Manchester
We've compiled an indispensable guide to what's hot on the festival scene this summer - choose wisely!
Zebra striped wellies? Stinky Portaloos? Getting fresh in a tepee? Sounds like it's festival season again. Here at The Student we've got everything you need to prepare and enjoy these outdoor wonderments – read on and discover the ins and outs of festival decorum, where to go and what to do. And don't forget your baby wipes.
Africa Oyé
Where? Sefton Park, Liverpool
When? 18th – 19th June
Who's headlining? Fatoumata Diawara (Mali), Kareyce Fotso (Cameroon), Milmani Park Orchestra (Tanzania), Bongo (Angola), Miriem Hassan (Western Sahara), Damily (Madagascar), Cheny (Mozambique), Abdou Diop (Senegal)
Why should I go? The UK's largest celebration of African music and culture, Africa Oyé has gone from strength to strength from its beginnings in 1992, moving to its current home in 2002 to cope with demand. In 2010 the event attracted 40,000 people with the same expected this year
Bakewell Acoustic Music Festival
Where? Bakewell, Derbyshire
When? 12th – 14th August
Who's headlining? Gypsy Fire, Anita May, Fred's House
Why should I go? Just down the road and filled with a passion for all live music
Boomtown Fair
Where? A secret location one hour southwest from London
When? 11th – 14th August
Who's headlining? Gogol Bordello, Caravan Palace, Goldie Lookin Chain, Dunklebunt
Why should I go?A unique town of festival goodness
Cocoon In The Park
Where?Temple Newsam, Leeds
When? 9th July
Who's headlining? Sven Väth, Ricardo Villalobos, Reboot, Seth Troxler
Why should I go? A spectacular festival set in the grounds of a 450 year old mansion house in the Yorkshire countryside
Creamfields
Where? Daresbury, Cheshire
When? 27th – 28th August
Who's headlining? The Chemical Brothers, Tiesto, Paul Van Dyk, Eric Prydz, Steve Angello, Calvin Harris
Why should I go? One of the top five UK festivals, crammed with top DJs and dance music
Download
Where? Donington Park, Derbyshire
When? 10th -12th June
Who's headlining? Def Leppard, System Of A Down, Linkin Park, The Darkness, Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine
Why should I go? One for all lovers of rock, metal and punk
Friends Of Mine Festival
Where? Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire
When? 20th – 22nd May
Who's headlining? Bad Lieutenant, The Cribs, The Charlatans, The Lightening Seeds, Badly Drawn Boy, The Fall
Why should I go? Friends of Mine began as a club night in Manchester, gaining a cult following and putting on shows in nearly every venue in the city; by 2009 there were residencies in London and Liverpool. This year FOM comes out from the underground for its first ever green field festival.
Glastonbury
Where? Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset
When? Wednesday 22nd – Sunday 26th June
Who's headlining? U2, Coldplay, Beyonce, Gorillaz, Muse
Why should I go? Having celebrated it's 40th birthday last year, Glastonbury is the world's largest greenfield and performing arts festival in the world
Global Gathering
Where? Long Marston Airfield, Stratford-upon-Avon
When? 29th – 30th July
Who's headlining? Tinie Tempah, Pendulum, Underworld, Chase & Status
Why should I go? A huge festival for lovers of dance music
Isle Of Wight Festival
Where? Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight
When? 10th – 12th June
Who's headlining? Kings Of Leon, Kaiser Chiefs, Foo Fighters, Pulp, Kasabian, Beady Eye
Why should I go? Almost like going abroad – pop on a ferry and hop over to the Isle of Wight
Latitude
Where? Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk
When? 14th – 17th July
Who's headlining? The National, Paolo Nutini, Suede, Bombay Bicycle Club, Foals, Eels
Why should I go? Showcasing the best in music, theatre, film, literature, poetry, dance, art, fashion, cabaret
Live From Jodrell Bank
Where? Jodrell Bank, Cheshire
When? 2nd July
Who's headlining? The Flaming Lips, British Sea Power, OK Go, Alice Gold
Why should I go? An outdoor stage in the shadow of the towering Lovell telescope, with a diverse array of shows spanning all genres of music, and the telescope will also be serving as an incredible projection screen
Long Division
Where? Wakefield City Centre
When? 10th – 12thJune
Who's headlining? The Wedding Present, Los Campesinos!, Darwin Deez, The
Wave Pictures, Emmy The Great, Emma Pollock, I Like Trains
Why should I go? Wakefield's very first Long Division Festival! A wide
variety of artists across a diverse set of venues (all accessible with a
festival wristband), everywhere from the 800 year old cathedral and Town Hall,
modern venues The Hop, Mustangs and quaint pubs Henry Boons and The Grazier
The Magic Loungeabout
Where? Broughton Hall, North Yorkshire
When? 29th -31st July
Who's headlining? The Human League, New Young Pony Club, Fenech Soler, Crazy P
Why should I go? A 'refined unwind' - think VIP waiter service, boutique accommodation, massages, spa treatments, home-cooked food
The Parklife Weekender
Where? Platt Fields Park, Manchester
When? 11th – 12th June
Who's headlining? Kelis, Chase & Status, DOOM, Nero, Boys Noise, Sub Focus, 2manyDJs, Adam Beyer, Skream & Benga
Why should I go? Thousands of revellers fill Platt Fields Park to enjoy six arenas (one more than 2010) and a main stage
Peace In The Park
Where? Ponderosa Park, Sheffield
When? 4th June
Who's headlining? Local bands – if you want to be part of it then get in touch!
