My Obsession With Festivals And Where 2016 Will Take Me
Any of you who have read more than a few posts on my blog will know my obsession with live music, and thus festivals are a huge point of my year. Ever since my first festival in 2008 (Reading) I have been to quite an array of them ranging from my annual Reading pilgrimage to Glastonbury/ V/ Hevy/ Sonisphere/ Groezrock in Belgium etc. When I left retail in 2014 festivals became a lot more accessible for me because I didn’t need to book as much time off work for them and last year saw me head to a few. 2016 though is the year that I push festivals to the max.
I was going to do a complete rundown of my summers’ festivals but realised it would be so long that I’ve split it into 2 parts. Here is my May- June selection and keep your eyes peeled for July- Augusts’ post soon.
28th-29th May- Slamdunk
It’s quite unusual for festival season to start so late for me as there’s usually a nice one-dayer to break me in but sadly Takedown and Hit The Deck have both disappeared from existence this year *RIP*. Slamdunk is a one-day festival but repeated over three days across Bank Holiday Weekend. Saturday 28th is held in Leeds City Centre across a number of indoor venues and outdoor stages, Sunday 29th is being head at the Birmingham NEC across a number of stages, and Monday 30th is being held at Hatfield University.
I have been going to Slamdunk for years and years and the line-up never fails to impress me, year on year which is why I have done 2 dates for the last few years. Leeds is the original Slamdunk and a lovely city centre so I couldn’t turn that down and Birmingham is so easy to get to from Leeds on the train (with a straight train home for me the next day) so I chose these as my two options. I love the fact that there is such a mixture of rock music from pop-punk to metal so I’m always in my element. This festival is the start of five weeks on the trot so got to start in style.
Bands I can’t wait to see: Panic! At The Disco, Yellowcard (Ocean Avenue In Full), Issues, Of Mice And Men… the list could go on
3rd-5th June- Rock Im Park
I have always lusted over the Rock Im Park/ Rock Am Ring lineup but as it’s in Germany it’s never really been that practical to go to. But this year as my friend is moving back home there we’re going to use it as an excuse for me to come over and see her. I don’t have a lot of knowledge of the festival but the people I do know who have been, have said it’s super chilled out, the people are really nice and it’s a well laid out festival so I am really excited.
The line-up itself is really strong and I think it takes the best bits from UK rock festivals and merges them. I’m also looking forward to seeing some proper German bands that my friend will show me! Hopefully we can grab a cheap hotel as well as anyway I can get out of camping is good with me!
Bands I can’t wait to see: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Biffy Clyro, Bring Me The Horizon
10th-12th June- Download
Download Festival for me is pretty much a rite of passage. I’ve been going most years since 2009 and have been there as press for the last three so it’s one of those festivals where I go even when I wouldn’t if I was a paying punter. There’s always loads of people for me to catch up with her from other writers and photographers to PR’s and it’s always a pretty fun festival. That is unless there’s a torrential downpour like last year.
I am going to be heading to Donnington Park just for the three days of the festival, arriving early Friday morning and departing Sunday evening which means just two days camping *phew* I’m really excited as they have some wrestling there this year which will certainly be interesting and looking back at the lineup there are a bunch of bands I do love (or haven’t got round to checking out yet) who I want to catch.
Bands I can’t wait to see: Bury Tomorrow, All Time Low, Rammstein, Twin Atlantic, Black Peaks
18-19th June- Stone Free Festival
This weekend was originally meant to be my calm relaxing weekend in the midst of festival season but I spotted a festival which is playing across two days at the O2 Arena called Stone Free. This is the first year for the festival and Alice Cooper is heading Saturday which was enough to win me over. I missed out on seeing Alice Cooper at Download a few years’ ago against an awful bunch of headline clashes so I am lucky to have another chance.
It’s going to be a far more chilled out festival vibe and it will be nice to go home afterwards to a bed, and be able to get a pre or mid show Nando’s (a girl has to dream).
Bands I can’t wait to see: Alice Cooper, The Darkness, The Lounge Kittens
23rd-26th- Glastonbury Festival
I am seeing June off in style with Glastonbury, a festival which absolutely everyone has heard of. I have only been to the festival once before as it’s quite a commitment with four days off work (Wed- Mon), a long drive and expensive hard to get tickets. Each year I have tried to convince friends that we need to go and finally I did it and here we come.
Five of us are heading to Worthy Farm this summer and we’ve only gone and booked a camper van! Yes it’s a massive expensive but it’s warmth on cold nights, dryness in damp weather and real beds. Glastonbury is more an experience than a festival as yes there are hundreds (if not thousands of bands playing) but there’s talks, debates, arts, crafts, fitness, raves, absolutely everything you can image. I want to stay up and watch sunrise over the stone circle, wonder around and stumble into some random raves and dances and just put the music second for once.
