Cheap UK festivals to attend this year

Ah, festival season, oh how we've missed you! The sound of live music, the buzz of a plastic pint in your hand, and the sight of the sun shining bright in a green field. It's like a magical potion for the soul!

But let's face it, festivals can be a drain on the wallet. Your dreams of being at Glastonbury or Coachella can easily turn into a nightmare when you realise the rising ticket prices, and some of us just don't have the money to be splurging on such huge festivals, nor the time to research all the myriad ways on how to save money at a festival, which can often just dampen the experience. 

But don't worry, dear festival lover, for we have got your back! We know that music is food for the soul, and we don't want anyone to miss out on the feast. That's why we've scoured the length and breadth of the Skiddle index to bring you the best festivals we have that don't cross the £100 threshold. 

Whether you're a fan of electronic beats or indie melodies, or if cheesy pop is more your thing (hey, we won't judge!), we've got something for everyone. But be warned, these festivals may be cheaper than most, but they're definitely not lacking in quality. We've handpicked the best of the best so you can be sure that you'll be dancing the night away to the finest tunes in town.

So don't let your wallet hold you back, don't rely on the internet's methods on how to save money at a festival, and let your feet lead the way to these amazing cheap UK festivals. We'll see you there, with a pint in hand, screaming out the lyrics to all our favourite tunes. Let's make memories that'll last a lifetime!

 

(Click on the headers or images for FAQs and more information about each festival, and make sure to secure tickets in the boxes below each event.) 

 

 

 

Reggae Land 

When: Saturday 5th - Sunday 6th August, 2023

Where: The National Bowl in Milton Keynes

2023 Lineup: Beenie Man, Sean Paul, Barrington Levy, Steel Pulse, Shy FX, Protoje, Congo Natty, Daddy G (Massive Attack & The Wild Bunch), David Rodigan

The Uk's biggest Reggae Festival, Reggae Land will touch down in Milton Keynes Campbell Park this summer for an incredible weekend, teeming with performances from some of the best live reggae, dub, and dancehall artists around. Plus, you can do the full weekend for just £89, or do a day for just under £50; seriously cheap given the quality of what's on!

Across the two-day, family-friendly weekend event, big names always line up to play the stage, 2023 see's Beenie Man, Sean Paul, Barrington Levy, Steel Pulse, Shy FX, Protoje, Congo Natty, Daddy G (Massive Attack & The Wild Bunch), David Rodigan, and so many more bring the sun-soaked vibes, transporting everyone present at The National Bowl in Milton Keynes to the Caribbean.

However, don't just go for the music! Punters will also be spoilt with an offering of delicious and authentic food in the festivals Caribbean Food Village, with plenty of Caribbean cocktails and rum bars on hand to help wash it all down. A wicked festival for a wicked price, get those tickets asap though, it's on final release!

 

Tickets for Reggae Land

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Manchester Psych Festival

When: Saturday 2nd September 2023

Where: Various venues around Manchester

2023 Lineup: The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Ezra Furman, Los Bitchos, Sorry, The Lovely Eggs, Panic Shack, Ulrika Spacek, Crocodiles, The Underground Youth, L'Eclair

Taking over the majority of Manchester for one day a year, Manchester Psych Fest has become of the biggest events on the city's festival calendar and for good reason. The wild success of 2022 saw over 60 bands fill up rooms across the city and deliver mesmeric performances of mind-bending music for all the tie-dye-clad customers to sway to. From Kurt Vile to Tinariwen to Black Midi, the event was not short of international names, and 2023 seems primed to surpass it.

Already announced are the likes of the sensational The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Ezra Furman headlining, and they are joined by Los Bitchos, Sorry, The Lovely Eggs, Panic Shack, and L'Eclair, so you just know that it's gonna pop off. It is one of those festivals where there’s just too much good stuff for one person to fit in, given the persistent quality of the lineup, but that's why it happens each year! 

