Your ultimate guide to the 2021 festival season

Deprived of the joy/thrill of the live music experience for over a year now, we’re all gagging to run out into those festival fields, to commune with fellow fans, get sunburned/soaked and drink down the sounds like our lives depend on it.

Inevitably, some events are already sold out, but keep your eyes open for dates of late-release tickets or pick something else that floats your boat from our guide to the best festivals of 2021…

BEST FOR FAMILIES

Camp Bestival

This award-winning festy has a heavy family focus – it takes place on the first weekend of the school summer hols, after all – and offers a load of minor-friendly fun.

To its regular Bigtopmania kids’ circus, face-painting tents, pirate sandpit, gigantic bouncy castle and water slides, Bestival has added a new clubby space for parents and teens. The fireworks finale is an all-ages-pleaser.

Jul 29-Aug 1, Lulworth Castle, Dorset. Tickets available here

Watchet

This locally minded event is an all-ages affair and provides a special children’s area, with free creative activities, storytelling and more 12 noon to 6pm Saturday and Sunday.

Sister Sledge, Gabrielle and Shed Seven headline (the former subject to travel regulations).

Aug 27-29, Watchet, West Somerset. Tickets available here

BEST FOR METAL

Bloodstock

If your devil horns gesture is lame after more than a year without practice, you’ve still got time to polish it.

You’re gonna need it for this monster bill, featuring both the old guard (Judas Priest, Saxon, Napalm Death) and fresh blood.

There’s one campsite with a midnight noise curfew, for fans of uninterrupted sleep.

Aug 11-15, Catton Park, Derbyshire. Tickets available here

Slamdunk

Another movable feast, this one-dayer runs along what are nowadays often blurry lines between metal, punk and heavy alt-rock: Grammy-nominated Canadian vets Sum 41, boisterous Brit quartet Don Broco and Cali-punk evergreens NOFX top the bill.

North, Sep 4, Temple Newsam Park, Leeds; South, Sept 5, Hatfield Park, Hertfordshire. Tickets available here

BEST FOR GLOBAL & FOLK

Womad

Or to give it its full name, the World Of Music, Arts And Dance. Dedicated to showcasing both emerging talent as well as established stars, it launched in 1986.

This year’s bill includes Anoushka Shankar, Nitin Sawhney, Nubiyan Twist, The Comet Is Coming and Sarathy Korwar, plus a heap of workshops (including wellbeing) and children’s and art activities.

Jul 22-25, Chartlon Park, Wiltshire. Tickets available here

Fairport’s Cropredy Convention

Not so much old-school (though there’s definitely some of that) or new-school as no-particular-school, Cropredy turns 41 this year, having started as a reunion of Brit-folk titans Fairport Convention.

They play two sets, one acoustic and one ‘with friends’. There are also performances from their guitarist/singer Richard Thompson, Clannad and Martyn Joseph.

Aug 12–14, Cropredy, Oxfordshire. Tickets available here

BEST FOR DANCE

Creamfields

Launched in 1998 as a one-dayer by Liverpool club Cream, this marathon, glitter-dusted knees-up over multiple stages is now a mahoosive institution, luring the faithful year after year – which is why it always sells out.

This year’s headliners include David Guetta, The Chemical Brothers, Carl Cox, Nina Kraviz and Tiësto.

Aug 26-29, Daresbury, Cheshire. Tickets available here

Witcombe Festival

Having evolved from a cider festival staged at a village cricket club that drew 200 punters, Witcombe now attracts over 100 times that number.

Cider is still a big part of the celebrations here naturally, but the emphasis is on choons.

This year, Basement Jaxx, DJ Luck & MC Neat, Tinie, Artful Dodger, John Newman and Annie Mac oblige.

Aug 27-29, Brockworth, Gloucestershire. Tickets available here

BEST FOR ATMOSPHERE

Latitude

L is for ‘laid-back’, which despite massive growth since 2006, Latitude’s managed to remain, helped by a family-friendly vibe and the site’s 18th-century landscape design.

