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The urban festival is a not a new phenomenon, but in recent years it has been an overwhelmingly successful one. The oldest festival in this list has been running for 110 years, but most have sprung up in the last two or three. It's actually a remarkably cheap and easy way to catch world class musicians - especially compared to the complications of a night out in London.
 Hampton Court Palace Festival Hampton Court Palace, KT8 9AU 5th June 2007 Henry VIII established Hampton Court as a place of music, dancing and revelry. This festival is focused on reviving that tradition as 22,000 people fill the grounds for one of the most diverse music festivals in the calendar. With the Kenwood concerts failing to get planning permission, this is probably the best series of picnic concerts on the calendar for 2007, though not hugely convenient unless you live in West London. This year's line-up of international performers from the worlds of jazz, classical, and pop includes Tom Jones, M People, Van Morrison, Jools Holland, Julian Lloyd Webber, and Lesley Garrett. It's not exactly cutting-edge stuff musically, but these concerts are all about the parkland, the palace silhouetted against a darkening English sky, and the food, drink and company. Venue: Hampton Court Palace Address: Kingston-Upon-Thames, KT8 9AU Phone: 0870 890 0147 Date: 5th June 2007 - 23rd June 2007 Time: Most concerts 19:30 Pricing: £45 - £95 Nearest Station: Hampton Court Rail Hampton Court Palace Festival Opening   O2 Music Wireless FestivalHyde Park, W2 3JA 14th June 2007 - 17th June 2007 A four-day festival smack bang in the middle of London - no long car journeys, no queuing for mud-covered taps, no losing your tent at 4am - it sounds like manna from heaven. Now in its third year, Wireless has established itself as one of London's biggest musical events, attracting crowds of 20,000 plus every day to Hyde Park. You don't have to commit yourself in quite the same way as a traditional festival - just dip in when you want, buy a ticket for the days you like (maybe one, maybe three) and go home to your own bed. The downside is that it definitely lacks the atmosphere of a camping festival - the weirdos in costumes, stalls, tee-pees, organic cafes and strange entertainments have been replaced by blandly corporate fare, drenched in giant logos; there's definitely less of a community feel, and music licensing laws can restrict the volume. Gripes aside, you can't argue much with this lot: The White Stripes, The Queens of the Stone Age, Faithless, Badly Drawn Boy, Just Jack, Daft Punk, LCD Soundsystem, CSS, Kaiser Chiefs, Editors, the Cribs, The Rakes, The Twang. Venue: Hyde Park Address: Westminster, W2 3JA Phone: 020 7437 4370 Date: 14th June 2007 - 17th June 2007 Time: Thu gates open 14:00, Fri & Sun gates open 12:00 Pricing: £40 (One Day), £75 (Two Days), £105 (Three Days), £135 (Four Days) Nearest Station: Hyde Park Corner Tube O2 Music Wireless Festival - Information  Hyde Park CallingHyde Park, W2 3JA 23rd June 2007 & 24th June 2007 As the greenhouse effect kicks in and every green space in the UK is given to partying teens all summer long, this new festival redresses the balance with two days of music from bands who remember the good old days. The biggest draw at this year's Hyde Park Calling is Aerosmith, who will be dragging themselves off their Zimmer Frames for their first UK concert in almost a decade. The band - once described as the "druggiest bunch of guys I've ever seen" by no less an authority than Jerry Garcia - have enjoyed a truly remarkable longevity, and continue to release music and play tight rock-blues live shows. They are joined on the Sunday by the 'Aussie Oasis' Jet, and Chris Cornell. Saturday's line-up features a brief history of soft rock, as Peter Gabriel is joined by Crowded House and The Feeling. Venue: Hyde Park Address: Westminster, W2 3JA Phone: 0870 400 0688 Date: 23rd June 2007 & 24th June 2007 Time: Doors 14:00 Pricing: £85 (Weekend), £45 (Day) + Booking Fees Nearest Station: Hyde Park Corner Tube Hyde Park Calling - Information  Wildchild OutsideShoreditch Park, N1 6TA 30th June 2007 Tops off and shades on for banging house, hard dance and D 'n' B from 150 DJs in Shoreditch Park. We're not