Why should I go? The festival is completely funded by fundraisers, working together for a non profit collective, bringing together communities
Reading/ Leeds
Where? Richfield Avenue, Reading & Bramham Park, Leeds
When? 26th – 28th August
Who's headlining? My Chemical Romance, The Strokes, Muse, 30 Seconds To Mars, Pulp, Elbow
Why should i go? Two locations, same acts
RockNess
Where? Dores, Loch Ness, Scotland
When? 10th – 12th June
Who's headlining? Kasabian, The Chemical Brothers, Paolo Nutini, Two Door Cinema Club, The Cribs, Glasvegas
Why should I go? Winner of 'Best Small Festival' at the NME Awards and 'Line Up Of The Year' at The Festival Awards, RockNess takes place on one of the most beautiful festival sites in the world, with a backdrop of the loch
Secret Garden Party
Where? Near Huntington, Cambridgeshire
When? 21st – 24th July
Who's headlining? Leftfield, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Mystery Jets, Blondie, Guillemots, The Bees, Mylo
Why should I go? A temporary community that is free, irreverent, friendly and engaging; connect to your creative powers, explore your wildest fantasies and meet thousands of people who all want to meet you
Sheffield Pride
Where? Endcliffe Park, Sheffield
When? 16th July
Why should I go? Sheffield's very own celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender life
Sonisphere
Where? Knebworth, Hertfordshire
When? 8th – 10th July
Who's headlining? Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth, Weezer, Motörhead, Sisters Of Mercy, Gallows, Airborne, Bill Bailey
Why should I go? The world's only internationally touring festival
Summer Break
Where? Newquay
When? 5th – 9th & 12th – 16th June
Who's headlining? Chase & Status, Kissy Sell Out, Example + DJ Wire, Freestylers, ShyFX, Annie Mac, Sub Focus
Why should I go? A 96 hour non-stop party on a private beach, with its biggest line-up yet this year
Summer Sundae
Where? De Montfort Hall and Gardens, Leicester
When? 12th – 14th August
Who's headlining? The Maccabees, Graham Coxon, Newton Faulkner, The Bees, Bellowhead
Why should I go? A 'musical treat'
T In The Park
Where? Balado, Scotland
When? 8th – 10th July
Who's headlining? Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Blink 182, Pulp
Why should I go? T In The Park has sold out every year and is now more than four times its original size
Tramlines
Where? Venues throughout Sheffield city centre, main stage on Devonshire Green
When? 22nd – 24th July
Who's headlining? Echo And The Bunnymen, Mystery Jets, Simian Mobile Disco, Future Of The Left, Darwin Deez
Why should I go? Sheffield's very own festival! 175,000 people are expected this year, with four main stages and over 70 venues. The entire festival is free, with everything from huge bands performing to thousands to little known musical oddities in a pub
V Festival
Where? Hylands Park, two miles from Chelmsford, Essex & Weston Park, 30 minutes from Birmingham
When? Saturday 20th - Sunday 21st August
Who's headlining? Eminem, Rihanna, Arctic Monkeys,
Plan B
Why should I go? Originally an idea from Pulp's Jarvis Cocker, the festival takes place on two sites, with acts performing at one location on the Saturday and swapping on the Sunday
Wychwood Festival
Where? Cheltenham Racecourse
When? 3rd – 5th June
Who's headlining? The Charlatans, Cornershop, The Waterboys, 3 Daft Monkeys, Robyn Hitchcock
Why should I go? Nominated as the 'Best Family Festival' at the UK Festival Awards every year since it launched, the event is widely regarded as the UK's most family friendly festival – one to take the parents to.
