Rolling Stone UK’s 2024 summer festival guide

Live At Leeds: In The Park, 25 May, Temple Newsam Park, Leeds

After starting as a multi-venue indoor festival among the bustling streets of Leeds, 2022 saw Live at Leeds launch a new event — In The Park — which does exactly what it says on the tin. On May bank holiday weekend, the very best in indie will descend on Temple Newsam for an unmissable knees-up. Satisfying all of your nostalgic cravings, headliners include The Kooks and The Cribs, while Declan McKenna, Future Islands, Circa Waves and more are also on board. As well as living out all your indie dreams, there’s also plenty of opportunity to find your new favourite band too — look out for the likes of Vistas, The Mysterines and Flowerovlove.

Confirmed artists: The Kooks, Declan McKenna, The Cribs

Insider tip:

This is a perfect day out for families, and under-fives tickets can be added to your order for free when you buy your own.

BUY TICKETS:

liveatleedsinthepark.seetickets.com

Wide Awake

25 May, Brockwell Park, London

After its first planned edition was cancelled due to COVID, Wide Awake has become the biggest post-pandemic success story on the London festival calendar. Defined by its wide range of styles and genres, this day festival is committed to spotlighting the weirder and more leftfield corners of rock and pop music. It’s also leading the way in green technology, with its Positive Policy aiming to reduce the event’s carbon emissions year-on-year.

The team behind the festival also programme venues like MOTH Club and The Shacklewell Arms, and they do an unmatched job of bringing the same energy of these small, sweaty venues to the big stage. The bill will be topped by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Slowdive, and Young Fathers: three bands who personify Wide Awake’s ethos — that you can become a festival headliner by blazing your own uncompromising path and putting weirdness at the centre of your music.

Confirmed artists: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Slowdive, Young Fathers

Insider tip: The main stage at the 2024 event will be hosted by Seattle radio institution KEXP, who produce some of the best live sessions around.

BUY TICKETS: kaboodle.com

Primavera Sound

29 May-2 June

After a few years of mixing up its formula – first a two-weekend festival, then a sister edition in Madrid – Primavera Sound returns to its spiritual home of Barcelona’s Parc del Fòrum for a three-day event in 2024. This year’s headliners include SZA, Vampire Weekend, Lana Del Rey, Pulp and Charli XCX, while — as always with Primavera — the undercard is bustling with forward-thinking DJs, leftfield pop stars and rock royalty to take you through till sunrise.

As much about the atmosphere as the line-up, Primavera Sound attracts a crowd from all over Europe and beyond, and is industry-leading in a number of ways, including being an early adopter of committing to a 50/50 gender split on its line-up.

Confirmed artists: SZA, Vampire Weekend, Lana Del Rey.

Insider tip: If you’re in town early, make sure to catch the festival’s a la Ciutat programme, featuring a host of artists playing at some of the city’s most historic venues both before and after Primavera Sound itself.

BUY TICKETS: primaverasound.com

On The Mount At Wasing

17-29 June

The Mount, Wasing Estate, Reading

While strictly a concert series, this series of outdoor gigs is set to have a magic and beauty that rivals any top festival. You’d expect nothing less from a show set deep in the Berkshire countryside, where an outdoor ampitheatre is surrounded by  panoramic treescape vistas. It makes for the lushest of gig settings, while the acts – everything from Aussie legends Crowded House to dancefloor fillers Jungle – mean that every taste is catered for.

Confirmed artists: Crowded House, Paolo Nutini, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Jungle, Underworld,

Insider tip: This unique woodland amphitheatre is located just an hour from London.