sure how they're planning on fitting 8 arenas and 4 soundstages into this tiny triangle of grass, nor how they are expecting to get a license to play music at the volume it deserves in the heart of such a built-up area, but the line-up reads like a 'Who's Who' of credible dance music, so they must have some kind of plan. Layo and Bushwacka, X-Press 2, Plump DJs, Hybrid Live, Freq Nasty, Sandy Rivera, Smokin' Jo, Seamus Hajj, Dogzilla Live, Carl Craig, Dan Ghenacia, Soul Avengerz, Pendulum, Goldie, Grooverider... Actually, now that we look at the DJ list, it seems impossible to squeeze an event of this size into Shoreditch Park. We have literally no idea what's going on here. EDIT: The festival has now been moved to the King's Cross Goods Yard (see TDK Cross Central below for details - and don't say we didn't warn you) Venue: Shoreditch Park Address: New North Road, N1 6TA Phone: 0871 5661 251 Date: 30th June 2007 Time: 12:00 - 21:30 Pricing: £25 - £40, £65 VIP Nearest Station: Old Street Tube Wildchild Outside - Information  Pride London 2007Trafalgar Square, WC2H 7BP 30th June 2007 For the past few years, London's Pride Parade has been growing in scale and ambition. Now, increasing numbers of straight folk are also turning up to join in the heady mix of fun and politics in what has become one of Britain's biggest street parties. This year around half a million gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight people will flood into Oxford Street and Regent Street for the parade. Entertainment will be provided by 80 floats and more than 200 costume groups and walking bands. The serious stuff takes place in Trafalgar Square, where community stalls and music will support a rally, with major speakers celebrating a year of successes for the Gay Rights movement. Soho and Leicester Square will play host to more frivolous activities, with cabaret and bands in the Square and a huge market and food festival in Soho. The hundreds of lesbian and gay bars and clubs in the area will, of course, keep the celebrations going all night long. Venue: Trafalgar Square Address: Westminster, WC2H 7BP Phone: 020 7437 4370 Date: 30th June 2007 Time: Parade from Marble Arch 12:00 Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus Tube Pride London 2007 - Information  Live EarthWembley Stadium, HA9 0DW 7th July 2007 Some of the very finest musical dinosaurs lead out the London leg of this series of international concerts, with the evergreen Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Beastie Boys and Madonna joined by Genesis and Duran Duran. The younger generation are middle-of-the-road stadium stars, including James Blunt, Paolo Nutini, David Gray, the Black-Eyed Peas, Razorlight and Snow Patrol. We're not absolutely convinced that these jet-setting stars offer the best example for those wishing to stop the greenhouse effect (Madonna divides her time between London, Scotland and new York, Razorlight's Jonny Borrell loves his Harley), but anything that keeps climate change in the news is alright by us. All the ticket profits will go to supporting environmental NGOs. Venue: Wembley Stadium Address: Empire Way, HA9 0DW Phone: 0844 725 0107 Date: 7th July 2007 Time: 12:00 Pricing: £55 Nearest Station: Wembley Park Tube Live Earth - Information  Summer SeriesSomerset House, WC2R 1LA 12th July 2007 - 21st July 2007 The Courtyard of Somerset House is an idyllic, calming, escapist location for a concert on a summer's evening. As a breeze drifts in off the Thames you'll forget the city bustle outside and tune into some great music. This year has another cracking selection of artists, with summery chirpiness from love-them-or-hate-them Londoners Lily Allen and Mika, epic rock from Mogwai and Kasabian, Hot Chip's new-Rave nuttiness, and the Amy Winehouse will-she-be-too-drunk-to-sing thrillathon all on the list. For our money, though, the two hottest sets will come from the raw punk power of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and the Roots' endlessly inventive live hip-hop. Venue: Somerset House Address: Strand, WC2R 1LA Phone: 0870 145 1120 Date: 12th July 2007 - 21st July 2007 Time: 20:00 Pricing: £22.50 + Booking Fee Nearest Station: Embankment Tube or Charing Cross Tube / Rail Summer Series - Information  The Proms 2007Royal Albert Hall, SW7 2AP 13th July 2007 - 8th September 2007 The most popular season of classical music in England goes from strength-to-strength each year. A varied but accessible programme regularly draws huge audiences to the Royal Albert Hall, concluding on the last night with seas of Union Jack-waving Britons belting out their national anthem. The aim, for the past 100 years, has been to mix the popular and familiar with the surprising and innovative, so if you go to a concert to hear some favourite piece, you may leave having discovered a whole new composer. 