With the UK on track to be back to normal (well, as normal as it can be) by mid-June, festivals have either started releasing line-ups for this summer or announcing that their line-up for 2020 is still going ahead this year! The thought of being in or near big crowds is quite daunting, and I think if I were to go to any concerts or festivals this summer I wouldn’t be itching to get in the crowds or near the stage, but the fact that it’s looking like live music will be up and running again soon is very exciting both for fans and musicians. Below are five UK festivals taking place this summer that have top line-ups (to note that two of these festivals are currently sold out, but if you can get yourself on a waiting list or keep an eye out for returned tickets, I would recommend doing so):

5. TRNSMT

Date: 10-12 September

Headliners: Courteeners, Liam Gallagher, Chemical Brothers

Location: Glasgow

Website: https://trnsmtfest.com/

Scottish-based festival TRNSMT is an indie-rock treat, with the likes of Ian Brown, Sam Fender, Blossoms, Inhaler, Keane, Snow Patrol and more on the bill, as well as the headliners listed above. One of my favourite new bands Kawala are also playing the King Tut’s stage on the Sunday, which certainly peaked my interest!

4. Kendall Calling

Date: 29 July – 1 August

Headliners: Stereophonics, Supergrass, The Streets, Dizzee Rascal

Location: Lake District

Website: https://kendalcalling.co.uk/

Unfortunately Kendall Calling is one of the two festivals on this list that is currently sold out, BUT there is a waiting list you can sign up to on the home page of their website (link above). The line up has some big names already, including Stereophonics, The Streets, The Kooks, DMA’s, Pale Waves and The Snuts (who earned a number 1 album this week!).

3. Neighbourhood Weekender

Date: 3-5 September

Headliners: Gerry Cinnamon, James, Catfish & the Bottlemen

Location: Warrington

Website: https://nbhdweekender.com/

Another great set of headliners with Neighbourhood, and having seen Catfish at Community Festival a few years ago I reckon they’ll be a great finishing act for the festival on the Sunday. This is another indie fest, but there are some great artists a bit further down the line-up I think would be a lot of fun to see live, including Alfie Templeman and mid-00s legends The Pigeon Detectives.

2. Reading + Leeds

Date: 27-29 August

Headliners: Stormzy, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Post Malone, Disclosure, Liam Gallagher, Queens of the Stone Age

Location: …

Website: https://www.readingfestival.com/ (Reading); https://www.leedsfestival.com/ (Leeds)

Reading and Leeds still stand up as two of the biggest rock and indie festivals in the UK – especially this year with Glastonbury not taking place. One thing you’ll notice that’s different this year is there are TWO main stages – which means SIX headliners! It’s no surprise the festival has sold out (weekend and day tickets), but with only a handful of acts officially announced we could be in for a great line-up and it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for tickets.

1 Slam Dunk

Date: 4 and 5 September (two locations)

Headliners: Sum 41, Don Broco

Location: Leeds (4 Sept), Hatfield Park (5 Sept)

Website: https://www.slamdunkfestival.com/

If there was one festival I could go to this year, it would be Slam Dunk. There are so many high-energy rock and pop-punk bands on this line-up, including While She Sleeps, State Champs, Knuckle Puck and Zebrahead, not to mention headliner Sum 41, and with 12-14 months of no live music to make up for, this festival is bound to be crazy!