It’s been a while but festivals are well and truly in 2022 which has meant this looks set to be the best festival season yet. If you’re struggling to decide which to head to this year, want to find out about more before you commit to attending or just want to pack out your 2022 even more, then we’re here to help.
We’ll be taking a look at twelve festivals we can’t wait to attend in 2022!
Wide Awake
27th – 28th May
Brockwell Park, London
Wide Awake is the new kid on the block in the festival scene, but it is making waves. Last year saw arguably the greatest day of post-punk music known to man with the likes of IDLES, black midi, shame, Black Country, New Road, and Goat Girl, to name a few. This year the day festival returns with not just one day of the best of post-punk, but an extra day of music featuring an all-electronic line-up. Friday 27th May will showcase the best of British dance music, with Belfast electronic duo Bicep bringing their immersive live show and unique take on dance music to Brockwell Park in what will undoubtedly be an unmissable performance. The rest of the day will see the New Order inspired Working Men’s Club take to the stage, as well as the stunning Peruvian producer Sofia Kourtesis, with her own style of emotive dance music. This is definitely a day for the Boiler Room YouTube channel fans, although fans of the more traditional style of dance music will be foolish to miss Caribou playing just before headliners Bicep. The Saturday will see rock’n’roll hall of famers Primal Scream performing their iconic 1991 record Screamadelica for the headline set. If you’re a BBC Radio 6 fan, then this day is for you. Punks Amyl & The Sniffers will bring the energy, Fat White Family will bring the insanity, and Yard Act will bring a strong taste of up north. Do not miss either of these days. (JL)
Slam Dunk Festival
3rd June – Temple Newsam, Leeds
4th June – Hatfield Park, Hatfield
Slam Dunk Festival has come a long way since its first year in 2007, this year will be their 15th festival. There are two locations, North held at Temple Newsam Leeds June 3rd, and South held at Hatfield Park, Hatfield June 4th. Slam Dunk may only be in both locations for a day, but it doesn’t stop the line-up being absolutely stacked with great talent and over 50 bands. This year’s headliners across six stages include SUM 41, Alexisonfire, Neck Deep, Deaf Havanna and Nova Twins. There will be some good old fashioned throw backs, fans may have thought they’d never see, with the recently reunited The Summer Set on the line-up and Motion City Soundtrack too.
One of the great joys of past Slam Dunk festivals were their secret sets. Last year saw McFly take the honour of secret band and the one before that audiences were treated to their best mates, Busted. The ‘Clashfinder’ available on the Slam Dunk website doesn’t seem to have a time slot for a secret set this year, which is a shame, but you never know they might have something up their sleeves. Anything is possible at this particular festival. This festival may not be your typical camping three-day affair but it’s a great atmosphere reminiscent of old school all-dayers like, Give It A Name. It brings together old and young fans with a great mix of acts from legends like SUM 41 to up-and-comers like Meet Me @ The Altar. It’s a day of fun you won’t want to miss. (CW)
Download Festival
10th – 12th June 2022
Donington Park
Download is a festival unlike any other on the musical circuit, a place of belonging, togetherness and of course the historical, spiritual home of rock n roll.
The line-up boasts four absolutely stacked stages, rammed to the rafters with all the bands we have grown up with, have exploded onto the scene or bands waiting to be discovered by new listeners. Top of the bill and leading the charge on night one is one of the genre’s biggest and boldest as KISS provide the soundtrack for our Friday night delight with a heady mix of joy, fireworks, some of the biggest and catchiest rock tunes of all time and might even end with a tear or two, as KISS play what they have billed as their final ever UK show. Sharing the top of the podium as headliners are Iron Maiden on Saturday night and Biffy Clyro on Sunday. On subsequent nights A Day To Remember, Deftones and Korn will take the sub-headline slots, playing in the fading light to an ocean of happy, grinning rock fans – Downloaders scattered throughout the vast expanses of Donington Park. Aside from the headliners who we mentioned earlier, the likes of Megadeth, Bush, Steel Panther, Sepultura and Airbourne head-up a bill loaded with the kind of bands you’d do pretty much anything to see, and the others? Well, they are just new favourite bands waiting to be discovered by you.
