Bestival
September 5th – 8th / Robin Hill Country Park, Isle Of Wight / £190
66 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Elton John, Snoop Dogg
DON’T MISS: M.I.A, The Knife, Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers
Created by Rob Da Bank and his wife Josie, Bestival is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year with a suitably nautical fancy dress theme, fitting due to its location on the Isle Of Wight. Established alternative favourites Franz Ferdinand and The Flaming Lips sit alongside newer artists such as Bastille and Savages. Expect to see sailors and mermaids not only during headliner Elton John‘s set, but partying throughout the night as Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin and a host of other DJs keep things going after dark. There is even a rare chance to hear the music of Daft Punk live as a cover band plays ‘Discovery’ in full. (SE)
IN A NUTSHELL: A great party atmosphere, with music long into the night.
Boardmasters
August 7th – 11th / Watergate Bay, Cornwall / £116
257 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: The Vaccines, Basement Jaxx, Ben Howard
DON’T MISS: Dusky, Grandmaster Flash, Friction
Stoked! Dude! Sick! Duuuuude! Expect to hear these and many other similar phrases hundreds of times over these five days. With BMX, skateboard and surf performances happening throughout, Boardmasters has identified its target audience and is doing everything in its power to keep them blissfully content. With soaking up the sun on Fistral Beach promising to be the perfect hangover cure after nights of debauchery and extreme-ish sports, you’d better break out the board shorts dude. (LL)
IN A NUTSHELL: Sun, sand and surfing interspersed with big name acts.
Boomtown Fair
August 8th – 11th / Matterley Estate, Hampshire / £149
75 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Foreign Beggars, Lee Scratch Perry, Mad Caddies
DON’T MISS: The Junk, Mak & Pasteman, Mungo’s Hi-Fi
Billing itself as more of a temporary town than a standard festival, Boomtown’s not the one for you if you like to take your weekend easy. Beyond the many stages of ska, punk, reggae, dub and folk music, there’s a theatre, mobile cabaret, art installations, comedy, spoken word events and a lot of very excitable and dressed-up attendees. Everyone raves about this one, and with good reason. (JMM)
IN A NUTSHELL: You won’t sleep much, but you won’t want to.
Charleston Literary Festival
May 17th – 26th / Charleston, nr Lewes / £various
16 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Audrey Niffenegger, Melvyn Bragg, Pat Barker
DON’T MISS: Mark Haddon, David Boyd Haycock
If you’re thinking you should do something other than get really drunk in a field and lose your wellies in the mud this year, you might just be ready for Charleston Literary Festival. It’s near Lewes so not as much of a commitment as Hay-on-Wye, but attracts similar big name speakers. This year there are 28 talks and tickets can either be bought separately or in day-long blocks of four if you fancy full literary immersion. It’s held in the beautiful Charleston farmhouse, so arrive early enough to wander around the grounds. (JMM)
IN A NUTSHELL: You’re far too wet for camping, anyway.
End of the Road
August 30th – September 1st / Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset / £165
102 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Sigur Rós, Belle and Sebastian, Eels
DON’T MISS: Poliça, Woodpecker Wooliams, Wolf Alice
Arguably Britain’s most twee festival, End Of The Road is held at the beautiful Larmer Tree Pleasure Gardens and features free-roaming peacocks and macaws, a sunken water garden, knitting workshops and a hell of a lot of beards. It’s one of the friendliest, politest festivals out there, so if you like bellowing the words along to your favourite band’s set, it’s probably not for you. However, if you have more than one type of tea in your cupboard and used to play the ukulele, it probably is. (JMM)
IN A NUTSHELL: Dig out that woolly jumper and look up some obscure Swedish folk beforehand.
Farmfestival
July 26th – 27th / Gilcombe Farm, Bruton / £50
125 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Ghostpoet, Art Brut
DON’T MISS: Reeps One, DJ Die
Farmfestival started out as a stage built on the back of a lorry by a group of friends looking to throw a summer party and raise money for charity. Six years on and the festival has grown but the spirit has stayed the same. An adamantly sponsor-free weekend, inviting all ages to come and have a bit of fun, Farmfestival’s DIY aesthetic and genre encompassing music policy make for a truly unique experience. (LL)
IN A NUTSHELL: A wallet-friendly event, seemingly cobbled together by your mates.
The Great Skinhead Reunion
May 31st – June 2nd / Volks, Brighton / £30
0 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Lee Thompson, Booze & Glory
DON’T MISS: The Bois, Jenny Woo
Skinhead culture was born from the mod subculture of the 60s and although it has suffered much negative publicity, it was and still is a celebration of that trademark look and a love of Jamaican reggae. The Great Skinhead Reunion started in 2011 when some old skins got chatting on Facebook and decided to meet for a pint. Amazingly, 300 skinheads turned up to that first meeting and it has continued growing. Now covering three nights and playing host to Europe’s top reggae DJs, it attracts hundreds of skins of all ages from all over the world. (LL)
IN A NUTSHELL: A proud celebration of a culture that has survived through thick and thin.