The Pink Moon Village, with accommodation ranging from fuschia-coloured tents to cool Airstream motorhomes ticks the visual box, too. Bastille and Wolf Alice top the bill.

Jul 22-25, Henham Park, Suffolk. Tickets available here

BEST FOR DANCE

Big Love

Having missed its fifth birthday bash in 2020, the fancy-dress festy has let rip this year, which means not one but three sartorial themes: Hats, Lashes & Tashes (Fri), Carnival Of Fun In 2021 (Sat) and Sassy Sequins & Lazy Loungewear (Sun).

As always, prizes are awarded. Music from LTJ Bukem, Beans On Toast and Gene On Earth.

Jul 9-11, Baskerville Hall, Haye-on-Wye, Wales. Tickets available here

Henley

It’s official: ‘you can never be overdressed at Henley’. This means a strict code of black tie and dinner jacket, a posh frock and careful coiffure.

There’s music – from Madness, James Blunt, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and more – plus comedy and art on tap, alongside the chilled fizz.

Sept 15-19, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Tickets available here

BEST FOR POP

We Love ’90s

It does just what it says on the tin – which is a rewind to the decade that gave us platform trainers, G-Shock watches and tiny T-shirts.

Not to mention Boyzlife, Atomic Kitten, East 17 and Honeyz, who line up for the pop-stalgic fun.

Aug 27, South Park, Darlington. Tickets available here

BEST FOR RETRO

Rewind

Rewind Scotland is cancelled, but the North and South incarnations are powering ahead with plenty of familiar ’80s names, including Marc Almond, The Trevor Horn Band, Heaven 17 (North only), Bananarama, Roland Gift and Jimmy Somerville’s Big Band-Tastic Boogie.

Glamping, campervan and caravan pitches are available.

Rewind North, Aug 6-8, Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield; Rewind South, Temple Island Meadows, Henley-on-Thames, Aug 20-22. Tickets available here

Happy Days

This flashback festival over the August bank holiday weekend in Surrey celebrates its tenth anniversary in style, with big-name talent from across the genre spectrum: on Saturday it’s Motown pop and disco (including Jacksons, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas and Shalamar), soul and dance music on Sunday (Soul II Soul, Ultra Nate and Stereo MC’s) with a ‘preview’ on Friday.

Aug 27-29, Imbercourt, Esher, Surrey. Tickets available here

BEST FOR JAZZ, SOUL & REGGAE

Mostly jazz, funk & soul

As an event conscious of its carbon footprint this weekender is in an 11-acre woodland glade.

Neneh Cherry, the indomitable Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Bill Curtis’s Fatback Band, Memphis jazz saxophonist/composer Kenneth Whalum and local MC Lady Sanity are among its stars.

Jul 9-11, Moseley Park, Birmingham. Tickets available here

Positive Vibration

A weekend city celebration of the uplifting power of reggae and dub’s righteous reverberations.

Performers include the Mad Professor (feat Sister Aisha), Zion Train, Hollie Cook, Tippa Irie, the Neville Staple Band and Congo Natty.

Sept 10-11, Baltic Triangle, Liverpool. Tickets available here

BEST ON A BUDGET

Victorious

Bargainous, as well. If your finances are squeezed (frankly, whose aren’t?) and Madness, Nile Rodgers & Chic, The Streets, Melanie C and Richard Ashcroft box your socks, then head to Portsmouth this August bank holiday.

A weekend ticket (festival entry, plus camping) is just £140, weekend (no camping) is £120 and day tickets are from £35.

Aug 27-29, Southsea Seafront, Portsmouth. Tickets available here

BEST FOR ROCK

TRNSMT

With T In The Park no longer on the scene, this festival in the heart of Glasgow has slipped effortlessly into its place.

The bill is rock-weighted and heavily male, at least on the main stage, where Courteeners, Ian Brown, Sam Fender, Blossoms, Liam Gallagher, Primal Scream, Keane, The Chemical Brothers and Snow Patrol perform.

Sept 10-12, Glasgow Green, Glasgow. Tickets available here

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