FESTIVAL READY?

Who is ready for a scorching turn of events and by scorching, I’m referring to our untrustworthy British weather. Before you turn round, summer will be tapping on your shoulder & so will some of the greatest festivals that grace us here in London and across the world. Coachella has already come and gone so let’s get on the move! Grab a drink & get comfy. 

Festivals are probably one of the most tricky events to dress for, battling between “I want to look fly as hell” & “this isn’t exactly practical,” which perhaps ends in “nevermind, you’ve only got one life to live, wear the crazy outfit” If any of this is you, keep reading.

Festivals have introduced the odd rule of wearing a pair of hot pants and flowers in your hair, being a rock chick/dude for the day or perhaps taking on the bohemian & hippie look. 

To me, dressing for a festival means you shouldn’t have to worry about what you’ve got on the minute you’re in. If you have to worry about your shoes getting dirty, you being too cold, you’re booty hanging out of your shorts or you’re top falling off, you’re wearing the wrong gear.

You want to be free, able to shake what your mamma gave ya, skank out and look bloody fantastic & comfortable doing it. 

You’re going to need a light jacket or cardi that’ll keep you warm from day to night, trusty footwear, ideal for getting your groove on and anything that’ll make you feel like the star you are. Fun is the priority here!

Check out my moodboard below for inspo & a list of festivals your behind should be attending!

(Looking to grab an outfit asap head to...Bricklane, Urban outfitters, Topshop/Topman or Websties: Missguided, Boohoo, Asos & hippieclothingco. If you wish to have a handmade crochet outfit made, email me, I gotcha)

What’s poppin’ in the UK?

Lovebox - July 14th - 15th (£60 and over...deposit scheme available until April 30th) Victoria Park, London

Lovebox is not to be missed! (In my opinion anyway)

This year Lovebox is offering sounds of Solange, Frank Ocean, kaytranada, Mac Miller, Soulection, Chase and Status and Jess Glynne and much more. Not to come across biased, but Lovebox is ranked as the festival for the cool kids. Packing in rides, after parties, live DJ’s, bands and street food stalls oh and did I mention SOLANGE live! 

For a few years Lovebox seemed to be overshadowed by Wireless and Glastonbury, but since 2015 it’s seemed to gain an additional following for it’s diversity in genre and great line ups. 

We Are Festival - May 26th - 28th (£65 - £425) Upminster

We Are festival, otherwise known as WAF brings the best of bass, house, garage and techno, introducing new rising artists, great DJs and underground vocals. If this is your thing, get involved! Basement Jaxx, Katy B, Wiley and Dizzie Rascal will some of the very few to perform. 

Wireless - July 7th - 9th (£55-65 day, £117.50 full weekend) Finsbury Park, London 

A festival which reals in the most Hip Hop and Rap acts, such as Skepta, Nas, Section Boys, Chase & Status, J Cole, Stefflon Don, The Weeknd etc. Wireless, is definitely one of the most popular festivals in London and has unintentionally set itself up as the release party for students who have just finished their exams. Set out with a number of stages, rides and street food, Wireless seems to be London’s favourite. (Saturday & Sunday tickets have already sold out!)

The Soundcrash Funk & Soul Weekender - May 12 - 15 (£109 - £175) East Sussex

All my people into funk & soul music, from the 80’s right through to 2017, this one’s for you. With a line up including Jordan Rakei, Sugarhill Gang, Soul 2 Soul, Parliament funkadelic and more, you’re in for a fun and blissful weekend. 

Park Life - June 10 - 11 (£59.50 DAY, £99.50 Weekend) Heaton Park, Manchester 

The one festival I’ve been trying to reach for the past couple of years and have kicked myself in for never making it. Playing the best in RnB, Indie rock, Hip Hop and much more. This year Park Life kicks off with Sampha, A Tribe Called Quest, Boy Better know, Frank Ocean and many more acts. I first heard of this festival by word of mouth and it’s definitely becoming a poplar one for the calendar. 

