Last year we wrote about Love Box festival and as a result we thought it would be good to give you some information on the music festivals of 2013. They’re as accessible as they can be and promoters do seem to be doing their best to make them inclusive. Take a look – and if anyone has any comments on previous years let us know!
Isle of Wight – 13-16th June
Line Up: The Stone Roses, The Killers, Bon Jovi, Paul Weller, Emeli Sande, The Maccabees, Bloc Party, Blondie, Boomtown Rats, Ben Howard
The Stone Roses reformed earlier this year and this will be there only UK festival appearance, another band reforming are The Boomtown Rats! Bob Geldof’s band will be playing together at the Isle of Wight for the first time in 26 years!! Before Bon Jovi on the Sunday night!! The other headliners are one of the biggest rock bands of the decade, The Killers who are performing Saturday night! In the Dance Tent they have some great artists and DJs performing including Example & Dr Wire, Alex Metric, Grand Master Flash and Wiley . This festival has a good mix of old bands and new music with Paloma Faith, Bastille and Laura Mvula also playing!
Accessibility: The website says that you should call Ticketmaster to order a Disabled Access ticket and book one for a carer (if needed). They have limited space on the platform and in the car park and some part of the site will be difficult to get around because it’s outside and during bad weather it can be difficult to get across the site – they will have stewards there to help you around if you need it.
Download – 14-16th June
Line Up: Slipknot, Iron Maiden, Rammstein, Gaslight Anthem, Queens of The Stone Age, Bullet for my Valentine, Motorhead, Enter Shikari, The Hives, Alice in Chains
Most the music at Download is rock and metal with Slipknot, Iron Maiden and Rammstein headlining you can count on it being a loud weekend!! I saw Enter Shikari at Reading Festival last year, they were great live but the crowd was incredibly rowdy, people were being passed over the barriers at the front because they were panicking about the number of mosh pits… Gaslight Anthem and Queens of the Stone Age are both said to be great live with Gaslight Anthem getting compared to Bruce Springsteen and Queens of the Stone Age have had Dave Grohl helping them on an album in 2012 but unfortunately there is no mention of him making an appearance at the festival… Should be a good weekend if you’re into the music!!
Accessibility: Download takes place in Donnington Park (where Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire meet). It is a Greenfield site with ‘steep stony hilly sections’ meaning that access to the site isn’t very easy and is harder during bad weather conditions. There is a disabled customer campsite for those who are unable to camp on the standard campsites; laid down tracks to make getting around easier and you can park next to your tent, there are also lockers for storing small valuables or/and medication. There is also a ‘High Dependency Unit’ with raised beds and hoists but you would have to take your own slings. More information on the website.
Glastonbury – 26- 30th June
Line Up: Arctic Monkeys, The Rolling Stones, Mumford & Sons, The XX, Chase & Status, 2 Door Cinema Club, The Weekend, Hurts, Crystal Castles, Newton Faulkner
Needless to say that Glastonbury has a fabulous and huge line up!! They have hundreds acts ranging from dance music to rock music and including music you’ve never even heard of. Some of the biggest names in music including The Rolling Stones will be headlining Saturday night! Arctic Monkeys and Mumford & Sons are also headlining! I think it’s safe to say that this festival’s line up will keep everyone happy!!
Accessibility: Around the site they do have metal tracks laid down making getting around easier however there are still a lot of grassy areas and this can make it difficult especially in bad weather. They have a disabled access campsite that has stewards on hand 24/7 if you need assistance. The campsite has wheelchair accessible showers and there are accessible toilets throughout the arena. Also in the arena they have a viewing platform but to use it you need a ticket. The website tells you how to acquire one of these tickets.
Hard Rock Calling – 29-30th June
Line Up: Alabama Shakes, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Kodaline, Kasabian, Miles Kane, The Cribs, Black Crowes, Tribes, Klaxons, Zac Brown Band
Hard Rock Calling has moved venue and is now taking place at the Olympic Park!! What a great venue, what a great line up!! With Kasabian and Bruce Springsteen headlining how could it not be an amazing weekend!? The support acts should also be good with Kodaline, Miles Kane and The Cribs supporting Kasabian on the Saturday. On the Sunday before Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, The Black Crowes and Alabama Shakes will be playing – don’t know about you but that sounds like a fabulous line up!?