500 standing tickets for each concert are available on the door for just five pounds, so top international orchestras and soloists, programmes that mix the adventurous and the accessible, and a real sense of fun can all be had for less than the price of a cinema ticket. There are also chamber music concerts in Cadogan Hall, and outdoor events throughout the country. You should turn up early for the biggest stars - and queue overnight if you want to get into the Last Night. Venue: Royal Albert Hall Address: Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP Phone: 020 7589 8212 Date: 13th July 2007 - 8th September 2007 Time: Various Pricing: Seat prices vary. Standing tickets are available on the door for £5. Nearest Station: South Kensington Tube The Proms 2007 - Information  RiseFinsbury Park, N4 1EE 15th July 2007 Last year's Rise Festival in Finsbury Park was truly one of the most magical days of the summer, with 100,000 Londoners of all colours and creeds gathering in the sun to take a stand against racism. They tend to finalise the music line-up at the last minute, but we're sure they'll stick to the formula of having a few top international stars, some credible London musicians and plenty of hilariously sketchy local acts. Because it's free, safe and friendly, there's an enormously varied crowd taking time to chill in the sun, munch on some jerk chicken and celebrate everything that is best about our multi-cultural capital. Kids are very welcome and will love the costume and dance acts, the funfair and the general carnival atmosphere. Venue: Finsbury Park Address: Endymion Road, N4 1EE Phone: 020 7983 6554 Date: 15th July 2007 Time: 12:00 - 19:00 Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Finsbury Park Tube Rise - Information  Lovebox WeekenderVictoria Park, E3 5SN 21st July 2007 & 22nd July 2007 The best of this year's city park festivals should be Groove Armada's Glastonbury-inspired multi-genre party in Victoria Park.This is the party that comes closest to capturing the vibe of a proper festival, with a huge range of musical styles across multiple stages, and a friendly, music-loving crowd. Victoria Park is a great festival venue, with loads of space and a sympathetic council who let them turn the music up really loud. The first day is aimed at a slightly older crowd, with Blondie, Patrick Wolf and the Super Furry Animals on the main stage, and Groove Armada playing their set on the dance stage supported by other 1990s stars. Sunday is more of a New Rave affair, featuring The Rapture, Hot Chip, Groove Armada (again), with the dance stage based around current electro and tech-house stars Felix Da Housecat, Layo and Bushwacka, Digitalism and Paul Arnold. Venue: Victoria Park Address: Old Ford Road, E3 5SN Phone: 08700 600 100 Date: 21st July 2007 & 22nd July 2007 Time: 12:00-22:30 Pricing: £35 (One Day), £60 (Both Days) Nearest Station: Bethnal Green Tube Lovebox Weekender - Information  Ben & Jerry's Sundae on the CommonClapham Common, SW4 9BS 28th July 2007 - 29th July 2007 Leaving aside the obvious dangers of combining free ice cream with high-speed rides, the return of this sweet little kids-and-grown-ups party is great news, especially since the lovely Fruitstock has been cancelled this year. There's a city farm, a traditional fairground and a very decent selection of easy-listening musicians, including The Feeling, Kate Nash, The Holloways and The Proclaimers (who we would walk 500 miles to avoid, but who seem to inspire a devotion bordering on lunacy in their Scottish fans). Above all, it's unbelievably cheap, so the vaguely rough-and-ready set up is a pleasure rather than a nuisance, and the atmosphere is way more chilled out than at most of