Summer is nearly here and bursting with festival action you won’t want to miss!
Missed out on Glastonbury tickets this year? Too cash-strapped for Coachella? Thankfully this summer is buzzing with fantastic festivals of every flavour. 2019 is definitely the year of the “alternative” festival, taking you away from the mainstream and off the beaten track. From indie music to wedding inspo, we’ve got you covered. Check out this fantastic line-up:
The Unconventional Wedding Festival, 11/12 May: Stanford Hall, Leicestershire
Taking place at Stanford Hall, a stunning Grade 1 listed William & Mary House in the heart of the Midlands on 11 and 12 May 2019, The Unconventional Wedding Festival is a new breed of wedding fair delivering the most unusual wedding solutions. From Sci-Fi to Vintage, Urban to Fairytale, every zone of the festival caters to a different quirky theme, where visitors can discover over 250 suppliers, caterers, venues and wedding wear designers; everything you need to plan your dream wedding day with a twist.
Tickets start at £15 from www.unconventionalweddingfestival.co.uk
2. Brighton Fringe, 3 May-2 June: Brighton
This year Brighton Fringe visitors will have a whopping 4,500 performances to choose from. Highlights include Head First Acrobats, hailing all the way from Australia, for their new western themed circus, “Railed” and the Secret Comedy Club. Other exciting events include a spy-themed escape room, solo dramas and jewellery making workshops. Additionally, Fringe City will offer a host of free events right in the heart of Brighton.
Tickets available from www.brightonfringe.org and through the Brighton Fringe app.
3. Passport Agave, 1 May-15 June: London
New York’s Passport Agave initiative will be coming to London for the first time this year. Over the course of 6 weeks (1st May – 15th June), 15 of the city’s bars will come together to take tequila lovers on their very own cocktail discovery, providing a unique way to navigate the city. Guests buy a “passport” booklet, which entitles them to a special complimentary tequila cocktail from each bar on the route. Bars involved include: Cafe Chula, Bootlegger, Randy’s Wing Bar, Cafe Pacifico, Lost & Found, Simmons Liverpool Street, Simmons Fitzrovia, Simmons Soho, Fontaine’s Bar, Three Little Bird, Tequila Mockingbird – with more to be announced!
Tickets start at £18 from www.passportagave.com
4. Back of Beyond Festival, 5/6 July: Frogmore Hill, Hertford
Returning in a new two-day format, this year’s Back & Beyond festival has a legendary line-up across techno, house, electronic and dance music. Headlined by Danny Howard and Goldie, the festival will be split between its iconic “Beyond” stage and the “Forest” stage that invites visitors to reconnect with nature. Additional sub-stages will play host to a wealth of musical talent and emerging artists. The festival also promises a new VIP camping experience, expanded food courts and group ticket deals.
Tickets start at £70 from www.backofbeyondfestival.co.uk
5. Also Festival, 5-7 July: Park Farm, Warwickshire
The UK leading small festival returns for a 6th year, bringing together provocative thought leaders, entrepreneurs and entertainers for a packed agenda. Described as TED Talks in a field, Also festival has something for everyone, whether it’s checking out new bands, artists and audio adventures, wine tastings and cocktail makings, wild swimming, a disco bunker, forest bathing, have-a-go workshops or sitting down to a three-course dinner in the festival’s beautiful dining tent. This year’s theme is “Out of the Woods”, exploring the connection between humans, art and nature through multisensory workshops, discussion and more.
Tickets start at £50 from www.also-festival.com
6. Backyard Cinema’s L.A. Nights, 18 July-25 August: Roundhouse, London
This summer, Backyard Cinema is transforming London’s iconic concert venue, the Camden Roundhouse, into L.A.’s legendary Venice Beach, where guests will be able to watch some of this year’s hottest movies, including Captain Marvel, A Star is Born and Into the Spiderverse. Other treats include Bohemian Rhapsody and classics like Clueless and Back to the Future. Recline among the palm trees or party in the retro beach bar during the Sing-a-Long Beach Parties, where you can croon to your favourite movie soundtracks.
Tickets start at £18.99 from www.backyardcinema.co.uk
7. Art’s House, 10 August: Three Mills Island, London
Art’s House: A Lovely London Festival has made a home for itself on East London’s Three Mills Island and will return this summer for an all-day party soundtracked by two of London’s most iconic DJs, Artwork and the newly announced DJ Harvey. One stage, two brilliant DJs. Festival-goers can also expect a vivacious troupe of dancers, mouth-watering street food, cold craft beers and a horde of summer-inspired cocktails in Artwork’s makeshift travelling living room. This is set to be the best house party ever.
Tickets start at £30 from www.artshousefestival.co.uk
8. One Day at the Disco, 24 August: Three Mills Island, London
This August bank holiday will see the inaugural festival dedicated to disco. One Day At The Disco will bring together a mix of the legendary DJs for a day of soaring dance anthems and rare groove. The inaugural festival line-up includes 2ManyDJs with a secret special guest, Derrick Carter Does Disco, Inner City Live, Detroit Swindle, CC:Disco!, Chaka Khan’t, and more for an all-day party that nobody will want to miss.
Tickets start at £20 from www.onedayatthedisco.co.uk