Accessibility: You have to apply for a disabled ticket and fill out some documentation regarding your needs; you can get this on the website. Access to viewing platforms is limited and is sold out for Bruce Springsteen but others are still available you can have one other person accompany you on the platform; they have electrical points for those who may need to charge their wheelchair or scooter. There are accessible toilets throughout the site.
LoveBox – 19-21st July
Line-up: Annie Mac, Azealia Banks, D’Angelo, Rudimental, Plan B, Mark Ronson, Hurts, Goldfrapp, Disclosure, Jamie Jones
Lovebox takes place in Victoria Park, East London . The line-up looks good with music from the talented Plan B and the very distinctive sounding Hurts! Azealia Banks who I’m sure will be singing her fabulously catchy song ‘212’ (which you just have to love!), will also appear and I reckon she’ll be great! Goldfrapp and Rudimental with their brilliant upbeat songs will also be great to dance too!! Should be a good weekend.
Accessibility: To make use of the available facilities at Lovebox you have to buy a ticket to ensure you have an Accessible Wristband (which you need to register for). With this wristband you can use the viewing platform at the main stage and have access to the disabled toilets, there is at least one at each toilet block. The site is greenfield and has some tarmac paths, during bad weather conditions this can make getting around the site difficult. They have limited disabled parking and pick-up/drop-off points 650meters from the accessible entrance – these spaces are given out on a first come, first serve basis.
Green Man – 15-18th August
Line Up: Band of Horses, Kings of Convenience, Ben Howard, Midlake, The Horrors, John Cale, Veronica Falls, Edwyn Collins, Swan, Cocos Lovers.
This festival is in Wales, Black Mountains and I think it is an interesting one; with things going on throughout your stay other than just music; OK they have a Ferris Wheel but in Einstein’s Garden they have science based stalls, the website says that this is the “perfect place to cultivate your curiosity and indulge your creative passions” so might be worth looking into if that’s your ‘thing’! As for the music I’m not very familiar with most of it but what I’ve heard of the Band of Horses and Kings of Convenience they sound pretty up beat and lyrically very good! Ben Howard would be the highlight for me he has an amazing voice!!
Accessibility: Most of the ground is grass and when wet this can become incredibly muddy and make getting around increasingly difficult. There are some tarmac roads but it’s not possible to completely avoid grassy areas. There is a disabled access drop off point in the car park, where stewards will be able to help you. They have an accessible camping area which is 5 minutes from the main stage and very close to a tarmac road – here they have accessible toilets and showers and electrical points for charging equipment where needed. Green Man does recommend reading all the information on their website before booking a ticket.
V Festival – 17-18th August
Line Up: Beyoncé, Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, The Script, Beady Eye, The Vaccines, Jessie J, Of Monsters and Men, Tom Odell, Fun
Beyoncé, Kings of Leon, Stereophonics are headlining – is there anything else to say? Brilliant and very current line-up, Stereophonics have a new album out ‘Graffiti On The Train’ and are as talented as ever! Beyoncé is… Beyoncé! And all the other artists/bands playing have got to be good! Tom Odell and the lead singer of Fun both have great voices and catchy songs!! I’d say this one was for the youngsters!
Accessibility: There are two sites Hyland Park which is in Chelmsford, Essex and Weston Park just outside central Birmingham. On both sites there are disabled toilets and showers; Weston Park has a slight incline on a concrete pathway and is a 15/20 minute walk from the arena, Hyland Park is next to the arena and has a grass path joining the two. They are facilities for charging wheelchairs and one carer can get a free ticket.
Reading – 23-25th August
Line Up: Green Day, Eminem, Biffy Clyro, Fall Out Boy, Lumineers, Deftones, System of Downs, Tame Impala, Jake Bugg, Alex Clare
Reading… One of the last festivals of the summer and always a good one! They have a few stages and a variety of music from dance to rock! This year they have Eminem and Green Day headlining, how awesome is that?! And that’s just two people that will be on at Reading!! We mustn’t forget the talented Jake Bugg and the classic Biffy Clyro and Fall Out Boy (who have made a bit of a comeback this year!) I think Reading is looking good, even without the fabulous headlining acts; there is a strong line-up and a wide range of bands/artists to choose from!!
Accessibility: They have a disabled access campsite and viewing platforms at all stages; you will need a Disabled Access Ticket to be able to use these. They have adapted toilets nearby and you can be accompanied by a carer. The ground is generally uneven and is grassy although they do put down metal walk-ways.