Tune in and drop out: Best festivals this summer

For fans of all types of tuneage, music festivals provide some of the most memorable days and weekends out each summer. Sipping a beverage, listening to a favourite artists with thousands of people in the warmth of the sun can’t be beaten. And with pandemic restrictions being lifted across the world, this year is lining up to be better than ever.

Here is a pick of the best including iconic favourites and some newer events from Europe to South America. Get the tent packed and get ready!

Glastonbury, UK

The biggest music festival in the UK is back with a bang this year. Held in Somerset, Glastonbury is one of the most coveted festivals for any artist to perform at.

This year’s festival is shaping up to be a historical one, with Billie Eilish taking all of the limelight as she is set to perform on the Pyramid Stage, becoming the youngest ever solo headline artist in Glastonbury history at just 20 years old.

Additionally, Supremes singer and unequivocal Motown legend Diana Ross will take her place on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury’s Sunday Legends slot.

Rumoured to be performing are most of the artists who were confirmed for the cancelled 2020 Glastonbury festival such as Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar and Elton John.

Glastonbury 2022 will get underway on Wednesday 22^nd June and will end on Sunday the 26^th June.

Isle of Wight Festival, UK

One of the UK’s most distinctive festivals, the Isle of Wight Festival aims to bring people together to listen to up-and-coming artists alongside world-famous singers and bands.

Steeped in music history, the festival is renowned for its counterculture roots dating back to the 1970s.

Since its revival in 2002, the festival has only improved upon each year, acquiring attendances of up to 60,000.

2022 is shaping up to be one the festival’s greatest in recent years, featuring a wide array of genres and artists with headliners such as Lewis Capaldi, Lionel Richie, Kasabian, Pete Tong and Muse.

The Isle of Wight Festival 2022 is set to last from 16^th to 19^th June.

BST Hyde Park, UK

For the new(ish) BST festival, one of London’s most famous outdoor spaces, and home to a few iconic gigs of its own in the past, Hyde Park, is transformed into a two-weekend-long spectacle of blockbuster acts each year.

Since its opening in 2013, the festival has seen artists like Celine Dion, Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones, The Who and many more.

The BST Hyde Park 2022 is set to continue this trend of legendary artists, featuring Elton John, The Eagles, Adele and Duran Duran.

The festival will take place on Friday 24^th June and will end on Sunday 10^th July.

South by South West, USA

South by Southwest is more than just a festival, it is a place where music, film tech and culture converge into a celebration which gives the various artists a platform to elevate themselves to the global stage.

Taking place in Austin, Texas from 14^th March to 20^th March, South by Southwest, more commonly known as “SXSW” is dedicated to celebrating the diversity of life, people and topics.

Over 240 artists will be taking part in SXSW, but are featuring some big names including Horsegirl, Ezra Furman, Yard Act and Duma.

Rock in Rio, Brazil

One of Brazil’s largest music festivals, the Rock in Rio is the sister event to its counterparts in Europe, with a strong focus on rock, pop and hip-hop genres.

Lasting two weekends from Friday 2^nd September to Sunday 11^th September, the Rio de Janeiro based festival welcomes legendary artists including Iron Maiden, Post Malone, Guns N’ Roses, Green Day and Coldplay.

Burning Man, USA

Situated in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, Burning Man is not so much a festival as it is a congregation of creative and open-minded individuals coming together to create a truly unique experience through self-expression, community and art.

Burning Man does not have a fixed line-up, instead it features a massive array of DJs and artists which people can enjoy.

Lasting from 28th August to 5th September, Burning Man culminates in the symbolic burning of a large wooden effigy.

Tomorrowland, Belgium

Held in Boom, Belgium, Tomorrowland is primarily an electronic dance music, or EDM festival.

Tomorrowland lasts for three weekends from 15^th July to 31^st July, and is renowned for its unique stage production which varies each year.

The festival attracted 400,000 people in 2019, and this year is set to be even bigger with artists such as David Guetta, Tiesto and Afrojack featuring.

Download Festival, UK

Heading back to the UK, Download is the country’s largest rock festival, featuring genres such as heavy metal, punk and alternative rock.

Located in Donnington Park in Leicestershire, the festival takes place over three days from 10^th June to 12^th June.

Some of rock’s biggest names have appeared on the main stage at Download and 2022 is no different, featuring Iron Maiden, Korn, Deftones and A Day to Remember. One of the biggest draws this year will be glam rockers Kiss, a band whose joyous racket has even made it onto the soundtrack of a recently released slot game.

Alternatives to the great outdoors

That’s some serious noise to get the ears around. But if someone doesn’t fancy pitching the tent in a park with 100,000 other partygoers, they can always find other ways to tune in. Last year Ariana Grande and Travis Scott played a series of dates in the virtual world of Fortnite and more tours are expected there in 2022. Elsewhere big shows like Glasto are always covered live by the BBC. There are no excuses for missing out!

The editorial unit