these Clapham Common events. Venue: Clapham Common Phone: 0871 223 0882 Date: 28th July 2007 - 29th July 2007 Time: 12:00-20:00 Pricing: £8.75 per day Nearest Station: Clapham Common Tube Ben & Jerry's Sundae on the Common - Information | Hotels near Ben & Jerry's Sundae on the Common  Underage FestivalVictoria Park, E3 5SN 10th August 2007 I'm probably not the only twentysomething in London who finds the idea of a festival aimed at fashionbable 14-17-year-olds pretty disturbing. Shouldn't children that age be sitting on benches smoking cigarettes and failing to communicate with members of the opposite sex, rather than doing stuff that's actually cool? The star performers will be Gary Glitter and Jonathan King... only joking. We've actually only heard of four of the bands on the line-up (The Young Knives, Patrick Wolf, Mystery Jets, Vincent Vincent and the Villians) but that's almost certainly because we're old fogies who don't understand MySpace, rather than because there's anything wrong with acts like Pull Tiger Tail and The Rumble Strips. There's strictly no alcohol allowed, and by all accounts the kids at these events are more concerned with music and fashion than with drinking Strongbow and losing their V-plates. Bizarre, but probably a lot of fun if you're 16. Venue: Victoria Park Address: Old Ford Road, E3 5SN Phone: 020 7403 3331 Date: 10th August 2007 Time: 12:00 - 20:00 Pricing: £20 Nearest Station: Bethnal Green Tube Underage Festival - Information  Field DayVictoria Park, E3 5SN 11th August 2007 While most of London's outdoor music events are crowded and highly commercial affairs, Field Day goes against the grain attempting to capture the laidback sunshine-and-cider vibe of a small rural festival, with just 5000 visitors who will fit very comfortably into Victoria Park. A coconut shy, a tombola, a welly-wanging competition and organic food are joined by some brilliant musicians, mostly playing folksy or psychedelic stuff, with some harder beats for later in the evening: Four Tet, James Yorkston, JoJo de Freq, Mystery Jets, Eat Your Own Ears and YoYo DJs, Erol Alkan, and Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys are the biggest stars, and there's a great selection of smaller names as well. The capital's most credible festival, and its cheapest. Venue: Victoria Park Address: Old Ford Road, E3 5SN Phone: 020 7403 3331 Date: 11th August 2007 Time: TBA Pricing: £22.50 Nearest Station: Bethnal Green Tube Field Day - Information  London MelaGunnersbury Park, W5 4NE 12th August 2007 One of the biggest celebrations of Asian music and culture outside the Indian subcontinent, last year's London Mela in Gunnersbury Park attracted 55,000 visitors, and this looks to be even bigger. Like so many of London's festivals (the Notting Hill Carnival, the Brick Lane Festival, Respect) this has extended beyond its ethnic roots to attract a multitude of Londoners out for a good time. Expect a line-up of the brightest lights on the British Asian music scene, Bhangra MCs, Bollywood, as well as traditional and classical performances. This is all backed up with hundreds of stalls selling food and handicrafts, a funfair for the kids and a fantastic convivial atmosphere. Venue: Gunnersbury Park Address: Popes Lane, W5 4NE Phone: 020 7983 4000 Date: 12th August 2007 Time: TBC Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Gunnersbury Tube London Mela - Information  Metro Weekender: SW4Clapham Common, SW4 0AA 25th August 2007 While in north London the TDK Festival brings in the most credible names in underground dance, to play in a moody, urban location, their south-of-the-river rivals have taken the opposite approach for their shindig on Clapham Common. Some of the biggest names on the jet-set superstar DJ circuit are playing this massive open-air party, including Paul Van Dyk, Sasha, Roger Sanchez, Pete Tong, Timo Maas, Eddie Halliwell, Taul Paul, LTJ Bukem and Goldie. And that all adds up to a big, fat party in the open air - though complaints from residents do mean it's not quite as loud as you might want it to be. Venue: Clapham Common Address: Clapham, SW4 9BS Phone: 08700 601 801 Date: 25th August 2007 Time: 12:00 - 21:00 Pricing: £35 Nearest Station: Clapham Common Tube Metro Weekender: SW4 - Information  Metro Weekender: Get