1st - 3rd

Big Chill
www.bigchill.net

Eastnor Castle, Deer Park, Herefordshire

Set amongst the beautiful Malvern Hills, the Big Chill is a unique event offering a ‘multimedia festival’ to an intimate crowd of revellers.  The Big Chill is also a record label, a bar and a club, so these people know their stuff.  This year they’ve got acts like The Mighty Boosh appearing alongside musical acts like Norman Jay. They’ve also got a bunch of new ideas, for example The Big Warm, which involves bonfires, story telling and songs after dark, around the lakes!  And the Moonlit Picture House which offers late night outdoor cinema.  Cosy!
        

1st - 3rd

Didghead Radio Festival
www.anticearthworks.co.uk

1st - 31st

T on the Fringe
www.tonthefringe.com

Edinburgh

T on the Fringe describes itself as ‘the soundtrack to the Edinburgh fringe’.  Basically for the whole month of August Edinburgh offers a veritable feast of culture, comedy, music and good times!  T on the Fringe provides the musical accompaniment and has hosted bands such as Pixies, Muse, Morissey and Radiohead in previous years.  Last year the Foo Fighters, The Shins, Kaiser Chiefs and Pigeon Detectives were all on the bill, not bad eh?  Oh, and like T in the Park, this festival is part sponsored by Tennents Lager.  Mines a pint please…

7th - 10th

Rebellion UK
www.rebellionfestivals.com

Blackpool

Supposedly the biggest independent Punk festival, this festival is held in Blackpool, the UKs answer to Vegas!  Some acts already revealed this year include Loyd Grossman (!) and The Cockney Rejects.  Yes, that’s right, I did just say Loyd Grossman. The TV journalist was once in a band back in the 70s and is now bringing it to the masses of Blackpool. Brace yourselves for some Grossman action!  

8th - 10th

Summer Sundae
www.summersundae.com

DeMontfort Hall and Gardens, Leicester

Oooh, I could crush a grape.  I could you know.  Summer Sundae, smooth as an ice cream, rocks like a … rocker.  Bands that played here last year included Magic Numbers and the legend that is Seasick Steve.  One of the stages is manned by BBC 6 Music so you can expect to see and hear some great acts this weekend.

8th - 10th

Bloom
www.bloomfestival.com

Dyrham Park, Between Bath and Bristol

This is the 2nd outing for this festival and it offers music spanning a plethora of genres (get me!) in the beautiful surrounds of Dyrham Park.  This year acts confirmed already include Mr Hudson and the Library, and Dub Pistols.  They’ll also be fancy dress, live art and bingo!  Two fat ladies, 88!

12th – 18th

Sziget Festival
www.sziget.hu

Obudai Island, Budapest, Hungary

Held on an island in the Danube River, what a location!  Iron Maiden are one of the headlining bands this year.  Previous years have seen bands like Oasis, Therapy?, Nick Cave, Ash and The Cure.  So keep your eyes on the website for further info.  Diggit?  Sziget?

15th - 17th

Beautiful Days
www.beautifuldays.org 

Escot Park, Ottery St Mary, Devon

This festival is organised by The Levellers who usually take the liberty of also performing, god bless them.  Last year the bands that played here included K T Tunstall and Gogol Bordello.  So if that’s your bag, then get down to the West Country. Go Go gypsy punk!  

15th - 17th

Pukkelpop
www.pukkelpop.be

Hasselt, Belgium

Aaaah Belgium, just a short ferry ride away really, at least it is if you take a Wicked van with you!  Why not check out this 23-year old festival this summer, phew, what a scorcher!  Previous bands appearing at Pukkelpop include Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Pogues, Faith No More and Sonic Youth.  It’s AWESOME!

16th - 17th

V Festivals
www.vfestival.com

Hylands Park, Chelmsford & Weston Park, Staffordshire

The V festival was one of the first festivals to take place over 2 different locations on the same weekend.  Basically the way it works is that one line up plays on a Saturday at one location and then plays on the Sunday at the other location.  Apparently Jarvis Cocker from Pulp started the craze in 1995 after announcing that he’d rather like to play at 2 different venues in 2 days.  Well, good one Cocker!  That’s what I say.  As you can see from the distinctive logo the ‘V’ stands for ‘Virgin’ – the brand, not inexperience festival-goers.  These festivals are rather large, with a capacity of 84000 and the rumours for this years line up include, Muse, The Verve, Reverend and the Makers and Duffy.  So there.

22nd - 24th

Reading and Leeds
www.readingfestival.com /www.leedsfestival.com       

Another one of those festivals that happens over 2 locations on the same weekend!  This one always happens on the August bank holiday weekend at the end of the month.  Reading festival has been going since 1971 and now has a capacity of around 80,000 and Leeds since 1999 with a capacity of 70,000.  The festivals are traditionally quite ‘ROCK’ with previous years acts like ACDC, Black Sabbath, Iggy Pop, Radiohead and Neil Young.  This year the 3 headlining acts are supposedly all American, with rumours circulating of Rage Against The Machine, The Killers and Metallica.   

23rd - 24th

Creamfields
www.creamfieldsfestival.co.uk

Daresbury, Cheshire

Creamfields is a dance festival which is run by the people behind the Cream clubbing brand.  It’s held on the August bank holiday and this year is celebrating it’s 10th Anniversary, so expect a party!  Previous acts have included the likes of Carl Cox, Mark Ronson and The Chemical Brothers.

29th - 31st

Electric Picnic
www.electricpicnic.ie

Stradbally, County Laois, Ireland

In it’s fourth year this year, Electric Picnic is fast catching up with Oxegen in terms of popularity.  Acts that played here last year included Sons and Daughters, Hot Chip, Beastie Boys, Byork, Modest Mouse and The Go! Team. Wowzers!  Other crazy shannanigans at the festival include a 24 hour cinema tent and a Silent Disco!  That means dancing around with a pair of headphones on.  COOL!

29th - 31st

Connect
www.connectmusicfestival.com

Inveraray Castle, Inveraray, Argyll, Scotland

Set in the beautiful surrounds of Inveraray Castle, this ‘boutique’ festival is in it’s 2nd year after the resounding success of last year.  Previous acts included Seasick Steve, Modest Mouse, Mogwai and Bjork, with around 16000 revellers there to enjoy it.  Connect is run by the same people who put on T in the Park but it’s aimed at a slightly older market.  So no vomiting in someone elses tent.  Well, at least when they’re not in it.  It’s only polite.