It’s festival season, the gates to paradise are almost open and it’s time to go to the promised land once more. (EM)
Hellfest
17th – 26th June 2022
Clisson, France
With parts of the world finally beginning to return to ‘normality’ now, so does the best festival in Europe. This year comes back with an extra special bang, as it’s an anniversary year for the festival and so there are two weekends – 350 bands, six stages, of which two are main stages! Wow! Just wow!
The first weekend line-up consists of the legends that are Judas Priest and Deep Purple, and Ghost and Gojira on the other headline slots. You can also catch Deftones, Korn, Megadeth, Volbeat, Five Finger Death Punch and Dropkick Murphys. An incredible feast of bands awaits, kicking off with legends Whitesnake and The Scorpions on the opening day. Accompanying them are big performances from Helloween, Steve Vai and UFO. The second day really spices up with not-to-be-missed performances from Ministry and NIN. The latter will surely be an experience you should not pass up. Big-hitters Alice Cooper and Bad Religion will be heading up the other two stages. Also, not to miss are Goldfinger (Warzone stage), Ihsahn (Temple stage), and MYRKUR (Temple stage).
The weekend only goes from strength to strength. Saturday is a real treat for Guns N’Roses fans. Not only are we treated to what will be a special headline slot, but there’s also a Myles Kennedy and Company performance which will undoubtedly have Slash make an appearance. Airborne, Nightwish and Epica head up the rest on the main stages, and look out for Aaron Jones (Main stage), and Blind Guardian (Main 2). Sunday really brings the roof down with the one and only Metallica headlining, fans can also be treated to the brilliance that is Zakk Wylde with Black Label Society. There’s Sabaton, who always blow us away with their live show, and Bring Me the Horizon will be heading up the other big head slots. Final heads up go to Spiritbox (Main stage), Orange Goblin (Valley stage), Merciful Fate (Temple stage), and Ill Nino (Main 2). See you in France. (SG)
Outbreak Fest
24th – 26th June 2022
Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester
This year Outbreak Fest are pulling all the stops out with their 10-year anniversary event which is taking place at a new and bigger capacity home in Manchester. Known for its stacked line-up of some of the greatest hardcore and punk bands on the scene, it doesn’t disappointment as Knocked Loose, Turnstile, Touché Amoré and Deafheaven are taking the headline slots at the three-day event. Also featuring on the stacked line-up are Drug Church, Basement, Your Demise, Last Witness, Loathe and Witch Fever, amongst many more. The festival are also giving fans the chance to start their weekend early at their special pre-show event on 23rd June which will see Stick To You Guns, Counterparts, SeeYouSpaceCowboy and Static Dress kicking off Outbreak in style. Alongside the music, attendees can explore the art & photography exhibition, record and zine fair, skateboarding opportunities and vegan food vendors; what more could you want from a festival?
