Our Festival Picks
Dare we say that festival season is back with a BANG? We don’t want to *jinx* it but after the mighty success of Bigfoot Festival recently, a summer of bum-bag tan-lines, unwashed sleeping bags and incredible music is quite possibly on the horizon…We’ve taken it into our own hands to curate a list of our favourite festivals and couldn’t help but get a few of our wonderful friends involved too. From a tour of East London’s greatest independent venues, to Gilles Peterson’s mecca of UK jazz, not to mention some first timers, let us present you with the Last Bus Lowdown: Festival Edition.
COSMIC ROOTS FESTIVAL
WORDS: Rose Purbrick
PHOTOS: Cosmic Roots
WHERE: Norfolk
WHEN: 9th - 12th September
WHO: TBA
Intimate in size and nature, Cosmic Roots takes place amongst idyllic woodland within one of Norfolk’s charming walled gardens, exuding an inviting, mystical ambience. Its DIY set-up of strewn sofas, eclectic low-lit lampshades and unbounded artworks imbued the atmosphere with a house party-like feeling; we were a gathering of potential friends rather than strangers. From the hay bale enclosed Tropical Popsicle tent to the rave-worthy Wormhole, the festival bred a hedonistically charged energy, whether it was in sun-soaked head bopping or evening booty shaking. Artists like Music from Memory’s Jamie Tiller and NTS’s regular Zakia memorably elevated the stages with their diverse music selections – that oscillated between techno, house, funk and soul – to captivate any listening ears. Festival revellers and artists alike harmoniously joined in Cosmic Root’s celestial space to share music, dancing and even compliments – a friend claims he will never forget Zakia’s appreciation of his cowboy hat.
Tickets: Currently SOLD OUT but new tickets will be released on the 17th of July at 12:34pm. These can be purchased through this link, so keep an eye out.VISIONS FESTIVAL
WORDS: Poppy Richler
PHOTOS: Bird On The Wire (Nick Sayers/ The Red Beanie/Carla Salvatore/Eleonora Collini
WHERE: The Oval, Hackney
WHEN: Sat 7th August
WHO: Porridge Radio, Folly Group, KEYAH/BLU, Martha Skye Murphy
What do you get when you combine seeing the most exciting upcoming artists in East London’s most revered independent venues, tucking into the best (and dare we say discounted) local street food and drinks around, partying into the night AND dog shows? Year after year Visions delivers a ridiculously diverse roster of up-and-coming musicians, made even sweeter by the fact that supporting independent venues and local business sits at the centre of this Hackney-based. Instead of going from stage to stage, you go from venue to venue, traipsing the streets of East London in broad daylight, perhaps stopping off for a craft pint along the way. The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down - many after-party options within walking distance await you in preparation for dancing ’till the sun comes up. Join the fun on August 7th with Wu-Lu, Nine8 Collective, Caroline and many (many) more.
GET YOUR TICKETS HEREBRAINCHILD FESTIVAL
WORDS: Milla Gojkovic
PHOTOS: Milla Gojkovic
WHERE: Lewes
WHEN: 6th - 8th August
WHO: Babeheaven, Moses Boyd, Maxwell Owin, Woom
Picture somewhat the antithesis of the stereotypically grotty British festival. Music somehow perfectly suited to every moment of the day rather than headache-inducing 8am jungle blasting; interactive art installations rather than empty cans of beer and beans; genuine community over empty conversations; hangovers spent lounging sun-soaked on sofas or at bra making workshops rather than lying face down out of a wet tent the entire day; and somehow always sunny the entire weekend. Picture an escape into a weekend of the most love-filled, open-armed, mind-opening shared experiences of dance, song, laughter, learning and just general glory. From spending the day swaying in the sun at the main stage, cocktail in hand, to sweating it out in a vogueing workshop, to those golden hours at the forested Shack stage, all the way into the arms of the silent disco, Brainchild doesn’t leave an hour of the day lacking pure joy.
GET YOUR TICKETS HEREDOT TO DOT FESTIVAL
WORDS: Poppy Richler
PHOTOS: Dot To Dot
WHERE: Bristol/Nottingham
WHEN: 25th/26th September
WHO: Sports Team, Black Honey, Walt Disco, Wu-Lu
Dot-To-Dot is an annual festival that travels from city to city, boasting a line-up packed to the brim of 6 music’s favourites. Hosting a whole lot of LB loves, this festival’s got the inimitable Sports Team as the headliner with sets from deep tan, Joey Maxwell, Sorry, Billie Marten and Drug Store Romeos to name a few. Past years have seen Dua Lipa, The 1975 and Fontaines DC on the roster, so we’d recommend jumping on this one to impress all your friends in 5 years time as you brag about that time you spent £33 on a day festival where you could actually see the artist’s face. Heading to Bristol and Nottingham in September, the metropolitan festival will see its incredible lineup of musicians representing the UK punk, indie and underground scene perform in small venues across the UK. We wouldn’t blame you if you went to both days, so hopefully see you there.
