Well as some of you are aware each week I take a look at some of the gigs you should consider attending and seeing as festival season is now upon us I thought I would do something similar with them.
// Glasgowbury
Dates: 19th – 20th July
Location: Eagle’s Rock, Sperrins
About: One of the highlights of any NI music fan’s calendar is that of Glasgowbury. Literally taking place up a mountain at Eagle’s Rock, the festival showcases the greatest and upcoming talent from with the local scene. For the first time this year the festival extends to two days of live music to tie in with Derry/Londonderry being the City of Culture.
2013 Line-up: The Answer, Japanese Popstars and And So I Watch You From Afar, Jetplane Landing, Little Bear, Axis Of, Ed Zealous, More Than Conquerors, Trucker Diablo and many more.
Prices: Weekend Camping Ticket – £45 Saturday Day Ticket – £35
// Gig in the Garden
Dates: 27th July
Location: Minnowburn, Shaw’s Bridge
About: Probably better described as a mini-festival there is a focus on all good local things. Combining some interesting and very talented musicians and a range of hand-picked food and drinks retailers you could do far worse this summer.
2013 Line-up: Mama Kaz, Malojian, Wes Grierson, Chrissy McCullagh, Wookalily & The White Mansions
Prices: Adults – £10 Kids – £5
Buy Gig in the Garden 2013 Tickets
// Open House Festival
Dates: 1st – 30th August
Location: various venues in Bangor
About: The Open House Festival team are renowned for putting together spectacular shows and this year is no different. As with last year they return to the seaside town of Bangor and take over a multitude of venues including Bangor Abbey for a variety of gigs.
2013 Line-up: Farriers, Midlake, Lord Huron, The Undertones, Paul Brady, The Staves, Kowalski, Ed Zealous & Go Wolf
Prices: It varies depending on the event – £9+
Buy Open House Festival 2013 Tickets
// Tanglewood Festival
Dates: 3rd- 4th August
Location: Narrow Water Castle, Warrenpoint
About: Probably the best line-up that Tanglewood has ever had with their line-up featuring a number of big guns from the local scene. Set in the magical location of Narrow Water Castle, punters can be blown away by the spectacular scenery and the fantastic music on offer.
2013 Line-up: And So I Watch You From Afar, Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy), Duke Special, Rams’ Pocket Radio, Jerry Fish, More Than Conquerors, Pocket Billiards, plus many more!
Prices: Weekend Camping Ticket – £35 Saturday Day Ticket – £25 Sunday Day Ticket – £10
// Sunflower Fest
Dates: 9th-11th August
Location: Tubby’s Farm, Hillsborough
About: Last year Sunflower Fest really stepped up their game and our Peter reckoned it was his favourite festival of 2012. Featuring a mix of music, creative writing workshops, film, storytelling and interactive art and workshops, they really do have it all. Plus a percentage of all ticket price goes directly to charity.
2013 Line-up: Alabama 3, Ozric Tentacles, Eat Static, Mojo Fury, Ed Zealous, Stormzone, The Bonnevilles, Henry Cluney and many more
Prices: Weekend Camping Ticket – £72.95 Saturday Day Ticket – £35 (Family tickets are available)
Buy Sunflower Fest 2013 Tickets
// Forfey Festival
Dates: 9th-11th August
Location: Forfey Farm, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh
About: Definitely the most boutique festival on offer in the Northern Irish music scene, it is beautiful. Last year it was a tad wet but our spirits weren’t dampened as the chance to get up close and personal with some of our favourite bands was too good an opportunity to pass up.
2013 Line-up: Mojo Fury, PigsAsPeople, Kasper Rosa, Seven Summits, The Emerald Armada, Amidships Plus Many More
Prices: Weekend Camping Ticket – £45
Buy Forfey Festival 2013 Tickets
// Tennent’s Vital
Dates: 14th – 15th August
Location: Boucher Road Playing Fields, Belfast
About: Technically not a festival due to the lack of camping but this is still a key addition to the Northern Irish gig calendar. The location may be quite odd but the big name acts that organisers MCD continues to pull to our shores is impressive. For the first time they have extended the event to three days with varying music tastes being accounted for.
2013 Line-up: Snow Patrol, Kings Of Leon, Vaccines, Kodaline, Jason Mraz, Foy Vance, Avicii, Tinie Tempah, Rudimental
Prices: Kings of Leon – £49.50 Snow Patrol – £44.50 Avicii – £39.50
Buy Tennent’s Vital 2013 Tickets
// Stendhal Festival of Art
Dates: 16-17th August
Location: Limavady
About: Set in the lovely picturesque Limavady, Stendhal always excites with it’s varied range of local acts with a few bigger names thrown if for good measure.
2013 Line-up: Paddy Casey, Mark Wilson (10CC), Little Bear, Trucker Diablo, The Bonnevilles, Alana Henderson plus many more
Prices: Weekend Camping Ticket – £30 Friday Day Ticket – £15 Saturday Day Ticket – £25
Buy Stendhal Festival 2013 Tickets
// Belsonic
Dates: 16-25th August
Location: Custom House Square, Belfast
About: More a collection of gigs than an actual festival but it would be unfair to exclude them on this basis. As usual Belsonic returns to Belfast with a collection of national and international bands supported by local music.
2013 Line-up: Bullet For My Valentine, Suede, Nine Inch Nails, Jake Bugg, Steve Angello, Lumineers, Ben Howard, Basement Jaxx, And So I Watch You From Afar, Soak, Silhouette, Courteeners, Bring Me The Horizon
Prices: It varies depending on the event – £27.50+
