Image: www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk
2012 Festival Guide - a round-up of UK, Ireland and International festivals
Recently updated: GuilFest, Flow Festival, Underage Festival, RockNess, T in the Park, Festival No. 6, Ibiza/ Mallorca Rocks, Wireless, Larmer Tree and more.
An exciting summer looms for UK festivals, with many unveiling more key names as part of their line-ups. Please note that the Secret Garden Party has now sold out - what a success!
We have also updated the Overseas section to include events right across Europe including the ever-expanding French 'Glasto', Eurockéennes de Belfort.
All prices are exclusive of booking fees.
Updates:
- GuilFest: line-up expanded
- Flow Festival: Finland's Flow Festival announces a very strong line-up
- Underage Festival: initial line-up announced - early-bird tickets still available
- RockNess: line-up expanded
- T in the Park: Keane added to the line-up
- Festival No. 6: New for 2012 and based in picturesque Portmeirion in North Wales, featuring New Order, Primal Scream, Spiritualized and more
- Ibiza/ Mallorca Rocks: Plan B, The Maccabees, Axwell and more join the party
- Wireless Festival: Rita Ora, The Roots, Lloyd and more join the line-up
- Liverpool SoundCity : Line-up expanded
- Bearded Theory: Line-up expanded. Adam Ant to replace Levellers - tickets now sold out.
- Long Division: Line-up expanded
Content:
Spring
Liverpool SoundCity 2012
Liverpool SoundCity 2012 (17th - 19th May) Three days worth of established and upcoming acts will be descending on the North-West for Liverpool's music festival and seminar. Headliners include Professor Green, Death in Vegas, The Temper Trap, Michael Kiwanuka, Alkaline Trio, The Wedding Present, White Denim local heroes Space are just some of the first names to be announced. Standard Tickets are on sale, priced at £45 for a Three-Day Wristband (Early Birds have sold out).
Bearded Theory Festival 2012
Bearded Theory Festival 2012 (18th - 20th May) Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire will host the big 5th birthday party for Bearded Theory during May. The full line-up includes headliners Adam Ant (replacing Levellers), The Damned and Dreadzone, as well as Dr Feelgood, Terrorvision, Doctor and the Medics, Imperial Leisure, Travelling Band and many more. Tickets have now sold out.
Lakefest 2012
Lakefest 2012 (18th & 19th May) This Gloucestershire festival was previously called Croft Farm's Cider Festival and after the success of 2011's event and a re-naming ceremony (that probably involved more cider). Lakefest's inaugural event has a varied line-up, with headliners confirmed as Reef, Levellers and special guests EMF, plus Toploader, Dodgy, 3 Daft Monkeys and, er, Chesney Hawkes. Nearest town is Tewkesbury and tickets cost £79 for weekend camping (or £69 without).
Perth Festival of the Arts 2012
Perth Festival of the Arts 2012 (18th - 27th May) This Scottish city is fast becoming a hub for eclectic music festivals and this one is no exception. Jools Holland and his Rhythm 'n' Blues Orchestra will kick off the ten days' worth of music, arts and performance, which will also include Nigel Kennedy, Martin Taylor with Martin Simpson, rockers Kassidy, the acclaimed one-man show John Peel's Shed and Cream's bassist Jack Bruce. Tickets and venues for each show vary in price and location, but start from as little as £10, rising to £25.
ATP I'll Be Your Mirror
Mogwai
Mogwai @ ATP I'll Be Your Mirror 2012 (25th - 27th May) North London's iconic Alexandra Palace will be hosting this year's Mogwai-curated weekend. Bands include Slayer (performing Reign in Blood), The Afghan Whigs, The Melvins, Mudhoney, Codeine (first show since 1994!) and Mogwai themselves. Tickets cost £59 per day (except Friday £39) or £130 for the weekend.
Acoustic Festival of Britain 2012
Acoustic Festival of Britain 2012 (25th - 27th May)
This year's acoustically-inclined line-up in Uttoxeter has now expanded to include Uli Jon Roth, Robin Williamson (and various related folk-acts such as Tír na nÓg and Stackridge) and Rodney Branigan, as well as Joan Armatrading, John Cooper Clarke, Glenn Tilbrook, Gordon Giltrap, Ian McNabb, Justin Sullivan, The Animals and Friends plus many more. Day Tickets have now been released, priced at £25 for Friday or £40 for either Saturday or Sunday, as well as standard Weekenders at £80 (or £95 with camping).
Cragfest 2012
Cragfest 2012 (25th - 27th May) Situated at the Kilnsey Showground near Grassington, Skipton, is this Irish-flavoured folk-rock festival set on a working farm in splendid Yorkshire countryside. The May Bank Holiday will feature The Saw Doctors, The Lancashire Hotpots, Toploader, Mad Dog Mcrea, The Dunwells and loads more like-minded roots-rock acts. Tickets cost £40 for basic weekend admission with a £10 tent supplement for camping. (Kids go half-price).
Slam Dunk Festival 2012
Slam Dunk Festival 2012 (26th May - Leeds/ 27th May - Hatfield/ 28th May - Cardiff/ 29th May - Glasgow) This year's punk-pop and rock knees-up has been expanded to cover Wales and Scotland, as well as England North and South. Taking Back Sunday, Motion City Soundtrack, Say Anything and Cancer Bats are playing all four shows, with the Hatfield and Leeds also featuring The Blackout, Mayday Parade and many more. While She Sleeps and The Audition will play in Wales, while Hit the Lights and The Story So Far will hit Scotland. Tickets for Leeds have now sold out, but Hatfield costs £32.50 and Wales and Scotland weigh in at £22.50.
Metal Gods Festival 2012
Metal Gods Festival 2012 (26th May) Mansfield is the location for this year's uncompromising metal gathering at the town's Intake Club. The day-fest will feature Evil Scarecrow, Arctic Flame, Spirytus, 15 Times Dead, Shadows Lie Within, Marc Malone, Lets Play God, Deprevate, Akarusa Yami, Storm The Walls, Osmium Guillotine, Tripswitch, Achren, Icons and more. Admission for the whole event is £10.
Summer
Big Beach Bootique 5
Big Beach Bootique 5 (1st and 2nd Jun) Fatboy Slim's triumphant Brighton gathering has just got somewhat bigger with the announcement of more support acts. As well as Mr Cook himself on both nights, Friday's knees-up also features DJ Luciano, Maya Jane Coles and The 2 Bears, as well as Carl Cox, while Saturday matches up Annie Mac, DJ Fresh, Jaguar Skills, Doorly and Union alongside Nero's DJ set - tickets are £35 for each day. Might be worth booking this as soon as possible.
Long Division Festival 2012
Long Division Festival 2012 (1st - 3rd Jun) Yorkshire's music-scene also features this 3 day-fest in Wakefield which now features The Twilight Sad, Dutch Uncles, The Vaccines, Art Brut, Francois and the Atlas Mountains, Aidan Moffat and Bill Wells and a whole string of similarly-minded indie and leftfield entertainment totalling 70 bands across 9 city-centre venues. More names are due to be announced - meanwhile, £15has to be the bargain of the century when it comes to non-camping festival prices.
