Following on from last weeks feature on the the larger UK festivals happening this summer, Gigslutz now brings you a round up of some of the smaller festivals this summer.
Kendal Calling: 1st to 3rd August, Hackthorpe, East Cumbria
ON SALE- £115 Adult camping, £60 11-15 year old camping and free for U10s (payment plans available)
Now in its ninth year the fully independent Kendall Calling festival is sure to be as outstanding as ever. Last year this family-friendly festival won the best medium festival in the UK award- beating the likes of Latitude, Secret Garden party and Camp Bestival. Perhaps it’s the picturesque Lowther Dear park setting this festival has or the wide variety of acts on offer that made this intimate festival so enthralling and got 13,000 people through the doors last year. This year is sure to see many notable acts taking to all eleven of the stages and of course the return of the infamous Saturday fancy dress.
Confirmed: So far no artists have been confirmed to play Kendall Calling; however, the line-up is usually announced late February.
Rumours: Eager festival goers are rumouring that acts could include: Manic Street Preachers, Kaiser Chiefs, Rudimental, to newer acts like Fat white family and Temples.
Standon Calling: 1st to 3rd August, Standon, Hertfordshire
ON SALE- £99 Early bird weekend ticket
Just thirteen years ago Standon Calling was a group of 25 friends celebrating a birthday with a set of decks a BBQ and a swimming pool- now it’s one of the UKs most prominent independent festivals; popular for its ever-changing themes (last year’s being ‘Running Away From The Circus’), up and coming bands and swimming pool with an underwater dance floor. When Alex Trenchard founded his live music event ten years ago he probably never expected to create one of Britain’s favourite intimate festivals, pulling in around 5,000 people, or for it to become such a staple in the independent festival market – however it is. Last year saw bands such as Bastille, AlunaGeorge, De La Soul, Disclosure and London Grammar taking to the stage, all of whom have now found great success; so it seems likely that numerous new acts with bright hopes for 2014 and 15 will be spotted performing there this summer.
Confirmed: So far no acts have been confirmed; however, normally the line-up is announced in February.
Rumours: Expect new, up and coming bands that have been tipped for big things this year.
Truck festival: 18th July- 19th July, Oxfordshire
ON SALE – £74 Weekend, Under 12s Free
As this independent festival enters its 17th year it continues to entice nearly 5,000 festival-goers. A lot has changed over 16 years: no longer is the main stage simply two trucks put together, no longer is the festival run by brothers Joe and Robin Bennett but instead by the same management as the ‘Y-not festival’. However, truck festival still prides itself on its family ethos, intimate atmosphere, charitable efforts and its inclusion of residents in the local area. As always this festival is sure to have a wide variety of acts, ranging from Drum and Bass to Rock and Indie.
Confirmed: So far no acts have been announced.
Rumours: Expect an eclectic variety of music, with past years having seen the likes of The Horrors, Spiritualized, Tim Minchin, Supergrass and even Biffy Clyro headlining- they’re sure to impress as always.
Parklife Weekender: 7th & 8th June, Heaton park, Manchester
ON SALE– £79.50 Weekend (no camping), £54.50 Day ticket
The fifth Parklife Weekender will take place over two days early June. This popular festival gathers crowds exceeding 40,000 into Manchester’s Heaton Park each year, offering the very best in everything from dance to hip-hop, alternative, indie and rock as well as live theatre, magicians and other arts. Brought to life by heavyweight dance music promoters, The Warehouse Project, Parklife Weekender has prided itself on bringing new artists to the forefront and keeping Manchester’s music heritage alive and kicking.
Confirmed: Confirmed acts so far include: headliners Oxford rockers Foals and the infamous American rapper Snoop Dogg, London trio London Grammar, Kendrick Lamar, Bastille, Disclosure and American girl band Warpaint. Also announced are: American DJ MK, Brit nominee and rising star Sam Smith, legendary Irish DJ Annie Mac and electronica artists Jon Hopkins.
Rumours: Expect more DJs and dance acts as well as popular alternative acts and bands.
Beat-Herder: 18th-20th July 2014, The Ribble Valley, Lancashire.
You’ve all heard about the dawn of festivals: no promoters, no extortionate fees and everyone was there for the music. Those sort of festivals don’t exist anymore, do they? Wrong. Started in 2006 by a band of friends sick of mainstream festivals, this fiercely independent festival in rural Lancashire is all about the music and having a good time – it’s a big, party weekend and always has been. 2013 saw some of music’s biggest names grace the main stage as well as some great up and coming acts: Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, Mr Scruff, Black Lace and many more. If you are looking for a festival that gets back down to the basics and creates an unbeatable party atmosphere, this is for you.
So far no acts have been announced, however, the first round of acts will be out later in March…
Adult Weekend Face Value (Tier 3) £112 or (Tier 4) £120, Child Weekend (12 & under) £20
Green Man festival: 15th – 18th August, Black Mountains, Wales
ON SALE SOON – £145 adults, £125 students, £75 13 to 17 years, £5 5 to 12 & years 4 and under can attend free
This independent Welsh festival is the biggest in Wales at a medium-sized 20,000 person capacity. This ethical festival is popular for psych, folk, indie, dance and Americana acts and has been for 13 years. Moreover, it offers a wide array of entertainment options: ranging from literature, comedy and theatre to Gaelic dancing, as well as a young people’s activity area. With 2013’s line-up seeing the likes of Ben Howard, Band of Horses and Kings of Convenience grace the mains stage, 2014 should, without a doubt, be one to watch.
