If camping festivals aren’t your cup of tea, then a day festival is the perfect way to still get a taste of the amazing atmosphere that comes with festival life!
Depending on the type of genre you enjoy will determine the sort of festivals you’ll enjoy! For this blog, I’ve selected the best UK day dance festivals, as dance is my favourite genre, although all the below festivals have other genres too and if I were to list every single day festival, the blog would be very long!
So, here we go…
Bristol
Love Saves The Day
When: 2ndMay Bank Holiday
Where: Eastville Park (moving in 2021)
How Much: Starting from £38
First up, Love Saves The Day! Known as the biggest music festival in Bristol, the festival which takes place over the second bank holiday in May has been running since 2012. The festival takes place over two days, with no option of camping and you can buy single-day tickets or a whole weekend ticket.
With drum & bass, house, dub, and dance being the main genres, and with 100’s of acts from Bristol playing, the festival is set across five stages. I actually volunteered at Love Saves back in 2015 and had a blast!
In the past Chase & Status, Jessie Ware, Lily Allen, Peggy Gou, Stormzy, Dizzee Rascal and Hotchip have all played, including many many more obviously! The line-up for 2020 has just been released, so it’s probably best to keep up to date on their Facebook page.
London
Lovebox
When: June
Where: Gunnersbury Park
How Much: Starting from £72
Taking place over three days in June, Lovebox is predominately dance music; however, over the past few years has expanded to feature other genres too!
Starting in 2002 as a club night, Lovebox has grown into an extremely popular festival and was co-founded by Groove Armada (if you aren’t sure who they are, the most well-known songs are I See You Baby and Superstylin’). In the past Four Tet, Skepta, Frank Ocean, Major Lazer and co-founders Groove Armada have played!
I went in 2017 when it was in Victoria Park, but moved in 2018 to now take place in Gunnersbury Park. I have to say, the organisation was pretty poor and I’ve read similar reviews since about other years. We spent about 30 minutes queued for a loo, which eats into the time seeing the acts! I’ve been to a fair few festivals and the queues were the worst I’d seen.
On the second day, we purchased a luxury loo pass, which cost around £10 for the day, but it meant no queuing and you had access to deodorant, make-up, hair products etc!
Field Day
When: July
Where: The Drumsheds
How Much: Starting from £50
Running since 2007, Field Day first started in Victoria Park, then moved to Tower Hamlets, then Brockwell Park and as of 2019 takes place in The Drumsheds in Meridian Water.
Curated by promoters from the London music scene, the line-up is great every year, compromising of the best of electronic music. With four indoor warehouses as well as an outdoor arena, it’s one of the most loved dance music festivals.
With Bicep due to headline in 2020 and with Four Tet, Skepta, Disclosure, and Diplo having played before, it’s sold out every year, so if you do want to grab tickets, I’d suggest doing it sooner rather than later every year!
We Are FSTVL
When: 2ndMay Bank Holiday
Where: Upminster
How Much: Starting from £29
Taking place over the second May Bank Holiday, We Are FSTVL takes place at Damyn’s Hall Aerodrome in Upminster, and started in 2013.
With around 30,000 people attending over the weekend every year and housing the biggest names in EDM, the festival is curated by some well-known brands such as Glitterbox and Defected, and with The Black Madonna, Craig David and Andy C having played before, they get it right every year!
South West Four
When: August Bank Holiday
Where: Clapham Common
How Much: Starting from £55
Described as ‘the crowning glory’ of London’s festival scene by Carl Cox, starting as a one-day festival and now taking place over a whole weekend, South West Four (SW4) attracts some of the biggest names in dance.
Armin Van Buuren, Dizzie Rascal, and Fatboy Slim have all played in the past, and with 10 stages, loads of street food and drink options, there is no wonder why SW4 is one of the most loved dance festivals.
Located in Clapham Common, it’s a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of the city, making it the perfect place for transport links and finding accommodation for the weekend.
Junction 2
When: June
Where: Boston Manor Park
How Much: Starting from £32
The best in underground dance music and starting only in 2016, Junction 2 is one of the newest festivals on the scene. With a focus on sustainability, no plastic tents, and no VIP, they focus on great organisation and an amazing atmosphere.
In 2020, the five areas will be expanded to six and the festival has housed Adam Beyer, Four Tet, and Dixon. Receiving plenty of five-star reviews, is Junction 2 the next festival on your list?
Gala
When: 2ndMay Bank Holiday
Where: Peckham Rye
How Much: Starting from £35
The best independent drink, food, and music from South London, starting in 2015, Gala Festival takes place in Peckham Rye over the second May Bank Holiday. Starting in 2015, it’s another festival newbie!
The food available looks incredibly, with Honest Burgers having a pop-up tent, you’ll find the food on offer at Gala is a lot better than a lot of other festivals! And with Honey Dijon and Horse Meat Disco, as well as a plethora of other artists, it’s had great reviews!
Birmingham
MADE
When: August
Where: Sandwell Valley Country Park
How Much: Starting from £50
Known as the West Midlands best and biggest music festival, MADE covers many genres, from house to drum & brass, disco to garage, making it the perfect event for pretty much anyone!
Starting in 2014, the festival has been a sell-out since it started. Featuring street art, street food as well as music, the festival continues to grow year on year. With five stages and acts such as Fisher, Camelphat, Stormy and Holy Goof having previously played, it’s set to continue being a popular one-day festival.
Manchester
Parklife
When: June
Where: Heaton Park
How Much: From £69.50
Starting in 2010 and moving from Platt Fields Park to Heaton Park in 2012 after increased ticket sales, Park Life is one of the most well-known day festivals in the UK. It was actually known as Mad Ferret Festival when it started back 10 years ago!
The festival is a two-day event, on a Saturday and a Sunday, you are able to purchase day and weekend tickets, but there’s no camping so you’d have to find accommodation.
Like the majority of the festivals in this list, it’s organised by brands such as The Warehouse Project. Parklife isn’t just for dance music lovers, but there’s music for indie and pop lovers too.
With nine indoor and three outdoor stages, there is plenty to see and do, as well as the music at one of the most loved festivals of the UK. Disclosure, Rudimental, The Chemical Brothers, The XX, Liam Gallagher, and Two Door Cinema Club have all played in the past!
Cardiff
Inside Out
When: June
Where: Bute Park
How Much: Starting from £38
Taking place at the beginning of June, Inside Out takes place in Bute Park in the city centre of Cardiff, making it easy to access and plenty of accommodation options and transport links being within arm’s reach.
The festival is a success every day and each year it grows in regards to arenas. With grime, hip-hop, house and drum & bass being the main genres. Sigala, So Sold Crew, Sonny Fodera, and Hannah Wants have all played previously, and the line-up looks incredible year after year!
So, there we have it, the best UK day dance festivals! Have you attended any of these before or could you recommend any others to add to the list? Let me know in the comments!