BUY TICKETS: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/on-the-mount-at-wasing

Download Festival

14–16 June, Donington Park, Leicestershire

Devil horns at the ready! The home of rock returns once more in 2024, fresh from winning the Festival Award at the inaugural Rolling Stone UK Awards, in collaboration with Rémy Martin, last year. This time around, the line-up reflects the sheer breadth of creativity existing within rock and heavy metal. Emo icons Fall Out Boy will make history with their first-ever Download headline set, while Busted — yes, you read that correctly — will be whipping up a healthy dose of nostalgia over on the Avalanche Stage. As ever, though, it’s the powerful community feeling that really makes Download stand out — with music fans from all over the world uniting at this Vatican of rock music to worship at its riff-laden altar. All hail.

Confirmed artists: Queens of the Stone Age, Fall Out Boy, Avenged Sevenfold

Insider tip: Be sure to check out a band on one of the smaller stages. This spiritual home of rock has quite the reputation for hosting the stars of tomorrow, today.

BUY TICKETS: downloadfestival.co.uk

Glastonbury

26-30 June, Worthy Farm, Somerset

Confirmed artists: Dua Lipa, Coldplay, SZA and many more

For five days, a humble dairy farm in the deep Somerset countryside transforms into the greatest show on Earth. Since its humble beginnings in 1970, Glastonbury has gone on to become a national institution and the best weekend of the year for many of its attendees. It’s a place where the biggest names around share stages with upcomers, all hoping to deliver a bit of a magic that Worthy Farm has become so known for. At roughly the size of 500 pitches you’re unlikely to see it all, so do plan your weekend carefully if you’re heading down. The main stages are great, but it’s the festival’s south-east corner that truly comes alive after dark. A trip to Shangri-La and Block9, to name but two of Glastonbury’s most celebrated nightlife areas, is likely to be among the wildest evenings you’ll have all year.

Insider tip: If you haven’t got tickets by now, your best bet might just be pitching a tent in your own front room and watching the BBC’s always excellent coverage.

BUY TICKETS: glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

Timber Festival

5–7 July, Feanedock, Moira, Swadlincote.

At one with nature? This could well be the festival for you. Timber is a weekend festival set in the lush National Forest where music lovers, outdoor adventures and wellness seekers come together to be restored by the natural world. That means a chance to chill out with a beer on the hill as the sun goes down, or even stepping into your dancing shoes and enjoying world-class DJs at the woodland Eyrie stage. It’s the perfect choice for the environmentally conscious festivalgoer.

Confirmed artists: Kiiōtō, Jason Singh, Frankie Archer, Dave Haslam, Rozi Plain 

Insider tip: Take a moment for yourself and visit the woodland spa and yoga workshop.

BUY TICKETS: timberfestival.org.uk

Mallorca Live

13-15 June, Mallorca Live Festival Venue, Calvià

Having established itself in 2023 as one of the essential European festivals, the biggest and most important musical event in the Balearic Islands, Mallorca Live Festival, returns to Calvià on June 13, 14 and 15to celebrate the “Mediterranean Way of Life”.The lush hills of Tramuntana and Blue Flag beaches will host yet another quality and eclectic lineup, including Pet Shop Boys, Blondie, Underworld, Michael Kiwanuka, 2manydjs, The Blaze, Jeff Rosenstock, Belle & Sebastian and Sleaford Mods alongside a strong electronic bill and exciting Spanish acts to look out for such as pop star Aitana and international Balearic artist Rels B.

Confirmed artists: Pet Shop Boys, Blondie, Underworld, Michael Kiwanuka

Insider tip: Bring the sun cream! Near-guaranteed sun can be expected.

BUY TICKETS: https://mallorcalivefestival.com/en/home-launch

Kappa FuturFestival

5–7 July, Parco Dura, Turin, ItalY

For more than 10 years, Kappa FuturFestival has been an essential pilgrimage for dance lovers wanting to head to the continent, while also soaking up the delights of Turin. This year’s edition — featuring a newly resurgent Skrillex at its very top —looks set to continue that reputation for another year. Bellissimo indeed…

Confirmed artists: Skrillex, Jeff Mills, Bonobo,  Honey Dijon, The Blessed Madonna

Insider tip: Last year saw the festival debut two new stages: The Voyager and The Kosmo.  Be sure to check those out.

