You know spring’s in the air when earlybird ticket alerts and initial line-ups for London’s summer festivals start arriving in the inbox. Here’s SOIWT’s guide to the capital’s indie parties, one I’ll keep updated as news filters through:
Field Day (6 August)
Last year’s Victoria Park indie-fest-meets-village-fete-meets-acid-disco was dry! Dry! And it had a proper banging headliner (Phoenix) for once. The same again would be nice. It’s a week later so everyone can go to the Croydon Summer Festival the Saturday before.
Top of the bill: Jamie Woon, Wild Beasts, Twin Shadow, Electrelane, The Horrors, Jamie xx, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
Impress your friends by knowing about: Hype Williams, Trophy Wife, Pearson Sound
Tickets from £44
Stag & Dagger (19 May)
One-night alternative knees-up around ever-widening hipstomatic hotspot known as ‘Shoreditch’. Bring comfortable shoes and lots of patience.
Top of the bill: Wire, Toro y Moi, James Yuill, Cocknbullkid, New Young Pony Club, Ghostpoet
Impress your friends by knowing about: Creep, The Beat Connection, Mazes
Tickets from £15
Lovebox (15-17 July)
Camp pop, dance and indie kicks for non-campers in Vicky Park, with a line-up that starts mainstream and ends up cool.
Top of the bill: Snoop Dogg, The Wombats, Scissor Sisters, Robyn, The Drums, Kelis and Katy B
Impress your friends by knowing about: Fenech Soler, Flying Lotus, P Money, Dry The River
Tickets from £108.50 for the weekend.
Macmillan’s Big Mix (18 June)
One day multi-venue Shoreditch event in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
No acts announced yet, but expect some decent names. Check back for updates.
Tickets from £15.
Land of Kings (28-29 April)
Technically-not-summer-at-all Dalston rave-up in its third outing
Top of the bill: Romy xx, Ghostpoet, James Yuill, Django Django
Impress your friends by knowing about: My Tiger My Timing, Visions of Trees
Tickets from £16