OsFest 2012
OsFest 2012 (1st - 4th Jun) Not to be confused with the occasional Black Sabbath frontman's wilder rock gatherings, this festival takes it's puntastic name from Oswestry, the Shropshire town where this weekender is based. Big names include Razorlight, Hard-Fi, Dappy, The Big Pink, Goldie Lookin Chain, One Night Only, Benjamin Francis Leftwich and Loick Essien with lots more besides. Tickets cost £69.50 with camping, £65 without with VIP and Day options also available.
Field Day 2012
Field Day 2012 (2nd Jun) Franz Ferdinand are the first big name to be announced for next year's Victoria Park bash - with Mazzy Star, Rustie, Metronomy, Baxter Dury, Beirut, Gold Panda, Hudson Mohawke, Maya Jane Coles, SBTRKT and Tortoise. With the Olympics taking place later in the month, Field Day has moved to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee June Bank Holiday Weekend. Early Bird Tickets have now sold out - Standard Tickets cost £45.
Dot to Dot 2012
Dot to Dot 2012 (2nd - 4th Jun) If the thought of celebrating the Diamond Jubilee extends beyond eating cake and drinking from a commemorative pint glass, head to Bristol, Nottingham or Manchester for some Dot to Dot action. Each day will feature The Drums, Pulled Apart By Horses and Willy Mason, as well as Dog is Dead, Summer Camp, Kyla la Grange and many more. The entire bill is at your disposal for just a £20 wristband. Look out for more names to be announced soon.
PlayFest 2012
PlayFest 2012 (2nd & 3rd Jun) Norfolk's early summer music festival has just been expanded to include Sunday headliners Feeder, as well as pop newcomer Delilah and the jaunty Sonic Boom Six, as well as previously announced nuggets such as Ash, Pigeon Detectives, Reverend and the Makers, The Big Pink, Little Comets, Scroobius Pip, Natty, Spector, Roots Manuva and more. Full weekend camping costs £80 (Early Birds have sold out).
The Apple Cart 2012
The Apple Cart 2012 (3rd Jun) Billy Bragg, Noah and the Whale, Stornoway (long time no hear), Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Penguin Cafe, Scritti Politti, Lianne La Havas, Beth Jeans Houghton and Jeffrey Lewis and the Junkyard all feature at this year's gathering in Victoria Park, Hackney, along with a welter of comedians such as Shappi Khorsandi, Josh Widdicombe and Josie Long, with many more names to be announced. Tickets are on sale now and cost £29.50. Kids 14 yrs and under go free!
Love Saves The Day 2012
Love Saves The Day 2012 (3rd Jun) A brand-new day festival for The South West, in the form of the dance-music orientated LSTD. The 2012 is impressive with Annie Mac, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Roots Manuva, Mr Scruff, Maya Jane Coles, Joy Orbison, DJ Derek, Joker, Jessie Ware and many more, with an emphasis on dubstep and electro. Early Bird Tickets cost just £19.50.
Evolution Festival 2012
Evolution Festival 2012 (3rd & 4th Jun) Newcastle and Gateshead combine to provide the North East with a must-visit music festival during the early summer. Headliners for this year's two-dayer include Dizzee Rascal on Saturday and Deadmau5 on Friday, plus local art-rockers Maximo Park, Noah and the Whale, Miles Kane, Rizzle Kicks, Devlin, Band of Skulls, SBTRKT, Maya Jane Coles and DJ Fresh with more names to be added to the remaining performers soon. Tickets cost £35 for the weekend or £25 per day - a bargain considering the line-ups.
FestiFeel 2012
FestiFeel 2012 (4th Jun 2012) In association with CoppaFeel!, the breast-cancer awareness charity, and the Queen of Hoxton venue in East London, FestiFeel enters its third year of annual shindigs and fundraising events. This year's 'boob royalty' includes The View, Newton Faulkner, The Milk, Norman Jay MBE, CHEW LiPS, Blood Red Shoes, Dog is Dead, Jamie N Commons and many more packed into one day and all for the princely sum of £20 a ticket. Proceeds go to Fearne Cotton's worthy CoppaFeel! charity.
Download 2012
Download 2012 (8th - 10th Jun) Donington's metal-fest has carte blanche over line-up choices, thanks to Sonisphere's demise this year. In addition to the headlining trio of Black Sabbath, Metallica and The Prodigy, Soundgarden, Megadeth, Biffy Clyro, Tenacious D, Chase and Status, Slash, Rise Against and Machine Head feature among the highlights. Tickets are still available for £155/ £180/ 190 for weekend/ 3/ 5 night camping, or £75 for day tickets.
RockNess 2012
RockNess 2012 (8th to 10th Jun) Yet more names have been added to the headlining heavyweights of Ed Sheeran, Deadmau5 and Biffy Clyro. The Pigeon Detectives, Ash, Errors, The Correspondents and Sound of Guns will perform live duties, while DJing doesn't get more precise than with techno-legend Jeff Mills and Rob Da Bank. A raft of comedians, many from Scotland itself, have also been added to headliner Tim Minchin, including Daniel Sloss, Des Clarke, The Reverend Steppenwolfe III (aka Jim Muir) and Benny Boot amongst the mirth-makers. Weekend tickets are still available for £149-£199 with day tickets priced at £64.
Wychwood Festival 2012
Wychwood Festival 2012 (8th - 10th Jun) Cheltenham's iconic racecourse will once again this eclectic family event during June, with participating acts James, Bellowhead, The Saw Doctors, The Fisherman's Friends, Sean Lakeman and Kathryn Roberts, Dhol Foundation and Robin Ince amongst the early line-up list. There's even someone for the younger kiddies - Katy Ashworth from CBeebies. Standard Adult Weekend admission costs £115, Youth Weekenders cost £95 and 10-15 yr olds cost £55. There are numerous other pricing levels available including day tickets.
No Direction Home 2012
No Direction Home 2012 (8th - 10th Jun) This eclectic and rather left-field festival comes courtesy of those nice End of the Road people and is set to take place at beautiful Welbeck Abbey during early summer. Richard Hawley was added recently and joins a varied line-up of upcoming festival favourites such as Django Django, Beth Jeans Houghton, Veronica Falls and Diagrams as well as experienced masters such as the two folky Martins, Simpson and Carthy and Gruff Rhys. Tickets cost £105 for adults with camping, £55 for teens (must be with an adult), under-12s go free and extra campervan passes at £40.
Chazzstock 2012
Chazzstock 2012 (10th Jun)
Initially intended to be a two-dayer, the 2012 edition has been compacted into a one-dayer and relocated to the West Midlands. Wolverhampton's Civic and Wulfrun Halls will host full sets from The Vaccines, The Horrors and Tribes on Saturday 10th Jun. Supports still include The Ghosts, Man Like Me and others. Don't forget that Chazzstock is in memory of Ou Est Le Swimming Pool's Charlie Haddon who sadly died two years ago. New tickets are available priced at £25 while original tickets can be refunded from your agent or swapped for VIP tickets for this event.
The Parklife Weekender 2012
The Parklife Weekender 2012 (9th & 10th Jun) Manchester's Platt's Field will once again host this mammoth two-dayer, held in the South of the city. Headliners on the Main Stage this year are The Flaming Lips (Sat) and Dizzee Rascal (Sun), with support provided from a stream of stages scattered across the site. Noah and the Whale, Nero, Crystal Castles, The Rapture, a Hospitality d'n'b stage and oodles more, all wrapped up inside a £64.50 Weekend Ticket (or £38.50 per seperate day). Done.