BUY TICKETS: kappafuturfestival.it

Mad Cool

10–13 July, Iberdrola Music Venue in Villaverde

Since its inception in 2016, Mad Cool has become a highlight of the European festival circuit, bringing international heavyweights and Spanish newcomers to Madrid for an all-night party. The festival moved to a new location in 2023, and will this year welcome Dua Lipa, Pearl Jam, Måneskin, The Killers and more in a world-beating line-up. Of the less well-known acts, we recommend Irish rap troupe Kneecap, chart-topping singer Kenya Grace, south London jazz stalwart Joel Culpepper and the woozy funk of Aussie star Jet Vesper.

Confirmed artists: Dua Lipa, The Killers, Bring Me The Horizon

Insider tip: For a panoramic view of the site and the main stage, take a trip on the festival’s ferris wheel.

BUY TICKETS: madcoolfestival.es/tickets

NOS alive

11–13 July, Passeio Marítimo de Algés, Lisbon, Portugal

Since its inception in 2007, NOS alive has honed a well-deserved reputation for being one of Portugal’s top music events — attracting a heady mixture of music-loving locals and tourists seeking a glorious getaway at the sun-soaked coastal festival. This year’s reliably brilliant line-up takes in icons from grunge and modern pop and everything in between. When the festival isn’t on, Lisbon is one of Europe’s top cities to explore by day.

Confirmed artists: Pearl Jam, Dua Lipa, Arcade Fire

Insider tip: By day, head into Lisbon to experience the delights of one of Europe’s most famed culinary capitals. Then go for a dip in the Atlantic Ocean. That’ll go some way towards nursing the hangover…

BUY TICKETS: nosalive.com/en/ticket-office

Bludfest

August 11, The National Bowl, Milton Keynes

Yungblud fans unite! The rocker will host Bludfest, a “brand new and experimental music, arts and lifestyle festival” on August 11 at the legendary Milton Keynes Bowl.

He’ll be joined by Lil Yachty, fresh from their collab on ‘When We Die (Can We Still Get High?)’, returning rockers Soft Play and legendary punks The Damned. Also on the bill is US star Nessa Barrett, pop star Lola Young and rising artist Jazmin Bean.

Talking about Bludfest, Yungblud said: “Five years ago we imagined a world of our own. In BLUDFEST we have physically built one. It feels like the next logical step for me. I want to create a physical safe space where people can come and celebrate the ideologies of this community – where unity, individuality and love is the main focus and we bring the world of Yungblud to fucking life right before your eyes.”

Ticket link: https://www.bludfest.com

Positivus Festival

19–20 July, Riga, Latvia

The weather at UK festivals is notoriously unpredictable, so it’s no real surprise that some festivalgoers are seeking sunnier climes with top line-ups. Positivus is firmly in that category. Summers in Riga are mild and sunny, and it’s also one of Europe’s most affordable cities to boot. Where better, then, to take in headline sets from pop giant Jason Derulo, Migos leader Offset and pop polymath Jacob Collier? See you in the sun.

Confirmed artists: Jason Derulo, Offset, Nothing But Thieves, Benjamin Clementine, Jacob Collier, Will Butler & Sister Squares, Picture Parlour

Insider tip: Riga is considered to be one of Europe’s finest cultural gems — packed with an array of celebrated museums and concert halls. Culture vultures will lap it up.

BUY TICKETS: positivusfestival.com/en

Latitude

25–28 July, Henham Park, Suffolk

Since 2006, Latitude Festival has developed a rightful reputation for being one of the UK’s leading arts events, where stadium-slaying musicians sit comfortably on the bill alongside some of the UK’s top literary and comedy acts. Set against the idyllic surroundings of Suffolk’s Henham Park, it’s considered to be one of the UK’s most family friendly festivals too. It’s not every day that punk poet icon Dr John Cooper Clarke can share the same bill as Gen-Z pop hero Baby Queen, right? Quite simply, there’s something for everyone at Latitude…

Confirmed Artists: Kasabian, London Grammar, Keane, Duran Duran

Insider tip: Pack your cozzie! Open water swimming in the lakes is an option here.