Confirmed: So far no acts have been confirmed to play this year.
Rumours: Expect over 100 live acts across five stages and DJs keeping the nights lively, playing everything from electronic and rock to dub-reggae.
Field Day: 7th– 8th June, Victoria park, London
ON SALE – £85.50 Weekend (no camping), £54.45 Saturday, £42.35 Sunday
This alternative festival has been taking over this famous East London Park for 7 years, and as it enters its 8th go, it can safely label itself as one of the hippest festivals out there offering the coolest in music variety. In addition, the Village green provides a relief from non-stop music with traditional fair games, fun for even the most uptight person. Popular for its indie acts and DJs, this year looks set to be no different from the others, offering an array of new acts that are sure to hit the big time very soon.
Confirmed: Metronomy have been announced as the big Saturday headliners and Pixies the headliners for Sunday. A snippet of the acts joining them: The Horrors, up and coming band Drenge, physcedelic rock band Temples, The Temper Trap, Warpaint, cool pop singer Sky Ferreira and many many more…
Festival No. 6: 5th-7th September, Portmeirion, Wales
ON SALE – Adult Weekend £170, 11-15 years old Weekend £85, 10 years & under is FREE
Two years ago, this festival first took place in the picturesque Italian- style town of Portmeirion. Spread out throughout the small town in Snowdonia, the festival offers live music acts, readings of poetry and literature, as well as an array of comedians. Priding itself on its family values, the festival offers a children’s area, Mischief Meadow, and designated family camping areas. (Furthermore, there is limited accommodation available within the village- for those who would prefer not to camp). While the breath-taking town of Portmeirion is enough to attract over 10,000 people alone, the musical line-up is always promising with acts such as Chic, Manic Street Preachers and even Primal Scream headlining in past years.
Confirmed: This year’s line-up has not yet been announced.
Rumours: The rumour mill has suggested that headliners could be: reunited pop band Slowdive, Elbow or even The Flaming Lips. However, it’s safe to expect a fair selection of new and old bands, as well as many outstanding speakers and DJ sets.
Bearded Theory 2014 Catton Hall, Staffordshire
Bearded Theory is the current holder of the Best Small Festival Award at the 2013 UK Festival awards. It also won a Gold Award as voted by the readers of the Festival Kidz website. It is in its 7th year and moving to a new site at Catton Hall, on the border of Staffordshire and Derbyshire.
It has the vibe of a proper old school festival and is priced accordingly with an adult ticket for less than £90. Food/beer prices are both very reasonable and of good quality with the local Thornbridge brewery in attendance. The amazing Angel Gardens kids area is fantastic, with things to entertain kids of all ages. The fancy dress theme this year has just been announced as “Sparkles and Magic”. Combine that with the annual attempt to break the record for the number of fake beards on display on the Sunday, and there should be some brilliant outfits on show!
Line up announced so far: Headlining this year are Carter USM, The Stranglers, and a reunited UB40. The undercard includes Peter Hook & The Light, Dub Pistols, Pop will eat itself, Dreadzone, Blockheads, 3 daft Monkeys, Ferocious Dog, Babyhead, King Prawn, The Orb and many others across 4 stages.
Full details of the festival and how to buy tickets can be found here
Secret Garden Party: 24th-27th July, Abbots Ripton, Peterborough
ON SALE – £180.50 Adult Weekend, £135 13- 17 years Weekend, Under 12s FREE
Launched ten years ago, this independent arts and music festival held annually between Peterborough and Cambridge has a capacity of up to 32,000 and continues to bring in an eclectic mix of new acts. The yearly theme, this year’s being ‘goodbye yellow brick road’, helps create the lively, party mood that resonated through this festival. But, not to worry, if music and paint fights aren’t all you’re after, there is a wide array of other activities on offer such as: literature readings in the forum, dance-offs, parades, arts and even some theatre. Yes, there’s definitely something for everyone at Secret garden Party.
Confirmed: So far numerous bands have been announced to grace the stages at this festival, including: Fat Freddy’s Drop, Martha Reeves, Fat White Family, Jagwar Ma, Champs, Bat and Balls and so many more.
Rumours: Expect not only more up and coming bands to be announced, but also some literature speakers, artists and DJs to keep the crowds entertained all weekend.
Corrine Corrodus/ whatcorrineliked.blogspot.com/@alt_ernate
Corrine Corrodus
Latest posts by Corrine Corrodus (see all)
- Bombay Bicycle Club LIVE @ Earls Court, London 13.12.14 - December 15, 2014
- ALBUM REVIEW: Jessie Ware ‘Tough Love’ - October 27, 2014
- Vampire Weekend LIVE @ Reading Festival 22.8.14 - August 27, 2014
