Throw shapes, knock back booze and chill out in fields, by a lake, in the grounds of a castle, on a village green and on the beach.

APRIL

Bristol Folk Festival, venues around Bristol, Fri 28 – Sun 30 April

If you know your fiddle from your fujara, you’ll be dancing a little jig when you know that Eliza Carthy, Angeline Morrison, Lady Maisery, Nick Hart and The Longest Johns will be amongst the line up at venues including Bristol Cathedral, Trinity and the Bristol Folk House.

Teddy Rocks Festival, Blandford Forum, Fri 28 – Sun 30 April

Voted Best Family Festival in the UK Festival Awards 2022, this fest on a farm with six stages, a funfair, shops and stalls has a line up that includes Feeder, Jake Bugg, Vengaboys, East 17 and Goldie Lookin Chain. Set up in memory of the founder’s 10 year-old brother who died of cancer, the festival donates 100% of its profits to childhood cancer charities.

MAY

Shindig Festival, Dillington Estate, near Ilminster, Thurs 25 – Sun 28 May

Sister Sledge (with Kathy Sledge), Warmduscher, Erol Alkan, Dawn Penn, Norman Jay MBE, Huey Morgan and satirical ‘news reporter’ Jonathan Pie, perform in a series of stretch marquees at the family-friendly festival in the tree-studded grounds of 16th century Dillington House. There are art installations, Kids’ Kingdom, circus, workshops and a holistic sanctuary. Kids aged 12 and under go free. Dress up theme: Mad Hatters.

Bournemouth 7s Festival, Bournemouth, Fri 26 – Sun 28 May

They say it’s the world’s largest music and sports fest, with 30,000 people, 100 live acts in 12 music arenas each focusing on a different genre, 400 teams in seven sports/activities including rugby, dodge ball and cheerleading. Why not enter your team? Dress up theme: Under the Sea.

Love Saves the Day, Ashton Court, Bristol, Sat 27 – Sun 28 May

Fatboy Slim and Years & Years fronted by Olly Alexander headline the weekend, alongside 175 other artists including the Sugarbabes and Michael Bibi, at Bristol’s biggest music festival at the historic 850-acre country estate, 10 mins from the centre of the city.

JUNE

Home Farm Fest, Chilthorne Dormer, Fri 9 – Sun 11 June

The proceeds from this annual charity music fest go to the Piers Simon Appeal’s School in a Bag initiative (so far they’ve raised over half a million quid). Three days, eight stages, 150+ bands – rock to folk and country to pop – silent disco, workshops, kids stuff. Posh Wears & Wellies on the Fri eve.

Pub in the Park, Royal Victoria Park, Bath, Fri 16 – Sun 18 June

Tom Kerridge’s popular gourmet scran meets live music fandango. McFly, Gabrielle, Judge Jules, Badly Drawn Boy, Jaguar Skills, Bijorn Again and Example are on the bill. Chefs Marco Pierre White, Matt Tebbutt and Sam & Shauna of The Firepit on the menu.

Glastonbury, Worthy Farm, Pilton, Weds 21 – Sun 25 June

The biggie. The cream of the music world on over 100 stages, with headliners Elton John, Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Yusuf/Cat Stevens and pretty much anyone else you fancy seeing.

Bristol Sounds, Bristol Harbourside, Weds 21 – Sun 25 June

The city-based alternative to Glasto? James, James Collier, Levellers, The Selecter are some of bands playing in the fabulous setting of a harbourside amphitheatre over the five days.

JULY

NASS, Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Thurs 6 – Sun 9 July

Skateboards, BMX, street art and music come together. Your teens will love it.

Boogie on the Beach, Sandbanks, Fri 7 July

Soul diva Mica Paris and live band headline at the soul, motown and disco extravaganza, part of the Sand Polo (British Beach Polo Championships) weekend.

Priddy Folk Festival, Priddy, nr Wells, Fri 7 – Sun 9 July

The friendly folk fest with concerts, ceilidh and dancers on the village green in Priddy, up on the Mendip Hills, has been going for 30 years. This year’s line up includes Tim Edey, Kirs Drever, Dervish, Fara, The Jeremiah, Tarren, Opa Rosa and Kabantu and Morris dancers from the dark side.

SandFest, Sandbanks, Sun 9 July

Party on the beach with Craig David presents TS5 and other acts still to be announced.

