A to Z of Festivals 2011
With the festival season about to kick start, we thought we would give you the A to Z of the 4clubbers teams favourite festivals for 2011.
A is for…
Amsterdam which plays host to the legendary Pink Pop festival, where you can see the likes of Wolfmother and the White Lies.
11-13 June, Amsterdam www.pinkpop.nl
At the end of the festival calendar the Amsterdam clubs open their doors for the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE). Last year 90,000 clubbers packed out 41 venues to the tune of more than 700 DJs and artists. Well worth checking out if you fancy a long weekend in the city.
19-22 October, Amsterdam www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl
B is for…
Beat Herder set in the lush Lancashire hills, you can catch Leftfield and Mylo in this intimate festival.
1-3 July, Lancs www.beatherder.co.uk
Jump across the border to Yorkshire for Beacons Festival with Mr Scruff and Optimo living up the dales.
12-14 August, Yorkshire www.greetingsfrombeacons.com
C is for…
Cambridge is the home of the Secret Garden Party. If you are looking for a 100% independent festival with a diverse edge the Secret Garden Party provides the garden and plants the seeds, but it needs you to nurture it to life and allow it to blossom.
21-24 July, Cambridgeshire www.secretgardenparty.com
D is for…
Dour, no we’re not talking about the vibe of the festival; it’s just the village it’s set in. There is nothing Dour about the line up with the House of Pain, Klaxons and Erol Alkan livening it up.
14-17 July, Belgium www.dourfestival.be
E is for…
Exit: which is held in the Petrovaradin Fortress, Novi Sad, Serbia. This year Exit has an unbelievable line up including Arcade Fire and Portishead who will certainly storm the castle.
7-10 July, Serbia www.exitfest.org
F is for…
Field Day, a one day festival in Victoria Park, put together by the collective minds of some of London’s best known club nights including Bloggers Delight and Bugged Out!
6 August, London, www.fielddayfestivals.com
G is for…
Glade: which is back better than ever after the sudden cancellation of last year’s festival. With a return to their grassroots vision and a move to a new venue the Glade lads have promised “smaller… more refined and more ridiculous than ever”.
10-12 June, Biggleswade, Beds www.gladefestival.com
Glastonbury… say no more…
22-26 June, Somerset www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
H is for…
Hideout festival, tucked away on the tiny island of Pag in Croatia this is one of the hottest festivals of the summer. So if you fancy hearing the likes of 2manydjs and Circo Loco while dancing on a beach then this is one festival you should get involved in.
1-3 July, Croatia www.hideoutfestival.com
I is for…
Isle of Wight: the home of Bestival. This old favourite is back to round off the festival season with its usual craziness. This year sees some of the top headliner acts around, the Cure and Primal Scream. If that’s not enough then the Glam Rock themed fancy dress parade might just do it for you!
8-11 September www.bestival.net
J is for…
Jagermeister… steer clear of it on all counts!
K is for…
Kendal calling… set in the beautiful Lake District the laid back Cumbrian attitude flows throughout this boutique festival. Plus they’ve only gone and booked Blondie as a headliner!
29 – 31 July, Kendal www.kendalcalling.co.uk
L is for…
Lovebox: a three-day festival with all the usual festival shenanigans but none of the camping stuff… so Lovebox is for you is you are looking for a civilized day out listening to the likes of Beardyman, Horse Meat Disco, Herve and Flying Lotus Live, not to mention the Ed Banger Arena.
15-17 July, London www.lovebox.net
M is for…
Magic Lounge About: back bigger than ever with a new venue but that same ‘refined unwind’ feel. Sticking to their electronic pop heritage on Saturday, with the Human League. Sunday is a distinctive new day, which will be more acoustic lead with Badly Drawn Boy heading up.
29-31 July, Skipton www.themagicloungeabout.net
More Mmmm
Melt Festival in Germany is another one not be missed. This lakeside festival has a real industrial feel and the acts reflect this: Ben Klock, Âme live Guy Gerber Tensnake Carl Craig & Radio Slave b2b’
15-17 July, Germany, www.meltfestival.de
N is for…
Nozstock, The Hidden Valley that is lies amongst the brushes of Herefordshire’s countryside. This eclectic little number has everyone from the Foreign Beggars to the Wurzels to keep you entertained!
29-31 July, Herefordshire www.nozstock.com
O is for…
Outlook Croatia, set in abandoned fort this is Europe’s biggest bass culture festival: dubstep, reggae, hip-hop, raga. There are too many on the line-up to list!
1-14 September, Croatia www.outlookfestival.com
P is for…
Petrčane, the birthplace of the Croatian rave… hosting a multitude of amazing festivals every weekend throughout summer including: the Garden festival, and Electric Elephant to name a few.
The Garden Festival 6-13 July www.thegardenfestival.eu
Electric Elephant 14-18 July, www.electricelephant.co.uk
Q is for.
Resign yourself to the fact you’ll have to Q…
R is for…
Rockness that has not only got Bombay Bicycle and Club Groove Armada to grab the crowds but it ‘s located on one of the most beautiful festival sites in the world right next to Loch Ness.
10-13 June, Inverness www.rockness.co.uk
S is for…
Sonar: sticking with the two sites again this year Sonar is back to celebrate its 18th Birthday. Sonar is fast becoming a veteran in the world of electronic music festivals, although is still managing to stay two steps ahead of its juniors. Combining an eclectic mix of old and new with the likes of Underworld and Cut Copy.
16-18 June, Spain www.sonar.es
T is for…
T in the Park in Scotland: another festival celebrating its 18 birthday. With ten stages across three days it equates to around 180 artists across the weekend so what better way to help the festival celebrate it’s coming of age!
8-10 July, Scotland www.tinthepark.com
U is for…
Umbrella… you’ll need one as it usually rains!
V is for…
V festival: Held at two parks simultaneously and sharing the same bill, V festival has a more corporate feel to it but there’s nothing shy about the line-up. Especially good for those looking for a bit of glam or VIP treatment!
19-21 August, Chelmsford, Essex and Staffordshire www.vfestival.com
W is for…
Winterwell: a family friendly affair with a secret (ish) location tucked away in the Cotswold Hills. Fancy dress adds to the atmosphere and pretty much anything goes.
17-19 June, Gloucestershire www.winterwell.co.uk
X is for…
Ok, ok I tried but nothing starts with X!
Y is for…
Y the hell not!
Z is for…
You won’t get many Zzzz’s
