Looking to travel further afield? Pack your bags and head to some of the best festivals across the UK.
First things first: when is Leeds Festival 2021?
Festivals… They’re back! Since the government’s roadmap out of lockdown was announced, a number of UK festivals have said they’re planning to go ahead this summer. One of the first to confirm its return was Leeds Festival, which will be taking place between Thursday August 26 and Sunday August 29 – the August bank holiday weekend – in Bramham Park, near Leeds.
Who’s on the Leeds Festival line-up?
Stormzy, Liam Gallagher, Post Malone are headliners. Other acts announced so far include Queens of the Stone Age, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Disclosure, Gerry Cinnamon, Lewis Capaldi, Two Door Cinema Club, Doja Cat, Mabel, Charli XCX, Yungblud, AJ Tracey, The Wombats.
What’s the vibe?
Usually, Leeds is one festival that’s not for the fainthearted. Reading Festival’s Yorkshire counterpart has a hard-earned reputation for torrential downpours and mud-slinging. Rain can’t dampen the spirits of the scores of tipsy teenagers gracing Bramham Park for their post-GCSE result celebrations/commiserations. Weather aside, Leeds and Reading put music first and provide a totally twee-free festival experience. They slap together indie darlings, big dance acts, and rising rap artists, with no immersive theatre or gourmet cuisine in sight – much to the joy of the screaming crowds.
Leeds Festival © Andrew Whitton
How can I get Leeds Festival tickets?
It’s been a whole year since we’ve been able to crush into a sweaty crowd in front of a tinnitus-inducing sound system, which means tickets for UK festivals are being snapped up fast. Leeds weekend and Saturday tickets are currently sold out. However, there are still some Friday, Sunday and luxury camping tickets left. Day tickets cost £80, while the luxury bell tents can cost up to £1000.
Will there be any big changes to the festival this year?
According to the lockdown exit plan, big events should be able to return from June 21. Despite this, there could still be some big changes in store for UK festivals after this date. Leeds Festival organizers have said they will be closely monitoring official guidance from the World Health Organisation, Public Health England, UK Government and local public health authorities in the run-up to the event.
Other measures proposed by festival boss Melvin Benn include requiring festival-goers who are yet to receive the coronavirus vaccine to take a Covid test 24-36 hours before attending. Hand sanitiser stations and specific coronavirus medical teams based across the festival site have also been promised.
Here’s everything you need to know about the safe return of live music.
Anything else I should know?
Don’t bring anything you wouldn’t mind losing: in normal times, both Leeds and Reading are well known for their bonfire-heavy Sunday-night shenanigans. Usually, we’d suggest camping in Yellow to go all-in, or Orange if you want to keep your eyebrows.