Music festivals offer something distinct from any other event, and the UK has one of the finest festival scenes anywhere on the planet. Attracting the most prestigious line-ups, full of A-list artists, local food stalls, plenty of alcohol, and even pyrotechnics to present unforgettable concerts, there really is nowhere better than the UK to watch live music in a field.
Sure, you’ve put your lighters up in front of the Pyramid at Glastonbury and lost your mates (and your mind) for the entire weekend a Creamfields, but there are so many lesser known festivals to explore, too!
We’ve teamed up with Upbeat Geek today to come up with this list of the UK’s most underrated music festivals that you need to experience this summer. We’ll see you at the cider bar? We’ll be standing next to the broke carrying the flag of a sausage wearing a Newcastle shirt. Oh wait, he’s just left…
Live at Lydiard
Live at Lydiard is a festival held in Swindon, United Kingdom. For one summer day, the festival transforms Lydiard Park in Swindon into a party paradise. Live at Lydiard debuted last year with a lineup of over 30 electronic, pop, R&B, and hip-hop artists performing across five stages. This year promises to be an even bigger spectacle.
When? 20th August
Acts we’re looking forward to at this year’s festival include: The line-up is yet to be announced, but we’re keeping our eye on the Live at Lydiard official website for a drop any day now.
Sundown Festival
The annual Sundown Festival is a bass and pop music event held at the Norfolk Showground, just outside of Norwich, and has attracted some of the best artists in the scene in recent years. Beyond the music, visitors to the event will have the opportunity to explore the festival’s enchanted forest, take part in unique art installations, or ride on a Ferris wheel.
When? 2nd to 4th September
Acts we’re looking forward to at this year’s festival include: AJ Tracey, AMA, Andy C
Read: The best drinks to take to a festival this summer
Mighty Hoopla Pop Music Festival
The Mighty Hoopla Pop Music Festival in London, in gorgeous Brockwell park, is a celebration of frivolity, fashion and, of course, fantastic tunes, with the music here taking on a decidedly poppy bent.
Taking place over the first weekend of June, just as festival season really kicks into gear, this is one glam event, with the 25’000 or so attendees dressed to the nines in creative expressions of the self you wouldn’t perhaps see at some of the summer’s larger events.
With great food stalls galore, an LGBTQ+ heavy lineup, and a state-of-the-art main stage sound system, and a really inclusive vibe, this is one of our favourite day festivals in the capital. See you under the Big Wheel?
When? 3rd and 4th June
Acts we’re looking forward to at this year’s festival include: Sugababes, Pabllo Vittar, Macy Gray
Y Not Festival
Y Not Festival is a small independent UK music festival that hosts a diverse range of rock, indie, and alternative artists, all set against the gorgeous backdrop of the Peak District, Derbyshire.
In 2022, Y Not will commemorate its delayed 15th anniversary in these lovely settings, once again inviting festival-goers to dance and laugh their way through an unforgettable weekend at one of the UK’s most unique and personal festivals.
When? 29th to 31st July
Acts we’re looking forward to at this year’s festival include: Blossoms, Manic Street Preachers, Kelis
Neighbourhood Weekender
The Neighbourhood Weekender is an independent music festival that takes place in Warrington’s Victoria Park, featuring a weekend of great music, including household names alongside some of the scene’s most promising newcomers, giving fans a chance to discover the next big thing.
When? 28th and 29th May
Acts we’re looking forward to at this year’s festival include: Becky Hill, Pale Waves, The Rifles
Field Day
Field Day is one of London’s most popular live music events. Founded by a group of clubs and promoters from the city’s music industry, it culminates in a forward-thinking, genre-pushing lineup that includes live performances and DJ sets from the house, techno, hip-hop, and other genres. It’s part of the All Points East Festival, which is also on our list!
When? 20th August
Acts we’re looking forward to at this year’s festival include: Peggy Gou, Kraftwerk 3D, Cici
Parklife
The Parklife Festival is one of the UK’s most popular and well-known weekend music festivals, which takes place in Manchester’s Heaton Park and offers a diverse and cutting-edge program of music. The weekender, which is curated by a number of the UK’s best-known clubbing brands, has cemented its status as at the very front of the country’s hip hop and dance music scene.
So, why would we term such a popular festival ‘underrated’? Well, the line-up for the past few years has been so consistently phenomenal that we’re surprised Parklife isn’t considered the UK’s very best (after Glasto, of course) festival.
When? 11th and 12th September
Acts we’re looking forward to at this year’s festival include: Tyler, the Creator, Megan Thee Stallion, Bicep
All Points East
Another huge British festival that isn’t exactly ‘underrated’, but certainly isn’t as highly regarded as it deserves, is All Points East.
All Points East has established itself as a mainstay of Victoria Park in East London after an incredible debut in 2018, and we’re very much here for this year’s lineup.
The six-day event is made up of two festival weekends incorporating six headliners, all of which runs alongside a host of community events taking place in the area, all with free entry (though the main festival isn’t, it should be noted) known as “In the Neighbourhood”.
For a festival which allows you to hop off the tube – Bow Road, if you’re asking – and straight into the action, All Points East is hard to beat!
When? Friday 19th August to Sunday 28th August
Acts we’re looking forward to at this year’s festival include: Nick Cave, Anna Calvi, Tinariwen (all on the final Sunday!).
Southbound Festival
This is Southbound, a new music festival dedicated to the south of London, held in that infamous place we’ve all ended up in after one too many, Morden. This will be one of the highlights of the summer, bringing together all of the UK’s finest dance music in one massive six-arena event, from live acts on a large outdoor stage to DJs and MCs in huge big top tents. We can’t wait!
When? 5th September
Acts we’re looking forward to at this year’s festival include: Grooverider, Saffron Stone, The Manor
Boundary Brighton
The debut of Border Brighton, a new major dance music event for the city, first took place in Stanmer Park in September of 2017, and since then has become Brighton’s biggest celebration of electronic music.
Each September, the festival features a diverse lineup of house and bass music within Brighton’s Stanmer Park, with an atmosphere that matches Brighton’s lust for life and diverse spirit. This year promises to be the most spectacular iteration of the event yet!
When? 24th September
Acts we’re looking forward to at this year’s festival include: We’re still going to have to wait a while to decide! Last year’s lineup wasn’t announced until a month before the event.