With the snow melted and the summer creeping in, it’s time to start booking your summer festivals. The line-ups are being released gradually and we’ve prepared a month-by-month guide to pilot you through the UK’s best festivals, where you’re guaranteed to witness some amazing scenes and hear some wonderful electronic music. 

 

Kicking off with May (the month of good weather):

 

Arcadia London on Saturday 5th at The Queen Elizabeth Olympic park, features the iconic spider making its first London debut. The one-stage event is headlined by Leftfield and Sven Väth guaranteeing it to be an unforgettable day. You can also expect sets from the likes of Dusky, Eats Everything and many more! Tickets are still on sale. 

 

The next day on Sunday 6th Forbidden Forest showcases a sick lineup on its Kaluki stage with a number of talented DJs including Solardo, Darius Syrossian and PAWSA, as well as special guest Alan Fitzpatrick. The festival is based in Donington Park Forest and currently tickets are available on final release. They also have a stage featuring more commercial style House, as well as Garage and Drum & Bass stages. 

 

WE ARE FSTVL takes over Bank Holiday weekend in Upminster with a ridiculous number of amazing hosts and DJs. There are stages hosted by HYTE, Circoloco, Paradise, Defected and Abode (to name a few), so it’s no surprise to hear the selection of DJs that are set to play across the weekend. The festival has claimed their biggest techno lineup ever and phase 5 is still set to set to be announced on April 3rd! There are too many impressive names to mention but let the likes of Eric Prydz, Marco Carola and Carl Cox sell it to you. Jamie Jones will also be there trying to compete with the unreal set he did last year. Look through the rest of the lineup on their website: you will not be disappointed. Tickets are still available on there too. 

Although May has set the bar high June will not disappoint. The 9th & 10th is going to be an amazing weekend no matter whether you’re based in the North or South. 

 

Parklife Festival is at the top end of the country in Heaton Park, Manchester and is run by The Warehouse Project. Like WE ARE FSTVL, the event showcases some elite stage hosts including Elrow, Circoloco and of course a WHP stage. There is definitely something for everyone at Parklife but there is no question to how high the standard is when it comes to the lineup of DJs this year. Jamie Jones B2B Seth Troxler B2B Martinez Brothers seems unimaginable right?! It seems as though the festival is showing off this year as their lineup comes as one big name drop: including Solomun, Adam Beyer and Carl Cox; and that’s not even touching the surface! Tickets are still available on the website as well as the rest of the outrageous lineup. 

 

Further down South On Saturday 9th, LWE’s Junction 2 Festival is being held at Boston Manor Park in London. If Techno is your calling then this is the festival for you. The festival boast’s four stages, including two hosted by Drumcode and Sonus. Goers can look forward to a set by Carl Cox B2B Adam Beyer, as well as the amazing Nina Kraviz and Tale Of Us. It is set to be really something supernatural. You can get tickets from Resident Advisor.

 

If you’re more into Funky House, Tranzmission Festival is being held at Finsbury Park, London on Sunday 10th. Although primarily it’s more of a Drum & Bass, Garage and Grime festival, it’s an amazing platform for UK music. This year Audiowhore are hosting a stage with the likes of Second City, Mark Jenkyns, Raffa FL and Steven Cee. For something a bit different, the legendary Grime rave Eskimo Dance are also hosting their own stage. This is definitely not something to be missed. Tickets are available on the website, as well as the full lineup.

 

On the festival front July is kind of quiet. The only thing that seems to save it is Lovebox on the 13th & 14th, held at Victoria Park in London. The variety across the lineup is indisputable and there are some big names to play across the weekend. Expect sets from Bicep, Loco Dice and Green Velvet. Not forgetting Solardo, Denis Sulta and Peggy Gou. It’s definitely going to go off! Tickets are on sale now!

 

August is always a great month for festivals and 2018 will definitely not let you down:

 

Eastern Electrics starts the month off and doesn’t do so lightly. It’s being held at Morden Park for the second year, with the bonus of an additional day (Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th). The lineup is understatedly impressive which features Jamie Jones, Alan Fitzpatrick and Patrick Topping- as well as loads more. The Sunday is awaiting a full announcement but so far they have David Rodigan down to headline. You definitely can’t go wrong. Visit the website for tickets!

 

For its’ second year Elrow Town London comes to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This year it will be held on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th - giving you a choice of two days (or both). If you’re after something weird and wonderful then you can’t miss the wonderful utopia that is Elrow! You can look forward to sets from Steve Lawler and Richy Ahmed, as well as the games, confetti and inflatables. Elrow events are always something really special and if you consider yourself a bit unusual then you will fit right in. Tickets for the Sunday are still available online, the Saturday however is sold out. 

 

Creamfields sends August off in the best way possible, set over Thursday 23rd all the way through to Sunday 26th (bank holiday weekend). It’s based in Daresbury, an area of the beautiful Cheshire countryside. The lineup is truly something that dreams are made of with the likes of Adam Beyer, Green Velvet and not forgetting Eric Prydz with his iconic Holo show. Without any doubt this will be one unforgettable experience- seriously! You will also have the pleasure of experiencing the infamous Steel Yard. Camping tickets are available on their website. 

 

To round off the summer, September gives you some real gems. Although none of the lineups have been released yet, going by last years you can be sure that you’re going to have a sick day:

 

Mint Festival in Leeds is lined up for Saturday 22nd. Last years’ lineup included Seth Troxler, Loco Dice and Martinez Brothers- as well as loads more big names. It also had hosts such as Edible and Knee Deep In Sound. If you’re feeling eager and want to catch a bargain then early bird tickets are available on the festivals’ website.  

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Abode in the Park is confirmed for Sunday 23rd at Finsbury Park, London. 2017’s festival, which was its’ first, had some amazing stage hosts like Do Not Sleep, Sankey’s and Solardo Sessions- as well obviously an Abode stage. The DJs that played included Richy Ahmed, Detlef and Butch, as well as loads more plus plenty of Abode Residents to satisfy your senses. Tickets aren’t on sale yet but be sure to check Abode’s social media for updates. 

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Charlotte Brown

March 7th 2018