Festivals 2021: Who Will We Hear From?

With the government’s pledge to vaccinate everyone over the age of 18 by July this year, the likelihood of a fun-packed summer festival season is somewhat high. Last year, Covid-19 silenced the UK’s festival summer season; blasting mixtapes in gardens and bedrooms was the closest to a festival many of us got. But this year, we have our secret weapons: the vaccine, widely available mass testing and our desperation for music. There are tickets on sale for numerous events as festival enthusiasts are invited to buy for Latitude, Reading and Leeds and Rewind to name a few. Unfortunately, the prospect of other events taking place is still uncertain.

To increase the likelihood of the summer season going ahead, various events have been pushed back to safer dates later on in the summer. Regrettably, many events scheduled earlier on have cancelled, notably Glastonbury, with many unable to obtain cancellation insurance as a factor. One of the best graces during lockdown has been technology and the music experience is beginning to shift in this direction. Popstar Billie Eilish sold tickets for an internet performance for fans, so we could experience live music from the comfort and safety of our homes. BBC Radio One’s Biggest Weekend is also going virtual. To help you plan in 2021, here is everything you need to know:

Latitude – ON

Based in Henham Park in Suffolk, the Latitude festival will take place between the 22nd and the 25th of July 2021. The Adult Standard Camping Ticket for those sixteen and over is £226.80, with options for those needing accessibility or large families. Currently, the line-up includes Snow Patrol, Bastille, and one of my favourite bands ever, First Aid Kit, so I’m tempted to book tickets myself! There should be more line-up news announced on the 19th of April so keep a lookout on social media.

Boardmasters – Hopeful

With storms cancelling the festival in 2019, and then Covid-19 in 2020 it has been a while since fans have been able to attend. Held in Newquay, Cornwall, tickets from 2019 are valid for this year’s festival, which will take place between the 11th and the 15th of August. As of yet, no line-up has been confirmed, but with past musicians such as Catfish and the Bottlemen, George Ezra, The Flaming Lips and The Vaccines I am certain fans will not be disappointed. The Festival has announced that if the festival does not go ahead, fans can either get a refund or save their ticket for next year.

Glastonbury – OFF

This festival made cancellations back in January, unable to safely maintain over two hundred thousand fans and myriads of performers. However fans may be luckier than they think. In September 2021, Glastonbury is hoping to hold a one-off concert at Worthy Farm which will be smaller, but at least fans can get to hear their wellies squelch and favourite musicians play this year. For anyone unable to buy tickets, the festival is looking to film the performances, so they can be streamed online or on TV.

Green Man – Hopeful

At Wales’ Brecon Beacons National Park, Greenman will hopefully be on from the 19th to the 22 of August 2021. But the extraordinary Welsh landscape comes with more uncertainty as the festival will have to comply with the Welsh government’s lockdown plans rather than England’s equivalent. Similar to Boardmasters, no line-up has been announced yet, but Green Man has stated that information about tickets and musicians will be released in the next few months.

Reading and Leeds

The dual-site festival – at Little John’s Farm (Reading) and Braham Park (Leeds) – is scheduled to take place over the August bank holiday, from the 27th to the 29th. With headliners such as Stormzy, Liam Gallagher and Queens of the Stone Age, this is a festival to purchase tickets for. As of the end of March, Reading has sold out, but for Leeds, there are still tickets so buy away!

More Festivals Going Ahead (2021):

Bigfoot Festival: 18-20 June

One in the Woods: 17-18 July

Deer Shed Festival: 20 July – 1 August

Standon Calling: 22-25 July

Womad: 22-25 July

Rewind: Throughout August

Bloodstock: 11-15 August

Creamfields: 26-29 August

All Points East: 27-30 August

Victorious Festival: 27 to 29 August

Solfest: 27-29 August