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Writer's pictureEmily Miller

Top Midlands music festivals for your diary in the summer of 2023

A local roundup.

Festivals in the Midlands for 2023
Festivals in the Midlands for 2023

Festival season is nearly upon us and here at the Niche offices we are VERY excited. We are airing our tents, shaking out the waterproofs and digging out the wellies (and sunglasses!)


The summer music festival is no longer limited for those that can manage to get a ticket for Glastonbury.


There are loads of others out there and here in the Midlands we have some great festivals to ensure you get your fill of festival fun.


Here's our round up of the best near us.


Midlands festivals 2023

Download music festival

June 8 - 11

Castle Donington

The crowd at a Download festival
Download Festival is back and bigger than ever

Dubbed the spiritual home of rock Download festival made its name in the 80s. Held at Donington Park, Castle Donington, the festival attracts visitors from all over the world.


The festival attracts icons to its main stage, plus some of the best and hottest new acts in the world. AC/DC, KISS, Metallica, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, Rage Against The Machine, Slipknot, Linkin Park and many more have all headlined its main stage.


This year, the line-up is as impressive as ever with none other than Metallica and Slipknot headlining.


For any fan of the rock/metal genres, Download is an absolute must. The fantastic community spirit of the festival will make you feel right at home.


There’s so much music to see over the weekend, big rock fans will be splitting their viewing schedule between acts and stages.


Splendour Festival

July 22-23

Nottinghamshire

The sign at Splendour Festival
Splendour sees the likes of Everything Everything take to the stage

Splendour Festival is Nottinghamshire’s biggest festival. Set in the beautiful surroundings of Wollaton Hall & Deer Park, attendees can enjoy five stages of music that spans all genres.


Splendour line-ups are always a wonderful mix of acts that can be enjoyed by the whole family and this year Madness, Everything Everything, Sugababes and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds are set to perform.


Furthermore, in a unique way to help make the festival available for all this year there is a payment plan, available across all ticket types to allow ticket buyers to split the cost across monthly instalments right up until the festival.


Alongside the music, you can expect comedy, a funfair, a silent disco, independent market stalls, an array of gourmet food and drink, a dedicated kids’ area, and fringe activities to celebrate 15 years of the festival.


Y Not Festival

July 28 – 30

Derbyshire

A performer on stage at the Y Not Festival
Y Not Festival sees Kasabian top the bill

The beautiful Derbyshire countryside will host Y Not Festival again and we’ll be there. The festival, which started as an open-air rave, sold out early in 2022 so be sure to get your tickets early to avoid disappointment.


So far headliners include Royal Blood, Kasabian, Paul Weller and Bombay Bicycle Club headline, with many more acts announced on the bill including Niche favourites Everything Everything and Red Rum Club.


The main stage plays host to some of the biggest indie bands around, but it caters for a wide range of music tastes with the Quarry stag. And if you like your rock to be heavy, The Giant Squid has a selection of punk and metal bands to appeal to the moshers.


Whilst music is at its heart, there’s comedy, cabaret and general cheese too throughout the weekend, and even a cinema if all the partying gets too much.


There’s plenty at this site by way of fun for the whole family too with activities, workshops and even a family-friendly rave!


Camp Bestival

August 17 – 20

Shropshire

Fireworks behind a castle at night at Camp Bestival
Camp Bestival is a family affair

Camp Bestival, Shropshire will take place in Weston Park’s immaculate grounds designed by England’s greatest gardener, Capability Brown.


A wonderland of expansive green spaces, luxuriant lawns, verdant parkland, and enchanting woodlands, festivalgoers can enjoy a host of glittering family treats from our famous kids’ gardens.


It’ll be jam-packed with action and all manner of frolics and fun, with magic meadows and whole arenas abounding with a myriad of screen-free activities for kids of all ages.


And let’s not forget all the things that make Camp Bestival one of the country’s favourite festivals and a six-time winner of the UK Festival Awards Best Family Festival. Expect theatre, wellbeing workshops, circus spectacles, sideshow commotion and comedy.


A great festival for foodies there are lashings of incredibly delicious food and drink and the very finest in outdoor living from spacious general camping, Camping Plus and Backstage Camping, through to decadent boutique offerings, campervans, caravans and beyond.


No Camp Bestival would be complete without an epic musical line-up stretching all the way from legendary heavyweights to some of the most exciting up and coming acts around.


So, what are you waiting for? Get booking festivals for 2023 and enjoy summer to its fullest!

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