Beach Break Live 2012
Beach Break Live 2012 (14th - 18th Jun) Llanelli's students' festival has announced The Maccabees who will join headliners Chase and Status, Friendly Fires and Dizzee Rascal, plus Ben Howard, Maverick Sabre, Labrinth, Skream, Benga, Nero and much more. The entire weekend costs £109 with a deposit scheme to help you out. You must register on Beach Break's website first though (and be or have been a student with valid ID) to get the discount price - otherwise it's £129.
Glade Festival 2012
Glade Festival 2012 (15th - 17th Jun) Houghton Hall has once again been confirmed as this year's location for Glade, with a stellar line-up from right across the dance-music spectrum including techno-god Sven Väth, dubstep maverick Rusko, hip-hop outfit Foreign Beggars plus Vitalic, Dub Pistols and Pretty Lights appearing live and sets from Don Letts, Drumsound & Bassline Smith, Toddla T and the enormous 'Alive' show from Andy C. Tickets cost £135 for the weekend, with a deposit scheme in place (£50 first payment) and other options.
Lovebox 2012
Lovebox 2012 (15th - 17th Jun) Grace Jones was recently announced as the missing piece of the line-up jigsaw - the iconic star will headline the final day on Sunday night in East London, with Lana Del Rey and Holly Johnson already on the bill. Day tickets for Sunday (and Saturday with Friendly Fires) cost £49.50 each, with Friday's shorter event with Hot Chip costing £29. Better make it a weekender then - £99 - or a two-dayer at £65 or £87.50.
Golden Down Festival 2012
Golden Down Festival 2012 (15th - 17th Jun) New to the festival calendar is this Hampshire-based gathering that promises a chilled-out vibe and performances from the likes of Lee Scratch Perry, Roots Manuva, Four Tet, Apparat, The Herbaliser, Ghostpoet, Dub Pistols, Kerri Chandler, Portable, Pearson Sound, Julio Bashmore, Ben UFO, Space Dimension Controller and much more. Early Bird weekend-tickets have now sold out but Standards are available for £125.
Chester Rocks 2012
Chester Rocks 2012 (16th & 17th Jun) This year's line-up at Chester Racecourse is a tale of two halves - Saturday is indie-rock day with near-locals The Courteeners, Cast, The Rifles and The Fallows (plus more), while Sunday becomes a pop/RnB-paradise with heavy-hitters Katy B, Pixie Lott, Labrinth, Tinchy Stryder and Maverick Sabre amongst the throng. Tickets for each day cost a reasonable £35.
Isle of Wight Festival 2012
Isle of Wight Festival 2012 (21st - 24th Jun) When it comes to line-ups, this year's Isle of Wight bash just keeps piling on the heavyweights. As a reminder, Tom Petty, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Elbow, Biffy Clyro, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Primal Scream (Thursday's Big Top headliners), Madness and Magnetic Man are just some of the huge names performing, with additions now including Lana Del Rey, The Pierces, The Charlatans, Miles Kane and Crystal Castles. Tickets are £190 for camping, £160 minus camping etc. Campervan entry is now sold out!
Africa Oyé 2012
Africa Oyé 2012 (23rd & 24th Jun) Billed as the UK's largest free celebration of African music and culture, Liverpool's Africa Oyé is regularly voted as one of Songlines magazine's Top 10 festivals. Now in its 20th year, the festival brings together a predominantly African mix of musicians including Samba Mapangala and Orchestra, Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra, Yaaba Funk and much more, all performing across the city and Oye's base in Liverpool's Sefton Park. FREE.
BluesFest 2012
BluesFest 2012 (26th Jun - 6th Jul) London and Manchester are hosting this year's summer blues extravaganza, with a decent spread of big names and accomplished musicians Van Morrison, Tom Jones, Ronnie Wood, Robert Cray Band, George Benson, Erykah Badu and many more across the two cities throughout the week. Ticket prices vary from around the £25 mark per concert.
Cornbury Festival 2012
Cornbury Festival 2012 (29th Jun - 1st Jul) Now based in the picturesque Oxfordshire village Great Tew, the 'original' Cornbury gathering has raised the bar with an enviable line-up. Get this - Elvis Costello, Jools Holland (with Marc Almond and Ruby Turner), James Morrison, The Waterboys, Will Young, Macy Gray, Aloe Blacc, Seasick Steve, Hugh Laurie and Newton Faulkner is a pretty decent international line-up in anyone's language. Tickets cost £175 for weekend with camping, £150 without, £75 - £100 for 13-16 yrs and £10 for under 12s or over-70s.
The Hop Farm Festival 2012
The Hop Farm Festival 2012 (29th Jun - 1st Jul) Fast becoming a key South East event, Kent's Hop Farm has recently added Richard Ashcroft (UK exclusive), George Clinton, Kool and the Gang, Gary Numan, Field Music, Randy Crawford, The Futureheads and dozens more to a line-up already featuring Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel and the New Blood Orchestra, Suede, Primal Scream, Damien Rice, My Morning Jacket, Patti Smith, The Psychedelic Furs and Maximo Park. More names will be added in due course, including comedy acts. Tickets are on sale priced at £150 for 3-day Weekend tickets (no booking fee!), with day tickets costing £55 per day.
GhostFest 2012
GhostFest 2012 ( 30th Jun - 1st Jul) If hardcore and metal is you thing and you happen to live or be visiting the fair city of Leeds during the summer, you'll need to go to Ghost Fest, 3 stages of unadulterated noise from the likes of the newly-added The Black Dahlia Murder, Emmure, Comeback Kid, All Shall Perish, Defeater, POLAR and many more. More names will be added to the University venue in due course, meanwhile tickets cost £25 per day or £35 for the weekend. That's a no-brainer - weekend, it has to be!
Nova Festival 2012
Nova Festival 2012 (5th to 8th Jul) based in Pulborough in West Sussex, Nova has been created by previous organizers of Big Chill. Music for 2012 will come from Jessie Ware, Fionn Regan, Ghostpoet, Tune-Yards, Jono McCleery, Crazy P, Norman Jay, Solid Steel, which is Ninja Tunes' lavish audio-visual show featuring Hexstatic, DJ Food and more, as well as Parisian outfit, We Were Evergreen and various art, comedy and theatre productions to be announced. £139 for the whole weekend, with various cheaper options for students, teenagers and under-12s who can go free (with an adult).
Cleckheaton Folk Festival 2012
Cleckheaton Folk Festival 2012 (6th to 8th Jul) This year's folk extravaganza will feature Vin Garbutt, Cara Dillon, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, The Hut People, Martin Simpson and more. Tickets for 6th to 8th June cost £54 for the weekend or £40 for a Saturday Rover! More acts will be added in due course.
Wireless Festival 2012
Wireless Festival 2012 (6th - 8th Jul) Deadmau5 on Friday will be joined by The Roots, Maverick Sabre, Modestep, Santigold and more, Drake on Saturday (now sold out) will have Nicki Minaj, Labrinth, Example, Rita Ora, Hilltop Hoods, Clement Marfo and the Frontline and more supporting him while Sunday's sold out Rihanna gig has Jessie J, Lloyd, Calvin Harris, J.Cole, Far East Movement and more. Only Friday, three day and combined Friday/ Saturday tickets remain.
