So it turns out you guys love independent festivals just as much as we do— the reaction to our last list was amazing!
However, while we truly try our best, we can’t be perfect, and unfortunately missed a bunch of brilliant indie events going on throughout 2024.
Thankfully, our wise and knowledgeable readers have set us right. Here are ten of their favourite independent festivals rocking the UK scene this year.
1. Shindig
Date: 23rd – 26th May
Location: Dillington Estate, Somerset
Rolling into its tenth, and unfortunately final year, Shindig Festival is a wild party, showcasing the best of British dance music down in the beautiful west country. Featuring an enormous lineup for its last edition, 2024 will be headlined by Groove Armada, Brand New Heavies and Kurupt FM. Suitable for families while still retaining a little bit of edge, attendees can expect jungle breakbeats, lots of comedy and a eclectic vibe.
Tickets are available for £214
2. Small World
Date: Small World Spring 23rd – 27th May, Summer 21st – 26th August
Location: Headcorn Kent
Small World is a festival so good, the organisers couldn’t resist running it twice a year. Taking its independence and sustainability extremely serious, the party is powered entirely by the rays of the sun, and features a varied host of music, magicians, clowns, and acrobats across 6 stages, ranging from micro to medium. A safe environment for children, a whole host of activities are available for partygoers of all ages. One nine year-old described it as “better than his iPad”!
Tickets are available for £172.45, although people on low incomes can purchase one for £141.50.
3. Fire in the Mountain
Date: 30th May – 3rd June 2024
Location: Aberystwyth Wales
Spoken about in hushed tones, and with reverence, Fire in the Mountain is considered, by many, to be a dreamlike experience. Taking place in the misty mountains of North Wales, and featuring a host of the best folk musicians Britain and the world has to offer the festival is hub of creativity and adventure, blurring the line between performer and participant.
Adult tickets are £215.
4. The Rising
Date: 4th – 6th July
Location: Kibblestone Scout Camp
A new festival for this year, put on by the team behind Bearded Theory’s sadly now historic Magical Sounds stage, The Rising looks to be one to catch, with headliners including festival stalwarts, the Dub Pistols, up and coming punk geniuses Bob Vylan, and two-piece two-tone wildcard, The Death of Guitar Pop. Fans of old school punk festivals like Equinox and Landed will particularly love this party.
It’s cheap too, with tickets available from £54.50.
5. Maverick
Date: 4th – 6th July
Location: Easton Farm Park, Suffolk
Taking place in the restored victorian barns of Easton Farm Park in sleepy central Suffolk Maverick Festival is a burst of Americana energy perfectly designed to wake up the snoozing county. With more than fifty different country and folk artists split across six stages, fans wont be short of something to do at this Mecca for rural American music.
Camping tickets start from £165.00.
6. Harlequin
Date: 25th – 28th July
Location: West Acre Estate, Norfolk
Inpsired by the Albion Fayres of the 70’s and 80’s, the Harlequin Fayre harks back to the free festival culture of the time offering a family friendly space jam packed with music, fun and activities since 2007. With a dozen different venues, all offering something slightly different, attending Harlequin will take you on a journey to the heart of English folk culture. From reggae and dub to medieval siege engines, this gem among independent festivals really does have something for everyone.
Tickets are £137.47
7. Beautiful Days
Date: 16th- 18th August
Location: Escot Park Devon
Organised by folk rock legends The Levellers, Beautiful Days is a carefully curated festival which takes place every year in Escot Park Devon. Headliners will include The Saw Doctors, Richard Ashcroft, Levellers, Fat Freddy’s Drop, The Damned, and New Model Army, while other highlights inlcude the Longest Johns, The Gulls, The Bar Steward Sons of Van Doonican and the morbid antics of the Circus of Horrors.
8. Solfest
Date: 22nd – 25th August 2024
Location: North Lakes Country Park, Silloth, Cumbria, UK
Taking place on the coast of Cumbria, near the town of Carlisle, Solfest is reputed to be one of the North of Englands most exciting festivals. Featuring megastar Del La Sol, and reggae champions, The Wailers plus lots of other exciting bands, this festival offers a whole lot more than just an incredible ocean view.
Tickets start from £176.54.
9. Smugglers Festival
Date: 29th August- 23rd September
Location: Deal, Kent
Smugglers is probably the best festival in the whole world.
Tickets are available, but I’m not going to tell you where— It is simply too good and I want to keep it all to myself.
10. Mucky Weekender
Date: 5th – 7th September
Location: Vicarage Farm, Winchester
Closing out our list of independent festivals is the Mucky Weekender. Put on the by stallwarts of the scene, festival legends The Dub Pistols, with a hardcore line up including Dreadzone, The Dualers, Dutty Moonshine and Congo Levy, the Mucky Weekender is practically guaranteed to go off with a bang.
Tickets are currently available for £167.44 including booking fees.