THE BEST MUSIC FESTIVALS IN LONDON 2023
London Festival Guide 2023: All Points East, Kew The Music, Junction 2, Field Day and Kaleidoscope all feature plus Somerset House Summer Series turns 20
○ JULY
Somerset House Summer Series
Somerset House, London | July 6-16
Somerset House Summer Series is turning 20 this year with 10 days of open-air concerts. Held in the iconic Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, this year's lineup includes a wide range of genres, from homegrown neo-soul singer Greentea Peng to Scottish indie-rock band Young Fathers. Many shows have already sold out, so don’t snooze
Who’s playing?
La Femme, Gabriels, Greentea Peng + Special Guests, Alison Goldfrapp, Interpol, Olivia Dean, Beabadoobee, Tinariwen, The Comet Is Coming, Young Fathers, Gabzy.
Tickets: from £28.50 at somersethouse.org.uk
Secretsundaze presents ‘Multi Multi’ Festival
Hackney Wick Venues; The Yard, Colour Factory, Studio 94, Boat Live, Crate Brewery | July 8
On Saturday July 8th across several Hackney Wick spaces, Secretsundaze’ Multi Multi is returning after last year's pilot was a roadblock success. This year it comes back bigger and better with more venues, dancefloors and increased capacity. The Yard’s sun-soaked courtyard and all of Colour Factory’s ever-expanding areas will be in use alongside the canal side terrace at Crate, the warehouse at Studio 94 and the inimitable Boat Live. In total there will be four open-air dance floors plus three indoor nighttime sessions. Much-loved DJ crews and labels will each bring their own sounds so expect multiple crews, multiple venues and multiple vibrations.
DJs include; Adam Pits, Sofie K , Heels & Souls, Tash LC, Fantastic Man, Ciel b2b Secretsundaze and around 75 other acts.
Tickets and full line up at ra.co
Kew The Music
Royal Botanic Gardens, London | July 11-15
Kew Garden’s annual week-long festival is set within the stunning Royal Botanic Gardens with scenic views, headline bands and picnics galore. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks, or enjoy the open-air bars and street food stalls.
Lineup;
11th July — Basille
12th July — The Vamps
13th July — Jack Savoretti
14th July — The Human League
15th July — Haçienda Classiçal
16th July — Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra
Tickets from £61.25, kewthemusic.org
Kaleidoscope Festival
Alexandra Palace Park, London | Jul 15
It’s the 5th edition of Ally Pally’s Kaleidoscope Festival and in a relatively short period of time it’s built a reputation for being one of London’s best loved one-dayers. ‘London’s highest festival’ offers something for everyone with live bands and brass, DJs, comedy, family activities, and street food. A capacity of 11,000, means it’s still boutique enough to be a stress-free festival experience in the comfort of North London and with impressive panoramic views of The City. Last year, the festival sold out completely, so you should grab your tickets soon.
On the bill;
Hot Chip, George Fitzgerald, Gaz Coombes, Elvana, Girls of the Internet, Antony Szmierek, Erol Alkan, Raw Silk, Fabio & Grooverider, Heidi, Wookie, Nina Conti, Shaun Keavney & Joe Lycett, Maisie Adam, Rebel Bingo, Tej Dhutia, Das Brass, Knats and many more.
Tickets: Adult general release, £59.15, children (5-15 years) £33.85, under fives, £10.75, family tickets (2 adults, 2 children) £175; kaleidoscope-festival.com
Junction 2
Boston Manor Park, London | 21, 22 July
Junction 2, London's premier techno festival, returns to its original home at Boston Manor Park on July 21-22, after a three-year hiatus. The two-day event, organised by dance promoters LWE, offers a unique mix of vast fields, intimate woodland stages, and impressive industrial settings under the M4 flyover. Headliners include 'The Wizard' Jeff Mills, Nina Kraviz, Cirez D, Charlotte De Witte, and Underworld, who will perform live.
Line up;
Underworld, Jeff Mills, Nina Kraviz, Cirez D (Eric Prdyz), Adam Beyer, Ben UFO, Mall Grab, Charlotte de Witte, Daphni, Helena Hauff, Hunee, Or:la, Enzo Siragusa, Hessle Audio Trio, Midland plus many more
Tickets: Day tickets from £65, weekend tickets from £143 junction2.london
Dialled In: The Park
Lloyd Park, Walthamstow, London | July 22
Dialled In is an artist-led movement platforming South Asian music, art & culture. It will return to Walthamstow’s Lloyd Park this July for an all-day event, featuring an exciting lineup of underground South Asian artists and impeccable vibes. Live musicians include; Sarathy Korwa, Amrit Kaur, and PRVNA, while DJ sets will be performed by DJ Ahadadream, Pxssy Palace, and GoldTooth B2B My Panda Shall Fly. There will also be food markets, workshops, and poetry sessions to explore when you're not dancing.
The following artists are on the lineup: Sarathy Korwar, Amrit Kaur, PRVNA, DJ Ahadadream, DJ Ritu, DJ Lyla, GoldTooth and My Panda Shall Fly, Pxssy Palace amongst others.
Children’s tickets are free and general admission starts at £23. More info and tickets; dialled-in.com