UK Summer festivals rundown

The summer that sees the return of the Euros, Olympics, Wimbledon - and a potential general election, is also home to a multitude of festivals around the country.

Here is a curated quick guide to 18 music festivals on offer in 2024.

Tramlines Festival - Image by Natasha Judge

Glastonbury

Music festival royalty - Glastonbury is back this year with headliners Dua Lipa, Coldplay, SZA, and Shania Twain. Worthy Farm becomes a home to over five stages of music from June 26-30, and usually has something for every music taste, whether it be at the Woodsies stage or the Pyramid main stage.

Other notable acts are Idles, Jungle, Little Simz, Avril Lavigne, Bloc Party and Fontaines D.C. Notoriously popular across the globe, sourcing tickets can prove difficult but a variety of the acts are usually available to watch on BBC iPlayer, as are past performances from over the years.

Further information and more setlist announcements can be found on their website here.

Radio 1’s Big Weekend

If you are heading down south this summer, you may want to check out Radio 1’s three-day festival, which makes a comeback this year. Hosted at Stockwood Park, Luton, and headlined by Coldplay, Raye and Chase and Status.

There will be appearances from Eurovision entry - Olly Alexander and popular pop singer, Sabrina Carpenter - who will have to think of Luton rhymes for her track 'Nonsense’.

Notably, CMAT, beabadoobee, Alfie Templeman, Cat Burns and The Last Dinner Party will also be performing that weekend.

A significant portion of tickets are reserved for Luton residents and all tickets will be on sale from 5pm on March 21, from 5pm and can be sourced here.

Reading and Leeds festival

Depending on your location - whether North or South, Reading and Leeds Festival is a fan favourite and right of passage for many people - teens and beyond. This year will see performances from Gerry Cinnamon, Blink-182, Lana Del Rey and Fred Again.

For indie music lovers, the festival sees the return of Catfish and The Bottlemen after their hiatus, and will host Liam Gallagher, Two Door Cinema Club, Bleachers, The Wombats, The Japanese House and The K’s. More acts are still to be announced, so hold your bucket hats and ciders at the ready. and find further information here.

Tramlines

Yorkshire metropolitan festival hosted at Hillsborough Park, is held from 26-28 July - with headline spots including Paolo Nutini, Jamie T and Snow Patrol.

Other memorable acts are The Human League, Maximo Park, Tom Grennan, Holly Humberstone, The Charlatans, The View and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

After a sodden weekend last year when Kaiser Chiefs and Paul Heaton took to the stage, it is hoped for a brighter weekend this year. As well as music, the festival has stages for comedy, DJs and activities for children and families. Remaining tickets can be accessed here.

Y-not

Derbyshire-based festival Y Not is being held from August 2-4 at Pikehall with performances from The Vaccines, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Jake Bugg, The Mysterines, and Pale Waves.

This festival is more orientated for camping, and features a Thursday evening headliner of Kaiser Chiefs for those staying the full long weekend.

Similarly to Tramlines, this festival has headliners - Jamie T and Snow Patrol, taking to the main stage. Tickets and camping packages can be found here.

Broadmasters

Cornwall’s best known music festival - Broadmasters, is held in Newquay on August 7-11. Headliners include Sam Fender, Stormzy and Chase and Status, with other performances from Tom Odell, Courteeners, Becky Hill, Wunderhorse and many more.

With a variety of different accommodation and camping options available near beaches to give an alternative festival experience. Remaining tickets and information can be found here.

Tom Odell - Image by Natasha Judge

Love Supreme Jazz Festival

To change up the genre of festival, Love Supreme offers a Jazz, Soul and Funk line up, including headline performances from Chaka Khan and Olivia Dean.

The three-day festival takes place at Glynde Place in East Sussex, on July 5-7. Also on the bill is Kool & The Gang, Joss Stone, Dionne Warwick, Black Pumas and more. Further information can be accessed here.

Truck

Oxfordshire festival - Truck typically offers a line up of rock, indie and dance musicians and this year will see Jamie T, The Streets and Wet Leg headline the weekend. Performances from The Magic Gang, Sea Girls, Sundara Karma and Black Honey will also feature across July 26-28.

