The Line of Best Fit Festival Guide 2011: Part one

In some ways, we Brits are incredibly lucky to live where we do. When the summer months begin, so does the music. There’s now such a huge choice of festivals to pick from during BST that it would be nigh on impossible to get to them all without some kind of reinvention of Concorde. For being so spoilt for choice, we are truly grateful. It’s just a shame that the UK’s climate is as unpredictable as it is. Isn’t that right Glastonbury? So for those who decided against submerging themselves in murky mud to watch Beyoncé (and once you’re home and showered, for those of you who decided that this was a good idea) The Line of Best Fit has provided a guide to the rest and best of the festivals coming up this summer. If you’re undecided, new to the world of festivals or even an old hand, read on to see who’s playing, what’s happening and when it’s all going on.

Hop Farm : 1-3 July

After Glastonmuddy, the next large scale UK festival on the list is Hop Farm. If you’ve decided to head on down to Kent, you’re in for musical treats from headliners the Eagles as well as the purple rainy crying dove himself – the-artist-formerly-known-as-squiggle-but-now,-as-far-as-we’re-aware,-has-reverted-back-to-’Prince‘ – who are topping off the festival bill. Also expect sets from the delightful Death Cab For Cutie, Goldheart Assembly, Morrissey and The Leisure Society at this young and proudly independent festival.

Hop Farm Festival tickets are available at at reduced rate via Eventim

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iTunes Festival : 1-31 July

The iTunes festival is once again taking over the Camden Roundhouse for the entire month of July. There are some massive names set to appear – with a concert from Paul Simon lined up, as well as Duran Duran and Moby. But let’s be honest, as much as we like a bit of Simon Le Bon, we’re here for the new music, of which there is a handsome heap. The brilliant Errors, Fixers and SBTRKT will be supporting and tickets for all events are free, you just need to apply via the festival website.

http://vimeo.com/21938282

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Wireless : 1-3 July

Now into its seventh year, Wireless has grown into quite an event. The festival is taking place over three days, with each one having a musical ‘theme’ based around the day’s headliner. Sunday is the day that we’re most interested in, as Pulp head up the listings with Cashier No. 9, Summer Camp and Funeral Party playing the same day. There are some great names on the Saturday too, with Battles and Alpines both making appearances. And the Friday? Black Eyed Peas and Bruno Mars? Whatever does it for you, my friend…

Wireless Festival tickets

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Oxegen : 7-10 July

There are some fairly big headliners at Oxegen this year, but none of that really matters because Weezer are playing. WEEZER. So we’ll have a bit of Eels, we’ll certainly head down for a dance with Frankie and the Heartstrings, and we wouldn’t deny ourselves a dash of Jenny and Johnny to bring a bit of romance to our favourite Irish muddy field. But then we’ll go and watch Weezer.

Oxegen Festival tickets

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T in the Park : 8-10 July

As they take place on the same weekend and geographically, it sort of makes sense, T in the Park and Oxegen have a lot of the same acts performing (as is the case every year). Do you know who Oxegen don’t have though? Tom Jones, who shall be appearing at T. Other recommended viewing, aside from Wales’ finest pair of lungs after Bonnie Tyler includes Vitalic, The Phantom Band and the recently regrouped Bright Eyes.

T in the Park tickets

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1234 Shoreditch : 9 July

The 1234 Shoreditch website describes its festival as an event with “over 50+ bands of Future Rock and Roll, and Electronic Action on 4 stages of bedlam”. Aside from the questionable capitalisation in the sentence, they’re not too far off the mark at all! For one day only (for this summer at least), Shoreditch will be transformed into even more of a musical hub than it already is to showcase the talent of the district, as well as to embrace the opportunity to show off faces from farther afield. This year The Chapman Family, Black Lips, Echo Lake, Dam Mantle, Lydia Lunch and Rainbow Arabia, as well as a whole host of new acts will be performing for your entertainment.

1234 Festival tickets

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Latitude : 14-17 July

This is, so far, the only confirmed UK festival date of TLOBF favourites When Saints Go Machine who will be venturing to the corner of England where the sheep are purple, and you go to the festival site by gondola. Leafy Latitude in sumptuous Suffolk will also be playing host to performances from Still Corners, Marques Toliver, Edwyn Collins and the lady that everyone would love to be their Nan, Wanda Jackson.

Latitude Festival tickets

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Lovebox : 15-17 July

Mid July sees us heading to London for what is fast becoming one the capital’s favourite festivals. Now into its eighth year, Lovebox is expecting to accommodate 65,000 music lovers in East London’s Victoria Park, and has put together a truly staggering line up. To name but a few, performers appearing include MEN, Lykke Li, Blondie, Robyn, Washed Out, SebastiAn, Flying Lotus and Snoop Dogg.

http://vimeo.com/20245672

Lovebox festival tickets

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Secret Garden Party : 21-24 July

This Cambridgeshire party has quite stealthily but very surely become a cult classic of the summertime festival circuit. It’s an event that is as much about the festival experience as it is the music – which, with over 15 stages, boasts a line up featuring Chew Lips, Guillemots, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Peter, Bjorn and John, Sparrow and the Workshop, The Sound of Arrows and YACHT amongst many, many others.

The Secret Garden Party tickets

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Truck : 22-24 July

Truck is an absolute gem of a festival which has very deservedly gone from strength to strength over the last few summers. Now into its 14th year, Truck has enlisted the curation expertise of Bella Union, Transgressive and Heavenly so expect riveting performances from the following: Jonquil, Sea of Bees, Alessi’s Ark, Chad Valley, Trophy Wife, Mechanical Bride and Lanterns on the Lake as well as headliners Gruff Rhys and Graham Coxon.

http://vimeo.com/20176996

Truck Festival tickets

Coming up: the second part of TLOBF’s Festival Guide 2011 series, as well as a look at the best festivities happening around Europe over the coming months.