The Godney Gathering, Garslade Farm, Glastonbury, Fri 14 & Sat 15 July

A two-day fest with over 50 acts on seven stages – The Zutons, The Dub Pistols, The Sherlocks, Gentleman’s Dub Club and more – plus a silent disco, comedy/cabaret and stuff for kids (who go free if they’re under 15).

Bristol Harbour Festival, Fri 14 – Sun 16 July

Circus performers, food stalls, visiting vessels and some mega live music in the Amphitheatre, in Millennium Square, Queens Square, and on the water (want to enter the Cardboard Boat Race?).

Jurassic Fields, Bridport, Fri 14 – Sun 16 July

The Hoosiers, Ferocious Dog and The Feeling headline at this not-for-profit three-day fest in Asker Meadows.

Camp Bestival, Lulworth Castle, Lulworth, Thurs 27 – Sun 30 July

The super child-friendly fest has loads to keep little people happy while you empty that box of wine. Helping to celebrate its 15th birthday: Grace Jones, Craig Davis presents TS5, The Kooks, Ella Henderson, Confidence Man, Sam Ryder, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Mel C, Scouting for Girls, Gok Wan – and Mr Tumble (obvs).

Poole Harbour Festival, Fri 28 – Sun 30 July

The Hoosiers, Lightning Seeds and Transylvanian twins, The Cheeky Girls, top the bill at Poole and Bournemouth’s family live music weekend. They join around 50 acts on four stages, with free kids’ entertainment, street performers, circus artists and masses of good stuff to scoff and quaff.

AUGUST

Farmfest, Gilcombe Farm, Bruton, Thurs 3 – Sat 5 Aug

Pocket-sized festival showcasing emerging and established genre-defying artists and DJs, with comedy, kids’ discos, chill time workshops and theatrical wig-outs.

Valley Fest, Chew Valley, Thurs 3 – Sun 6 Aug

Organic food, eclectic music and all round good times in an idyllic location on the banks of the Chew Valley lake just south of Bristol, with The Kooks, Bananarama and Scouting for Girls performing. Chefs Rob Howell (Root) and Josh Eggleton (The Pony & Trap) will be cooking up feasts. The kids will be building their own stage with the help of Arcadia (the people behind the iconic 50 ft fire-spitting spider at Glastonbury).

Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza, Glastonbury, 5 Aug

Texas, Lightning Seeds and the Wells City Band with a firework finale.

We Out Here, Wimborne St Giles, near Wimborne, Thurs 10 – Mon 14 Aug

International club DJ, producer, record label boss and BBC 6Music presenter Giles Peterson brings the UK’s cool club culture to the glorious Dorset countryside. Expect soul, hip hop, house, afro, electronica, jazz and more from legendary icons, emerging improvisers and genre-spanning DJs. Big names include Ezra Collective, Knucks, Nia Archives, Róisín Murphy and Black Star. Explore the music here.

ArcTanGent, Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin, near Bristol, Thurs 16 – Sat 19 Aug

‘A haven of progressive metal across a spectrum of all things heavy.’ Ooh er….

Purbeck Valley Folk Festival, near Corfe Castle, Thurs 17 – Sun 20 Aug

The Magic Numbers, Newton Faulkner, Sarah Jarosz, Seth Lakeman and loads more, on a farm, on the Jurassic coast.

Live in Somerset, Vivary Park, Taunton, Sat 27 – Sun 28 Aug

Not so much a fest as a concert in a park with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Proclaimers, The Feeling, B*Witched, Dodgy & Sandi Thom, McFly – and Alfie Boe, so all bases covered.

End of the Road Festival, Larmer Tree Gardens, near Blandford Forum, Thurs 31 Aug – Sun 3 Sept

This alternative music festival is a sort of avant garde Green Man festival with more music, mostly indie rock and folk. This year: neo-psychedelic King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, synth-pop disruptors Future Island, indie rock icons Wilco and Pakistani composer Arooj Aftab’s ambient jazz, plus spontaneous acts and gigs.

SEPTEMBER

Forwards, Clifton Downs, Bristol Sat 1 & Sun 2 Sept

This city music fest not only hosts international names like Jamie XX, The Chemical Brothers, Little Simz, Róisín Murphy, Caribou and more but provides a space for ‘activism, examination, debate and understanding on today’s current affairs and cultural issues’. Edgy, man. Watch this space for the 2023 line up.

Tokyo World Festival, Eastville Park, Bristol Sat 16 & Sun 17 Sept

Top acts – but we don’t know who yet – on seven stages at a big urban and dance festival.

20+ fab music festivals in Somerset, Dorset & Bristol this year – updated

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