Music Festivals 2013 Guide: 15 UK Festivals Worth Digging Your Wellies Out For (MUSIC BOX)

15 Of 2013's Best Festivals

Music festival season is almost upon us, and that means it's time for HuffPost UK's official guide to the biggest and best festivals planned for 2013...

Whether you're into metal, house or cheesy pop, you can find out which UK festival is your perfect match below.

And if tickets have sold out for your ideal festival, i.e the almighty Glastonbury, remember we'll be bringing you interviews, photos and videos from all the biggest events this summer on our dedicated Music Festivals page.

JUNE

Rockness

When: 7-9 June

Where: Near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands

This is a festival made for the toughest of music lovers. You can't really expect warm weather in the Highlands, can you?

But if you are brave enough to pitch your tent on the banks of Loch Ness, you'll not only wake up to some breathtaking views but get to see the likes of Basement Jaxx, Plan B, Example, Madness, The Vaccines, Bombay Bicycle Club, Ben Howard, The Maccabees, and msny more.

ben howard

Ben Howard will play at Rockness

Isle Of Wight Festival

When: 13-16 June

Where: Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight

The Isle Of Wight Festival always has a lovely feel to it - even the knee-deep mud last year didn't dampen my spirits.

There's a rocktastic line-up this year, with big names you will definitely have heard of. The Stone Roses will headline - continuing to ride on the success of their comeback last year - while The Killers and Bon Jovi will also take to the stage. Woooah we're halfway there…

the stone roses

Ian Brown of The Stone Roses who are to headline the Isle Of Wight

Download Festival

When: 14-16 June

Where: Donnington Park, near East Midlands Airport

Get your black eyeliner out for this one. Download is the UK's biggest metal festival and this year you can expect to mosh along to Iron Maiden, Bullet for my Valentine, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Rammstein, Slipknot and more.

iron maiden

Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden

Glastonbury

When: 26-30 June

Where: Worthy Farm, Somerset

Hurray, it's back! The UK's biggest festival returns after a year off to let the grass grow on Michael Eavis' farm.

As expected, tickets sold out in minutes. But HuffPost UK will be there to bring you all the big performance reviews and exclusive interviews.

The Rolling Stones will headline the Pyramid stage for the first time ever on the Saturday night. And The Arctic Monkeys, Mumford & Sons, Primal Scream and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds will also appear on the iconic platform. For the full (huge) line-up click here.

the rolling stonesCharlie Watts, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones

JULY

British Summer Time

When: 5-14 July

Where: Hyde Park, London

Glastonbury isn't the only place the Rolling Stones are performing this summer, they will also take their 50-years-worth of hits to Hyde Park. Alas, tickets sold out in just five minutes for the gigs - despite fan concerns over ticket prices. But if you get close enough to the park you may just hear Mick Jagger over the central London traffic. Also on the bill are Bon Jovi, Kaiser Chiefs, Elton John and The Vaccines.

bon jovi

Richie Sambora (left) and Jon Bon Jovi of Bon Jovi

Wireless

When: 12-14 July

Where: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London

See, the Olympic Park does still have a purpose! Only a year after hosting the best thing that's happened to London in a long time, the venue will be the stage for this year's Barclaycard Wireless Festival.

The line-up is looking pretty special, with born-again popstar Justin Timberlake teaming up with rap mogul Jay-Z to headline. The Voice coach Will.i.am will also top the bill, along with the likes of Calvin Harris, Emeli Sande, Rita Ora, Frank Ocean, John Legend, Macklemore, A$AP Rocky, Jessie Ware and Katy B.

justin timberlake

Justin Timberlake

Lovebox

When: 19-21 July

Where: Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, London

Hold a festival in East London and it's bound to attract cool crowds, but Lovebox is also great if you don't like camping as everyone heads home afterwards. Leave the wellies at home if it's a sunny day, trust me, you'll feel silly wearing them on the tube.

