11 alternative UK music festivals for 2022 including Lost Village, Latitude, Hardwick and more

Music festivals in the UK are a big staple in many people’s summer calendars.

After the coronavirus pandemic stopped them from taking place over the past few years, UK festivals are back and bigger than ever for 2022.

With lineups being announced and tickets being released, it’s already starting to look like a busy year.

If major UK festivals like Creamfields, Isle of Wight, Reading and Leeds and Glastonbury seem overwhelming to you, then there’s plenty of other options to get your festival fix.

You can attend one of the many medium-sized festivals that take place across the UK that have smaller crowds, less stages but still have the same atmosphere and buzz.

We’ve put together a list of some of the best festivals you can attend for the weekend or day in 2022.

Latitude

Tickets: Ticketmaster

This year’s Latitude Festival returns on 21-24 July at Henham Park in Suffolk, with headline sets from Lewis Capaldi, Foals and Snow Patrol.

It’s lineup also features Phoebe Bridgers, Rina Sawayama, Little Simz, Maggie Rogers, Caroline Polachek and Self Esteem.

Alongside music, the festival also hosts a comedy stage, cabaret, arts and theatre across the weekend. There’s also chances to wind down with lake swimming, outdoor yoga and paddle boarding activities.

Wilderness

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Wilderness Festival is taking place at Cornbury Park on 4-7 August, and will see headline sets from Years & Years, Jungle and Underworld.

Other names performing on the main stage include Róisín Muprhy, Peggy Gou, Jordan Rakei, Gabriels, Craig Charles and Binker and Moses.

The full lineup will also feature Queer House Party, podcast The Guilty Feminist, Fèmmme Fraîche and Women in Jazz.

Plus festival goers can enjoy live theatre, talks and debates and feasting and dining tents across the festival weekend.

Lost Village

Tickets: Official website

The abandoned woodland village festival returns to Lincolnshire’s Norton Disney on 25-29 August.

The 2022 edition will see headline sets from Jamie xx, Bonobo and Tom Misch. The lineup also features Horse Meat Disco, Jayda G, Octo Octa, Greentea Peng and Joy Orbison, with theatre, circus and workshop tents also confirmed.

In a social media post, the festival says: “This summer will see us venture into new parts of the forest, see new sights, hear new sounds and make new friends.”

Sundown

Tickets: Ticketmaster and See Tickets

Sundown Festival takes place at Norfolk Showground on 2-4 September, with some of the biggest names in rap, grime, R&B and dance.

This year’s festival will be headlined by AJ Tracey and Sean Paul, while Sigala, MS Banks, Jonas Blue and A1XJI also appear on the bill.

Meanwhile the DJ lineup features the likes of Shy FX, Andy C, Wilkinson, Jax Jones, Majestic and DJ EZ to name a few.

Forwards

Tickets: Ticketmaster or See Tickets

Forwards Festival is a brand new music event coming to Bristol’s Clifton Downs between 3-4 September.

It’ll be headlined by The Chemical Brothers and Jamie xx, with Kae Tempest, Little Simz, Self Esteem, Róisín Murphy, Shygirl and Fred again.. also on the bill.

In addition to two main music stages, the festival will feature ‘The Information’, a space for activism, examination, debate and understanding on today’s current affairs and cultural issues.

It will showcase experts, disruptors, artists, writers and thinkers from across the social and political spectrum.

Strawberries and Creem

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Strawberries and Creem returns on 17-19 June with some of the biggest names in hip-hop, electronic, R&B, house and more.

The Cambridge-based festival will be headlined by Lil Wayne, who will perform his first UK show since 2008 in a European festival exclusive.

Other names on the lineup include Friday headliner, Ella Mai, Saturday headliner, Mabel and Sunday headliner Tems.

Solfest

Tickets: Skiddle

Solfest is taking place in Cumbria on 25-28 August with live music, DJ sets and more.

Pendulum, The Charlatans and Orbital will headline the festival, while the lineup also features Sugarhill Gang, Seasick Steve, The Zutons and Ash.

Festival organisers have also confirmed the fancy dress theme for 2022, which will be “In Space”.

Hardwick Festival

Tickets: Ticketline

Hardwick Festival 2022 will take place in Durham on 20-21 August.

The main stage will feature headline sets from Stereophonics and The Specials alongside Becky Hill, Jake Bugg, Ella Eyre and The Proclaimers.

There’s also a Soul Tent lineup and Manor Born Stage, which features the likes of Purple Disco Machine.

Splendour

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Splendour Festival returns to Nottingham for 2022 with its biggest edition ever.

This year’s event will take place across two days on 23-24 July at Wollaton Hall & Deer Park with five stages of music.

The main stage features Anne-Marie, The Human League, Craig David, Supergrass, Richard Ashcroft and Razorlight.

There’s also comedy, a funfair, a silent disco, independent market stalls and food and drink stalls.

Love Supreme

Tickets: See Tickets

Love Supreme 2022 is taking place at Glynde Place, East Sussex between 1-3 July.

The three-day jazz UK festival is noted as one of the best in Europe, with five stages hosting a diverse bill of jazz greats, international legends and rising stars.

This year’s event will be headlined by Erykah Badu in a UK exclusive, while Gregory Porter, TLC, Tom Misch and Lianne La Havas are also on the lineup.

Bluedot

Tickets: See Tickets

Taking place at the Jodrell Bank Observatory on 21-24 July is Bluedot Festival.

It’s a unique, four-day experience of music, science and cosmic culture.

This year the festival is being headlined by Björk, Groove Armada, Mogwai and Metronomy.