1. It all started in 1969 with Woodstock and then a year later came the Isle of
Wight festival which featured the iconic line up of Jimi Hendrix, The Doors,
The Who and Donovan; following that was Glastonbury, the largest, most
musically diverse and possibly the most popular festival of all time. Now 41
years later, the music festival scene is so popular that the number of festivals
held each year grows and varies from high profile national festivals to small
local ones. However, no-one does a festival like the Northerners. >>
IT ALL STARTED IN 1969,
AND NOW THE FESTIVAL
SEASON IS BACK THIS SUMMER
BIGGER AND BETTER THAN
EVER BEFORE...
VIVA 79

2. The Small Festivals..
Manchester based festival Parklife is a big hit with music lovers,
students and the general public and at £64.50 for a weekend ticket it
is definitely the festival that provides the most value for money! Head-
lining the stage this year are The Flaming Lips, Noah and the Whale,
Kelis, Dizzee Rascal, Labrinth and controversial new comer Azealia
Banks with performances from Pendulum, Nero, Annie Mac and so
many more. Having sold out in the previous two years, the master-
minds behind Parklife are hoping to make it a hatrick this year and
with the line up they have, they will no doubt succeed!
Chester Rocks, held on the 16th and 17th June, will feature
headline acts The Courteeners and Pixie Lott as well as Katy B, Maver-
ick Sabre, Labrinth and Tinchy Stryder. This is the second year that the
festival has run and with an attendance of 15,000 people last year, they
are hoping that with the line up they have this year, more will attend.
Tickets are only £35 and it’s located at Chester Racecourse making it
an easy and highly enjoyable festival to get too. For more information
check www.chester-rocks.com
Winner of the Best Small Festival Live UK
2011, Kendal Calling is not
one to be missed. Held between the 27th
and 29th July Kendal Calling is located in
the heart of the Lake District and boasts 11
stages which will see performances from
Dizzee Rascal, We Are Scientists, Maximo
Park, The View, DJ Yoda and a whole host
of other top performers. Full adult week-
end tickets cost £105, whilst 11-15 year old
tickets are £50; under 11s get in for free and
as well as your average camping, Kendal
Calling also offers a bit of glamping with
their Bell Tents and Tipis. All information
regarding the festival and camping is
available at www.kendalcalling.com
Scottish Highland festival Rockness
will see Mumford and Sons, Ed Sheeran,
Deadmau5, The View, Biffy Clyro and
Friendly Fires headline along with a host
of others that include Mylo and Annie Mac.
Comedian Tim Minchin is also confirmed as
their first comedy act of the 2012 line up. A
three day camping ticket will cost £159 with
single day tickets starting at £59. Winner of last year’s
NME Small Festival Award, Rockness is certainly the
coldest of all festivals but certainly worth it. Rockness
runs from the 8th-10th June. www.rockness.co.uk
The One’s That
Are a Bit Different..
The Magic Loungeabout returns
for its third year of family-friendly music and art!
Located in the grounds of Broughton Park, this
festival offers the perfect mix of avante pop,
fringe cabaret, thought provoking cinema
and fine food. This year’s headliners include Chic featuring Nile
Rodgers, The Charlatans and Kevin Saunderson featuring Inner City.
However the USP of Magic Loungeabout isn’t the exclusive line-up, it’s
the VIP waiter service, morning papers and breakfast that are delivered
to tents and the wide range of boutique accommodation, spa treatments
and home-cooked food that is available to all ticket holders. Tickets are
£112 for a full weekend and the festival runs from the 27th – 29th July.
More information available at www.themagicloungeabout.net
Wakestock, held between the 6th and 8th July, combines live
music with wakeboarding competitions! The line-up this year boasts
Calvin Harris, Rizzle Kicks, Dizzee Rascal, Katy B, Zane Lowe, Ed
Sheeran, Azealia Banks and Benjamin Francis Leftwich. Located in >
Cardigan Bay, wakeboarding competitions run
before the music starts making it a bit more
than your average festival. Wakestock also
provide glamping experiences for VIP ticket
holders from luxury tents that come with
room service and giant multi-roomed tents
shaped as a VW Campervan. Tickets start at
£100 for a weekend pass and £125 for a week-
end pass plus camping. VIP tickets vary from
£140 per person to £1100 for 4 or 2 people
depending on accommodation. All informa-
tion is at www.wakestock.co.uk
On the opposite end of the festival scale is
Live from Jodrell Bank,
a two day festival that not only has headlin-
ers Paul Weller and Elbow but also hands-on
science experiments, workshops and lectures.
Held on the 23rd and 24th June, the festival
takes place under the giant Lovell Telescope
and will feature performances from Field
Music, Willy Mason, Graham Coxon and
many more as well as access to the Discovery
Centre making it a truly unique experience.
Tickets are only £35 and include access to the centre, workshop and performances. For more
about this one of a kind festival go to www.livefromjodrellbank.com
The Big Festivals..
Pioneering the way for northern festivals is the Weston Park location of V Fest. This
year’s line up varies from Manchester’s The Stone Roses to Nicki Minaj, Ed Sheeran and Mad-
ness making it the perfect option for those groups of friends that have varied tastes in music.
Of course it isn’t just the amazing line up that makes V Festival VIVA’s favourite; it’s the V Style
camping we love! Ready built Pod Pads, pop-up hotel rooms and Pennard Tipis that come with
en-suites, double beds, wooden flooring, bedding and heating depending on what option you
go for. Could there be anything better than spending the day with your favourite musicians
and the evening relaxing in luxury instead of a soggy tent?
Leeds Festival never fails to impress with their high-profile line ups. This year will
see Kasabian, Foo Fighters, The Cure, Paramore, Bombay Bicycle Club and Florence and The
Machine take to the main stage; this is definitely the festival for rock lovers. A weekend ticket
will set you back £197.50 and a day ticket from £85. Again, this is another festival that has
jumped on the glamping campervan so from £375 you can camp on a real bed in a secure
community that comes with solid floors, curtains, electricity, lighting, locks and a café for
you to stock up on complementary food and drink. Visit www.leedsfestival.com for more
information. ■
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TURN THE PAGE TO WIN PAIRS OF
TICKETS TO SOME OF THESE FAB
FESTIVALS THIS YEAR >>>
words: Hayley Ashworth
The Parklife Weekender
Chester Rocks
Rockness
Kendal Calling
V Festival
The Magic Loungeabout
Leeds Festival
Live From Jodrell Bank
Wakestock