Idles will also be taking to the stage as a Thursday evening headliner, alongside Balancing Act, The Mysterines and Ditz. Remaining tickets and packages can be sourced here.

Parklife

Manchester’s popular music festival is returning to Heaton Park on June 8-9, with performances from Disclosure, Doja Cat, Becky Hill, J Hus and many more. The packed two-day line up is ideal for those interested in grime, house, pop and hip hop tunes.

Organised by the Warehouse Project team - the non-camping festival has run for over a decade with acts from around the world taking to the stages. Further line-up and remaining tickets can be found here.

Kendal Calling

Set in the Lake District, Kendal Calling is a four day festival held at Lowther Deer Park, from August 1-4. With a heavy indie line up, Kendall will see Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Paolo Nutini, The Streets and Paul Heaton headline the long weekend.

Moreover, Lightning Seeds, Ten Tonnes, The Hunna and Keane will also be performing alongside many other musicians.

Known for its end of the night indie music disco, the festival’s ‘Calling Out’ stage hosts many new acts and has seen the likes of Mumford & Sons and The 1975 there in previous years. More information can be accessed here.

End of the Road

Featuring Slowdive, Idles and Fever Ray - this festival focuses on independent folk and rock music. Located at Larmer Tree Gardens in Dorset, the atmospheric festival runs from August 29 to September 1.

Offering comedy, literature, films and workshops alongside the musical line up, this alternate festival is prestigious amongst many festival goers. Further line-up names and tickets can be found here.

Creamfields

Electronic dance music festival - Creamfields, takes place annually in Daresbury, Cheshire on August 22-25. This year sees a packed line up, including Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, Fatboy Slim, Peggy Gou and many more.

The popular festival currently only has resale tickets left, so keep an eye out here for any remaining tickets.

Boomtown

Held from August 7-11, this Hampshire festival is focused on dance, dnb, house, electro-pop and hip hop genres and has annually run over a decade.

With an impressive 12 stages, hidden venues and thousands of performers - Boomtown usually only releases its line-up a week before the event! To keep up to date with further announcements check their site here.

Latitude

Hosted at Henham Park, Suffolk from July 25-28, the park will see Kasabian, Duran Duran and London Grammar headline. Also present are Nile Rodgers & Chic, Rick Astley, Future Islands, Lottery Winners and Baby Queen, alongside many other musical and comedy acts.

Latitude offers one of the more extensive comedy line-ups, featuring Sara Pascoe and Jo Brand - if you want to break up the mosh pits. Tickets can be viewed here.

Download

Rock music festival - Download, is being held on June 14-16, at Donington Park in Leicestershire. Featuring headliners Queens of the Stone Age, Fall Out Boy and Avenged Sevenfold; the festival also takes place in France, Australia, and Germany.

The festival billing also includes Royal Blood, Limp Bizkit, The Offspring, Bowling For Soup and many more acts. The full line up, staging splits, and ticket options can be found on their website.

Liverpool Sounds City

Taking place in spring from May 4-5, Sound City delivers two days of music and an industry conference - alongside headliners The Snuts and Caity Baser.

This festival is known for including the best new acts from around the globe on its line up, with previous years including The Reytons, Maisie Peters, Kodaline and Everything Everything.

This year also includes acts such as Brooke Combe, King No-One, Corella and Toby Sebastian. Further information can be found here.

The Kooks - Image by Natasha Judge

Live in Leeds

Taking place across various different venues in Leeds across May Day bank holiday - May 25, the one day festival is headlined by indie group The Kooks.

The day also features performances from Orla Gartland, Circa Waves, Declan McKenna, Future Islands and Somebody’s Child.

If you are into indie music and not a fan of camping, this is an ideal contender for your 2024 festival. Tickets are available from here.

Lytham Festival

This festival takes place in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, across five days on July 3-7. With performances lined up from Hozier, Lord Huron, Shania Twain, Courteeners, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Madness, James, and more.

Madness - Image by Natasha Judge

Attracting crowds up to 25,000 per evening, the festival offers two and five day tickets, and further information can be found here.