US hip hop queen Lil Kim has joined the line-up. And on the same bill as Lil Kim is one of the female rap stars for whom she paved the way, Azealia Banks. It will be the first time Kim has played a show in London since 2001, on her Notorious K.I.M world tour. Plan B, D'Angelo, Goldfrapp and more are also on the bill.

lil kim

Lil Kim

Latitude

When: 18-21 July

Where: Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk

Latitude is less of a music festival and more of an eclectic mix of theatre, art, comedy, cabaret, poetry, politics, dance and literature. However, there are still some big headline acts including German electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk, the brilliant Foals and Bloc Party. Soul singer Bobby Womack has also recently been confirmed for the event, which draws a more sophisticated crowd than other festivals.

kraftwerk

Kraftwerk

Global Gathering

When: 25-28 July

Where: Long Marston Airfield, Stratford Upon Avon

One for the ravers, Global Gathering is all about neon and glow sticks. Well, kind of. Pop acts Plan B, Example and Rita Ora are also on the line-up this year. There will still be plenty of DJs on site though, for the event which is well into its second decade and is now an international franchise.

rita ora

Rita Ora

T In The Park

When: 11–14 July

Where: Strathclyde Country Park, North Lanarkshire

Scotland's biggest festival has bagged some huge chart toppers for its 20th anniversary. Mumford & Sons, Rihanna, The Killers and the nation's own Emeli Sandé will all perform. As will The Script, Two Door Cinema Club, Alt-J, Paloma Faith, Jake Bugg and more.

mumford sons

Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons

AUGUST

Wilderness

When: 8-11 August

Where: Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire

HuffPost UK are particularly excited about this unique festival as we'll be down at the event hosting debates (more info to be announced soon). Headlining the celebration of art and nature, in a UK festival exclusive, is Aussie duo Empire of the Sun.

Indie folk band Noah & The Whale are also on the bill along with the likes of King Krule, Michael Kiwanuka and Lucy Rose. And an Oscar winner will also grace Wilderness with his presence... Legendary Detroit troubadour Rodriguez, a musician lost and found again - whose story was told in the Academy Award-winning documentary ‘Searching For Sugar Man’ - will take to the main stage.

empire of the sunEmpire of The Sun

V Festival

When: 17-18 August

Where: Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, South Staffordshire

Headlining Glastonbury in 2011, Beyonce has proven she does festivals in a BIG way. This year she will be the main attraction at the mega popular V Festival. Held in two different sites over one weekend, Hylands Park in Chelmsford and Weston Park in South Staffordshire, Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, Emeli Sande, Basement Jaxx, Olly Murs and more will also take to the stage.

beyonce

Beyonce

Reading and Leeds

When: 23-25 August

Where: Richfield Avenue, Reading and Bramham Park, Wetherby

If your prefer less pop and more rock, you're probably better suited to Reading and Leeds festival than V. The oldest popular music festival in the world still in existence headlines with Mr Slim Shady this year.

Eminem will join Green Day, Biffy Clyro, Chase and Status and more.

Some of Britain's best comedians will also perform, with Russell Kane, Seann Walsh, Rob Delaney, Mark Thomas and Shappi Khorsandi on the bill. Click here for more details on the festival's 'alternative stage'.

eminem

Eminem

SW4 - South West Four

When: 23-25 August

Where: Clapham Common, London

For bank holiday fun in the Capital, look no further than Clapham Common where the SW4 festival will be hosting some big beats. The world's number one DJ Armin van Buuren will play, along with Carl Cox, Example, Eric Prydz, Andy C, Todd Edwards and DJ EZ back to back, Gareth Emery and more.

dj armin van buurenArmin van Buuren

SEPTEMBER

Bestival

When: 5-8 September

Where: Robin Hill County Park, Isle of Wight

It may be the last festival of the summer but this is one not to miss. Rob Da Bank's fancy dress extravaganza will be celebrating its 10th birthday.

Fatboy Slim will throw the festival - this year with a sailor theme - a huge 10th anniversary birthday bash on the Friday night. He will complete what is an eclectic headliner line-up, including Rocket Man Elton John and rap superstar Snoop Dogg.

Also taking to the stage at this year's festival will be MIA, Franz Ferdinand, Flaming Lips, The Knife, Wu-Tang Clan, Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox, Annie Mac Presents, and many more.

Despite being held in September, last year the weather was incredible, we can only hope for more of the same.

elton john

Elton John

Close

What's Hot