Outbreak has always hailed the event as a place for everyone in the hardcore-punk scene to feel welcome and this is why for many, this is one of the best and most anticipated weekends of the year. Weekend tickets are sold out, but a limited number of Sunday day tickets are available. (NC)
2000Trees
7th – 9th July 2022
Upcote Farm, Cheltenham
To say 2000Trees is the best festival in the UK would be a statement that you would struggle to find many people disagreeing with. The people, the setting, the atmosphere, and the music all make this perhaps UK’s best festival offering. In terms of music, this year will see punks IDLES and Turnstile performing headline slots, as well as fan favourites You Me at Six, Thrice, and Jimmy Eat World. Five headline sets to be performed over the three days, including a bonus Wednesday showcasing the best of British underground music being added. 2022’s edition promises to make this 2000Trees the best year to date. Aside from the mammoth headline slots, Ozzy punks The Chats will bring their raucous live show, indie-rock favourites The Amazons and Dinosaur Pile-Up will undoubtedly bring crowds in, whilst heavy fan favourites such as Knocked Loose, Boston Manor, and Crossfaith will get people moshing with ease. Arguably the best thing about Trees is the ability to run from one side of the campsite to the other in barely five minutes, ensuring that there are no clashes throughout the weekend, as well as very little stress. If you like sun, beers, good music and good people, then 2000 Trees is the festival for you. (JL)
TRNSMT
8th – 10th July 2022
Glasgow Green
At the start of July, a packed line-up of the best pop, indie and rock artists on the scene will be taking over Glasgow Green for Cinch presents TRNSMT. Coming onto the scene in 2017 to fill the T in the Park shaped hole, this is one of the newer festivals within our lists but the line-up speaks for itself as this year sees headliners including The Strokes, Jimmy Eat World, Lewis Capaldi and local favourite Paolo Nutini. After a two-year break due to the pandemic, from top to bottom of the bill there’s truly something for everyone. Fancy a bit of pop? Mae Muller, Sigrid and Years & Years are there for you to get your fix. Looking for some indie-rock? Wet Leg, Foals and Sam Fender have you covered. TRNSMT also holds official afterparties across the city, so if you don’t want your night to end you’ll know where to head!
Hopefully the Glasgow sunshine will be out in full force, but whatever the weather you just known TRNSMT is going to set Glasgow alight with brilliant live music and good vibes especially with the festival within walking distance of the city centre this is definitely a winner. (NC)
Community Festival
16th July 2022
Finsbury Park, London
Organised by Festival Republic, the name behind Reading and Leeds Festival, this one-day indie-rock festival is here to brighten your July. Headlined by Two Door Cinema Club, this stacked line-up features some of the biggest names on the scene including arena outfit Nothing But Thieves, indie icons The Wombats and folk-punk rising stars Bears in Trees. Taking place over two stages, the full line-up is yet to be announced but with some of the best established and new names out there like Circa Waves, Alfie Templeman and CRAWLERS already on the bill this is guaranteed to be a day to remember in the capital. Expect big sing-along favourites, a sea of music lovers uniting and one of the most joyous days of the music calendar.
The day event is nestled between Sam Fender and George Ezra’s headlining shows at Finsbury Park, we’ll be heading to all three for a weekend of simply great music so why not make a weekend of it in London. We’ll see you there! (NC)
Boardmasters
10th – 14th August 2022
Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach, Cornwall
Summer returns to Cornwall, and with that, so does Boardmasters. An electric combination of music and surfing tying together the perfect idyllic of Cornwall in summertime. Headlining this year are George Ezra, Disclosure and Kings of Leon, alongside various exciting acts both older and newer including Tom Grennan, Bastille and freshly off the back of his Eurovision triumph, Sam Ryder to name a few.
Three days of music across ten stages with a fantastic variation of sound to suit everyone. Boardmasters is particularly great at recognising acts breaking through. Previously mentioned, Sam Ryder being a highlight after his breath-taking performance in Turin to a global audience of 200 million people, as well as Wigan-born alt band, The Lathums who are making big impressions around the UK and other festivals with their fresh but timeless sound. It’s only a matter of time until the pilgrimage to Newquay begins, with people from all across the UK and beyond travelling for a transcendental weekend of music and surfing, we advise you get your tickets now or miss out on a sublime weekend of vibes. (CE)
ArcTanGent
17th – 20th August
Fernhill Farm, Bristol
If you’re looking for something a little different then ArcTanGent is very much the home of everything…well..different. Imagine those artists who pushing the boundaries of alternative music. Whether in terms of instrumental prowess, creative concept, noise, aggression, length…they’re all at this festival.
