THE1234
JULY 9 / SHOREDITCH / £17.50
55 MILES FORM BRIGHTON
Now partnered with new music discovery platform noisey.com, The1234 has added an exciting new A&R element to its maverick and chaotic line-ups, making this possibly the most eclectic array of new and established music in town over the summer. With around 75 live sets from alt.legends like Lydia Lunch and Can’s Damo Suzuki and a massive array of new acts, you’ll need to plan your movements carefully to avoid missing too much stuff, and the bill is pumped up even more with DJ sets and eight after parties dotted around town to max out your day out.
HEADLINERS: Black Lips, Raveonettes, Lydia Lunch
DON’T MISS: The King Blues, Damo Suzuki
IN A NUTSHELL: Masses and masses of music

DROMOS FESTIVAL
JULY 9/24 / CRAWLEY / LANCING / £FREE
22 / 13 MILES FORM BRIGHTON
Music, theatre and dance as well as a load of stuff for kids to do at this travelling two-parter at The Hawth and Church Farm over the two dates. It’s a mix of thriving local talent as well as countrywide cultural imports, including music from Brighton’s Two Spot Gobi and Common Tongues and theatre from Edinburgh’s Little Bulb Theatre Company and The River People. The all-male contemporary dance company Udify will also be performing throughout the programme.
HEADLINERS: Schedule TBC
DON’T MISS: Two Spot Gobi, Common Tongues
IN A NUTSHELL: Diverse bill of arts, all for free

SOUNDWAVES
JULY 14-17 /
BRIGHTON UNI / £25
New music and sound art across four days and nights are on the agenda for this city-based gathering of cerebral bookings. Soundwaves is a mix of events, performance and exhibitions with an eye firmly on the experimental, where artists are free to work without constraints. Always pioneering, never dull, this is certainly something a bit different.
HEADLINERS: David Thomas (Pere Ubu), Scanner, Leafcutter John
DON’T MISS: CHROMA, Lost Parade, Me And Machine
IN A NUTSHELL: Not just for techno boffins

GUILFEST
JULY 15-17 / GULDFORD / £120
59 MILES FROM BRIGHTON
The Surrey sunshine shines on a huge array of heritage acts with just enough to keep the youngsters happy. Careful bill jiggling might well allow them to skulk off to see N-Dubz while dad’s watching PiL and mum’s away with James Blunt. This year is a best yet in terms of coaxing old punks back to the stage – a lot of the bill could be from Reading 79, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all. Dance, comedy and theatre round off a top weekend.
HEADLINERS: Roger Daltrey, Razorlight, James Blunt
DON’T MISS: Adam Ant, PiL, Gallows
IN A NUTSHELL: Suburban nostalgia with definite dad bias

WORDS BY NICK COQUET