CHECK BACK FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION IN MAY 2017
With summer 2017 now lurking around the corner, so at last comes an eagerly awaited festival season, and here London reigns supreme with some of the best ones yet for you to get stuck into. Extending from atmospheric house & techno tunes and indie rock tracks to spanking new, up-and-coming talent, we’ve handpicked our favourite five London festivals we think are going to be top summer showstoppers – and better yet, they’re only a tube ride away. Dust off your sunnies, slap on some face paint and chuck on the glitter as we map out for you this summer’s fiesta extravaganza.
We Are FSTVL, 30th - 31st May 2015
Only in its third year, the Essex-born We Are FSTVL has amazed festivalites all over the UK this year with its world-class line-up. Boasting an outstanding bounty of both globe-trotting and mega-talented producers, this dynamic, dance festival will be covering everything from commercial house reminiscent of last summer’s smiles to respected, deep underground tracks. Not forgetting thumping techno, EDM and heavy D&B basslines, this two-day eclectic mix will have everyone’s favourite set-lists scribbled down. Saturday’s line-up includes names like Seth Troxler, T. Williams and Tensnake, whilst Sunday’s headliners MK, Sven Väth and Jamie Jones will surely be luring in the up-for-it crowds. With so many great names in house & techno, the only hitch you’ll have with We Are FSTVL this year is that all too common problem of choosing between clashing sets.
We Are FSTVL's 12 bespoke stages will be bringing the best in cutting-edge, eclectic tunes.
Found Festival, 13th June 2015
This 2015, Brixton’s Brockwell Park is bringing the behemoth of EDM, garage and house & techno, and it calls itself Found Festival. Like We Are FSTVL, this 3-year-old festival really packs a punch when it comes to its line-up, featuring for one-day only white-hot talent, bringing you some of London’s leading electronic music. Bursting with easy-going, in-the-know ravers, Found Festival always booms with an upbeat, playful atmosphere. From disco-house master MCDE and Guy Gerber headlining the main stage to a sweet George Fitzgerald stage, as well as smooth sets from the likes of Ron Trent and Marquis Hawkes, Found Festival is definitely set to deliver and will have you hunting it down year after year. Finishing at 9pm, you will want to make sure you keep an eye out for after-parties - word on the street is Berlin’s hot-topic Ellen Allien might be spinning techno beats post-festival!
Found Festival's main stage line-up is looking like an absolute stonker.
Bushstock, 13th June 2015
Promising over 40 budding bands spread over 6 different stages in the heart of Shepherd’s Bush, the guys and girls behind Communion Records bring to you Bushstock, which is certainly set to put on a spectacle with its mighty selection of established names alongside exciting, next-big-thing artists. In its fifth year now, the Bushstock team show off their skills by presenting a roster of young talent before it hits the radio stations, previously pulling to the fore the likes of Bastille, Daughter and, more recently, George Ezra. Main acts to watch out for this summer will be acoustic-scene artists Lucy Rose and Michael Kiwanuka, who will no doubt have lighters swaying to their oh so angelic voices. Ensure that you keep an ear out for smaller sets too – we’d recommend making time for both Banfi and Tora, who carry a distinctively alternative and enchanting sound.
Lucy Rose will no doubt be a big crowd-pleaser with her 2015 single "Our Eyes".
Citadel Festival, 19th July 2015
Calling from Victoria Park in East London, producers of Lovebox Festival introduce to you its more calm and quirky sister, Citadel Festival. More than just a music festival, Citadel aims to offer you a more cultural enriching experience, catering to musicians, foodies, bookworms and artists alike. Essentially an amalgamation of incredible art, Citadel plays host to an intimate, but awesome array of acts. Amongst highly eclectic music melodies, from alternative electronic and indie shuffles to folkie feelers and hip-hop hues, headliners Ben Howard and Bombay Bicycle Club will be taking to the main stage this year with what we’re sure will be some monumental performances. Check out the ream of up-and-coming bands and DJ sets at the Communion and Soundcrash stages as you revel around the kooky tunes resonating about the arena.
With 2014 being a huge year for the Bombay Bicycle Club boys, we're very excited to see what they're gonna pull out the bag at Citadel.
South West Four, 29th - 30th August 2015
Showcasing globe-conquering megastar DJs, SW4 festival is a colourful burst of dance and electronic musical talent sweeping over Clapham Common this August bank holiday weekend. This year, its ever-popular line-up offers keen festivalers a real variety of house music tracks and classic club Ibiza-style anthems, giving SW4 its renowned feel-good, arms-in-the-air atmosphere. Commercial house chart bangers will sound from the main stages, so enjoy your favourite radio tunes live as you boogie down with a chilled Bulmers in hand. Elsewhere, alternative house variations, nu-disco, D&B and, of course, techno tunes will be echoing out from every corner of the Common. Names as big as Faithless, Fatboy Slim and Gorgon City will be bringing deliciously different flavours of the chart-blaster mix, whilst the likes of Solomun, Âme and Maya Janes Coles will be spinning the decks with those deeper house vibes.
Be sure to experience an unbeatable atmosphere here at SW4 this year.