The sister festival to the wonderful 2000Trees, ArcTanGent celebrates everything experimental and boundary pushing in alternative music. From face melting instrumental music, to immersive doom and soaring prog to disorientating heaviness there’s something for everyone. Well, assuming you like music from the leftfield. This year’s line-up boats headliners like Opeth and Cult of Luna alongside established alternative heavyweights like Mono, Tesseract and maybeshewill. Those big names are backed up by an experienced eclectic supporting line-up of Zeal and Ardour, Perturbator, Caspian, Enslaved, Jamie Lenman and a foundation of new and emerging UK talent such as Pupil Slicer, Ithaca, Heriot, VASA and more.
Though musically it’s not for the faint of heart, it’s not all about being pummelled by extremely intense and challenging music. A range of independent food and drinks vendors and other events make the festival are wonderful experience even when you’re giving your ears a rest. And once you’re done resting, the infamous silent disco closes out every night. What more could you want? (CM)
Reading Festival/Leeds Festival
26th – 28th August
Richfield Avenue/Bramham Park
Everybody knows Leeds Festival is the pinnacle of the British Festival season. It’s almost a rite of passage for younger people, and this year will be no different. After selling out again, Festival Republic dropped one of the best line-ups in years. Wherever you look on the line-up, there are bands clawing at your attention. The only problem with this line-up is that there are too many bands you want to see, so there will be clashes, however there are worse problems to have, and with two main stages again, there will be as little clashes as possible. The line-up consists of Dave, Megan Thee Stallion, Arctic Monkeys, Bring Me The Horizon, Rage Against The Machine, and Halsey… those are just the headliners. Maneskin, Fontaines D.C., Enter Shikari, Bastille, All Time Low and Little Simz are also just some of the names gracing the Main Stage over the weekend. This will arguably be the best weekend in Leeds Festival history. The atmosphere during Arctic Monkeys will be once in a lifetime as the Yorkshire band perform at home for the first time in far, far too long. Whilst on the same day, Bring Me The Horizon will finally make their long-awaited headline slot at the festival that has been anticipated for years, it is just going to be a crazy weekend. Wherever you go throughout the weekend, there is going to be world-class music round every corner, and there is still more to be announced, congratulations if you got a ticket. (JL)
When We Were Young
22nd/23rd/29th October
Festival Grounds, Las Vegas
Okay, hands up who thought this simply HAD to be fake news when they first heard about it? Probably THE most outrageously, entirely emo festival line-up of all time. Pop-punk nostalgia is back and at its best, everyone! There is no better way to hold such an event as over three days and in Las Vegas.
Not only is it headlined by My Chemical Romance, but it has brought the return of the reformed Paramore back to the forefront. Let’s hope both bands pull out all the classics – there are so many! As you scroll down the glorious festival poster, you can’t help but repeat the words, “OH!”, “WHAAT?” And “OMG!” over and over again. Amongst the big headliners, Avril Lavigne has timed her return to the limelight, and we can’t wait to see her belting out Sk8r Boi across Las Vegas. Bring Me The Horizon, A Day to Remember, Bright Eyes and Jimmy Eat World help add to the list of headliners that, even now, is still growing. The list of bands that you simply can’t miss are growing constantly and there are few bands that we would not class as one of those.
Big names that we could also get excited about are The Used, The All-American Rejects, Alkaline Trio, AFI, Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, The Story So Far… we could go on. There is also a nice mix of current and fit-for-purpose bands that shouldn’t be missed. These include Thursday, Glassjaw, State Champs, Sleeping With Sirens, PVRIS, and Wolf Alice, to name just a few again. Remember: what goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas! This will surely never happen again anywhere else. (SG)
Which festivals will you be heading to? Tweet us @BringTheNoiseUK and let us know!
Written By: Caitlyn Ebsworthy, Calum McMillan, Catherine Wiltshire, Eric Mackinnon, Joe Loughran, Nicola Craig and Stu Garneys.