BLOC Weekend 2012
BLOC Weekend 2012 (6th & 7th Jul) This 6th eclectic electronic festival (organised in association with the club-night of the same name) is now based in East London's Royal Victoria Dock and has a hefty line-up already confirmed including Orbital, Snoop Dogg, Richie Hawtin, Flying Lotus, Steve Reich, Gary Numan, James Blake, Battles, Four Tet and much more. Tickets cost £99 for standards or £125 for 'Express' admission.
T in the Park 2012
T in the Park 2012 (6th - 8th Jul) has announced its daily line-ups, with Snow Patrol and Florence and the Machine taking care of Friday, The Stone Roses and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds taking flight on Saturday and Kasabian, Elbow and Keane bringing proceedings to a close on Sunday. Also playing are Orbital, who will headline the Slam Tent on Sunday night along with Paul Kalkbrenner, plus Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex, Tinie Tempah, New Order, David Guetta, Jessie J, Frank Turner and many more. Tickets cost £195 for weekend camping, £175 for non-camping and £70-£77.50 for day tickets - but they are selling fast!
Lounge on the Farm 2012
Lounge on the Farm 2012 (6th - 8th Jul) Merton Farm near Canterbury will once again host another jam-packed summer-bash, with the line-up now boasting a rare slot from '80s Stax-steppers Dexys as well as Emeli Sandé, The Charlatans, The Wombats, Chic feat Nile Rodgers, Caspa, Dub Pistols, Goldie, Niki and the Dove, Roots Manuva, Toddla T and more throughout the weekend. More names will be announced in due course, meanwhile tickets cost £115 for the weekend or £49 per day.
Wakestock 2012
Wakestock 2012 (6th to 8th Jul) The surf and rock festival returns to the picturesque Penhros near Abersoch in North Wales and the headliners include Dizzee Rascal, Ed Sheeran, Calvin Harris and Rizzle Kicks. Other highlights include All-American Rejects, Flux Pavilion, Azealia Banks, Breakage, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Annie Mac and more. Standard Tickets cost £100 for weekend passes or £125/£130 with camping/quiet camping.
Cocoon in the Park 2012
Cocoon in the Park 2012 (7th Jul) Leeds' dance-music one-dayer returns with techno-master and Cocoon founder Sven Väth at the helm once again. The event takes place at historic Temple Newsam, a mansion close to central Leeds and an idyllic setting for some Serious clubbing. Headliners so far include Brit-Berliner and deep-house specialist, Cassy and electronic supergroup and Fabric legends, Visionquest, amongst others due to be announced. Tickets are now on sale priced at £43 for the full day.
Larmer Tree Festival 2012
Larmer Tree Festival 2012 (11th to 15th Jul) Paloma Faith has been added to this year's line -up which already boasts Jools Holland, Tim Minchin (Thursday) and Levellers (Friday). Other confirmations include Vintage Trouble, The Wave Pictures, Crowns and Akala plus comedians Greg Davies, Milton Jones, Terry Alderton and more. Tickets cost £140 - £190 for various weekend camping options. Day tickets range from £36 to £60.
Hebridean Celtic Festival 2012
Hebridean Celtic Festival 2012 (11th - 14th Jul)
Set in the remote (but accessible) Isle of Lewis' capital Stornoway, Hebceltfest as it's also known will feature headliners The Waterboys, The Proclaimers and Kassidy, as well as a raft of acousitcally-minded or celtic-rocking artists from around the UK and further afield. Larkin Poe, Roddy Woomble, Mànran and Admiral Fallow are the pick of the support acts and tickets cost £70 for the weekend, £25 for Thursday or £33 for the Friday or Saturday.
2000 Trees Festival 2012
2000 Trees Festival 2012 (12th - 14th Jul) Gloucestershire's modest festival of new and upcoming underground music has confirmed more headliners and highlights. The Main Stage on Friday will now include The Futureheads, 65 Days of Static, Dry the River and We Were Promised Jetpacks, while Saturday brings Guillemots, Summer Camp and Dog is Dead, as well as other weekenders such as Three Trapped Tigers, Pulled Apart by Horses, Gallows and Future of the Left. Weekend tickets cost £66 or £117.50 for a joint ticket to attend both 2000 Trees and the sister Y Not Festival in Derbyshire in August (see below).
Latitude 2012
Latitude 2012 (12th to 15th Jul) Rufus Wainwright has been confirmed to appear alongside Bon Iver, Elbow, Paul Weller, Wild Beasts, The Horrors, Richard Hawley, White Lies, Lana Del Rey, Ben Howard, Bat for Lashes, Simple Minds, Laura Marling, Buena Vista Social Club, Metronomy, SBTRKT, Janelle Monáe, Amadou & Mariam and the recently-reformed (and renamed) Dexys [too-rye-aye - Ed] and many more head-up the music side of things at this year's festival. The funny side of proceedings will be handled by Jack Dee, Reginald D Hunter, Greg Davies, Rich Hall, Russell Kane, Lee Nelson, Tim Minchin and The Infinite Monkey Cage (Professor Brian Cox and Robin Ince). Day tickets cost £75, with weekend tickets costing £175.
Mouth of the Tyne Festival 2012
Mouth of the Tyne Festival 2012 (12th - 15th Jul) Based in and around Tynemouth in the north-east of England, this four day musical spree features two huge names in pop - McFly headlining Friday and The Wanted on Saturday (both £25). Also appearing will be The Undertones who will open the festival on Thursday at Whitley Bay Playhouse, Richard Hawley on Friday at the same venue (£20) and Heaven 17 with The South in support on Sunday afternoon at the Priory and Castle (£10).
Hard Rock Calling 2012
Hard Rock Calling 2012 (13th - 15th Jul) Grunge-legends Soundgarden will close the opening Friday night, along with support from Iggy and the Stooges and Aussie classic-rockers Cold Chisel (feat. Jimmy Barnes). Black Stone Cherry, Kids in Glass Houses, Big Country, Skindred and more were announced recently. Tickets are priced at £50. Saturday's event with Bruce Springsteen has sold out of face-value tickets, while Sunday is still available with Paul Simon at the helm (£55).
GuilFest 2012
GuilFest 2012 (13th - 15th Jul) Joining chart-topping X-Factor star Olly Murs, Jools Holland, Chic, Tim Minchin, Jimmy Cliff, Bryan Ferry, Gary Numan etc are new additions in the shape of Ash, ABC, Heaven 17, Kids in Glass Houses, StooShe, The South, Young Guns and more. The family-friendly bash in Guildford still has tickets and will cost you £130 (adult weekend w/camping), £45 for Friday only or £50 for Saturday or Sunday only.
Vintage Festival 2012
Vintage Festival 2012 (13th - 15th Jul) Billed as 'celebrating 7 decades of British culture', this year's Vintage is a stand-alone festival based at Boughton House near Kettering, featuring a hefty line-up of musical luminaries such as Sergio Mendes, Aloe Blacc, Baxter Dury, Chic feat Nile Rodgers, Betty Wright, Danny Rampling, Norman Jay, Nouvelle Vague, St Etienne, Lonnie Liston-Smith and much more. Weekend camping is £139, without is £125 and there is a deposit scheme in place.
