An Essential Guide To 2018 Music Festivals

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Summer.

For most the arrival of warm weather and glorious sunshine is enough to lighten the mood, however for many it also brings the unrivalled excitement of music festivals.

Having been lucky to attend a few in my lifetime, there simply appears to be no let up in the popularity of festivals for attendees and artists alike. In 2017 there was a 12% increase in the number of people who attended live events, resulting in a wave of cash for the industry.

This popularity has seen the season stretch from early spring all the way through into winter with everyone from Ed Sheeran to the local pub band lining up for the chance to perform.

There are now literally hundreds of different all singing, all dancing events catering for all types of attendee’s and with the ever reliable Glastonbury taking a well-earned break, choosing a festival which will make all the effort, money and time off work worth it can be daunting prospect.

Thankfully in the digital age that we live in, there are guides to help you along your way. Below are some of the top events which find that balance between the lineup, the crowd and the amenities. As well as some all-important tips on the essential items to make your festival experience enjoyable.

Isle of Wight Festival

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Personally, there is only one place that we could start and that was with the Isle of Wight Festival. Having attended the event back in 2015 and seeing firsthand how spectacular the whole occasion was, it left me with a massive sense of post festival blues.   

The event runs this coming weekend from 21^st to the 24^th of June, so might be a little late to get some tickets but any would be worth the money and effort as it celebrates its Golden Jubilee.

Set in a beautiful part of world, with some of the better weather the UK can offer, the lineup is usually brilliant and the 50^th anniversary does not disappoint. There will be performances from Liam Gallagher, The Killers, Kasabian and Van Morrison to name but only a few.

Tomorrowland

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For those who want to experience one of the most spectacular music festivals in the world should consider making the trip to Boom, Belgium for the Tomorrowland Festival.

The legendary EDM (electronic dance music) festival runs from the 27^th to the 29^th of July and attracts the most popular DJ’s on the planet to its stage. In fact there are too many artists performing to even begin to single out a few.

Not convinced? Even if this genre of music is not your cup of tea, the mesmerising stage design and unforgettable firework displays alone make the trip worthwhile. Not forgetting the European vibe and weather.

Reading and Leeds Festivals

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If you are looking for the closest that you can get to Glastonbury this year, consider the Reading and Leeds Festivals. Technically they are actually two events in two different cities, but both share the exact same line up on rotating days.

Set across the 24^th to 26^th of August, historically the events are geared towards a rock-orientated crowd, but the events have transformed somewhat with time to cater for a number of big acts across a mix of genres. They even have comedians that play on the alternatives stage.

Bound to the most popular option for the summer, it is the front runner for those looking to experience their first summer music festival.

Camp Essentials

Whether this be your first festival or 100^th, these are some of the most valuable pieces of advice that you can receive when going to an event.

You have picked your event, manage to negotiate transport difficulties, now it is time to set up camp. This is your base for the weekend and it is important to bring a few things and carefully select your location.

It is highly unlikely that your tent is going to survive the weekend in any reasonable shape worth salvaging. Think of the investment of buying one as a hotel. Just be sure to get one which is at least one person bigger than you need. Once you add all of the bags and extras, space can disappear very quickly.

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Like a hotel, aim for high ground when pitching your tent. You might get annoyed with the return journey each night but the risk of being camped in a bog is not something you want to contend with. Be sure to decorate it as uniquely as possible with balloons or bunting, so when you are stumbling home it is easy to spot. Ironically it also stops people from possibly thinking it is their tent

You will also want to consider bringing a portable speaker, charger and some folding chairs for when you are chilling out at base. Not having to sit in your tent to avoid the wet ground, while listening to some far-off tunes is kingly. While you can buy these at the events, expect to pay 200% more.

Lastly, forget the pillow and just bring a pillowcase. You can fill it full of your extra (dry) clothes and it serves as a nearly as comfy space saving alternative.

Extra Advice

One final rule to live by.

Only bring what you are prepared to lose or damage. While you will no doubt survive without any lasting scratches, there is nothing worse than having your weekend ruined by losing your brand-new iPhone/camera/drone.