The best UK music festivals to book for 2024

Haven’t you heard? Jazz is no longer reserved for chin-stroking middle-aged white men. Jazz can be young, cool, underground and genre-blending. The Brick Lane Jazz festival may have been established only last year, but it sums up just how exciting the scene is today. The event is also teaming up with Tomorrow’s Warriors, the pioneering talent programme responsible for the success of the likes of Moses Boyd and Ezra Collective. 

Big names: Oscar Jermone, Ego Ella May, Tara Lily, Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange.

Required apparel: Salomon trainers, Brick Lane Bookshop tote.

Don’t say: ‘This song isn’t very catchy.’

Truman Brewery and nearby venues, London. April 26-28. 

FOCUS Wales is a showcase festival taking over different venues around the town of Wrexham – so if you’re looking for a weekend of drinking tinnies by your tent, this probably isn’t for you. But if you’re all about musical discovery, this three-day auditory feast spotlights all sorts of exciting emerging talent from Wales and beyond, alongside well-curated headliners (last year saw Squid and Billy Nomates top the bill). 

Big names: TBC. 

Required apparel: Bucket hats.

Don’t say:  ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.’

Various venues, Wrexham, North Wales. May 9-11.

It started as a seaside showcase but has grown to attract music lovers from far and wide, looking for a good time and new sounds across a range of genres. More than 500 artists will play in venues scattered around the city, as well as a purpose-built beachside area. It’s the sort of place where you will almost definitely return home with bragging rights after discovering the next Little Simz five years early. 

Big names: Sarah Crean, Enola, Big Special. 

Required apparel: Sandals and sunnies. 

Don’t say: ‘Which way to the beach?’

Various venues, Brighton. May 15-18.  

This family-friendly roots festival might just be one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets. Celebrating music from the Celtic diaspora, as well as reggae, ska, jazz, drum and bass, and other kinds of so-called ‘world music’, it also hosts cabaret, spoken word, comedy and dance. In other words: it’s going to be hard to get bored. 

Big names: TBC. 

Required apparel: Baggy trousers and lots of layers. 

Don’t say: ‘How do you pronounce “Knockengorroch?”’

Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland. May 23-26.

Join London’s clubbing elite at this Peckham Rye three-dayer, which showcases the finest in electronic music, sprinkled with a little soul, jazz and afrobeat. Last year saw Jordan Rakei bringing funky vibes on the Friday, while Saturday and Sunday brought harder techno and house, with Overmono and Kerri Chandler headlining respectively.

Big names: TBC

Required apparel: Uniqlo crossbody bag and matching Elf Bar.   

Don’t say: ‘See you at TOAD Bakery tomorrow at 9?’

Peckham Rye, SE15 3UA. May 24-26.

A relative newcomer to Brockwell Park’s busy festival schedule, Wide Awake bills itself as a ‘musical melting pot’ – expect leftfield indie, post-punk, electronica, techno and more. Aussie rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are headlining the 2024 event along with Young Fathers, joined by the lieks of Ben UFO and Alice Glass. Produced by live-music heavyweights Bad Vibrations, LNZRT and MOTH Club, Wide Awake 2024 will no doubt leave crowds surprised as it celebrates artists that defy traditional genre boundaries.

Big names: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Young Fathers, Alice Glass. 

Required apparel: Goodhood top and Dr Martens.

Don’t say: ‘The album is dead.’

Brockwell Park, London. May 25. 

Now in its fifth edition, Cross the Tracks is still a bit of a newcomer to the London festival scene. But with tasteful, groove-heavy curation across soul, funk and jazz, as well as loads of decent street food and craft beer, it’s already cemented itself as an anticipated name. The festival has a laid-back, open-arms appeal, meaning you’ll find people of all sorts of ages having a boogie. 

Big names: Eve, BADBADNOTGOOD, En Vogue.

Required apparel: Floaty vintage dress and Adidas sambas. 

Don’t say: ‘Which way to the campsite?’

Brockwell Park, London. May 26. 

After a knock-out event last year, pop festival Mighty Hoopla has just announced its 2024 line-up, and it’s just got even more raucous. Known for showcasing the best of pop and queer culture in the UK, the two-day weekender launched in 2016 with a mission to celebrate pop classics and give a platform to established and emerging LGBTQ+ performers.

Big names: Nelly Furtado, Jessie Ware, Eve, Char Lloyd. 

Required apparel: PVC, glitter, Paris Hilton ‘Stop Being Poor’ T-shirt. 

Don’t say: ‘Sashay away.’

Brockwell Park, London. June 1-2.

This acclaimed celebration of electronic music and visual arts takes pride of place in Belfast’s docklands, and features up-and-coming local acts alongside international talent. The best part about it, though, is the fact you’re not limited to just one genre of electronic music – sure, there’s techno, but there’s also DnB, house, IDM and a hell of a lot more. Not to mention a feast of audiovisual entertainment to go with it.

Big names: TBC. 

Required apparel: Rave shades.

Don’t say: ‘Fuck, I’ve worn my work shoes.’

TBC, Belfast. Dates TBC. 

Take a walk on the dark side at this weekend of epic riffs and serious headbanging. The line-up is a living rock ’n’ roll hall of fame, with classic acts from the ’70s and ’80s rubbing shoulders with relative newcomers from the worlds of nu-metal, hardcore and emo. It’s hosted by Leicestershire motorsport circuit Donington Park, a venue whose biker heritage works perfectly. You won’t find fripperies like gourmet food options here: this fest is all about getting down and dirty.

Big names: Queens of the Stone Age, Fall Out Boy, Royal Blood. 