The Secret Garden Party 2012
The Secret Garden Party 2012 (19th - 22nd Jul) Main highlights in Huntingdon include Orbital, Tim Minchin, KT Tunstall, Lamb, Little Dragon, Vintage Trouble, The Duke Spirit and more. Tickets have now completely sold out!!
Rhythms of the World Festival 2012
Rhythms of the World Festival 2012 (14th & 15th Jul) Hitchin Priory is the location for this globally-inclined family music, dance and food festival in July. Many genres will be covered by Young Knives, The Damned, Speech Debelle, Jassi Sidhu, The Boxettes, Junior Murvin and many more. The best thing about the festival tickets? The price is just £10 per day and £5 for kids. More names will be announced in due course.
Truck Festival 2012
Truck Festival 2012 (20th & 21st Jul) The Temper Trap, British Sea Power, Guillemots, The Low Anthem, Little Comets are now performing at the intimate TRUCK Festival in Oxfordshire, a weekend that also features Mystery Jets, 65daysofstatic, Villagers, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly and lots more including . Weekend tickets are still available priced at £69 each (under 12s go free) with some Campervan Passes still available priced at £25.
Splendour 2012
Splendour 2012 (21st Jul) Nottingham's one-day festival has unveiled the first four big names for its Wollaton Park bash in the summer. Dizzee Rascal is your headliner this year, followed by Razorlight, Katy B, Hard-Fi, Bjorn Again plus The Levellers, The Lightning Seeds and more. Tickets for this year's event come in three values - city resident tickets cost £27.50, county resident tickets (with proof of an NG postcode) cost £27.50, while standards cost £37.50. Kids 10 yrs and under get in free.
Deer Shed Festival 3
Deer Shed Festival 3 (20th to 22nd Jul) Designed to be a family festival (their admirable strapline states, "Children are NOT second-class citizens at Deer Shed"), Topcliffe in North Yorkshire promises much to keep all ages amused in beautiful Baldersby Park. The music boasts Saint Etienne, Dutch Uncles, Villagers, Cherry Ghost, Beth Jeans Houghton, Human Don't Be Angry, Field Music and more to be announced. Tickets for the weekend bash cost £69, kids over 6-yrs are £20 and under 6's can get in free (you still need to buy a free ticket though).
Rewind Scotland - the '80s Festival 2012
Rewind Scotland - the '80s Festival 2012 (20th to 22nd Jul) Scone Castle near Perth is the setting for the second annual installment of the joint biggest '80s festival in the UK (the other being it's longer-running sister-fest held in Henley-on-Thames). This year's line-up over two days includes Ali Campbell's UB40, Marc Almond, Holly Johnson, Jimmy Somerville, The Lightning Seeds, Go West and rare appearances for Limahl, Roland Gift (FYC) and Sinitta. Tickets are on sale now, with ticket prices starting at £50 for day tickets or £95 for weekend passes. Campervan spaces are now filled.
Camp Bestival 2012
Camp Bestival 2012 (26th - 29th Jul) Bestival's little brother has announced an Olympics-themed party for this year's bash at Lulworth Castle. The Silly Olympics (featuring pea shot-put and single binocular football - no, us neither) is as competitive as it gets, with music coming from Happy Mondays, Hot Chip, Kool & the Gang, Chic and Al McKay and the Earth Wind & Fire Experience, Little Dragon, Rizzle Kicks, Adam Ant, Jimmy Cliff, Henry Rollins, Bellowhead and many more. Early-bird tickets cost £170 for weekend with camping (now only Friday entry), less for teens and kids.
Cambridge Folk Festival 2012
Cambridge Folk Festival 2012 (26th - 29th Jul) The iconic annual folk festival has an amazing line-up that includes Billy Bragg, John Prine, Clannad, Joan Armatrading, The Proclaimers, Nanci Griffith, Dry the River, June Tabor and the Oysterband, James Vincent McMorrow and more. Tickets for 2012's bash at Cherry Hinton Hall cost £120 for the whole weekend or from £19 to £52 for day tickets.
Kendal Calling 2012
Kendal Calling 2012 (27th - 29th Jul) This year's Cumbrian cracker boasts Dizzee Rascal, James, Maximo Park plus We Are Scientists, The View, Tribes, Ghostpoet, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Shed Seven, Benga, Shy FX, Little Roy, Inspiral Carpets, Vintage Trouble, Andy C and many more. Tickets are on sale now, priced at £105 for adults, £50 for teens and free entry for under 11s! N.B. The festival has sold out 6 years running!
BT London Live 2012
BT London Live 2012 (27th Jul - 12th Aug) During the biggest event of the year, there will be several live shows held across the UK, as well as this series in the capital sponsored by BT. Truly, the Best of British has been unveiled for the snappily-titled BT London Live Closing Ceremony Celebration Concert on 12th August - Blur, New Order, The Specials have been chosen to close out the final day's concluding celebratory party. Tickets were all snapped-up on the day they went on sale (Friday 24th Feb).
Global Gathering 2012
Global Gathering 2012 (27th & 28th Jul) Long Marston near Stratford-upon-Avon will be hosting this premier-class two-day party, featuring the very best in internationally-acclaimed DJs and live acts from the clubbing world. Of the many highlights (and stages), Chase and Status, Armin van Buuren, Nero, Skrillex, Magnetic Man, Tinie Tempah, Above and Beyond, Seth Troxler, Annie Mac, Netsky and special guest Sasha. Tickets now cost £105 (or £180 VIP).
Rebellion Festival 2012
Rebellion Festival 2012 (2nd to 5th Aug) Blackpool's Rebellion Festival have pulled off a coup by having John Lydon's PiL as Saturday's headliners, with US hardcore bands Rancid, 7 Seconds and SNFU, British punk legends Ruts DC, Bow Wow Wow, Penetration plus The Only Ones, Snuff and The Monochrome Set also on the roster. Tickets cost £30 for Thursday evening, £50 for Friday, Saturday or Sunday, or £115 for the entire weekend (offer ends 30th April - rises to £130 in May).
The Trowbridge Festival 2012
The Trowbridge Festival 2012 (2nd to 5th Aug) Back after a year's hiatus is the Trowbridge Festival, set on Stowford Manor Farm in Wiltshire. Roots music is the order of the day - folk from Peatbog Faeries, gypsy-rhythms from Sheelanagig, fusion from Monster Ceilidh Band, bhangra from RSVP and festival favourite Rory McLeod are the first names out of the hat! Tickets for the weekend cost £95 for adults, around half that price for kids and students and if you can get 9 or more mates to go with you, you get a ticket thrown in for zilch!
Y Not Festival 2012
Y Not Festival 2012 (3rd - 5th Aug) Matlock's nearby indie bash and sister festival to Gloucestershire's 2000 Trees Festival kicks off once more with a powerful line-up that boasts The Wombats, We Are Scientists, British Sea Power, The Pigeon Detectives, The Subways, Pulled Apart by Horses, Slow Club, Vintage Trouble, The Xcerts and many more. Early Bird tickets sold out a while ago but Standards with camping are still available for £75. Those more mobile and keen can buy a joint ticket for both Y Not and 2000 Trees for £117.50! (see 2000 Trees for line-up details).
