Our picks for July’s ultimate IRL playlist.
Wireless
When: 7-9 July
Where: Finsbury Park, London
Why: One of your only chances to catch Chance The Rapper this festival season (shit pun, we’re aware), Wireless once again boasts a line-up to quench your thirst for bouncy beats and good vibes. Chance joins the likes of musical maestro’s Skepta, Travis Scott and The Weeknd at Finsbury Park’s three day festival, where you can expect massive production, huge performances and maybe the odd guest appearance.
Latitude
When: 14-16 July
Where: Henham Park, Suffolk
Why: Basically an opportunity to leave the big city for a weekend in a mystical land, Latitude is your chance to escape reality, soundtracked by all your fave sing along stars. This year you’ll bare witness to The 1975, Mumford and Sons and Fleet Foxes serving headline slots, supported by a host of other names set to clog up your Spotify memory, from the alternative beats of Jack Garrett to Fatboy Slim’s iconic reworks: Latitude has got you covered.
Lovebox
When: 14-15 July
Where: Victoria Park, London
Why: Celebrating its 15th b’day this year, Lovebox is undoubtedly destined to be a big one. Plus it’s set to feature pretty much everyone on our office playlist, with this year’s line-up including sadboy fave Frank Ocean, Bey’s sis, Solange (equally iconic in her own right we might ass), as well as Wonderbabe RAY BLK, Sampha and Jamie xx; that’s a whole lotta musical prowess, right?
FYF Fest
When: 21 – 23 July
Where: Exposition Park, Los Angeles
Why: If FYF Fest was a film it’d have one of those really big eclectic casts featuring all your faves. For this year’s offering, the slightly juxtaposed Missy Elliot and Bjork take joint Friday headlining slots, joined by our fave bae (!) Frank Ocean, Nine In Nails, Solange and Iggy Pop: one of the most diverse bills of the festival season, are we wrong? Set in LA’s picturesque Exposition Park, expect an insta-worthy affair that’ll leave you green. One to add to the list of reasons to move Stateside…
Secret Garden Party
(LEFT) © Andrew Whitton / Fanatic 2016
(RIGHT) © Giles Smith / Fanatic 2016
When: 20-23 July
Where: Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon
Why: Sadly set to be the last ever Secret Garden Party following 15 solid years of service as part of the circuit, SGP is going out with a bang. Arguably the mother of the boutique festival experience, over the past decade and a half the festival has been graced by the likes of Grace Jones, Jarvis Cocker, The xx and Blondie and Gorillaz (to name but a few of the never-ending list of on-repeat artists we all love.) For its swansong year, SGP will be played out by Metronomy, Jorja Smith and Crystal Fighters. There’ll also be a set from Kate Nash as she embarks on a Made of Bricks tour to celebrate 10 years since her debut’s release.
Afropunk London
When: 22-23 July
Where: The Printworks, London
Why: Having long championed afro-punk, the aptly named festival does exactly what it says on the tin. Putting last year’s MIA-shaped controversy behind it, this year attendees will experience majestic performances from industry faves such as Nao and Nadia Rose, have the opportunity to whip their hair with Willow Smith, and groove with Little Simz, all with the confines of the Rotherhithe-based musical extravaganza.
Kendall Calling
When:27-30 July
Where: Lowther Deer Park, Lake District
Why: Kendall Calling keeps getting bigger and bigger, attracting more and more well-known names each year. Following on from last year’s spectacle – which saw Rudimental, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Madness taking to the stage – an equally impressive line-up has been confirmed for this year’s proceedings. Bask in the sweet sound of Stereophonics, Franz Ferdinand and Slaves while you soak up the dreamy delights of the Lake District setting.