Oh, and did we mention? You can get access to this sensational trippy day of kaleidoscopic tunes, all for just £55. Yep, pretty great value seems that tickets to just a couple of some of the bands you'll see would amount to as much. Just be wary, it's on its final release!

 

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Cross the Tracks

When: Sunday 28th May 2023

Where: Brockwell Park in London

2023 Lineup: NxWorries (Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge), Masego, Kelis, Ezra Collective, Alfa Mist, Roy Ayers, Children of Zeus, David Rodigan, Ishmael Ensemble

Probably the coolest British festival on this list, and for good reason, Cross the Tracks is a breath of fresh air amongst the festival landscape, and it is returning to South London in 2023 at Brixton's luscious Brockwell Park for a day of music, food, workshops, talks and more.

A mixture of legendary and upcoming artists have been invited once again to represent a hybrid of jazz, soul and funk, and the lineup is well and truly stacked with awesome talent. 

They will also be inviting some of London's most talked about street food traders, alongside the city's finest craft beer brewers, For a gastronomic experience that few festivals could even hope to achieve. Plus, outside of food and music, there will also be talks, panels, workshops, a wellness area and creative markets including a record and art fair. It's truly one of a kind.

Oh yeah, and all of this will only set you back just over £70! An absolutely insane price for the sheer quality of music on display!

 

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MADE Festival 

When: Saturday 29th July 2023

Where: The Digbeth Triangle in Birmingham, England 

2023 lineup: Hamdi B2B MPH, Girls Don't Sync, Sammy Virji, Lee Hasty, Joris Bohnson, Shorterz, Jack Young, Hybrid Minds, Shy FX, Ben Hemsley, Holy Goof, Mozey, and many more 

Since its 2014 debut, MADE has become one of the biggest high-octane rave festivals in the whole of the Midlands, built for music fans who just want to dance all day long. As you can see above, there are plenty of UKG artists alongside drum and bass, house, tech house, and bass music artists; and the best thing is, you can get all of this for around £60-£70! Absolute bargains to be MADE (sorry).

Head over to Digbeth Triangle to hear some of the hottest sounds spun by some of the biggest artists and DJs in the world, all for one day only! Plus, alongside the tuneage, you can check out street art, installations, street food, and live demonstrations in between sets before heading back in to dance your troubles away. 

 

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51st Festival

When: Saturday 5th August 2023

Where: Copthall Playing Fields in London

2023 lineup: Barabara Tucker, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Roy Ayers, David Morales, Dimitri From Paris, Louis Vega, Todd Terry, Roger Sanchez  

51st festival in London is a huge get-together that explores facets of classic house, tech house, afro house, garage, soul, dancehall and much more, it exemplifies the global movement that the genre has become. After a wildly successful 29022, they are back once again this year with a stacked lineup that features the likes of Barabara Tucker, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Roy Ayers, David Morales, Dimitri From Paris, Louis Vega, Todd Terry, Roger Sanchez, plus so many more.

Oh yeah, and the best thing about this festival is its bloody good value. Tickets are on sale now and will be only setting you back a mere £50, an absolute steal for something of this quality, you can find them below. Mark Saturday 5th August in your calendars and get ready to dance all day long.

 

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Baltic Weekender

When: Friday 2nd - Saturday 3rd June 2023

Where: Baltic Triangle, Liverpool

2023 lineup: Folamour, Interplanetary Criminal B2B Main Phase ft Killa, Taahliah, Sammy Virji, 4am Cru, Gerd Janson

One of the biggest dance events in Liverpool’s calendar is back again to unite ravers up and down the country. As individuals come together to become crowds, the music drops, the alcohol is flowing, and all that’s on anyone’s mind is music and good times. Take us there already! 

We've just got the first names for the 2023 edition of the Baltic Triangle Bash and we couldn't be more excited. Folaour heads up proceedings, with Interplanetary Criminal, Sammy Virjiu, and Taaliah in tow, with a huge range of acts propping up the Weekend. Oh yeah, and did we mention that tickets for the weekend are only just over £50? Yep, that cheapo. Stop what you are doing and secure them before the eventual sell-out. 

