It’s been another not-quite-carefree summer so far, but despite all the calamitous disruptions to live music, the UK has a stack of excellent festivals still scheduled to go ahead in 2021, thanks to the success of our vaccination program. Some have been and gone – like Latitude, Shut Up and Play and Standon Calling – but here’s our rundown of where you can still head to this summer to dance your socks off.
All Points East
All Points East may have switched from its usual home in May but it still has a blockbuster line-up, with the likes of London Grammar, Jorja Smith, Foals and Jamie XX headlining over the August Bank Holiday.
WHEN: August 27-30
WHERE: Victoria Park, London
LINEUP: London Grammar, Jorja Smith, Little Simz, Arlo Parks, Celeste
TICKETS: Tickets for all days still available
End Of The Road
A few Americans from End of the Road’s 2020 line-up have had to pull out due to quarantine restrictions, but the festival’s slate is still stacked from top to bottom with exciting talent, including our cover star Arlo Parks and a rare solo outing from Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood.
WHEN: September 2-5
WHERE: Larmer Tree Gardens, Wiltshire
LINEUP: Hot Chip, Little Simz, Arlo Parks, Squid, Dry Cleaning
TICKETS: All sold out
Green Man
The Welsh darling on the festival circuit is not having the easiest time getting the final green light to go ahead in 2021, with Welsh restrictions differing from the rest of the UK. As of July, Green Man’s line-up is still yet to be confirmed but the festival organisers are continuing to do all they can to avoid cancellation.
WHEN: August 19-21
WHERE: Brecon Beacons, Wales
LINEUP: TBC
TICKETS: All sold out
Isle of Wight
The legendary festival was pushed back from June to September as a precaution, one that appears to have paid off. Headliners Liam Gallagher, Snow Patrol, David Guetta and Duran Duran will be joined by Tom Jones, Sam Fender and Primal Scream, to name a few.
WHEN: September 16-19
WHERE: Seaclose Park, Newport
LINEUP: Liam Gallagher, Snow Patrol, David Guetta, Duran Duran
TICKETS: Weekend and Day tickets still available
Parklife
Parklife’s transatlantic line-up looks mightily impressive right now with UK stars such as Dave, Pa Salieu and Little Simz joined by the likes of Megan Thee Stallion and Young Thug.
WHEN: September 11-12
WHERE: Heaton Park, Manchester
LINEUP: Megan Thee Stallion, Dave, Little Simz, Annie Mac
TICKETS: Sold Out
Reading and Leeds
The 2021 Reading and Leeds line-up is looking conspicuously devoid of female artists and in other news, water is wet. Organiser Melvin Benn is confident that the hugely popular festival will go ahead at full capacity once Covid restrictions are lifted on the 19th July.
WHEN: August 27-29
WHERE: Reading and Leeds
LINEUP: Stormzy, Wolf Alice, Mabel, Beabadoobee
TICKETS: Sold out
Sundown
Norfolk’s bass and pop festival is looking relatively safe in its September slot, due to feature Loyle Carner, Sean Paul, Raye, and a huge number of DJs.
WHEN: September 3-5
WHERE: Norfolk Showground, Norwich
LINEUP: Loyle Carner, Becky Hill, Raye, Sean Paul
TICKETS: Sold out
TRNSMT
There’s still plenty of tickets available for Glasgow’s TRNSMT festival, which boasts a line-up of legends such as The Chemical Brothers, as well as not one but two Forty-Five cover stars: Griff and Ms Banks. They’re joined by young indie darlings Holly Humberstone, Declan McKenna and Baby Queen.
WHEN: September 10-12
WHERE: Glasgow Green
LINEUP: Little Simz, Joy Crookes, Griff, Holly Humberstone, Ms Banks
TICKETS: All tickets still available
Wireless
Wireless 2021 has had a change in venue and date but it’s still set to go ahead with a fair few big names and young up-and-comers on the bill, including Skepta, Megan Thee Stallion and Darkoo.
WHEN: September 10-12
WHERE: Crystal Palace Park, London
LINEUP: Skepta, Future, Megan Thee Stallion, Migos
TICKETS: Saturday sold out. Weekend and Friday + Sunday tickets still available
South Facing
A newbie festival hosted in front Crystal Palace Park’s “rusty laptop” stage that hosted the likes of Bob Marley, Elton John and Pixies in the past. While the “laptop” is undergoing some refurbishment, a temporary stage has been erected. Still surrounded by a mossy moat, Lias Saoudi from Fat White Family wasted no time having a dip during one of the first shows of the season.
WHEN: Aug 9 – 29 2021
WHERE: Crystal Palace Park, London
LINEUP: Supergrass, The Streets, Greentea Peng, Dizzee Rascal, Fat White Family, The Cribs and more!
TICKETS: There are still some tickets on sale for the remaining South Facing shows
WIDE AWAKE
A new independent festival in south London – Wide Awake promises to show underground acts from the world of indie, electronica, post-punk, jazz and more.
WHEN: Sept 3 2021
WHERE: Brockwell Park, London
LINEUP: Goat Girl, Shame, Crows, Dream Wife
TICKETS: Tickets are still on sale for £54.45. Grab yours!
READ MORE: Glastonbury Festival 2022: Everything we know so far
