The Best Smaller Music Festivals In The UK

April 14, 2012
By: Ashleigh Wight

Forget Reading and Leeds! You should be getting your mates down to one of these smaller music festivals (maybe even better music festivals) this summer!

By now, most of the major music festival line-ups have been revealed and with no Glastonbury and a poor reception for events such as V Festival and Sonisphere, it could be time to consider saving the pounds and heading to one of these small music festivals instead. Why pay £200 for a ticket when you could catch your favourite artists at a smaller festival for a third of the price? Just don’t forget your wellies!

 

‘A bit of everything’ festivals

Boardmasters and Redfest are great up-and-coming music festivals offering an array of artists across all musical genres. So if your friends are constantly arguing over which genre of music is best, look for a festival that covers a wide range of genres, from indie-rock to hip-hop.

Boardmasters, located in Newquay in Cornwall, promises to be a hit this year. At just a £89 for a weekend camping ticket, you will get to see the likes of Ed Sheeran, Dizzee Rascal, The Ting Tings and Maximo Park. There are also surf, skate and BMX displays for the sporty girl amongst you. Bargain!

Redfest is also a great smaller festival held in Redhill, Surrey. I went to Redfest in 2011 and it was one of the best weekends of my life, with so much variety and all at such a low price! This year’s event costs just £65 for three days’ camping and you get to party along with Kids In Glass Houses, Modestep, Young Guns and The Skints, as well as two dance tents and an introducing stage showcasing the best in local talent. There’s a drive thru McDonald’s a short drive away too if you don’t fancy any of the festival food (which is actually surprisingly nice!).

 

‘I hate camping’ festivals

Music festivals have a reputation for being places where a tent is a must and you will be frowned upon for staying in the Premier Inn down the road. But even if you don’t fancy wrestling with a flimsy bit of canvas, there’s no reason not to join in with the festival fun with these festivals that offer a ‘Glamping’ experience!

Cornbury festival in Oxfordshire looks like a hit for us. Not only do you get to see performances from James Morrison, Pixie Lott, Elvis Costello and more, there is a ‘Glamping’ area with a range of plywood cabins, yurts and bow top caravans to choose from. Some even have electricity so you can bring your phone charger and your GHDs!

Go.Go festival also offers a VIP Glamping experience and is also Britain’s only women’s festival! Located in Upminster, London, it’s easily accessible, plus affordable! With a line-up that includes the likes of the Noisettes, Stooshe and Jill Jackson, you can be sure that this is a festival for women who rock!

 

‘I want a festival that rocks’ festivals

For the rock chicks among us, there are plenty of smaller music festivals for you to take your pick from. From everything pop-punk to heavy metal, there’s a festival in the UK that’s got it covered.

Slam Dunk is a great one-day festival absolutely crammed to the seams with brilliant rock acts. Taking place at Leeds University on Saturday 26th May and University of Hertfordshire on Sunday 27th May, tickets are just £32.50 and you will get the chance to see Taking Back Sunday, Mayday Parade, Architects, The Blackout, Set Your Goals, Charlie Simpson… the list just goes on! I went to the Hertfordshire date last year and it was great value for money- with all the bands close together on one small site, there was always someone I wanted to see on stage at any one time. However, as it really does offer so many amazing bands, there were lots of clashes between the stage times of the bands I wanted to see, so planning your schedule is a must before you go!

If Decendents, Cancer Bats, H2O and Converge are more of what floats your boat, then Hevy Festival is for you. This festival has grown in popularity hugely over the last couple of years and at just £96 for a weekend of over 60 bands and entry to the Port Lympne Wild Animal Park at the festival’s location in Kent, it’s an absolute bargain! Tickets are still on sale, but I doubt there’ll be many left for long!

 

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Images: Ashleigh Wight, www.cornburyfestival.com, Marianne Harris