Standon Calling 2012
Standon Calling 2012 (3rd - 5th Aug) The eclectic sibling festival to Kendal Calling 2012 takes place in Hertfordshire during August and features Death in Vegas, Fat Freddy's Drop, Beardyman, Field Music, The Time & Space Machine and Willy Mason amongst the key names. All Early Birds, Super or otherwise, have sold out Weekend tickets are still available for £99, Two-Dayers are £78 and Day tickets are £39 for Saturday or Sunday or £25 for the shorter Friday.
Hevy Music Festival 2012
Hevy Music Festival 2012 (3rd - 6th Aug) Port Lympne's Animal Park on the Kent coast is geared-up to host the fourth instalment of raucous rock, metal mayhem and a dash of punk for good measure. The line-up is impressive - Descendents (exclusive UK festival appearance and Sunday Headliners), Cancer Bats, Converge, Will Haven, Municipal Waste, Protest the Hero, Deaf Havana, Rolo Tomassi and loads more have been announced, with more to come. Weekend tickets cost £96 plus fee.
Lytham Proms Festival Weekend 2012
Lytham Proms Festival Weekend 2012 (4th Aug) 2012 promised to be special with the early announcement of Alfie Boe topping the bill, while Olly Murs and the 'cast' of the '80s Here and Now tour, including Bananarama, Belinda Carlisle, Rick Astley, Toyah and more, will headline across the weekend. Day tickets cost £35.75 with VIP passes costing £157.75 (!). More acts TBA.
Boomtown Fair 2012
Boomtown Fair 2012 (9th to 12th Aug) Set up as a 'town' in picturesque Matterley Estate near Winchester, this quirky medium-sized festival is 4 years old this summer and to celebrate they've gather an eclectic array of performers including Reel Big Fish, Caravan Palace, Jack Beats, Stanton Warriors, Natty, Asian Dub Foundation and many more throughout the weekend. Weekend tickets are now at 'Tier 4' stage which means the price is £121 for adults, £80 for teens or £10 for under-13s.
Wilderness 2012
Wilderness 2012 (10th - 12th Aug) Cornbury Park plays host to another Wilderness Festival with some big guns revealed right off. Spiritualized, Wilco, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Stornoway, Grant Lee Buffalo, Field Music and Lianne La Havas are amongst the first names to be announced, with various food producers, arty workshops and loads of kids' entertainment laid on. Ticket prices are currently £119 upwards for weekend camping.
Bloodstock Open Air Festival 2012
Bloodstock Open Air Festival 2012 (10th - 12th Aug) Organizers for this year's Bloodstock have unveiled some serious artillery for August - None other than Alice Cooper, Dimmu Borgir and Behemoth will head-up proceedings, backed up by Paradise Lost, Hatebreed, Mayhem and many more bone-crunching, vein-shrivelling delights such as Deicide with their only UK appearance this year. Weekend tickets can be purchased in one hit for £115 (inc 4 days of camping). Pay £36.25 now, then two more instalments of £42, job done. Child tickets cost £25.
Belsonic 2012
Belsonic 2012 (15th - 26th Aug) This Belfast almost-fortnight just gets bigger, better and more varied with every year. 2012 is no exception with man-of-the-moment Skrillex set to kick things off in style on 15th August, followed by Emeli Sande, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Madness, Thin Lizzy (with The Darkness in support), Two Door Cinema Club (and Noah and the Whale), Tom Jones, James Morrison and, to round things off with another night of full-on banging club-vibes, David Guetta who plays on the last night. Tickets range from £31 to £33. More acts to be announced in due course.
Green Man Festival 2012
Green Man Festival 2012 (16th - 19th Aug) This year's jaunt in the Brecon Beacons should prove to be a monumental and spiritual journey with none other than Van Morrison headlining the Saturday night, along with other newly-announced acts such as Bowerbirds, Daughter, Megafaun and Beth Jeans Houghton, as well as Feist, The Felice Brothers, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, King Creosote & Jon Hopkins and much more. You can still get your weekend tickets, priced at £145 for adults and £125 for students. All Teen tickets have now sold out!
Rewind - the '80s Festival 2012
Rewind - the '80s Festival 2012 (17th - 19th Aug) The line-up for Henley-on-Thames' Rewind '80s Festival includes on Saturday - Kool & The Gang, The Bangles, Grandmaster Flash, Rick Astley, Soul II Soul: Sunday - OMD, The Lightning Seeds, Marc Almond, Tony Hadley, plus Five Star, Jimmy Somerville, Starship, Heather Small, Right Said Fred, Sinitta,and more. Tickets on sale now.
Beautiful Days 2012
Beautiful Days 2012 (17th - 19th Aug) The 10th anniversary of Exeter's Beautiful Days has prompted a really top notch line-up to celebrate with. Appearing are PiL, Frank Turner, Midlake, Ian Anderson, The Waterboys, The Levellers, Bellowhead, New Model Army, Billy Bragg, Inspiral Carpets, Richard Thompson, Reel Big Fish, The King Blues and many more. Tickets have now sold out...
Beacons Festival 2012
Beacons Festival 2012 (17th - 19th Aug) This Yorkshire festival makes a welcome return to the schedules after being rained off last year. Crazy weather notwithstanding, you should be able to witness an eclectic line-up that includes Wild Beasts, Jessie Ware and Frankie And The Heartstrings, Roots Manuva, Errors, Ghostpoet, Patrick Wolf, Maya Jane Coles, Clock Opera, Kwes, Factory Floor and many more. Standard Weekend tickets cost £74.50, with Day tickets costing £34.50 or £39.50.
V Festival 2012
V Festival 2012 (18th & 19th Aug) The Killers (only UK date so far this year), The Stone Roses, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and Snow Patrol as well as big hitters such as Ed Sheeran, Example, Keane, Tom Jones, Madness, Nicki Minaj, Nero and David Guetta are just some of the highlights for 2012. Tickets cost £149 for non-camping weekenders, £175 for Yellow Camping plus other options all available now.
Flashback Festival 2012
Flashback Festival 2012 (18th Aug) Previously known as Flashback to the '80s, this day out devoted to all things synth-pop and dodgy hair-dos returns to Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire with an impressive headliner - OMD (they don't 'do' festivals, as a rule). Marc Almond, ABC, Belinda Carlisle, Go West and The Christians are also on the bill. Standard Tickets cost £35.45.
Creamfields 2012
Creamfields 2012 (24th and 25th Aug) once again has announced a winning line-up, with David Guetta, Above & Beyond, Tiësto, deadmau5, Skrillex, Paul van Dyk, Sub Focus, Steve Angello, Eddie Halliwell and Richie Hawtin heading the pack. Tickets are on sale now, costing £135 for three day camping, with hospitality tickets also available.
Tennent's Vital 2012
Tennent's Vital 2012 (21st & 22nd Aug) Based at Boucher Playing Fields near Belfast, this year's rock festival follows up its Eminem appearance last year with a MASSIVE headlining line-up. Foo Fighters, The Stone Roses, Florence and the Machine and The Black Keys are the first quartet out of the hat and have been joined by the recently-added The Minutes and Rodrigo y Gabriela. Tickets cost £49.50 for each day with more names due to be announced.
