Throughout my years of exploring the UK music party scene I’ve found one thing to be consistently true: Independent festivals are the best festivals.
Unfortunately, more and more of the live event industry is becoming dominated by enourmous companies like Live Nation and Festival Republic and so, parties which were once havens of freedom have become more and more dominated by dodgy corporate practices.
Thankfully, we have gathered a list of 10 of the best independent festivals in the country- you wont find any alcohol limits, overzealous security, or absurdly expensive booze at any of these briliant events.
1. Cursus
Date: 24th – 26th May
Location: Mycen Farm, Dorset
Opening up our season of fun is Cursus, a tiny music and cider festival located deep in the wilds of wonderfully rural Dorset. Expect to find the best cider you’ve ever drunk, alongside a wonderfully friendly atmosphere and a diverse lineup of talented artists: In 2024 the festival will feature scene stalwarts, Mista Trick Collective, and 3 Daft Monkeys along with the up and coming Millie Manders and the Shuttup as headliners.
A word of warning however. The entire event is part of a badger cult. This isn’t neccesarily a problem, but if you don’t like the little white and black fellas, this festival may not be for you.
Tickets start from £99
2. Noisily
Date: 11th- 14th July
Location: Leicestershire UK
Nestled in a magical patch of English woodland, Noisily stands out from the crowd as arguably the best dance music festival in whole of the UK.
A haven for ravers, whether your beats of choice are house, drum and bass, or psytrance, there’s something here for you. The festival prides itself on an intimate showcase, presenting a lineup of some of the world’s premier DJs and producers, including notable acts like Grouch, Eat Static, Dubfire, Bart Skills, and Hospitality, all distributed across three intricately designed stages.
Beyond music, the festival is an artistic wonderland celebrating psychedelic art and culture, which’s heartbeat lies in its extraordinary community. Renowned for its exceptionally welcoming atmosphere, it is a melting pot where new friendships are forged in an environment of shared passion and joy. Attendees can arrive as strangers and leave as part of an extended family. Noisily not just a festival, its also one of the friendliest places on earth.
Tickets are available from £236.40
3. 2000 Trees
Date: 10th – 13th July
Location: Upcote Farm, Withington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 4BL.
Tucked into the lush, rolling hills of the Cotswolds, 2000 Trees is a standout contender for the UK’s most beloved rock music event. The setting offers an idyllic backdrop, with performances spread across several stages nestled among lush woodlands and open fields, creating an immersive experience that goes beyond the music.
This year’s lineup is a testament to its reputation, boasting performances from the electrifying Gaslight Anthem, the evocative Manchester Orchestra, punk rock rioters The Chats, storytelling maverick Bob Vylan, high-octane Don Broco, and the iconic Frank Turner.
Tickets are available starting from £196.50
4. Tropical Pressure
Date: 12th – 14th July
Location: Mount Pleasant Eco Park, Cornwall
Clustered on the rugged cliffs of the North Cornwall, overlooking the wild Atlantic, Tropical Pressure Festival is a loveletter to the music from around that great ocean featuring sounds from the Carribean islands, Latin America and West Africa front and centre.
Every year the festival plays host to an incredibly talented selection of musicians, playing the best of everything from Jamaican reggae to Columbian cumbia, offering the adventurous a chance to disover amazing new artist.
While for many people, the journey down to Cornwall is long and ardouous, Tropical Pressure crams an incredible amount of talent and fun into a three day show, making even a thousand mile trip worth your time!
Adult tickets start from £125
5. Nozstock: The Hidden Valley
Date: 18th – 21st July
Location: “Ruralest Herefordshire”
Sadly, in its final year in 2024, Nozstock: The Hidden Valley is an absolute gem of the UK festival scene, and it is a crying shame that is coming to an end.
Taking place in “ruralest Herefordshire”, and featuring an extremely diverse lineup of artists including Andy C and Groove Armada, split over ten different stages, Nozstock is a perfect alternative if Boomtown and Glastonbury are a little too big for you, but you still want to party hard and experience a wide variety of acts.
Tickets are available from £192.53
6. Landed
Date: 26th – 28th July
Location: Llandrindod Wells, Powys
Hidden in the tranquil Wye Valley, in beautiful Powys, Wales, Landed is something of a throwback to the 1990s, offering a portal back to free party culture at its prime.
Featuring bands and DJs playing folk, punk, techno, and trance, alongside a touch of reggae, jungle and psychedelia the festival packs a vast amount into its small site, and has plenty to offer both adults and children.
Repeatedly winning the Welsh Hospitality Award, Landed has one final trick up its sleeve to impress: the cheapest bar in the business!
Tickets start from £120
7. Bloodstock
Date: 8th – 12th August
Location: Catton Park, Derbyshire
Bloodstock is a titan of the UK independent festival scene, running since 2001 and growing into a central part of the UK heavy metal calandar.
Playing host to more than 120 of the heaviest bands, including metal legends Opeth, Architects, and Amon Amarth, the 2024 edition is guarranteed to be jam packed full of growls, screams, and tearing solos, as well as some of the best mosh pits in the world.
Tickets are £192
8. Outcider
Date: 1st – 4th August
Location: Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin, Sommerset, BS40 6LD
A wild celebration of punk and fermented apple juice, Outcider festivals 10th edition will be taking place deep in the west country this August and offers some of the best selected alternative music in a comfortable laid back setting.
This years 10th anniversary lineup features the unsinkable pirate polka antics of the Dreadnoughts, the exciting ska fusion of Sonic Boom Six, and the loop pedal lunacy of Funke and the Two Tone Baby.
Tickets are £99
9. Maui Waui
Date: 22nd – 25th August
Location: Bullard’s Farm Norfolk
One of the best independent festivals in the UK, Maui Waui is quickly gaining a repuation as one of the busiest, highest effort events around. Walking around at night, you can have an almost boomtown like experience, where where ever you step, you run into something new and exciting, while still offering the safe, comfortable feel of a small event.
Musically, the festival always has something for everyone, with the tunes on offer ranging from punk and folk to electroswing and drum and bass with this year featuring dub legends Dreadzone, Spacerockers Henge, and the infamous Dutty Moonshine Big Band. On top of all this, Maui also plaus host to an incredible varierty of acrobatics, theatre, and visual art.
Tickets are available from £160
10. Equinox
Date: 19rd – 23th September
Location: Chalk Farm, Lincolnshire
Closing out the festivally time of year, Equinox has been described as the crew party for the whole season, where people who have been going from event to event running the show finally let their hair down themselves.
With a deeply anarchic vibe, Equinox is a spiritual twin to Landed, with its incredible views out over the Humber almost matching Powys for beauty. Theres typically wide variety of music with a bit of a free party vibe, so expect punk, reggae, prog and folk from the live bands, and trance, jungle and DNB from the DJs.
Tickets start from £133.75
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