For me the headliners’ aren’t my cup of tea, although I can see why they’re headlining. Muse I might catch just because their live show is set to be epic, Adele I do not want to see but my friends will be dragging me to and Coldplay I won’t see because A) I dislike them and B) Bring Me The Horizon are headlining the second stage at the same time!
Bands I can’t wait to see: Ellie Goulding, Bring Me The Horizon, Jess Glyne, Cyndia Lauper, Bastille and The 1975
31 responses to “My Obsession With Festivals And Where 2016 Will Take Me”
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All About Me
Rhian Westbury
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Ive seen panic at the disco YEARS ago, a few times actually, they were one of my favourite bands once upon a time. Met the lead singer, he is TINY haha
Totally admit I used to adore Panic at the Disco as well – I can’t believe how long ago that was now.. WOW how time flys. x
Oh wow you have such an awesome line up ahead of you this year! Have an amazing time! x
I have to admit I’ve never been to a festival and i had never been to a concert until a friend dragged me along to see a group called creed. She loved it and i had a good time too! Enjoy your upcoming festivals Angela 🙂
I wish I was 10 years younger, would loved to go to the festivals. My son erects the fences and is away all summer but often stays at different ones and enjoys the music. Have fun x
I can’t believe how many you’ve been to, I know you go to a fair few but wow!! Hope you enjoy the ones coming up this summer. I’m booked up until july so don’t think I’ll get to many!
I’ve only been to a few festivals but I really enjoyed them. Have fun, it looks like a great line up!
You have been so so many festivals!/Live music gigs and a great line up for this year 🙂 I’d like to go to Glastonbury Festival one day. Perhaps next year. xx
A great list you’ve got there! I did a fair few festivals pre child. I really want to take me little boy to Glasto and Bestival next year – I think he’ll be old enough to enjoy it
Cat x
I’ve never been to a festival, and I’m not really fussed! People think I’m crazy, but I just don’t fancy camping haha. I love what you’ve done with your old festival wristbands, so cute!
wow it sounds like you are going to be super busy this summer! I have never been to a festival and not sure I could cope with the not washing properly and the the crowds but I bet the atmosphere is amazing when you are there! x
I literally just wrote an outfit post inspired by festivals… so jealous that you’ve got all these plans! I want to go too!! :/
Oliver
Wow! Looks like you are in for some serious fun this summer 🙂
Looks like you’re going to have some summer fun. Festivals are a great way to know people and enjoy them with friends. hop you’ll have fun there!
I hate to admit it, but I’ve never been to a music festival! It looks like you’re going to have an amazing summer!
I haven’t been to any music festival but it’s definitely on my bucket list. There is an upcoming festival in my country which features The 1975, Panic! At the Disco and others, and I really hope that I can go!!
You have a ton of fun in store for you! I am excited for your festivals. I am not the festival type person but I love seeing all the people in one place. Though I have to tell you I saw Muse in concert last year and it was by far one of the best concerts I have EVER been to! They blew me away!
I truly love music but I’ve been to three festival and have had awful experiences, after the first why did I back? LOL I love your commitment, have an amazing Summer 🙂
Wow, so many festivals to attend! Have fun. 🙂 I think I would enjoy “Glastonbury Festival” if I was going since many of my faves are performing. 🙂 Shout out to a fellow All time low fan!
Wow! I actually never been to a festival but I’ve always wanted to go to one. How awesome that you get to go to so many! I love music, I hope one that that I will be able to attend a few. Have a lot of fun!
I really need to get out more. I have never, ever been to a festival. I love that you keep the bands as mementos.
Although there are plenty of them here like Coachella, Sunfest and Mysteryland, I’ve never been to any of them. Your band collection is cool, you should come collect some more here.
I’ve never heard of these! I definitely need to get out the house more because I’ve never been to a festival.
You sure know how to have fun. There is so much local flavor in a festival!
I wish so badly I could go to Glastonbury just to see Adele and Coldplay. I absolutely love Adele, I think she is an amazing performer and you should really go and see her without your friends dragging you to. 🙂 She is simply amazing!
Oh my Gosh… I had no idea there were so many festivals … I went to Tomorrowland last year 🙂 that was great !! I’d like to go somewhere else this summer…
I would love o join festivals… but I don’t have this luck here in Sicily, Italy. I would have to travel a lot! But I’m sure one day I can be part of some cool festivals and feel free!
I love live music too! when I was in my teens to early 20s I went to so many concerts/ festivals, so many I lost count! it’s some of my favorite memories.
I have never been to a festival or concert before, I am so jealous and everytime when I decide to go tickets are sold out
I love music festivals too especially Wireless and Glastonbury! I have never heard of Slamdunk before but I do like Panic at the Disco.
I’ve always wanted to go to Glastonbury and it’s just down the road from me. Gutted I am not going this year seeing as Muse are playing!
Laura x x x