
Where: Emsworth, Hampshire
What: This pocket-sized annual music festival, organised by the New Life Christian Church, is open to all. Funds raised will go to the Bourne Community Trust and Hope for Heroes. Entrance is free.
Who: Live music from local bands, bouncy castles, refreshments and fun attractions for the whole family.
Web: www.newlifechurch.me
Solopress.com printed these 350gsm Silk A6 Flyers for Music 4 Festival
Jelly Festival
When: Friday 18th August and Saturday 19th August
Where: Compton Hall, Norfolk
What: Jelly Festival celebrates its 5th birthday this year with a banquet of music and, of course, free jelly.
Who: Covering everything from drum ‘n’ bass, folk and soul to dubstep, funk and swing, Jelly Festival’s line up features the likes of Allister Whitehead, Jakwob, Roni Size and The Felice Brothers.
Web: www.jellyfestival.com
Solopress.com printed these 380mic Recycled Pulp A6 Flyers & 130gsm Gloss A3 and A4 Posters for Jelly Festival
V Festival
When: Saturday 18th August to Sunday 19th August
Where: Hylands Park, Chelmsford or Weston Park, South Staffordshire
What: V Festival is an annual music festival simultaneously held at two parks in the south and north of England. The artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday. The idea for V Festival came about in 1996 when Pulp’s front man Jarvis Cocker announced he would love to play two outdoor venues in two days.
Who: Cher Lloyd, Example, Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets, Keane, Madness, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Olly Murs, Snow Patrol, The Human League, The Killers, The Proclaimers, The Stone Roses, The Stranglers, The Ting Tings, Tinie Tempah, Tom Jones, Tulisa and lots more will be appearing at this year’s V Festival.
Web: www.vfestival.com
Creamfields 2012
When: Friday 24th August to Sunday 26th August
Where: Daresbury, Cheshire
What: It probably won’t be able to match the weather of Ibiza, but at least the turntables will be red hot at the UK’s premier dance music festival.
Who: Creamfields will deliver one of the biggest dance music experiences of summer 2012, with exclusive festival performances from the likes of Avicii, Calvin Harris, David Guetta, deadmau5 and Tiesto. Other top DJ names on the decks include Axwell, Eric Prydz, Groove Armada, Paul van Dyk, Pete Tong and The Chemical Brothers.
Web: www.creamfields.com
Reading Festival 2012 / Leeds Festival 2012
When: Friday 24th August to Sunday 26th August
Where: Richfield Avenue, Reading or Bramham Park, Leeds
What: The Reading Festival has seen some truly memorable moments, from being the last UK concert played by Nirvana in 1992 – to the festival goers’ long-standing tradition of bottling unpopular acts off the stage. Meat Loaf and 50 Cent know exactly how that feels. What will 2012’s edition bring?
Who: This year’s line up includes Foo Fighters, Kaiser Chiefs, Kasabian and The Cure.
Web: www.readingfestival.co.uk / www.leedsfestival.co.uk
Glastonbury
When: There is no Festival in 2012. Boo! But Glastonbury will return on Wednesday 26th June 2013. Bang on! Tickets go on sale from Sunday 7th October.
Where: Glastonbury, Somerset
What: The big daddy of British music festivals dates back to 19th September 1970, the day after rock legend Jimi Hendrix died. Over the years, Glastonbury has seen just about every major pop, rock and dance act perform in-front of an appreciative crowd of mud-soaked music lovers. 2011’s line up, for example, featured the likes of Beyonce, Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs, Morrissey, The Chemical Brothers, U2 and Wu-Tang Clan. You can still watch some of these performances on the BBC Glastonbury website at www.bbc.co.uk/music/festivals/glastonbury/2011/.
Who: Next year’s line up at Glastonbury is still to be announced.
Web: www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
Other Useful Links
Tickets
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Music News
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Fashion
Spy Love Buy – Whatever the weather, make sure you are festival ready with Spy Love Buy’s funky festival footwear!
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Latest Info
All dates and details are correct at the time of writing and publishing this blog. Please visit the official festival websites to get their latest information and updates. If you are a music festival organiser and would like a mention for your summer gig included in our guide, please leave us a message in the Comments box below.
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Have Your Say
Who are you most looking forward to seeing play at a music festival this summer? Perhaps you already have some great gig gossip or celeb spotting stories, photos and videos from the 2012 season? Surely somebody’s got the world’s best hangover cure? Please scroll down this page to the ‘Leave a Reply’ box and post your comments there. You can also leave your comments via the Facebook panel below – or share your music festival photos and videos on our wall at http://www.facebook.com/solopress. Rock on, people!
So many great festivals, which would you suggest for somebody who is into a bit of everything music wise? I’m not great with band names, so would be looking more at the styles of music. Pop, indy, jazz, blues, rock, etc.
Also, we you have to compromise on the summer part, as thus far atleast we haven’t had much of a summer, there is nothing like music to raise spirits though.
Oh dear, my apologies for the poor grammar, the end part is meant to say:
‘ Also, you may have to…’
Festivals are good fun but the weather has been horrendous the last few times I’ve been to one. Once I’m wet and cold and covered in mud I’m just not having fun anymore
Great guide to all the festivals that are on this year, good to see them so well described as sometimes it can be difficult to work out if they are family-orientated or not
i’ve never been to a festival, but always wanted to go. The thing that puts me off though is people of their heads on whatever there on, and me being there t-total.
Nice article – haven’t heard of some of these festivals, it’s nice to read about some others than the big ones.
The Cornbury Festival sounds like something a bit different, I’m liking the range of acts!
On the other hand I can’t imagine Sir Bruce Forsyth headlining for one of those festivals!
A really interesting article and so many festivals that I`d like to go to. Hope Farm in particular has some great acts.
There seems to be so many festivals around now that I just have no clue whats what without getting bogged down searching all the line ups. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is great to have a wide choice.. but it seems to have gone beyond that now. Maybe I just get confused too easily haha and just like to be told of a good festival then presto.. bags are packed
… One thing I do love at this time of year though is all the festival clothes 
I’d really love to get to a festival this year. I haven’t been to one for a good few years now.
I always get so amped up at the idea of going to a festival, but when it comes down to it, the cost puts me off – it’s just so much, and then you have to sleep outside as well. Clearly I’m too old!
(In terms of design rather than music) My favourite has to be the Jelly Festival poster – love the vintage style to the design.
Such a shame about bloc festival, was shaping up so well! Looking forward to Boomtown instead now!
Ahh there are so many I want to go too! V-Festival has such an amazing line up! And Creamfields! Love festivals! However with this summer weather at the moment I’ll definitely be needing my bright pink wellies!!
What a great round up of festivals! I normally go to Leeds festival every year but the prices keep rocketing upwards and the excessive corporate branding and sponsorship has taken away from what the true nature of festivals is all about, these days it’s all about the money! So good to see there are still so many festivals that are about the music, I particularly like the idea of Jelly Festival, maybe it’s time to dust off the wellies and get festival focused!