Towersey Festival 2012
Towersey Festival 2012 (23rd to 27th Aug) 2012 marks the 48th edition of Oxfordshire's family-fest, situated near the sleepy town of Thame. The line-up leans heavily on folk and acoustic artists including Bellowhead, Dónal Lunny, The South, Martin Simpson, Peatbog Faeries, Nic Jones, Roddy Woomble, Larkin Poe, Brass Monkey and many more throughout the extended Bank Holiday weekend. You have until 31st May to pick up Early Bird camping/non-camping tickets priced at £124/£104 respectively. NB - The South's show on 23rd August requires a separate ticket priced at £17.
Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2012
Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2012 (24th to 27th Aug) An incredible array of top-grade folk and roots performers awaits the discerning punter at this year's festival, held at the West Midlands Showground. Richard Thompson, Kate Rusby, Show of Hands, Dervish, Jim Moray and Jackie Oates are just some of the names confirmed to play. Tickets cost £108.50 for adult weekenders, £32.50 or £51 for day tickets or £313.50 for 4 family members. Booking fees? Nope. Kids under 4 go free? Oh yes. More names to be announced? Definitely.
Reading Festival 2012
Reading Festival 2012/ Leeds Festival 2012 (24th to 26th Aug) This year's mudtastic Aug Bank Holiday event will be headlined by Kasabian, Foo Fighters and The Cure. Support comes from Florence and the Machine, The Black Keys, Paramore, Kaiser Chiefs, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Vaccines, Enter Shikari and many more. Tickets cost £197.50 for weekend camping and £85 for day tickets, although Sunday's bash with the Foo Fighters has now sold out.
South West Four 2012
South West Four 2012 (25th & 26th Aug) Clapham's massive SW4 Weekender has just gone viral, so to speak. Skrillex will be headlining the Sunday bash as a London festival exclusive during the August Bank Holiday, with Saturday not looking too rubbish with Carl Cox, Erick Morillo and John Digweed now Djing throughout the event, in addition to headliners Chase and Status. More names will be announced soon - tickets cost £45 per day.
Underage Festival 2012
Underage Festival 2012 (31st Aug) Exclusively for 13 to 17 year olds ONLY, this one-day music bash takes place in Shoreditch Park on a Friday during summer hols, an ideal opportunity for the kids to see some decent music and parents to grab some peace and quiet! Look at the line-up - Maverick Sabre, Dry the River, Pulled Apart By Horses, Spector, Theme Park, Fixers and even some bowel-trembling bassweight from Warp's excellent Rustie, and that's without any headliners being mentioned yet. Early Bird Tickets cost £19.50. Hurry - they'll be gone very quickly!
End of the Road Festival 2012
End of the Road Festival 2012 (31st Aug - 2nd Sep) The organizers have been busy collating their line-up - and what a cracker it is too. Mark Lanegan Band, Van Dyke Parks, the reformed Grandaddy, Midlake, Tindersticks, Grizzly Bear, First Aid Kit, Anna Calvi and Robyn Hitchcock are amongst the equally-flamboyant stack of performers, due on stage throughout the August Bank Holiday weekend - tickets cost £150 for adults, £120 for teens, £50 for 6-12 year olds and the whole thing takes place as usual at Larmer Tree Gardens, on the Wiltshire/Dorset border.
Electric Picnic 2012
Electric Picnic 2012 (31st Aug - 2nd Sep) Ireland's music and arts festival has unveiled quite a line-up for late summer. The Cure, Sigur Ros, Orbital, Elbow, Hot Chip, The xx, Ed Sheeran and The Horrors headline the weekend along with eclectic names such as Christy Moore, Grizzly Bear, Milagres and Roots Manuva. Tickets are €230 for a weekend or €99.50 for Sunday Day Tickets (other options also available).
Autumn
Bestival 2012
Bestival 2012 (6th - 9th Sep) Stevie Wonder's incredible catalogue is always a draw and after being named as Sunday headliner and with Orbital headlining The Big Top, the Isle of Wight festival will be PUMPING on Sunday night. Plus you've got New Order, The XX, Hot Chip, Sigur Ros, Justice, Soulwax, Ben Howard and loads more throughout the weekend to keep your mind and body busy. Tickets are still available for £180 (Thursday entry) or £170 (Friday entry).
Festival No.6
Festival No.6 (14th - 16th Sep) For three days in mid-September, Festival No.6 will gather up big artists and DJs from across the globe and present them in the idyllic setting of Portmeirion in North Wales. Often associated with the eccentric '60s thriller The Prisoner, the village will host a boutique festival with a difference. Headliners include New Order, Primal Scream and Spiritualized, while clubbers won't feel out of place with François Kevorkian, Erol Alkan, Horse Meat Disco, Mr Scruff, Andrew Weatherall, Don Letts and others pumping out the beats. Early Birds cost £99 for 3-days camping.
Loopallu 2012
Loopallu 2012 (21st & 22nd Sep) The ever-successful family music festival in North West Scotland continues for another year during September. Don't be fooled by the time of year - this part of the world is normally fairly clear weather-wise in the early autumn. Last year's line-up boasted The Feeling, Jon Fratelli and more - the organizers have promised even better for 2012. But meanwhile you can pick up weekend tickets for £75 (under-16s free).
London Jazz Festival 2012
London Jazz Festival 2012 (9th - 16th Nov) - one of jazz-music's keynote events celebrates 20 years this year. Highlights this year include shows from Afric-jazz musician Salif Keita, vocalist Melody Gardot, guitarist John McLaughlin, Jan Garbarek Group (with Trilok Gurtu), guitarist Bill Frisell and the legendary sax-player Sonny Rollins. Tickets for all shows are available now, priced from £10 to £35, depending on venue and seat.
Overseas Festivals
Primavera Sound 2012
Primavera Sound 2012 (30th May - 3rd Jun) The Barcelona-based festival (with close ties to ATP and sponsored by San Miguel) is perfectly poised already with a scorching line-up already announced. Bjork, Josh T.Pearson, Spiritualized, Guided by Voices, Codeine, Jeff Mangum, SBTRKT, The Drums and many more will perform at some point over the weekend. Tickets cost €190 for basic entry or €80 for day tickets.
Ibiza Rocks 2012
Ibiza Rocks 2012/ Mallorca Rocks 2012 (5th Jun - 19th Sep) More big news from the Balearics - Last year's sensational opening act Plan B has been announced to appear at this year's Rocks as well! He plays Mallorca on 3rd July, Ibiza Rocks 25th. The Maccabees also play Ibiza on 20th June with upcoming treasures Theme Park, while Swedish House Mafia member Axwell will be in Mallorca on 24th July with Brit-electro outfit Fenech-Soler in support. Other new acts include support slots from Spector (with Kaiser Chiefs on 26th/27th June) and The Milk (with Ed Sheeran on his opening nights on 5th/6th June). Tickets vary in price from around £24.50 (minus hotel and travel costs).
