The Top 6 Music Festivals for 2017

Alex Hartley
1st June, 2017
Top Tips

Summer is festival heaven. Whether you’re a fan of boutique events in UK woodlands or secret hideaways in Croatia, there are plenty of options to keep every possible type of festivalgoer entertained.

Glastonbury (21^st – 25^th June)

Glastonbury remains the Mother of all music festivals and one that every true festival fan needs to attend at least once.

Who’s playing? Radiohead, Ed Sheeran, Katie Perry, Foo Fighters, Solange.

Where is it? Down on Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset.

How do you get tickets? Tickets sell out in a day and most have now already been sold, unless you know someone in a band or you’re prepared to buy a VIP package.

Comfort tip: Hire a yurt, don’t camp. The Glastonbury site is notorious for being a mud bath if it rains and Glasto is notorious for taking place on the only rainy weekend in June..

Truck Festival (21^st – 23^rd July)

Self-named “the godfather of the small festival scene” Truck festival is a leading independent event. Offering all the excitement of the festival, with more manageable crowds and better facilities, it’s a more chilled out experience than most.

Who’s playing? The Libertines, Franz Ferdinand, The Vaccines.

Where is it? Abingdon just outside Oxford.

How do you get tickets? All sold out but you can still sign up for resales.

Comfort tip: Choose the Zodiac Fields camping option as this gives you priority entry, nice spacious camping pitches and showers.

Latitude (13^th – 16^th July)

Set in a romantic woodland spot, Latitude is a festival that strikes a pretty sweet balance between big time hipster festival vibes and a fun camping trip with your mates or family. It’s very family-friendly and accommodating to kids. Ideal for those who don’t like the big festivals but want the strong line-ups.

Who’s playing? Fleet Foxes, Mumford and Sons, Goldfrapp – the comedy and cabaret stages are also well worth a look, as are the new acts on the BBC Music Stage.

Where is it? Southwold Suffolk.

How do you get tickets? Tickets of all types are still available via the website.

Comfort tip: sign up for the Music Angel Latitude Mobile Charging deal and you’ll have smartphone juice for the entire weekend. One less classic festival fail to worry about.

Sonar (15^th – 18^th June)

Set across five days, Sonar is the electronic music festival for Europe. Its location in Barcelona is as much as a draw as the line-up – no welly boots and waterproofs required here.

Who’s playing? Bjork (DJ set), Craig Richards, Justice, De La Soul.

Where is it? Venues around Barcelona.

How do you get tickets? Tickets are still on sale via the website but there are time limits (and limited numbers) if you’re looking for VIP etc.

Comfort tip: Sonar is a festival that does not require camping. It’s entirely city-based so you can choose a nice apartment close to the venues you want to visit and ensure everything is walkable.

Obonjan Island (June – August)

Literally the hottest ticket around, Obonjan Island is a new concept in festivals – this one goes on all summer. This remote island in Croatia will host a 10-week creative programme that features DJ sets and performances, as well as a whole schedule of other events from paddleboard yoga, to panel discussions and talks.

Who’s playing? Different weeks are curated by different musicians or brands e.g. Giles Peterson, Hercules and Love Affair and Hunger Magazine.

Where is it? An island off the coast of Croatia.

How do you get tickets? You book your accommodation and the rest is free. Prices start at EUR37.50 per person, per night.

Comfort tip: The forest lodges are the super-luxe accommodation and just EU84 a night – well worth it for the views alone (they are set high up overlooking the ocean).

Secret Garden Party (20^th – 23^rd July)

This is the festival for all those who love a bit of hipster dress up. Hidden away in the Cambridgeshire countryside the Secret Garden Party still has a relatively small, friendly feel but still attracts some great acts.

Who’s playing? Crystal Fighters, Metronomy, Toots and the Maytals.

Where is it? Mill Hill Field, Cambridgeshire.

How do you get tickets? Still available via the website.

Comfort tip: it may not sound like a ‘comfort’ tip but book the coach travel via the tickets booking page for an easy life. Getting to the site/parking can be challenging here and the coaches collect and drop you right where you need to be. Plus, you might make some new friends on the way in.