The Big Summer 2015 Festival Guide
Entertainment

The Big Summer 2015 Festival Guide

Citadel 

Where: Victoria Park, London
When: July 19
Who: The brainchild of the people who brought us Wilderness Festival and Superfly — Citadel promises a “breadth of musical programming alongside dining, dancing, arts and culture experiences.” The line-up includes Ben Howard, Bombay Bicycle Club, Kurt Vile & The Violators (a British festival exclusive), Anna Calvi with The Heritage Orchestra, Doves frontman turned soloist Jimi Goodwin, Brooklyn-based vocalist Steve Gunn and folk-country hero Joe Pug.
Top Tip: As well as all the music, Citadel are holding a giant summer sports day with badminton, croquet, tug of war, musical sack races and skipping competitions.
Don’t miss: What promises to be an epic set from Despacio, the custom-built soundsystem brought to you by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy and 2manydjs. Get ready to dance.
How much? Tickets from £49.50 from www.citadelfestival.com

Green Man in the stunning Breacon Beacons (Picture: Dom Moore) Green Man in the stunning Breacon Beacons (Picture: Dom Moore)

Green Man 

Where: Brecon Beacons, Wales
When: August 20–23
Who: A delicious line up headlined by arguably the best band to ever come out of Wales — Super Furry Animals. Slowdive, Television, Public Service Broadcasting, Jamie XX, Temples, The Leisure Society, Marika Hackman, Dan Deacon are also on the list along with comedy, poetry, literature, art and science.
Top Tip: Green Man host their own Welsh Beer and Cider Festival which offers 99 artisan ales, ciders and beers.
How much? Adult weekend tickets £165, day tickets from £55 from greenman.net

After party at Wilderness festival  in Oxfordshire After party at Wilderness festival in Oxfordshire

Wilderness

Where: Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
When: August 6-9
Who: Everyone is holding their breath for the return of the amazing (and horrendously underrated) Irish powerhouse that is Roisin Murphy. She headlines the Mothership main stage and will be something to behold live, miss her at your peril. As well as Miss Murphy, there is Hercules & Love Affair, Nick Mulvey, theatre from Old Vic New Voices, Oxford Shakespeare Company and a Travelling Gazebo Rave! Oh and did we forget to mention Bjork?
Top Tip: Another Irish treat comes in the form of the wonderfully daft and uber sexy cabaret performer Camille O’Sullivan who will perform at The Grand Spiegel.
How much? Weekend tickets £175, children aged 10 and under £5 from wildernessfestival.com

Irish DJ Annie Mac is a headline act at Lovebox Irish DJ Annie Mac is a headline act at Lovebox

Lovebox

Where: Victoria Park, London
When: July 17-18
Who: London’s most loved festival will unveil an impressive, eclectic roll call of talent this year following a successful chapter in 2014 when both days sold out in advance to a record audience of 80,000. There are two incredible headliners: Rudimental and hip hop icon, Snoop Dogg. Get ready to dance your socks off to the legendary Groove Armada too. Also featuring Hot Chip, Cypress Hill, Jessie Ware and Mark Ronson.
Irish Interest: Lovebox veteran Annie Mac
How much? Early bird day tickets tickets £60.25, VIP weekend tickets £138.50 from ticketmaster.co.uk

Hay Festival brings a top literary line-up to Wales (Picture: Finn Beales) Hay Festival brings a top literary line-up to Wales (Picture: Finn Beales)

Latitude

Where: July 16-19
When: Henham Park, Suffolk
Who: Oh what a line-up! Including Alt-J, Portishead, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Manic Street Preachers, Caribou, James Blake, Laura Marling, Wild Beasts, Lianne la Havas and José González to name a few. On the BBC Radio 6 Music Stage, don’t miss the hotly-tipped 18 year old Derry native Soak.
Top Tip: Take a dip instead of queuing for a shower. Swimming in the lake is open for the first time in the festival’s history, and there are new hot tubs where Latitude audiences can soak up the atmosphere while bubbling away!
Irish Interest: Philip King’s Other Voices spreads it’s wings once again bringing musical magic from its spiritual home in Dingle, Co. Kerry to Suffolk. Plus, Perrier-award winning Irish comedian David O’Doherty brings his gorgeously geeky stand-up routine to the festival.
How much? Weekend adult tickets £192.50 plus booking fee per ticket, day tickets prices from www.latitudefestival.co.uk

Foals crowd surf from the Electric Picnic stage Foals crowd surf from the Electric Picnic stage

Electric Picnic

Where: Stradbally Hall, Co. Laois
When: September 4-6
Who: Go back in time to the glory days of Britpop with a headline performance from Blur. Also announced — Sam Smith, ’70s disco queen Grace Jones, New Yorker rockers Interpol, FKA Twigs (who had to cancel last year’s slot last minute), The Riptide Movement and actor, rapper and activist Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def).
Top Tip: Do not miss Irish folk band Printer Clips (formed in 2011 by Bell X1’s Paul Noonan). Noonan’s side project has a stellar line-up of female artists including Lisa Hannigan, Martha Wainwright, Gemma Hayes, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Cathy Davey, Julia Stone and more.
Irish Interest: Lots to choose from of course but watch out for Dubliner Gavin James who just signed to Capitol Records in America and Sony in Europe.
How much: Tickets on sale now for €229.50 from www.ticketmaster.ie

CropredyStallsFairport’s Cropredy Convention

When: August 13-15
Where: Banbury, Oxfordshire
Who: Cropredy grew out of the village’s fete and has grown into a 20,000 strong crowd of music fans convening across a nine-field site, whre Folkrock band Fairport Convention traditionally play the Saturday night closing performance. Headliners for 2015 include Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell and Level 42. Other acts worth watching for are 21st century folk rockers Trad Arrr, lusty shanty songs from Skinny Lister, The Proclaimers and Rosie Carson.
Top Tip: For off-site fun and games, the village’s two pubs also do a roaring trade with their ‘Cropredy Fringe’ featuring more live music from local bands.
Irish Interest: Don’t miss the set from Band of Friends, Rory Gallagher’s former backing musicians.
How much: Early bird day ticket options from £70. Children under 12 go free with an adult ticket holder. Tickets from fairportconvention.com and 0900 637 1644