Loaded in the ParkClapham Common, SW4 0AA 26th August 2007 Putting your festival in direct competition with Notting Hill Carnival, Britain's biggest street party, is a bold move by anyone's standards but this mini-festival has proved a great success over the last couple of years, filling Clapham Common with seas of revellers. Get Loaded in the Park had its roots as a Madchester reunion, but this year it looks to be a truly London event. Not only is Dizzee Rascal headlining, but this is also the only 2007 festival with a set from Stockwell's favourite son The Streets. Other confirmed acts so far include master mixologists 2 Many DJs and Carl Barat's Dirty Pretty Things. There are four stages, and though most of the line-up is still to be confirmed, you can be sure that the cream of London's clubland and the best of our up-and-coming bands will be there. Venue: Clapham Common Address: Clapham, SW4 0AA Phone: 08700 601 801 Date: 26th August 2007 Time: 12:00 - 21:00 Pricing: £30 - £35 Nearest Station: Clapham Common Tube Metro Weekender: Get Loaded in the Park - Information  TDK Cross Central FestivalKing's Cross Goods Yard, N1 9AD 25th August 2007 & 26th August 2007 Can't face the crowds at the Notting Hill Carnival? Can't stand the rampant commercialism that's overtaken Leeds and Reading? The Cross Central Festival is the August Bank Holiday alternative, and last year it was a blast. The biggest names may be off performing at the major festivals, but all the best musicians will be right here, in the gargantuan club complex in the King's Cross Goods Yard. This is a massive, moody, urban location for a group of musicians who mostly emerged from the clubs and raves of London. Various stages offer a feast of live music, film, club culture and art. Venue: King's Cross Goods Yard Phone: TBC Date: 25th August 2007 & 26th August 2007 Time: TBC Pricing: TBC Nearest Station: King's Cross Tube / Rail TDK Cross Central Festival - Information  Notting Hill CarnivalLadbroke Grove, W10 5QZ 26th August 2007 & 27th August 2007 Carnival sets London on fire in a blaze of Caribbean spirit as extravagantly costumed dancers, calypso and soca musicians, giant sound-ystems and steelbands are joined by over a million revellers of all ages. Held since 1966, and originally a local affair for west London's homesick Caribbean community, this has evolved into Europe's biggest street party. Sunday is officially children's day, but there are loads of kids on both days enjoying the bright colours of the floats and the dancers' feathered costumes. Adults can shake their battys at dozens of stages: our favourites are Channel 1's booming dub, and the jazz-reggae at Gaz's Rockin' Blues, but there are tunes for all tastes, from house to hip-hop. It's a huge area, and can get very crowded, so be prepared for an exhausting day out, but for anyone who loves a party, Carnival remains the absolute highlight of the London summer. Venue: Ladbroke Grove Address: Notting Hill, and Westbourne Grove, W10 5QZ Date: 26th August 2007 & 27th August 2007 Time: Arrive around midday. Things start to cool off at about 19:00. Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Ladbroke Grove/ Westbourne Park Tube Notting Hill Carnival - Information  Mayor's Thames FestivalSouth Bank Centre, SE1 8XX 15th September 2007 - 17th September 2007 Over half a million visitors are expected at this year's Thames festival which takes place over two days on the banks of the river between Tower Bridge and Westminster. Hundreds of artists and dancers take part in the daytime displays and there is a lively carnival both nights, as well as scores of activities for kids. A spectacular River Race takes place involving over 300 oared boats and eccentric creations like Viking Dragon Boats. The festival climaxes with the Night Carnival, featuring 2000 costumed performers, amazing floats and a final massive fireworks display. The Thames Festival is one of Mayor Ken's best innovations, and if you've not been before, you should definitely check it out. Venue: South Bank Centre Address: Banside and Embankment, SE1 8XX Phone: 020 7928 8998 Date: 15th September 2007 - 17th September 2007 Time: 12:00-22:00 Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Waterloo Tube/ Rail Mayor's Thames Festival - Information |
