And just like that, we’re into festival season again
The UK summer may not always play ball, as anyone who’s woken up inside a damp tent in a muddy Glastonbury field can attest to, but our festival programme always delivers. If you don’t fancy the schlep out of town with your wellies, your sleeping bag and your sanity to the likes of Reading & Leeds, Glastonbury, Isle of Wight, Latitude and Wilderness, there’s plenty of festivals – and plenty of big name headliners – pitching up in the capital this spring and summer.
Stalwarts like All Points East, Field Day, GALA and Mighty Hoopla are all returning this year and are bringing the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Loyle Carner, Mitski, Justice, Joy Orbison, Jessie Ware and Nelly Furtado with them. There are some newbies joining the London scene this year too, including High Lights in Barking, Skepta’s very own fest Big Smoke, and another debut from The Jazz Cafe. Whatever genre you’re into and whichever artists you like, you’ll find plenty to dance to at the best London music festivals in 2024.
BST Hyde Park | 29th June – 14th July
Over three weekends in June and July, the likes of SZA, with Sampha and Snoh Aalegra; Kings of Leon, with Paolo Nutini and The Vaccines; Morgan Wallen; Andrea Bocelli; Robbie Williams; Shania Twain, with The Corrs; Stevie Nicks; Kylie; and Stray Kids will all be taking to the stage in Hyde Park, and there are still more names to be announced.
Sat 29th June – Sun 14th July 2024
Hyde Park, London
bst-hydepark.com
Big Smoke | 6th July
He’s already an MC, producer, designer, director, and DJ, and now Skepta is adding festival organiser to that list because he’s putting on his very own music event in 2024. Big Smoke Festival will take over Crystal Palace Park for one day in July, with two stages featuring a multi-genre line-up of artists curated by Skepta. As well as performing live himself on the Big Smoke stage (his only live date in the UK for the whole of 2024) Skepta will be joined by the likes of The Streets, Mahalia, JME, and The Den featuring Frisco, Flowdan, Sir Spyro, Infamousizak, Manga, Thafirst. He’ll also be linking up with Jammer on the Más Tiempo stage for a set, which’ll also play host to Loco Dice, Uncle Waffles, Syreeta, Kitty Amor and more.
Sat 6th July 2024
Crystal Palace Park, London SE19 2GA
bigsmokefest.london
Somerset House Summer Series | 11th – 21st July
Somerset House has put together a pretty incredible lineup for this year’s Summer Series. Over 11 nights this July, the likes of Pip Millet, Corinne Bailey Rae, Hak Baker, The Amazons, The Big Moon, Cori Henry, Patti Smith and more will take to the stage in Somerset House’s courtyard – there’s gonna be something for everyone.
Thurs 11th – Sun 21st July 2024
Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA
somersethouse.org.uk
Brockwood Festival | 12th – 14th July
If you don’t mind a quick jaunt out of London, this year’s Brockwood Festival is taking place at Bygrave Woods near Letchworth Garden City. The line-up is as eclectic as ever, with the likes of DJ Seinfeld, Ross From Friends, Elka, Prospa, Hunee, Catching Cairo and Gardna on the line-up. TIBASKO is taking over a stage at the fest, as is Save Our Scene, an advocacy group dedicated to preserving the live music industry, and Jamie Smart and the Cadet team will be putting on a Brockwood Feast, featuring a tasting menu and special guests playing vinyl sets. And as it has done since its inception, Brockwood Festival is raising money for MIND.
Bygrave Woods, Nr Letchworth Garden City
@brockwoodfestival
Kaleidoscope Festival | 13th July
Kaleidoscope Festival, Ally Pally’s legendary all-dayer, has announced the full line-up for this year’s edition and it looks like they’ll be cramming a lot in with a stacked programme of music, comedy, and street food. In 2024, Soul II Soul, Ministry of Sound Classical, The Go! Team, Huey Morgan, Antony Szmierek, Mr. Scruff, Erol Alkan and more are set to take to the music stages. As for comedy, expect sets from the likes of Simon Amstell, Brian Blessed, Sophie Duker, Amir Shah and Chloe Petts.
Sat 13th July 2024
Alexandra Palace Way, London, N22 7AY
kaleidoscope-festival.com
Junction 2 | 26th – 28th July
If raving under the M4 for a whole weekend just isn’t enough for you, you’ll be pleased to hear that Junction 2, the festival that takes place under the motorway at Boston Manor Park, is adding an extra day for 2024. The team is making the most of the extra day and programming one hell of a line-up. The likes of Camelphat, Hot Since 82, Kölsch, Paul Kalkbrenner, Artbat, Yotto, Ahmed Spins and Miss Monique will be kicking things off on Friday 26th July, with Adam Beyer b2b Amelie Lens, Richie Hawtin, Juliet Fox, Jon Hopkins, Jeff Mills, HAAi and Daniel Avery B2B Sama’ Abdulhadi taking to the decks on the Saturday. On the final day you can expect to see Barry Can’t Swim, The Blessed Madonna, Honey Dijon, The Martinez Brothers, Soairse, TSHA, Joy (Anonymous), Dee Diggs, B.Love and more.