Jersey Live
Aug 31st – Sep 1st / Royal Jersey Showground, Jersey / £92
200 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Fatboy Slim, The Cribs
DON’T MISS: Netsky, Zeds Dead
For all his previous ubiquity, Norman Cook’s appearances in Brighton are few and far between these days, and more often than not are mega-sized. If you’re craving your Fatboy fix after last year’s Amex shows, Jersey Live have bagged him for their tenth anniversary bash this summer, as well as fellow superstar DJ Pete Tong. Rising Sussex songwriting star Tom Odell also gets a high spot on a dance-heavy bill that’s shaping up nicely. (SH)
IN A NUTSHELL: A beautiful island holiday and budget festival combined.
Love Supreme Jazz Festival
July 5th – 7th / Glynde Place, Glynde / £120
8 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Bryan Ferry, Jools Holland
DON’T MISS: Portico Quartet, Andreya Triana
Any new local festival should be applauded and supported and with a line-up this good, let’s hope Love Supreme’s a success. In addition to the safe bet headliners Bryan Ferry and Jools Holland, someone in the know has booked the cream of the current jazz crop, with vocal sensation Gregory Porter, bass diva Esperanza Spalding and hot chanteuse Melody Gardot all performing on the Sunday. For the dancers there’s an electro swing night, Brand New Heavies and the irresistible Nile Rodgers’ Chic. (SC)
IN A NUTSHELL: Ideal for hamper campers, hipsters and disco dollies.
Meadowlands
May 24th – 26th / Glynde Place, Lewes / £95
12 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: British Sea Power, Laurent Garnier
DON’T MISS: Native Roses, Ty, The Wytches
Brighton’s nearest quality camping festival, Meadowlands’ bill steps up another gear this year with the smart booking of British Sea Power, straight off touring this year’s magnificent ‘Machinery Of Joy’, for what will undoubtedly be a celebratory show. French DJ headliner Laurent Garnier aside, much of the bill draws heavily from the rest of the Brighton music scene, while there’s an impressive comedy and cabaret presence from Three And Ten/The Warren bookers Otherplace Productions. (SH)
IN A NUTSHELL: Brighton’s best boutique festival experience.
Nice Weather For Airstrikes
May 24th – 26th / Druids Arms, Brighton / Free
0 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Codes In The Clouds, Shrines
DON’T MISS: Fox In The City, Polymath
It’s the fifth annual Nice Weather For Airstrikes party and the Druids Arms will be home to three days of free music, courtesy of some of Brighton’s best local bands and a few from further afield. It’s an exciting gig for hosts Monsters Build Mean Robots, who will be fresh from their European tour and ready to debut some new material on home turf. May’s hugely busy for everyone in Brighton but it’s worth making time for
this. (JMM)
IN A NUTSHELL: Good music and good beer, good location for stumbling home.
Redfest
July 26th – 27th / Robins Cook Farm, Redhill / £65
33 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Dry The River, Bastille, Bury Tomorrow
DON’T MISS: Lucy Rose, Loveable Rogues, Dog Is Dead
After several years as an alternative festival, Redfest is widening its appeal by booking indie acts alongside the pop likes of Britain’s Got Talent trio Loveable Rogues. Fans of Redfest’s familiar rock flavours will still be entertained by the likes of Hacktivist and Bleed From Within. There’s also a silent disco and a stage curated by Guildford music venue The Boileroom to showcase new talent and cabaret. On paper, it reads a little messy but if it’s thrown together with its usual charm, it’ll work. (AJM)
IN A NUTSHELL: A small independent that’s big on variety.
Secret Garden Party
July 25th – 28th / Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire / £201.50
140 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Django Django, Bastille, Soulwax
DON’T MISS: Temples, Regina Spektor
Secret Garden Party was one of the first in the, er, field to promote the boutique festival experience, prioritising fancy dress themes, sideshows and immersive art as highly as the musical guests. In the face of much imitation they still do it better than the rest, as attested to by the top drawer acts they attract. Losing your head in the country to Django Django is gonna be one of the best choices you make this summer, even if you do wake up dressed as a cat in a tutu. (SH)
IN A NUTSHELL: A surprise around every tree.
