The Biggest Music Festivals of 2018


When you’re planning your next music events, it pays to be ahead of the curve. We’ve highlighted some of the best music festivals that 2018 has to offer.

Boomtown Fair

The Boomtown Fair runs from Thursday the 9th to Sunday the 12th of August, at the Matterley Estate in Hampshire. Running since 2009, each year introduces a new chapter in the town’s ‘history’. Boomtown has seen rapid expansion, alien invasion, civil unrest and toppled regimes. 2018’s show promises to be just as exciting!

In more practical terms Boomtown offers 25 stages and many smaller venues, spread across 12 distinct ‘districts’. Each district focuses on a small selection of genres, ensuring there’s something for everyone to experience. While 2018’s lineup is yet to be confirmed, last year’s included the likes of Loyle Carner, the Utah Saints and Alabama 3. Whatever your tastes, there will be dozens of different acts to choose from!

On-site accommodation is available. Visit the official website for full details.

Download Festival

If you’re after the last word (and first choice) in rock music, the Download Festival is one of the best music events. It runs from Friday the 8th to Sunday the 10th of June in Donington Park.

The festival launched back in 2003 with contemporary hits such as Evanescence, Iron Maiden and Marilyn Manson. The festival has only gone from strength to strength since then; this year, attendees can look forward to Avenged Sevenfold, Ozzy Osbourne and none other than Guns N’ Roses!

With a range of camping options also available, the Download Festival is an excellent option for rock fans. Visit their website for more information.

Bestival

Describing itself as ‘the most colourful show on Earth’, Bestival is a boutique music festival on the Jurassic Coast. It takes place between Thursday the 2nd and Sunday the 5th of August at the Lulworth Estate. 2018’s show boasts legendary acts like London Grammar and Chaka Khan, as well as new blood from acts like Mura Masa and Mabel and Idles.

Like the Boomtown Fair, Bestival has several distinct areas for attendants to explore. From mysterious forests to vintage caravans to the world’s biggest bouncy castle, there’s no end of distractions for you to explore! Music fans will want to check out the Castle Stage, which hosts the festival’s headliners and heavy hitters.

A variety of camping options are available, with camping included in the ticket price. Festivalgoers can bring their own tents, caravans or motorhomes, or stay in one of the festival’s luxury tents already set up onsite. For full details, visit the Bestival website.

Latitude Festival

Winner of Best Major Festival at the UK Festival Awards, the Latitude Festival is a great choice for diverse, family-friendly music events. It runs from Thursday the 12th of July to Sunday the 15th of July, at Henham Park in Suffolk.

Offering more than 20 distinct areas, there’s something for fans of every kind of music. The Obelisk Arena hosts the festival’s headliners, which has seen the likes of Arcade Fire, Bon Ever and Mumford and Sons. If you’re looking for something a little different, the BBC Music Stage showcases alternative music from many different genres.

Visitors to the Latitude Festival can also enjoy film screenings, theatre productions, stand-up comedy and many different arts and crafts activities for children. Enjoy all this while surrounded by vibrant woodland and the best festival atmosphere Suffolk has to offer!

For full details visit the Latitude Festival website.

Tramlines Festival

This festival celebrates the city of Sheffield in all its glory. Boasting four stages of world classic music, the festival also showcases art, comedy, and regional food. It all takes place at Hillsborough Park, from Friday the 20th to Sunday the 22nd of July.

Each of the stages has a different focus, including indie acts, local talent and emerging artists. This year also sees the return of Into the Trees, a mix of family-friendly area in a wooded glade! When you want a bite to eat, tuck in to some quality street food from both local and national traders. Vegan and gluten-free options are available, as well as a range of locally-brewed alcoholic drinks.

For full details, visit the Tramlines Festival website.


This is just a small sample of the fantastic festivals the UK has to offer. And these are exactly the kinds of music events Stagefreight can help you to put on.

As a stage transport company, we know how crucial timing is for any show. That’s why our experienced lead driver takes control of planning the trailer arrival, to ensure everything arrives at the right time. They will plan the most cost-effective, fuel-efficient route to the event, too, saving you money and ensuring everything arrives on time. Once your goods arrive, our drivers can also help you with lighting choices, and build the stage with your team. Working with Stagefreight guarantees your show, large or small, will go off without a hitch!

For more information on how we can help, get in touch with us now via our Contact page.

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