Thought you had put your wellies to bed until 2016? Think again. Here, Jen Long curates a spontaneous summer festival shortlist.
Bestival 2014
Will Kanye be Yeezus or Yeesh? How many tonnes of quinoa will be ingested at Latitude? Will authorities find the man stuck in a tent bag at T in the Park? The questions that have plagued the summer of 2015 are finally all answered. So you might think that’s it, it’s all over. If you’ve not turned your feet white and welly moist, and your night of sleeping sans mattress was passing out on the sofa after a bottle of wine and that TFI special, then don’t worry – you’ve still got time to grab that last bit of summer festival questionable sun.
We might be heading deep into August, but the season for poorly erected tents and wine in bags is still very much alive around the globe. Here’s a few choice picks to sink your cag in a bag into.
Festival No. 6
Based in the small and beautiful North Welsh town of Portmeirion and named after cult 60s TV show The Prisoner which was filmed there, Festival No. 6 calls itself a ‘bespoke banquet of music, art and culture,’ and with a line up that ranges from Grace Jones to Years & Years to Jane Weaver, it really is a chance to soak yourself in some eclectic experiences.
MS Dockville
Hosted on an island in a river in Hamburg and packed full of beautiful Europeans, MS Dockville will have you raving to Caribou, swooning to Shura, and being sent shivers by Young Fathers. Plus it’s magically avoided the Brit brigade, so you can dance away without seeing Dave, shirtless and sunburnt, downing a Tuborg.
Bestival
Leave all your worries, cares, and inhibitions on the mainland, this September you’re just a short ferry ride away from three days of costume-fuelled, hedonistically raved up fun. With the likes of Missy Elliot, Annie Mac, The Chemical Brothers, FKA Twigs, Future Islands, and Slaves all taking stage, no matter what music you’re in to – a party is guaranteed.
Tauron Nowa Muzyka
Taking place in an abandoned coal mine in Poland, and originally created to deliver a wide range of music from jazz to dance to the local populace, the line up of Tauron Nowa Muzyka has expanded as much as their clientele and this year welcomes everyone from Nils Frahm to Tyler, The Creator. Also, it’s about seventy pence for a shot of vodka, just saying…
End Of The Road
One of the UK’s best kept secrets – that we’re about to ruin – a beautiful, small and impeccably booked festival in Dorset that despite it’s growing reputation, has maintained its intimacy over the years and this time round brings lucky fans headliners Sufjan Stevens, Tame Impala, and The War On Drugs. An escape from the commercial, overhyped, and overpriced regular path, it’s a weekend break in the best company.
FYF
If you really fancy getting away and aren’t put off by a thirteen hour flight then we suggest you grab your sunglasses and head for Los Angeles, California. Started in 2004 by 18 year old Sean Carlson for his friends and local bands, FYF is now a two day downtown festival showcasing the incredible and influential. This year’s lineup boasts Bloc Party, Frank Ocean, Purity Ring, Mac Demarco, and Morrissey to name a few. Not bad for a teen dream turned pro.
SW4
If you’re one of those people that leaves August bank holiday plans to the last minute only to find yourself on the sofa watching Turner & Hooch again, then now is the time to act. SW4 is playing host to two days of the finest house, trance and everything in between from Faithless to Skrillex to Fatboy Slim. Take that, Tom Hanks.
SWN
OK, so November is probably a stretch out of festival season, but when it comes to multi-venue city fests, there’s not really any seasonal restrictions. And we couldn’t give you a forthcoming festival sweep without a nod to Cardiff’s SWN. Curated by BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, it’s a chance to catch future headliners in the tiniest of pubs. With an inclusive and friendly atmosphere, after parties that run late, and a bloody castle in the city centre, there’s nothing to do but say ‘sut mae’ to SWN.
Jen Long is Music Editor at DICE, an event discovery and ticketing app which gives fans access to the best gigs in town with no booking fees.