BUY TICKETS: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/latitude/

Sziget

7–12 August, Óbuda Island, Budapest

In the middle of the Danube River in Budapest is Óbuda Island, a 108-hectare strip of land that has played host to Sziget festival since its inception 31 years ago. Since then, the festival has grown from a showcase of local talent to a home for international superstars, while retaining its transgressive spirit. From Wednesday to Monday this August, the city is taken over by a line-up mixing pop and dance, with the likes of Four Tet, Fred again.. and Overmono rubbing shoulders with Becky Hill, Nia Archives, Yard Act and more.

Confirmed artists: Sam Smith, Stormzy, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Gallagher

Insider tip: With the festival running from Wednesday to Monday, it’s the perfect event to base an entire summer holiday around.

BUY TICKETS: szigetfestival.com/en/tickets/list

All Points East

16–26 August, Victoria Park, east London

For ten days, some of the world’s most pioneering and boundary-pushing acts descend on east London for the mother of all parties. This year, things kick off with acclaimed producer/rapper Kaytranada, before the likes of Loyle Carner, LCD Soundsystem and many more make their mark on the APE stage. Field Day, meanwhile, is a glorious one-day celebration of dance/electronic music. The best part? It’s just a stone’s throw from Mile End station on the Central Line — which means that weary punters can be back home in no time after a grand day out.

Insider tip: Don’t like camping? London’s largest inner city festival might be the one for you.

Ticket link: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/all-points-east-tickets/artist/5245909

Reading & Leeds

21–25 August, Richfield Avenue, Reading; Bramham Park, Leeds

The Reading & Leeds Festivals have ruled the August bank holiday weekend for decades, and are taking a big leap into the future in 2024. As well as laying on a stellar set of headliners — from Lana Del Rey and Fred again.. to Liam Gallagher, Blink-182 and beyond — they’re launching new dance stage The Chevron and welcoming the return of the Radio 1 Stage. As a festival that defines many British music fans’ teens, it highlights the prevalence of dance music in modern culture as Reading & Leeds shapeshift once again to remain at the centre of the zeitgeist.

Insider tip: Make sure to check out The Chevron, the festivals’ staggering new open-air dance stage that will welcome The Prodigy, Barry Can’t Swim and more.

Ticket link: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/reading-and-leeds-festival

End of the Road

29 August–1 September

Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset.The traditional festival season closer, End of the Road takes over Dorset’s idyllic Larmer Tree Gardens every year. Having built a fiercely loyal fanbase over the past decade, the festival welcomes rock bands, singer-songwriters, jazz musicians, pop stars and beyond with an ethos that prioritises boundary-pushing.

This year, IDLES, Slowdive and Fever Ray top the bill, with other highlights including Lankum, Jockstrap and CMAT. With literature, poetry, silent discos and more, End of the Road is the perfect way to see out the summer.

Insider tip: Keep an eye on chalkboards around the site to catch special intimate performances at the festival’s secluded Piano Stage. You can also get to know the festival’s resident peacocks!

Ticket link: https://endoftheroadfestival.com/

FOCUS Wales

May 9-11

FOCUS Wales is an international showcase festival taking place in multiple venues across the city of Wrexham, North Wales, across 9th, 10th, and 11th May 2024. The festival places the music industry spotlight firmly on the emerging talent that Wales has to offer the world, alongside a selection of the best new acts from across the globe. This year’s line-up includes Spiritualized, The Mysterines, The Royston Club, Deerhoof, Snapped Ankles, The Bug Club, Skinny Pelembe, Adwaith, Flamingods, Angeline Morrison, Antony Szmierek, Benefits, Willy Mason, and over 250+ more.

Tickets: focuswales.com/tickets