We've produced a run-down of 10 of the UK's best music festivals this summer where you can see Leeds College of Music performing.
May
Sound City
Festival season kicks off with Sound City in Liverpool, who are celebrating 10 years of their industry-leading conference and music festival. Headliners, The Velvet Underground, The Kooks and Metronomy lead on a bill themed with “revolution”, celebrating the best in rock ‘n’ roll heritage whilst advocating the artists of the future.
This year, Leeds College of Music presents a breaking artists showcase on the Cavern Stage on Saturday, featuring Lucy Whittaker, Laminate Pet Animal, The Golden Age of TV, Lauren Rycroft and SaNTINO.
Sound City | 25 – 28 May | Liverpool Clarence Dock | More info and tickets
June
Acoustic Festival of Great Britain
This family-friendly Uttoxeter-based festival whistle-stops through the world of acoustica; from folk giants Fairport Convention to 80s icon Howard Jones, via skiffle, blues, soft rock, jazz and ska. LCoM alumna and critically acclaimed blues guitarist Chantel McGregor takes to the stage on the Saturday, following a successful recent UK tour.
The festival also includes poetry workshops, a blues bar, ukulele workshops and plenty of attractions for the kids – definitely something for everyone at this little gem!
Acoustic Festival of Great Britain | 2 – 4 June | Uttoxeter Racecourse | More info and tickets
Love Supreme
Love Supreme is the first full-weekend camping jazz festival in the UK, and takes place in Glynde Place, East Sussex. With a solid remit of jazz, funk and soul, this year’s impressive bill sees jazz legends Herbie Hancock and George Benson join the new-school of jazz, Corinne Bailey Rae and Laura Mvula, whilst headliners The Jacksons celebrate 50 years of making music.
In amongst the excellent jazz stock are jazz alumni and soul-funk-jazz band Nubiyan Twist, and the recently tipped Ashley Henry Trio. BBC Introducing favourite and third year Popular Music student Cara Hammond, will also appear at the festival –don’t miss those delightful neo-pop-soul tones.
Love Supreme | 30 June- 2 July | Glynde Place, East Sussex | More info and tickets
July
Farr Festival
If you’ve ever been in search of an electronic woodland adventure, then look no further than the enchanting Farr Festival - a magical party set in beautiful woods in Hertfordshire. Expect to dance your socks off to the likes of celebrated Berlin-based electronic duo Booka Shade, and the much-revered DJs Floating Points and Todd Terje.
Don’t miss alumni Submotion Orchestra on Saturday; a band whose kaleidoscope of electronic bass music, entrancing vocals and ambient, jazzy dub is the perfect blend for a festival party.
Farr Festival | 13- 15 July | Badlock, Hertfordshire | More info and tickets
Tramlines
One of the UK’s leading metropolitan music festivals, Tramlines once again takes over the venues of Sheffield, whilst adding three new outdoor stages this year too. Whatever you’re into, the eclectic line-up won’t disappoint; The Libertines, Primal Scream, Toots & The Matals and The Pharcyde are just a few of the acts you’ll catch across the city over the weekend.
Fresh from a set at South by South West, charismatic rockers and LCoM postgraduate five-piece band Fizzy Blood play the PRS Momentum stage on the Sunday evening, whilst you’ll catch Nubiyan Twist’s DJ set there on Saturday afternoon.
Tramlines | 21- 23 July | Various venues across Sheffield | More info and tickets
August
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival
Set within a backdrop of stunning Scottish Highlands, Belladrum Tartan Heart festival is a true celebration of all things Scottish. Alongside an impressive bill which features Franz Ferdinand, The Pretenders and KT Tunstall, you’ll find first year Popular Music student Tamzene Allison-Power, who was the first signing to the festival’s brand new independent label.
With excellent glamping options courtesy of Cloudhouses, you can plan for a weekend of comfort and style. And if all that doesn’t sound like enough, you can even order a bespoke Belladrum kilt to really get yourself into the Highlands festival spirit. Sign us up!
Belladrum Tartan Heart | 3 – 5 August | Beauly | More info and tickets
Arctangent festival
“The best bands you’ll see all year”, goes the tagline, and if Explosions in the Sky, Sikth and Future of the Left are quite rightly your thing, then this just might be true. An award-winning festival in Bristol, the three-day extravaganza will offer 70 bands and the best in math-rock, post-rock, noise-rock and alt-rock.
Two awesome Music Production alumni feature on the bill here; worriedaboutsatan, a duo who produce mind-bending, metal-tinged, spectral electronica and up-and-coming post-hardcore four-piece Future Horizons, who have received much praise for the debut release 4th Dimensional Jazz.
Arctangent Festival | 17-19 August | Bristol | More info & tickets
Leeds & Reading Festival
The original, premier festival date on the alternative music scene, giants Leeds & Reading Festival present another stellar line-up led by Muse, Kasabian and Eminem.
Opening the NME / BBC Radio 1 stage on Sunday are FE Alumni, King No-One. The band have gone from strength to strength since winning a slot at Leeds Festival via the Centre Stage competition back in 2013, and are tipped for big things.
Leeds & Reading Festival | 25 -27 August | Leeds & Reading | More info & tickets
September
Bingley Music Festival
It’s the eleventh outing for this beloved Yorkshire festival, which brings yet another strong line-up to Bingley’s Myrtle Park, including Manic Street Preachers, Maximo Park and Kaiser Chiefs.
Electro-pop sensations Krrum feature Music Production alumnus Alex Carrie, and have captured the attention of music industry taste-makers, signing to label 37 Adventures. A busy band on the festival circuit this summer, with performances at The Great Escape and Radio One’s Big Weekend, you’ll also catch them on the Sunday of Bingley music festival.
Bingley Music Festival | 1- 3 September | Myrtle Park, Bingley | More info & tickets
Sundown Festival
The Sundown festival promises to end your summer in style, with music from Pendulum, Craig David, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man and FE-alumni John Newman. We’re delighted to see the exceptionally talented singer is back at the mic this year, and hitting the European festival circuit, closing with Sundown.
Sundown takes the party side of festival-ing pretty seriously, and novelties include the Abbey Road Studios Songshack, two stages nestled in the woods of “mystree”, and even a Tropical Tea Party. What better way to round of your summer festival season?
Sundown Festival | 1 – 3 September | Norfolk showground, Norwich | More info & tickets
