From the laid-back vibe of the Green Man Festival to the high-energy party atmosphere of Creamfields, the August festival calendar boasts something for almost every taste. If August’s jam-packed line-up doesn’t satisfy, there’s even a few outdoor music festivals scheduled for the tail end of summer in September. Here’s the pick of the festivals in August and September.
For festivals in June, see: UK music Festivals in June.
For events in July, read: Music Festivals in the UK - Where to go in July
Big Chill
A fixture on the UK music festival calendar since 1995, the Big Chill is held in the tranquil setting of Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire and attracts around 35,000 people.
Performance, art, comedy, dance and film along with an eclectic mix of music ranging from alternative to ambient is on the agenda at the Big Chill each year.
- Big chill 2010: 5 – 8 August
Summer Sundae
The Summer Sundae Weekender is a Leicester based music event with a focus on indie and alternative bands.
Considerably smaller than many of the other August festivals, Summer Sundae still manages to pull in some big name acts and a dedicated following.
- Summer Sundae 2010: 13 – 15 August
V Festival
V Festival is an alternative rock Festival which is held simultaneously at two sites on the same weekend (Essex and Staffordshire).
V is an unashamedly corporate event and the big money behind V helps to pull in massive acts with past line-ups reading like an A to Z of the biggest names in alternative rock, dance, and indie.
- V Festival 2010: 21 – 22 August
Green Man Festival
An independent festival held in a highly appealing setting in the Brecon Beacons national park, Wales, the Green Man Festival is spread over three days and is regarded as one of the most ethically responsible of the summer music festivals.
Musically, Green Man festival goers can expect dub reggae, dance, Americana, folk, electronica and Indie along with comedy, film and literature.
- Green Man 2010: 20 – 22 August.
Beautiful Days
Organised by UK band the Levellers, Beautiful Days is a three-day family focussed music festival held in Devon.
Five stages play host to a variety of entertainment ranging from comedy to theatre. Musically, it’s a mixed-bag with acts as diverse as Hawkwind, Supergrass, the Pogues, and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’ having performed at Beautiful Day events.
- Beautiful Days Festival 2010: 20 – 22 August
Solfest
A three-day family friendly event hosted in a scenic setting in Cumbria, Solfest has been running since 2004. The event attracted around 10,000 in 2009 when the Charlatans Headlined.
The Festival boasts 3 stages, a dance tent, children’s play areas, plus workshop venues for everything from woodcraft to music lessons.
- Solfest 2010: 27 – 29 August
Reading and Leeds
With the first Reading Festival taking place in 1961, the event is classed as the world’s longest surviving popular music festival.
Reading has changed dramatically over the decades and now attracts many of the planet’s most famous indie, alternative and metal bands. Since 1999, the event has been simultaneously held in both Reading and Leeds on the same weekend.
- Reading & Leeds 2010: 27 – 29 August
Creamfields
Creamfields is an international dance music event organised by Liverpool record label Cream. Held in nine locations around the world, the UK Creamfields is the most famous and is held near Liverpool in Cheshire.
The festival’s musical focus is on dance and electronica and past performers have include Chemical Brothers, Mylo, Fatboy Slim, 2 Many DJ’s and Basement Jaxx.
- Creamfields 2010: 28 – 29 August
Bestival
Held on the Isle of Wight in September, Bestival is a three-day festival which strives to create a modern-day hippie vibe with a strong emphasis on fun and creative expression.
The Bestival music fest boasts everything from story telling to cinema, a massive fancy dress party, and a number of performances from big name acts in the world of indie, dance, rock and pop.
- Bestival 2010: 9– 12 September
End of the Road Festival
Rounding off the summer is the End of the Road Festival, Dorset. The focus of this relatively new music festival is on alt-country, Americana and folk with some of the biggest names in these genre’s taking to the stage each year.
As well as music, the weekend offers everything from comedy to film and is classed as a family friendly event.
- End of the Road 2010: 10 - 12 September
For those preferring to avoid the travelling and camping involved going to a music festival there's an abundance of fabulous urban festivals hosted around the UK during August. Three of the biggest are Notting Hill Carnival, South West Four music fest , and Manchester Pride which all take place around the August bank holiday weekend.