Required apparel: Vintage Slayer T-shirt, ideally sleeveless.

Don’t say: ‘I forgot my ear protection.’

Donington Park, Leicestershire. Jun 14-16.  

This intimate dance music festival is nestled in the scenic northwestern hills of Anglesey, Wales, and is probably one of the most beautiful places you’ll get to party anywhere in the UK. Surprise stages are dotted around a woodland, blasting wobbling disco tracks and jagged, broken-beat DJ sets. It’s the sister festival of Houghton, so expect a similarly expertly curated line-up and excessively fun crowd.

Big names: TBC. 

Required apparel: Protective ear plugs for those phat sound systems.

Don’t say: ‘Creamfields was so much, like, vibier.’

Carreglwyd Estate, Anglesey, Wales. Jun 13-16. 

Since it launched in 2013, this Manchester festival has established itself as a major player by booking massive names from across the genre spectrum. Last year’s event featured performances from Fred Again, The 1975, Aitch and Skrillex. There’s no camping, so you’ll need to book accommodation nearby.

Big names: TBC. 

Required apparel: ‘I Heart MCR’ T-shirt.

Don’t say: ‘Why’s a Manchester fest named after a Blur song?’

Heaton Park, Manchester. Jun 8-9.

It was revived back in 2002 and this legendary festival has since built itself a fresh reputation for properly crowd-pleasing line-ups packed with huge household names. With tickets for kids aged five-to-12 priced at just £7.50, and under-fours going free, it’s easy to see why it’s become a truly multi-generational affair.

Big names: The Progidy, Pet Shop Boys, Green Day. 

Required apparel: Hat. If it’s sunny on the Isle of Wight, it’s really sunny.

Don’t say: ‘When’s Jimi Hendrix coming on, anyway?’

Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight. Jun 20-23. 

One for all lovers of Americana and country music, Black Deer Festival champions laid-back vibes and independent artists. It offers an array of street food and children’s activities as well as cooking classes from big-name smokehouse chefs and even a motorcycle showcase. Talk about variety.

Big names: TBC. 

Required apparel: Floppy hats and dungarees.

Don’t say: ‘Taylor Swift is the GOAT.’

Eridge Park, Kent. June 14-16.

Do you really need us to spell it out for you? Glastonbury is the biggest music festival in the UK (maybe even the world), and for good reason. It’s a hands-down legend. But despite all of the very real muddy fields and TV coverage, we’re not entirely sure if it exists – tickets are impossibly difficult to get your hands on. 

Big names: TBC. 

Required apparel: Wellies and raincoats, because history has a habit of repeating itself.

Don’t say: ‘Did you get a ticket?’

Worthy Farm, Somerset. June 26-30. 

A technicolour playground of music, circus and cabaret, El Dorado festival is run by the same guys that do Cirque du Soul – so expect a similar open-minded energy. The line-up is typically a mix of live and electronic acts, across the genres of disco, fun, soul and dance.

Big names: TBC. 

Required apparel: Keep an eye out for each day’s fancy dress theme, which is usually announced closer to the time.

Don’t say: ‘Glitter is for children.’

Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire. July 11-14. 

Latitude is a weekender that’s blazed a well-heeled trail by blending a classy line-up of music with comedy, poetry, theatre, literature, podcasts, engaging family activities and wellness. In previous years, it has offered a kids’ model-making class from ‘Wallace & Gromit’ creators Aardman and a talk from Dame Sheila Hancock.

Big names: Duran Duran. 

Required apparel: A tote from your local independent bookshop.

Don’t say: ‘Um, what the hell is an Independent Publishers’ Symposium and why’s it on a festival line-up?’

Henham Park, Suffolk. Jul 25-28. 

Ah, Boomtown. It’s colourful, it’s loud and it’s often very, very wild. The multi-genre dance and roots festival is home to arty  stages that will make you literally gawp and hundreds of surprise actors roaming around, hoping to ‘guide the citizens through the labyrinth of adventures waiting to be discovered’. Most of the line-up is kept a secret until just before the festival, but expect everything from techno and disco to jungle, gabber and dancehall. 

Big names: TBC. 

Required apparel: Dr. Martens and statement pieces. 

Don’t say: ‘CBA to get any festival ’fits this year.’

Matterley Basin, South Downs National Park. August 7-11.

Curated by Gilles Peterson in collaboration with Brownswood Recordings, We Out Here aims to showcase ‘some of the world’s best record collections and celebrate club culture’s far-reaching influences’, which, as we’re sure you’ll agree, is very laudable indeed. The line-up is traditionally a mouthwatering blend of artists and selectors specialising in soul, hip hop, house, afrobeats, electronica, jazz and more – and there’s even an independent record fair on site. It’s not just some kind of giant vinyl-junkie support group, though. The site is blessed with cute wooded bits and a dedicated kids’ area and wellness zone. Plus, its August dates mean that the British weather stands a reasonable chance of being okay for once.

Big names: TBC. 

Required apparel: Anything that has good sweat-wicking characteristics.

Don’t say: ‘I’ve got Spotify Premium. I consider it an investment.’

Wimborne St Giles, Dorset. Aug 15-18. 

Green Man has earned itself reputation for being the UK’s ‘mini Glastonbury’. The tickets for 2023 sold out in just four hours, without any of the line-up announced (last year saw acts like First Aid Kit and Amyl and the Sniffers take to the stage). As its name suggests, the festival has outstanding green credentials: compost loos, no single-use plastic and all power coming from hydrogen, solar or hydrotreated vegetable oil (!)

Big names: TBC.

Required apparel: Anything thrifted.

Don’t say: ‘I miss plastic straws.’

Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales. August 15-18.