Strawberries and Creem - June 17 (£40) Haggis Farm, Cambridge

Where are all my grime people at?! Of course London would be the city you think of when it comes to hosting a grime based festival, but now three years running, Cambridge is the place to be this June. You’ll hear the likes of Mike Skinner, Artful Dodger, So Solid Crew, J Hus and more to be listed. This festival runs for one day only, playing the best in dancehall, garage, house and grime. Woiiii

IOW June 8 - 11 (£80 for the day, £195 full weekend) Isle of Wight

Rock gang, put your hands up! This one is four days of Run DMC, Jack Savoretti, Bastille, Arcade of Fire and many more acts to be added. 

British Summertime (£73 - 85) London Hyde park  Headlining...

Saturday July 1st: Green Day

Sunday July 2nd: Justin Bieber

Thursday July 6th: Kings of Leon

Listen to some fantastic rock classics with these guys and the very well known Biebs at Hyde this year. While I have’t known this festival to be at the top of anyone’s list, it is one for all ages and has been known at times to be a family favourite. 

Glastonbury June 21 - 25 (Sold Out) Worthy Farm, Somerset

Glaston muddy bury! Grab your wellies and some stamina, because for preperation is key here! Glastonbury is one of the biggest and most popular festivals held in europe. It’s usually hosted by some of the biggest acts from Adele, Beyonce, Kanye West and more. This year, there’s been an essence of Chinese whispers as to who will be showing up to the stage. If you haven’t already grabbed your tickets, i’m afraid it’s too late. Glastonbury sells out like hot cakes. If you’re interested in going, you’ve got to get in there super early! 

What’s going down in the U.S?

Coachella - April 14 - 16 & 21-23 Indio California 

Coachella showcased acts such as Future, Kendrick Lamar, Dj Khaled, Mac Miller, Tory Lanez, Kehlani, Travis Scott Lady GaGa and plenty more. This is probably the most known U.S festival to attend!

Rolling Loud - May 5-7 Miami, Florida

You can catch Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Migos, Run the Jewels, Yachty Asap Rocky, Post Malone, Flatbush Zombies, Young Thug and more this May. If you’re into trap and Hip Hop then get yourself down there. 

Also showcasing similar acts will be...

The Hangout Music Festival on may 19 - 21 at Gulf shores, AL

Sasquatch Music Festival later on May 26-28 in Quincy, WA bringing in the likes of Chance the Rapper, Kaytranada, Twenty One Pilots and more

Governors Ball June 2-4 with Childish Gambino, Wiz Khalifa, Skepta, Rae Sremmurd, Tang Clan and the legendary Wu Tang Clang in New York 

Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on June 8 - 11 at manchester, TN playing U2, The Weekend, Major Lazer, Future Islands, Tory Lanez, Lorde etc. 

Essence Music Festival on June 30 - July 2 New Orleans, LA

If you like a bit of R&B and neo-soul and pretty much a mix of everything then 1. You’re right up my street & 2. Grab tickets now! 

You’ll be seeing and listening to the likes of Teyana Taylor, Mary J Blidge, June’s Diary, Solange, India Arie, Yuna, Chaka khan, John Legend, Chance the Rapper and much more. Personally, this is where you would find me!

Pitchforf Music Festival July 14-16 Union Park, Chicago

Similar to the Essence Fest, you get the chance to see A Tribe called Quest, Vince Staples, Mitski, Solange, Dawn, Kamaiyah and more.

AfroPunk Brooklyn August 26-27 Commodore Barry Park, NY

This has got to be one of the coolest festivals to head to if you’re in the States late summer. You can check Nao, SZA, Macy Gray, Princess Nokia, The Cool Kids, Sampha, Willow Smith and much much more. I mean how cool is that line up?!

There are an incredible number of great festivals in Europe to go to if you don’t fancy hitting the U.K or U.S. For these you’ll want to head to the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Serbia, Malta and much more.  

I hope i’ve encouraged you to head to a festival this year & whichever one you go to, I hope you have a blast!

xo