Optimus Primavera Sound 2012
Optimus Primavera Sound 2012 (7th - 10th Jun) Based in Portugal's Porto, the line-up isn't dissimilar to its Spanish sister festival in Barcelona and now boasts Suede, Bjork, Wilco, Rufus Wainwright, The Flaming Lips, The Drums, The XX, Spiritualized, The Afghan Whigs and loads more will fill the city's Parque da Cidade over the weekend. Tickets now cost from €85 for basic entry.
Sónar Festival 2012
Sónar Festival 2012 (14th - 16th Jun) The biggest Sónar edition is Barcelona's and this year's line-up promises much to savour. Flying Lotus, Simian Mobile Disco and Annie Mac will join New Order, Fatboy Slim, The Roots, Deadmau5, Hot Chip, Friendly Fires, James Blake, Richie Hawtin and Metronomy head up an all-star cast (albeit rather Anglicized). Tickets are available to purchase now, priced at €166.65 for a 3-day pass (around £150).
Hideout Festival 2012
Hideout Festival 2012 (29th Jun - 1st Jul) The Croatian festival has grown considerably recently, with new additions in the form of SBTRKT, Chase and Status, Simian Mobile Disco, Benga, Aeroplane, DJ Friction, Seth Troxler and many more. Skrillex, Skream, Andy C are amongst the other acts, either DJing or playing live. Tickets cost £99 (Early Birds have sold out).
Eurockéennes de Belfort 2012
Eurockéennes de Belfort 2012 (29th Jun - 1st Jul) Situated in the North East of France near the Swiss border is the large city of Belfort, home to one of France's largest music festivals. This year's is no exception - The Cure have now been joined by Jack White, Justice, Cypress Hill, Mastodon, Dropkick Murphys and lots more. The biggest names to tend to come to Eurokeenes and, given its location, might be THE European festival for you. Tickets for a 3-day pass cost €99 - more names to be announced in due course.
Benicàssim 2012
Benicàssim 2012 (12th - 15th Jul) The formidable line up of New Order, The Horrors, Crystal Castles, Noel Gallagher's Flying Birds, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Stone Roses and more, has just been expanded to include the reformed US rockers At the Drive-In, The Maccabees, Bat for Lashes, Little Dragon, Dave Clarke, Lisa Hannigan and even more. £155 for the 4-day festival, plus other ticket options are available, including an £80 upgrade to VIP camping.
Bilbao BBK Live 2012
Bilbao BBK Live 2012 (12th - 14th Jul) Northern Spain is the setting for this ever-growing major gathering. Joining the Cure and Snow Patrol on the Thursday are Bloc Party, The Maccabees and Band of Skulls. Radiohead and The Kooks will be joined by Mumford and Sons, Four Tet and Noah and The Whale on the Friday. The final day will see Garbage headline, joined by Glasvegas, Enter Shikari and Pure Love. Tickets are on sale now priced at £88 for 3 days inc. camping or £46 for Day Tickets.
Electric Elephant 2012
Electric Elephant 2012 (12th - 16th Jul) The organizers have found an even better location to Petrcane - this time near the town of Tisno (on the same coast). A few early bird tickets still remain, costing £89.99. The line-up includes Andrew Weatherall, Optimo, Ewan Pearson, Unabombers and more TBC.
Exit Festival 2012
Exit Festival 2012 (12th - 15th Jul) The four-day bash in Novi Sadin, Serbia has announced a band very much at the forefront of must-sees this year - New Order. Other acts include Wolfmother, a return for Beth Ditto's Gossip, Buraka Som Sistema, Richie Hawtin, Luciano, Reboot, Art Department and more. Early Birds have already sold out, but standard tickets cost from £95 (add £25 for camping).
Optimus Alive 2012
Optimus Alive 2012 (13th - 15th Jul) Not to be confused with Primavera Optimus, this version takes place in Oeiras just to the west of the Portugese capital Lisbon. Friday will see The Stone Roses grace the stage with French electro-house duo Justice and Snow Patrol in support, while Florence and the Machine will top off Saturday. Along with Radiohead on Sunday, you also get Metronomy, Caribou and a reformed Mazzy Star. It's 8 miles from Lisbon Airport, it's an arts and music festival with a twist and it costs £103 for the three days plus camping. What's not to like? There are even Day Tickets at £45!!
Soundwave Festival 2012
Soundwave Festival 2012 (20th - 22nd Jul) The organizers have found an even better location to Petrcane - this time near the town of Tisno (on the same coast). Meanwhile, Early Birds have sold out completely - Standard Tickets are on sale now priced at £105. The line-up includes De La Soul, DJ Yoda, Plaid (Live), Ghostpoet, Olugbenga (Metronomy), Belleruche and many more.
Costa de Fuego 2012
Costa de Fuego 2012 (20th - 21st Jul) Organisers of FIB have begun to formulate a line-up of heavy rock, metal and hardcore acts from around the world for this inaugural instalment, held in Benicàssim in mid-July. Axl Rose's Guns N' Roses and Marilyn Manson are joined by Nightwish, In Flames, Opeth, Paradise Lost, Lacuna Coil and many more acts. There is an initial run of 2-day tickets priced at £70 (5000), rising to £90 when they run out. The tickets include FOUR days free camping, making this an ideal holiday alternative to Download!
Tomorrowland 2012
Tomorrowland 2012 (27th - 29th Jul) Now entering its 7th year, this Belgian dance-music festival keeps on giving with a three-day festival featuring some of the biggest names in clubbing. Fatboy Slim, Avicii, Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex, Carl Cox, Ferry Corsten, David Guetta, Dave Clarke, Calvin Harris, Jon Digweed, Umek, Above and Beyond, Pendulum (DJ set), Jamie Jones, Richie Hawtin, Roger Sanchez, DJ Hatcha - the list is quite incredible. The festival, which is situated near the town Boom (halfway between Brussels and Antwerp) is sold-out, bar some resales.
Stop Making Sense 2012
Stop Making Sense 2012 (2nd to 6th Aug) This year's Croatian dance festival will be held in Tisno (Barbarella's) and features a heady blend of DJing luminaries such as Radio 1's Chris Coco and Benji B, Dan Beaumont and James Priestly, as well as turntablists The Correspondents and drum-n-folk outfit More Like Trees. More names will be announced soon - Standard weekend-tickets cost from £100.
Flow Festival 2012
Flow Festival 2012 (8th to 12th Aug) Overseas festivals are certainly getting the pick of the performers this year and this Finnish event pulls no punches. Bon Iver will perform an exclusive show on the Wednesday, then there's a break until three packed days from Friday including Bobby Womack, The Black Keys, Bjork, Richie Hawtin, Ane Brun, A$AP Rocky, Swans, Frank Ocean, Feist, Horace Andy, DJ sets from Four Tet and Caribou and a load more eclectic stars. Tickets for Bon Iver plus the three days cost £135, or for just the three days it's £110.
Summer Well Festival 2012
Summer Well Festival 2012 (11th and 12th Aug) Despite having a very English-sounding name, Summer Well takes place just 10 miles from the Romanian capital, Bucharest. The town of Buftea will host two days of big names from indie and rock including The Stone Roses, Hurts, The Vaccines, Patrick Wolf, Glasvegas, The Big Pink, Zulu Winter and many more. €29.50 gets you a two-day festival pass (without camping) which is a bargain in anyone's language!
