Wednesday, June 1, 2022
by Tat
As with our yearly custom at Trackhunter, we have picked out some of the best one day and weekend dance music festivals, which at the time of writing still had tickets available, please note that some prices may not include booking fees. With so many festivals to pick from, we have selected ten of the best from across England.
Like so many things, this is the first time since 2019 that any sense of normality has returned for the summer and with that festival season. Last year saw many festivals decide it was still problematic to host events but this year they are back full of energy and this time it is only the weather that can dampen the party spirit (and we doubt even the weather could come close to achieving that).
The first of our summer festival selections takes place at the famous Temple Newsam park and is the first of two events in our list taking place in that vicinity. Set across two areas, The Garden and The Lake, you can expect to hear sounds dropped by Marco Carola, Mall Grab and Chaos in the CBD alongside a select lineup of DJs.
Beat Herder has built up a strong reputation in recent years and this year it is not holding back from bringing out the big guns as Nile Rodgers & Chic headline alongside The Wailers, Hot Chip and David Rodigan. Festival favourites Ibibio Sound Machine, Craig Charles, Dub Pistols and Henge all represent. Whilst there is a plethora of DJs with notable names including DJ Hype & Daddy Earl, DJ Rap, Marshall Jefferson and Rob Da Bank.
Some festivals are much less driven by the idea of making money and running a business but by raising money for good causes. Together is a perfectly formed, small, family friendly festival that has raised over £60,000 for the Awamu Charity in Kampala, Uganda to help some of the most vulnerable women and children in that region. This year some of the highlights include the brilliant Mauskovic Dance Band, one half of Coldcut - Matt Black, Bill Brewster, a Purple Radio 16th birthday takeover and DJ Tamsin. This is a festival well worth popping onto your radar.
https://www.awamutogether.co.uk/
I was lucky to attend the first two Houghton Festivals and can tell you from first hand experience that it is as good a party as you will ever attend. Not only is the location truly very special but the line ups have been monumentally brilliant, 2022 will be no different. Especially so as the festival was hit by bad weather in 2019 to add to the misery of the two following years when the pandemic meant they had to mothball the adventure until this August. Highlights include live performances by The Mole, Freedom Engine, Higher Intelligence Agency, Howie B and many more. There are more DJs than we can possibly do justice to, but sets to look out for include Billy Nasty, Joy Orbison, Ivan Smagghe, Optimo and Tristran Da Cuhna.
https://www.houghtonfestival.co.uk/
If camping isn’t your thing or your budget won’t stretch to a full weekend of partying, then Field Day offers a superb line up over the space of a single day. With The Chemical Brothers and Kraftwerk 3D heading up the proceedings, you can be assured that your £70 will be well spent for just these two acts alone. But you can also check out legends Carl Craig going back to back on the decks with Moodyman, whilst Squarepusher, Tourist and Daniel Avery all deliver live sets.
https://fielddayfestivals.com/
One of the finest festivals for those with discerning tastes in urban and dance music takes place at Abbots Ripton over the course of the Bank Holiday weekend. With legends Pharoah Sanders and Masters At Work topping the bill you just know this is going to be a great weekend. The eclectic vibe runs strong throughout the course of the four days as Jah Wobble, Kokoroko, Emma-Jean Thackray, MADMADMAD and Azymuth all take to the stage.
https://www.weoutherefestival.com/Heading back North and to near Stockport, Moovin is another festival that has grown in stature over recent years. This year you can expect another melting pot of old and new school acts and DJs. Headline acts include Orbital, Roy Ayers, Moodyman, Sugarhill Gang and Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 with live sets. Whilst some of the many DJ sets over the Bank Holiday weekend include previous Trackhunter blog guest Jon DaSilva, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, Micky Finn, Graeme Park and Jaguar Skills. Regardless of what scene you are into, there will be something well worth catching across the festival site.
https://www.moovinfestival.com/
One of the original dance music festival champions and heavyweights of the scene, Creamfields returns again for a bumper Bank Holiday party. Many of the names you would expect at a Creamfields festival are in attendance, so prepare yourself for quality DJ sets from Adam Beyer, Fatboy Slim, Calvin Harris, Carl Cox, Nina Kravitz and Seth Troxler. The list goes on and on, you already know the drill, this will be a huge party as always.
Another one day festival to look out for takes place in London with The Masters At Work, Moodyman headlining behind the decks for Beautiful People. Old school heads will be excited to see Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, Arrested Development perform live whilst other DJs on site include Brandon Block, DJ Spoony, DJ Spinna and David Rodigan.
https://beautifulpeoplefestival.com/
Finishing off our ten of the best as the summer comes to a close, we head back up North to Leeds once again and Mint Festival’s 10th birthday celebration. Helping them enjoy the festivities include The Martinez Brothers, Shy FX, Girls Don’t sync, Laidlaw, Kristin Velvet and Seth Troxler.
https://www.mintfestival.co.uk/
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