As the lingering lockdown restrictions continue to be eased UK wide, the likelihood that any of us will see something resembling a normal festival season this year increases with each passing day… Will you be grabbing your festival weekend ticket?
Ok, so it might be a little naïve to consider that large scale events might still go ahead at some point in 2021… or is it? When you consider that many of the big-hitting festival brand names have already begun announcing their lineups – Reading and Leeds Festival for example – it’s hard not to get caught up and excited about the prospect of attending a festival in the summer.
That being said, it’s most certainly, without a doubt, been a tough old year on everyone’s wallets and purses, and so it’s understandable that getting to a festival this year might not be that high on many people’s priority list.
However, we’re here to tell you that experiencing live music over the course a long weekend, doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg…
Below, you’ll find a selection of some of the best and most inexpensive UK festivals, scheduled to take place in 2021. From boutique soul and funk events, hidden away in the stunning woodlands of the English countryside, to all-day inner-city rave spectacles – there’s plenty of excellent, fairly priced music festivals on offer this year.
Click or tap on the event titles below for tickets and more…
Restricted Forest
- When: Saturday 26th June 2021
- Where: Witton Country Park in Blackburn
- Ticket price: £44.25 (single day event)
One of the North West’s biggest dance music events, Restricted Forest is set to make its return to the enchanting woodland of East Lancashire’s Witton Country Park, this summer.
Set to take over the huge 480-acre park on Saturday 26th June, the all-day rave event will welcome a host of the UK’s finest DJ and producer talents.
Those with tickets to this value-for-money festival can expect to witness top-quality sets from legendary dance acts the likes of Ultrabeat, Judge Jules, Dave Pearce, Snap!, Shades of Rhythm and many more…
Wychwood Festival
- When: Friday 4th – Sunday 6th June 2021
- Where: Cheltenham Racecourse in Cheltenham
- Ticket price: Adult Weekend Ticket (Non-camping) – £129.50 plus fees / Adult Day Tickets – £44.50 plus fees
Cheltenham’s Wychwood Festival is probably one of the most laidback events on the list.
The super relaxed and family-friendly, three-day music gathering, which takes place at the Cheltenham Racecourse, offers revellers a diverse range of entertainment – from live music from some of the best bands and artists around, to workshops, silent disco’s, comedy shows and much more.
Previous acts to grace the stage at Wychwood include the likes of punk band The Damned, Manchester legends James and the Happy Mondays, and The Levellers, with this year’s headliners including Embrace, The Divine Comedy, Lightning Seeds and many more.
At just over £100 for the weekend, Wychwood Festival is an absolute bargain.
Made In Leeds
- When: Saturday 3rd July 2021
- Where: South Leeds Stadium in Leeds
- Weekend Ticket: £55 (single day event)
Made in Leeds Festival is set to makes its long-awaited return to glory this July, taking over the South Leeds Stadium for the very first time, for its biggest edition to date.
Curated by local clubbing brands VW Music and Tom Zanetti’s Sleeping Is Cheating, this year’s event will boast a remarkable lineup of both home grown and internationally renowned dance music names – from Hannah Wants and Holy Goof, to Low Steppa, Nathan Dawe, Tom Zanettit himself, Sam Divine, Jamie Duggan, MK and more…
A unique and fairly priced, inner city dance festival – Made in Leeds is the perfect choice for fans of dance looking to get their live music fix on a budget, in 2021.
Moovin’ Festival
- When: Friday 27th – Sunday 29th August 2021
- Where: Whitebottom Farm in Stockport
- Weekend Ticket: Adult Weekend Ticket (Non-camping) – £126.50
Not too far from the hustle and bustle of Manchester’s city centre, nestled in the greener pastures of Stockport, is a hidden boutique festival gem – Moovin’ Festival.
One of Northern England’s most eclectic and diverse musical gatherings, the event routinely offers its faithful audience a range of sounds and styles – from bass, funk and soul, to reggae, house and drum n bass – all played by some of the most respected names in the business.
Past performers have included Nightmares on Wax, Lee Scratch Perry, Big Daddy Kane, Yellowman, Morcheeba… the list goes on.
Join the cows on Whitebottom Farm, in the stunning Compstall countryside this August, immerse yourself in nature and let loose.
Alfresco Festival
- When: Friday 27th – Sunday 29th August 2021
- Where: Colebrook Park in Tunbridge Wells
- Weekend Ticket: Adult Weekend Ticket – £114.45 / Adult Day Ticket – £44
One of the cheapest, weekend festival tickets on the list, Alfresco Festival has a solid reputation amongst fervent festival goers in the UK.
The event, which takes place across the August Bank holiday weekend in 2021, prides itself on its welcoming, friendly and inclusive atmosphere, as well as its creditable ability to craft jaw-dropping lineups.
Set to appear at 2021’s return edition, ticket holders can expect to witness performances from the likes of Daniel Avery, Paranoid London, Crazy P Soundsystem, Justin Roberston, Hannah Holland, Jaye Ward, Tronik Youth, Tech Support, Ewan Pearson, Nancy Noise and many more, over five incredible stages.
Enjoy a magical weekend of escapism at Alfresco Festival this year, without breaking the bank.
Southern Sunset Festival
- When: Saturday 7th August 2021
- Where: The Oval in Hastings
- Weekend Ticket: Adult Day Ticket – £41.72
A brand-new festival for 2021, Southern Sunset will take over The Oval in Hastings, the city’s largest outdoor event space, on Saturday 7th August for a day of first-rate live music.
Set to headline the inaugural event, originally planned to take place in 2020, UK garage hero Craig David will present his TS5 party, delivering a mash up of some of his greatest hits live on stage. Other names confirmed to appear at the first ever Southern Sunset Festival include Geordie Shore familiar Joel Corry, SHY FX, Skepsis, Nathan Dawe, DJ Luck & Mc Neat and DJ SKT, with many more names still yet to be announced.