GET YOUR TICKETS HEREWIDE AWAKE FESTIVAL
WORDS: Poppy Richler
PHOTOS: Wide Awake
WHERE: Brockwell Park
WHEN: 3rd September
WHO: shame, Goat Girl, Squid, KOKOROKO
When Wide Awake rejigged their line-up a few months, there was a momentary pause for the loss of Shame amongst other ridiculously talented bands. Fast forward a couple of months and lo-and-behold, Wide Awake are back with a CRAZY combination of the old and NEW line-ups consisting of both up-and-coming and well established artists populating the UK’s underground scene. What’s more, this festival is pushing for gender equality, diversity and inclusivity which is something more than welcome after this year’s big festivals came back with yet another year of male-heavy lineups (you had a 2nd chance!). Rock out to Los Bi7chos and IDLES or embrace your techno dreams with PVA and Daniel Avery. Is jazz more your thing? KOKOROKO’s got you covered. Just don’t forget to launch head-first into the dance with Scalping, Dar Disku and so many more. With contributions from independent labels, venues and zines like So Young, The Windmill, Hate Zine and more, Wide Awake’s first iteration this September in Brockwell Park is NOT ONE TO MISS. Unsurprisingly, there’s a VERY limited number of tickets left, so don’t sleep on this one: https://wideawakelondon.co.uk/ P.S. why not make a weekend of it and get a 3-day ticket to Wide Awake, Cross The Tracks and Mighty Hoopla for £165 all taking place from the 3rd-5th of September.
GET YOUR TICKETS HERELOUD WOMEN FEST 5
WORDS: Poppy Richler
PHOTOS: Loud Women Fest
WHERE: 229, Great Portland Street
WHEN: 18th - 19th September
WHO: Jelly Cleaver, Hagar The Womb, ARXX, Bang Bang Romeo
AN ALL FEMALE-MUSIC FESTIVAL TO PROVE THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY MALE FESTIVAL BILLINGS ARE JUST LAZY!!! So you could say we’re excited for this one…Born in 2015, Loud Women is an intersectional feminist music n-f-p organisation with bases all around the world, with the aim of promoting gender equality in the music industry. Join the fun on the 18th of September for the 5th edition of their LOUD WOMEN FEST to celebrate women and non-binary musicians and bust the myth of gender inequality that plagues the UK festival scene. Situated in the heart of London, this day fest will see incredible performers like Jelly Cleaver, LibraLibra and Bugeye (there’s also a SECRET band so keep your eyes peeled for that announcement) grace the stage at 229.
GET YOUR TICKETS HEREGREENMAN FESTIVAL
WORDS: Bee Wills
PHOTOS: Patrick Gunning
WHERE: Abergavenny
WHEN: 19th - 22nd August
WHO: TBA
Greenman calls itself “the friendliest festival on planet Earth” and as a 5 year in a row Greenman go-er I wholeheartedly agree. Greenman has it all. Sit on the grassy banks of the mountain stage listening to folk in sunshine with a beer (chosen from the hundreds of independently brewed beers offered). Then, head on to listen to a one-man band in the walled garden with a delicious dish from one of many food trucks, finally as the sun sets you can take your pick of disco, techno or a huge brass band to dance to into the night. Day-time Greenman also offers an impressive selection of activities for everyone, such as Einstein’s garden for the kids, comedy/discussions, a cinema tent and a rejuvenating wellness field - the perfect hangover cures. Greenman’s incredibly friendly and fun community feel makes it a festival you will need to return to (probably every year!).
Tickets are currently sold out, but keep an eye out for resales…WE OUT HERE FESTIVAL
WORDS: Justine Farrant
PHOTOS: We Out Here
WHERE: Cambridgeshire
WHEN: 19th - 22nd August
WHO: Ezra Collective, Greentea Peng, Nubya Garcia, Sons Of Kemet
I attended We Out Here in 2019. Its first opening year, there was a novelty about it that gave it an exciting buzz. In my opinion it’s the perfect festival. In the daytime, mellow brass sounds floated across the blue lake, as people gently swayed to the music or lounged on the hills, soaking up the sun, greeting friends, coming and going. A samba de roda sprung up seemingly out of nowhere, and onlookers stopped to watch as the percussionists gained tempo and spectators. And then, as dusk fell, the woods came alive with the night’s energy, and fairy-lit pathways coursed from set to set, carrying lively people, ready to dance. I think what made the atmosphere so unique was how laid back and unpretentious it was; family friendly but with a young edge, it felt uplifting and inspiring.
Tickets are currently sold out, but keep an eye out for resales…MEADOWS IN THE MOUNTAINS (2022)
WORDS: Melissa Gardner
PHOTOS: Melissa Gardner
WHERE: Bulgaria
WHEN: 2nd-5th June 2022
WHO: TBA
Not for the casual festival goer. Tucked away at the top of Bulgaria's Rhodope Mountains, you’re not just 3,300 feet up winding roads but you’re truly at the mercy of the erratic mountainous elements. It’s a small price to pay for an experience that might just shift your perspective on life even beyond the dancefloor. A lot of festivals brand themselves as a a “hedonist paradise” but I firmly believe that this is one of the few that really deserve that title. A strong community based ethos, a deep respect for the natural surroundings and a 2000 person cap that upholds an intimacy lost with other events. By the third day you feel like you know everyone, and don’t be surprised if you don’t touch your phone once either. One of the main events is sunrise, make sure you see in at least one of them... big Funktion1 speakers seated in front of a tangerine sun rising from the mountain mist. Whilst the natural beauty and immaculate line ups take the prize for this festival- the biggest takeaway I took from this was the people and how special they were. It’s a long journey to the top of the mountain to be a cunt, so if you are one maybe sit this one out (haha). Meadows in the Mountains- 10/10 for the people, see you front left next year.
Tickets are currently sold out, but keep an eye out for resales…A BIG thank you to Rose, Poppy, Milla, Justine, Bea & Melissa for sharing their festival love stories. If your favourite festival is missing from our list or you have an iconic memory that lives rent free in your head, please get in touch! Who knows, we might even give you Last Bus times closer to the date...