Off to a festival or still hoping to snap up last minute tickets to one of this year’s events? We’ve listed all the biggest UK music festivals along with some of our favourite up-and-coming boutique events for a handy guide to the summer’s outdoor action.

Unfortunately, 2012 has also been the year of the cancelled festival. The Vintage Festival, due to take place this weekend has been given the boot (or should that be the welly?) while even established events like the Big Chill in August, which has also been cancelled, have run into difficulty this year. Happily, there are still plenty to choose from including some really exciting new mini festivals and weekenders.

Grab your wellies and your rain poncho and come on in!

July Festivals

Latitude: 12th – 15th July

Coming up this weekend is Latitude Festival at Henham Park in Suffolk – the original family-friendly festival with so much more than just the music! Expect multi-wheeled buggies, literary tent moshpits, cupcakes, locally-sourced beers and iPads.

Lineup highlights include: Bon Iver, Elbow, Paul Weller, Bat for Lashes, Simple Minds, Josh T Pearson and comedians Jack Dee, Tim Minchin, David O’Doherty, Andrew Maxwell, Josie Long and Reginald D Hunter.

Lovebox: 15 – 17th July

Now in its tenth year, the hip but happy Lovebox Weekender has become a highlight of the London festival calendar. Set in Victoria Park, Hackney, it brings together a wide mix of music fans of various ages. Expect neon sunglasses, hipsters and more hipsters.

Lineup highlights: Lana Del Rey, Hot Chip, Groove Armada, Patrick Woolf, Ms Dynamite and more.

*Chilled* in a Field: 26th – 29th July

Described as ‘the friendliest gathering this side of Mars’, *Chilled* in a Field is a modern twist on the family camping weekend with a selection of
brilliant games, great live music, creative workshops and top DJs. Brought to you by the hosts of Planet Angel, the
music stretches from folk, rock, and electroswing, to trance, indie,
funk, and breaks, and stops off pretty much everywhere in between. Expect fairy wings and glitter in industrial quantities

Kendal Calling: 27th – 29th July

The beautiful Lake District countryside – muse to so many musicians past and present – plays host to one of the most exciting up-and-coming events of the year: Kendal Calling. Featuring an eclectic line-up that will please newcomers and veterans of the music scene alike, it’s one of the few festivals that managed to sell out vastly ahead of time in soggy, recession-battered 2012.

Lineup highlights: Dizzee Rascal, Maximo Park, James, Feeder, Inspirial Carpets and Shed Seven (yes, 90s throwbacks. Shed Seven!!)

Camp Bestival: 26th – 29th July

Bestival’s little brother is a bit easier to get to for most, more family-oriented and by all accounts, heaps of fun. It’s as much about having a sing-song around the campfire as it is about listening to artistes paid to do the same on stage!

Lineup highlights: Happy Mondays, Rizzle Kicks, Rolf Harris, Ren Harvieu

Cancelled: The Vintage Festival,
Ben Jerry’s Sundae on the Common 🙁

August Festivals

Summer Sundae, Leicester: 17, 18, 19th August

Green Man, Glanusk Park, Wales: 17th, 18th, 19th August

Creamfields, Cheshire: 24th – 26th August

Reading Festival: 24th – 26th August

Leeds Festival: 24th – 26th August

Cancelled: The Big Chill

September Festivals

End of the Road Festival; Dorset: 31 Aug – 2 Sep

Bestival; Isle of Wight: 6th – 9th September