At this time of year, the prospect of a few heady summer days spent dancing with friends in a muddy field is all that's keeping us going (warm Kopparberg and sequins obligatory). It may feel like ages away but in truth, there's not all that long to wait until the UK's festival season gets underway. Coachella kicks off in the US this week, getting us thinking about our own festival plans. Whether you're a pop fiend with the means to travel miles for your fix, an R&B aficionado who'd rather keep her shoes pristine at a city festival, or an indie buff who doesn't mind getting down and dirty in a sweaty tent, there's a festival to meet your needs.
Click through for Refinery29's roundup of the best UK musical festivals livening up our summers this year.
BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend
Now in its 16th year, the BBC's two-day festival is bringing some of the world's biggest names to the northeast of England. Stormzy, Miley Cyrus, The 1975, Little Mix, Mumford & Sons, Future and many, many others will grace the 32,000-strong crowd with their presence at the wildly popular event this year. Now to get our hands on a ticket...
BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend takes place on 25th-26th May 2019 at Stewart Park, Middlesbrough. Tickets are sold out but several will be given away to lucky winners on BBC Radio 1.
Field Day
The incomparable Brit award-winner Jorja Smith joins local Tottenham boy Skepta to headline Field Day for its first year in its "groundbreaking" new location of an old gasworks in Meridian Water. Even better, the move will allow the festival to go on until the wee hours – later than any other festival in London and giving its biggest ever lineup the chance to shine. Diplo, The Black Madonna, Jungle, Pusha T, Earl Sweatshirt and Julia Holter will also be taking the stage.
Field Day takes place on 7th-8th June at Meridian Water, north London. Remaining Friday general admission tickets cost £40 plus booking fee.
Parklife
Manchester's biggest festival returns with a stellar lineup that features several inimitable women (always a plus): Cardi B, Solange, Mabel and Stefflon Don (quadruple swoon) will all be hitting the stage at the city festival. Tickets are selling out fast, so it's time to set up a dedicated WhatsApp group if you're keen to attend.
Parklife takes place on 8th-9th June at Heaton Park, Manchester. Remaining Sunday general tickets cost £69.50.
All Points East
East London's newest festival returns to Victoria Park for a second year, with 10 days of music and entertainment and headliners including The Chemical Brothers, The Strokes, Christine & the Queens and Bon Iver. Also on the bill are James Blake, First Aid Kit and Hot Chip, so your only qualm should be choosing which (or how many) dates to book.
All Points East takes place on 24th May-2nd June at Victoria Park, east London. Day tickets from £59.95 plus booking fee.
Isle of Wight
Island hopping might not usually entail wellies and lukewarm cups of Bulmers, but this year's Isle of Wight is worth sacrificing holiday days for if you're looking for nostalgia. Rock and pop favourites abound on the lineup, including Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and Fatboy Slim, along with some unmissable women: Lily Allen, Sigrid, Anne-Marie and more.
Isle of Wight Festival takes place from 13th-16th June on the Isle of Wight. Day tickets from £70 plus booking fee.
Glastonbury
Finally! The festival to end all festivals is back. After a well deserved fallow year for Worthy Farm and long-suffering Somerset residents in 2018, Glastonbury will see headliners Stormzy, The Killers and The Cure dominate the Pyramid Stage, while some of the hottest women in music – Kylie, Janet Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Sheryl Crow, Lizzo, Janelle Monáe, Jorja Smith, Stefflon Don, Miley Cyrus, the list goes on – have generated serious excitement among those lucky enough to have bagged tickets. It seems almost cruel for us to include the festival here given that tickets sold out within half an hour last year, but there'll be no escaping it on social media or TV when late June rolls around. You may as well get used to it.
Glastonbury takes place from 26th-30th June 2019 at Worthy Farm, Somerset. Tickets are now sold out. Returned coach packages will be available in the resale on 25th April followed by a general admission resale on 28th April.
Lovebox
You could do a lot worse than spending a couple of balmy summer evenings being serenaded by Chance the Rapper and Solange (who must've had a good time when she headlined previously in 2017). The peerless duo will be heading up London's Lovebox, and you'll have to attend both days to catch the pair of them. Not that you'll need too much persuading: H.E.R., Lizzo, Loyle Carner and Annie Mac also pepper the lineup.
Lovebox takes place from 12th-13th July at Gunnersbury Park, London. Day tickets from £58.50 plus booking fee.
Citadel
Fancy a chilled summer Sunday at the park? Citadel could be just the ticket. The day after Lovebox will see Catfish and the Bottlemen, Friendly Fires, Bastille, Bear's Den and the dreamboats Dream Wife also taking to the stage at west London's Gunnersbury Park. What's more, tickets are almost £30 cheaper than Lovebox, so why not?
Citadel takes place on 14th July at Gunnersbury Park, London. General admission tickets cost £39.50 plus booking fee.
Wilderness
David Cameron may have been spotted at this famously middle-class Oxfordshire festival last year, but don't let that put you off. With late night raving in The Valley and the option of wild swimming in the lake, Wilderness is one of the most magical festival experiences you could ask for. Not only that but Robyn is topping this year's bill, so there's no way you'll be dancing on your own (boom boom). Bombay Bicycle Club and Groove Armada will also be on hand to provide a touch of nostalgia to your weekend.
Wilderness takes place from 1st-4th August at Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire. General camping adult tickets cost £179.50 plus booking fee.
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