 

Tickets for Baltic Weekender 2023

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Cultivate Festival 2023: Summer Edition

When: Friday 12th - Saturday 13th May 2023

Where: Innoflate in Aberdeen

2023 Lineup: Charlie Sparks, Schak, Hannah Laing, 999999999, Matt Guy, Testpress, Taahliah

Cultivate is North East Scotland's biggest electronic music festival set across two days against the backdrop of the beautiful Aberdeen beach. The festival has become a regular fixture in the Scottish event calendar since 2018 and is renowned for bringing the biggest international artists in the world to Aberdeen across multiple indoor and outdoor stages.

The unique venue is custom-built for each event in an old arcade building and features an array of interesting spaces across multiple floors designed to easily accommodate 2500+ ravers per day. Supplying the tunes for those ravers will be the likes of Charlie Sparks, Schak, Hannah Laing, 999999999, Matt Guy, Testpress, Taahliah, and many more. Plus, you can see all of this for the price of £95 for the weekend, and £50 for the day. A great price for a couple of days of excellent dance music. 

 

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Electric Bay 

Photo: Electric Bay Festival / Facebook.com

When: Saturday 15th - Sunday 16th July 2023

Where: Torre Abbey in Torquay, England

2023 lineup: Craig David presents TS5, Sammy Virji, Girls Don't Sync, Ms. Dynamite, Pendulum (live), and many more 

If you’re wanting more heavy basslines to get you grooving on the cheap, then Electric Bay will be more your vibe. Especially if you're after a place where you can skank and bob along for a whole weekend. Going down in Torquay this summer, not only will you be treated to the hottest electronic sounds, but the sun is certain to be out, spreading positivity and joy down on ravers. 

Craig David presents TS5 headlines the Saturday with Pendulum taking the reigns on Sunday. Girls Don’t Sync and Sammy Virji will also be showcasing some fine UKG on the Saturday. Oh and also, you can do the whole thing for just £85, or a day for £45; serious value when looking at the acts scheduled to play. If you fancy a bit of this, secure your tickets below. 

 

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Get Together

When: Saturday 20th May 2023

Where: Various Venues In Kelham Island, Sheffield

2023 Lineup: Friendly Fires, CMAT, Hamish Hawk, Do Nothing, Coach Party, Keg, Panic Shack, The Goa Express

Sheffield's Get Together festival is back once again for 2023 and it is full of indie legends new and old. The festival will now be in its third edition and has a reputation for showcasing the very best of independent talent. Now in a new home at Kelham Island, an area Time Out voted as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the UK, the festival looks set to be the best edition yet; and you can get it all for less than £40!

Names on this year's line-up include Friendly Fires, CMAT, Hamish Hawk, The Goa Express and much more. Over 40 acts will be playing across the festival which takes place on Saturday 20th May. Brand new music discovery is a crucial part of what makes Get Together a brilliant experience.

 

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Sounds From The Other City

2023 lineup: Gracie T, Honeyglaze, Katbrownsugar, Chande, 96 Back, Arch Femmesis, Deptford Northern Soul Club

When: Sunday 30th April 2023

Where: Various venues around Salford including The White Hotel, Five Four Studios, Regent Trading Estate, St Philips Church

Sounds From The Other City has confirmed its return to Salford's most vibrant thoroughfare, Chapel Street, in the spring of 2023. 

Set to commandeer the bustling avenue once more, the increasingly popular music and arts festival will see some of the freshest acts on the UK scene appearing on stage across a multitude of venues and event spaces - from warehouses and studios to pubs, clubs, bars and everything in between. All of which, you can access on the day for just £40!

The day-long event, set to run over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, on Sunday 30th April 2023, will have creatives, musos and frequent gig-goers alike scrambling for tickets to witness the next generation of future stadium-filling talents.

 

Tickets for Sounds From The Other City

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Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.