Slam Dunk South
May 26th / University Of Hertfordshire, Hatfield / £34
78 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: All Time Low, Deaf Havana
DON’T MISS: Four Year Strong, Kids In Glass Houses
It’s long been dubbed the UK’s answer to Warped Tour and that label is still sticking – even with the real thing in London this November. Touring across the country, Slam Dunk will also visit Wolverhampton for the first time this year. The growing number of dates hasn’t shrunk the size of its southern stop though. The line-up at this yearly invasion of American pop-punk is as strong as ever and there are also plenty of British names playing who you won’t want to miss. (AJM)
IN A NUTSHELL: The closest thing the UK has to Warped Tour – in summer.
Soundwave
July 18th – 22nd / Tisno, Croatia / £119
1,250 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Doom, DJ Shadow
DON’T MISS: Bonobo, Quantic,
Such is the popularity of the burgeoning Croatian festival market with Brighton artists and punters, we sometimes wonder if everyone else has found a secret portal to the Med hidden behind Asda. Soundwave’s line-up is strong on hip hop and the soulful end of dance, so it’s no surprise to see a heavy presence of artists from the Tru Thoughts roster on board. Talking of which, there’s boat parties too, and you don’t get much of that off Black Rock. (SH)
IN A NUTSHELL: Don’t forget to pack your trunks.
St Ann’s Well Gardens Spring Festival
May 18th / St Ann’s Well Gardens, Hove / Free
1 mile from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Little Barrie, Stone Foundation
DON’T MISS: Traams, Jake Shillingford Band
St Ann’s Well’s family fun day always scores highly when it comes to musical entertainment. The show starts at midday, so get there nice and early for Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer’s lunchtime chap hop slot. Barrie Cadogan’s bluesy power trio Little Barrie and seven-piece soul band Stone Foundation grab the headline slots, but with Jake Shillingford promising a set of his My Life Story songs and SOURCE favourites Jennifer Left and new FatCat signings Traams on the bill we recommend settling in for the whole day. (SH)
IN A NUTSHELL: A strong music line-up is just one element of this free family festival.
Summer Sound
July 20th / Gloucester Park, Gloucestershire / Free
147 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Kids In Glass Houses
DON’T MISS: Chlöe Howl, The Struts
In the current economic climate, even the smallest of festivals can be expensive. By the time you’ve paid for your tickets, tent and wellies, you’re making a serious financial commitment. However, Summer Sound is a non-ticketed festival without camping. What’s not to love? The location, perhaps. However, if you do find yourself in Gloucester this summer, you’ll be treated to a day of free music from surprisingly decent acts. Let’s hope it doesn’t rain, for the sake of the lucky locals. (AJM)
IN A NUTSHELL: A free festival not to be sniffed at.
Sunrise: Another World
May 30th – June 2nd / Thoulstone Park, Wiltshire / £115
120 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Dub Pistols, The Beat
DON’T MISS: JFB, The Egg
Sunrise decided that the end of the Mayan calendar last year was as good a time as any to bring an end to their Celebration event and have Another World rise from the ashes. Billing itself as a festival micro-nation with options to buy visas rather than tickets, it comes complete with its own embassy in Somerset. It aims to be completely sustainable and very environmentally conscious, so expect laid-back vibes with a genre spanning line-up and hippies galore. (LL)
IN A NUTSHELL: Possibly the cleanest, greenest festival you’ll ever go to.
Tomorrowland
July 26th – 28th / Boom, Belgium / £150
267 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Steve Aoki, Marco Carola, Alesso
DON’T MISS: Armin Van Buuren, Dismantle
This fairytale festival set in the aptly named Boom in Belgium has become the stuff of lore for dance music devotees. The biggest festival of its kind on the planet, Tomorrowland attracts the cream of the crop of the dance music world every year and spares no expense on the jaw-dropping production and set design. This has resulted in it becoming an almost religious pilgrimage for any true fan of the genre and certainly cemented itself in the dance history books. (LL)
IN A NUTSHELL: A fantastical, colourful and downright mad trip to dance music wonderland.
Victorious Festival
August 24th – 25th / Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth / £15 per day
51 miles from Brighton
HEADLINERS: Level 42, Maximo Park
DON’T MISS: DJ Yoda, Delphic
With the world famous HMS Victory and the bustling Portsmouth harbour providing the backdrop, new family-friendly festival Victorious is already sounding pretty unique. The all-ages nature of the event is shown by a bill that boasts an appearance from Peppa Pig alongside hitmakers like The Feeling and that nice Charlotte Church. Late night DJs and an indie/rock stage with TEED, Nine Black Alps and The Cribs add a credible edge. Not a camping event. (SH)
IN A NUTSHELL: It covers all tastes, but the guests are top rate.
Words by Steve Clements, Simon England, Stuart Huggett, Liam Lawrence, Amy Jo McLellan, Jessica Marshall McHattie