Fri 26th – Sun 27th July 2024
Boston Manor Park, London
junction2.london
South Facing | 26th July – 10th August
After another excellent edition in 2023, South Facing is returning to Crystal Palace for 2024 and they’ve announced the artists playing dates across various dates in July and August. First up, Future Islands will be headlining on Sat 27th July with Baxter Dury and Julie Byrne also set to perform. Dizzee Rascal, who headlined the festival’s first edition in 2021, will be back this year on Sat 3rd August alongside an all-star line-up still to be announced. Jess Glynne will be next up on Fri 9th August before Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley closes the fest out on Sat 10th August, following Steel Pulse, Kabaka Pyramid, Romain Virgo and Channel One Soundsystem, on Sat 10th August. Organisers have also announced that they’ll be launching a new all-dayer as part of South Facing fest: Love Motion. This brand-new disco, soul and electronic party will be headlined by none other than Grace Jones – a massive get for its debut.
Fri 26th & Sat 27th July and Sat 3rd, Fri 9th & Sat 10th August 2024
Crystal Palace Park, London
southfacingfestival.com
Cloud X | 2nd August
Record label Cloud X is bringing its eponymous festival, one of the best independent and boutique ones on the capital, back to south London this summer, taking over Crystal Palace Bowl for one day this August. The line-up, which spans R&B, alt-rap, and soul, includes Ghetts, Berwyn, Izzy Bossy, Skrapz, Jaz Karis, Sam Tompkins, and Crazy Cousinz.
Crystal Palace Park, London SE19 2BA
cloudxfestival.com
King’s Cross Summer Sounds | 15th – 26th August 2024
Summer Sounds is back in King’s Cross this August, meaning you can catch some live music before you jump on the tube home. The twelve-day festival, which is totally FREE, features a diverse range of music, from folk to jazz to classical, from artists like Secret Night Gang, Alvorada,, Lily Moore, Unicorn Frequency and AUX. And it’s proper community vibes as local organisations have helped curate the line-up.
Thurs 15th – Mon 26th August 2024
King’s Cross, London, N1C
kingscross.co.uk
All Points East | 16th – 25th August
All Points East is coming back to Vicky Park for 2024 with a whole load of big artists in tow. It all kicks off on Fri 16th August with Kaytranada, who’ll be joined by Victoria Monét (her only UK show of the year), Thundercat, Lancey Foux, Amaarae, JYOTY, and Channel Tres and many more. After that, Loyle Carner will be taking to the stage on Sat 17th August, with support from Nas, Ezra Collective, Sainté, Joe James and more. On Sun 18th August, Mitski will be making her festival headline debut, with the likes of beabadoobee, Ethel Cain, and Arlo Parks also playing on the day. On Fri 23rd August, LCD Soundsystem will top a bill that includes Jai Paul, Pixies, Vagabon, Jockstrap and others. Field Day will be taking over the park on Sat 24th August with a headline performance from Justice, and then on Sun 25th August, The Postal Service/ Death Cab for Cutie will be leading the charge joined by the likes of Gossip, Sleater-Kinney, Phoenix, The Decemberists and Yo La Tengo.
Fri 16th – Sun 18th and Fri 23rd – Sun 25th August 2024
Victoria Park, London E3
allpointseastfestival.com
Field Day | 24th August
Field Day is linking up with All Points East once again and heading home to Victoria Park for another day of electronic music. Now in its 17th year, the festival is putting on one of its most eclectic line-ups yet, with Justice headlining and the likes of Romy, PinkPantheress, Mura Masa, Tiga, Sega Bodega, Hudson Mohawke, Shygirl, Charlotte DeWitte, Skin on Skin, Yaeji and Yves Tumor amongst the first wave of names, with more still to come.
Sat 24th August 2024
Victoria Park, London, E3
fielddayfestivals.com
RALLY Festival | 24th August
RALLY is all about bringing together the city’s different communities dedicated to showcasing the freshest new music and it was such a success that it’s back again for 2024. The line-up for this year includes Mount Kimbie, Actress, Nilüfer Yanya, Armand Hammer, DJ Marcelle, Pearson Sound, Nourished By Time, ML Buch, Call Super, Alabaster DePlume and more. Details of the arts programme at RALLY are still to be announced but partners from last year, including LGBTQIA+ performance art collective Disturbance and Goldsmiths are returning, with the likes of the Southbank Centre and Tate Collective joining, so it’s sure to be another exciting offering.
Sat 24th August 2024
Southwark Park, London SE16 2TX
rallyrallyrally.co.uk
Body Movements | 25th August
After another hit edition in February, Body Movements for a summer session and this time, they’re coming south of the river to Southwark Park. The festival, which was founded by producer and DJ Saoirse and Little Gay Brother’s Clayton Wright as a celebration of queer club culture, will bring together a bunch of the most electrifying LGBTQI+ collectives from the UK and beyond for a full day of music and dance. Expect to see the likes of Saoirse, Tedesco, FAFF, Gideön, Peach, Donnie Sunshine, BASHKKA, Roi Perez, ISAbella, Roza Terenzi, Samantha Togni, TAALIAH, Tash LC, Or:la, Josh Caffé, Aurora Halal and many more.
Sun 25th August 2024
Southwark Park, Gomm Road, London SE16 2TX
bodymovements.co.uk
The Jazz Cafe Festival | 15th September
The Jazz Cafe is hosting its debut festival in Burgess Park this September featuring both international artists and homegrown talent spanning hip-hop, rap, soul, jazz, Latin, R&B and electronic music. The line-up includes the likes of ELIZA, Earl Sweatshirt, Alchemist, Nils Frahm, Crazy P, Gilles Peterson, Buena Vista All Starts, Rapsody, Moonchild Sanelly, Omar Souleyman, Habibi Funk and more. It’s a culmination of performers who have graced the stage at The Jazz Cafe over the decades and an idea that has been years in the making.
Sun 15th September 2024
Burgess Park, London SE1
thejazzcafelondon.com