Ten festival slots you won't want to miss in 2020
From Tyler, The Creator at Parklife to Taylor Swift at Glasto - here's ten festival performances bound to produce memorable moments this summer
Last updated: 18th Feb 2020
Originally published: 12th Feb 2020
The recent flurry of festival announcements has been a thing to behold. Nothing helps brighten up dark winter days like dreams of standing in a (preferably sunny) field with your nearest and dearest, cold drink in hand, watching some of the biggest and best acts in the world take to the stage.
Be it BICEP at Creamfields or Ian Brown's homecoming at Neighbourhood Weekender, the upcoming summer months promise plenty of performances that will live long in the memory... and honestly, we are already done with waiting.
If you're struggling to decide where best to position yourself in a summer schedule bursting with big names and top class music events, then we're here to help, with our pick of the festival performances you won’t want to miss in 2020.
Rag'n'Bone Man - Highest Point Festival
When: Saturday 16th May
Where: Williamson Park, Lancaster
The big-voiced soul man is set to take on the Saturday night headline slot at flourishing Lancaster festival Highest Point in May, stepping into the shoes of The Zutons and Ocean Colour Scene, who have headlined previous editions.
The BRIT Award-winner shot to success in 2016 with hit single 'Human', and his debut album became the fastest-selling male debut album of the decade. More recently, RNB teamed up with DJ/starmaker Calvin Harris for monster collaborative hit 'Giant', which was nominated for the BRIT 'song of the year 2020'. So expect big singalongs aplenty.
The third instalment of the weekender, located beneath the iconic Ashton Memorial in Lancaster’s 54-acre Williamson Park, will also see Mercury Prize-nominated British four-piece Rudimental and drum 'n' bass hero Wilkinson perform to some 15,000 people across the weekend.
Find Highest Point tickets here.
Ian Brown - Neighbourhood Weekender
When: Saturday 23 May
Where: Victoria Park, Warrington
What better place to witness King Monkey perform than headlining a top class indie festival in his hometown?
In recent years it's become something of a rarity to see Ian Brown deliver a solo show. But now with 2019 album Ripples, plus an iconic armoury of tracks to tuck into, there is no doubting that his Saturday night headline slot at Neighbourhood is going to be something extremely special.
Find Neighbourhood Weekender tickets here.
Charli XCX - Parklife Festival and Lovebox Festival
When: Saturday 13 Jun - Sunday 14 June
Where: Heaton Park, Manchester and Gunnersbury Park, London
Charli XCX is one of many acts performing at both London's Lovebox and Manchester's Parklife festivals this summer, on what we're hoping will be a glorious weekend in June.
Described as one of the 'most raucous pop acts' of her generation, Charli XCX's summer shows are sure to be a highlight of the festival season, offering a none stop bombardment of electro pop bangers.
Find Parklife tickets and Lovebox tickets.
Tyler, The Creator - Lovebox Festival and Parklife Festival
When: Saturday 13 Jun - Sunday 14 June
Where: Gunnersbury Park, London and Heaton Park, Manchester
Again, performing in London and Manchester across the same weekend in June, Tyler, The Creator's booking by both Lovebox and Parklife is a huge one.
Last year the controversial rapper performed in the UK for the first time since being banned in 2015 by then Home Secretary Theresa May (remember her?), making his festival appearances this side of the pond this summer especially exciting. Returning to the UK now as a GRAMMY winner, you'd be mad to miss out on these seminal shows.
Find Lovebox tickets and Parklife tickets.
Taylor Swift - Glastonbury Festival
When: Wednesday 24 June - Sunday 28 June
Where: Worthy Farm, Pilton
Having dominated the charts first as a country starlet and now as a full-on pop music icon, Taylor Swift rightly takes her place as a Glastonbury headliner in 2020.
Like her or not, there is absolutely no doubting the credentials of Taylor Swift, and her legion of loyal 'Swifties' will not doubt be out in force at Worthy Farm to 'Shake It Off' at the hallowed Pyramid Stage. It's a booking that'll definitely piss off your Da', but a divisive headline act now and again is what keeps Glasto so exciting.
Find out more about Glastonbury 2020.
Kendrick Lamar - British Summer Time
When: Sunday 5 July
Where: Hyde Park, London
2020 is the year that the Compton rapper follows up on his 2017 release, DAMN, and other than hearing that it's a 'rock-influenced record', we're very keen to find out what goodness K dot has been cooking up. Kendrick has explored all sorts of avenues across his first three releases, both lyrically and musically, with his last release a much more succinct collection of rap classics than the highly experimental and genre-bending classic, To Pimp a Butterfly.
Headlining at London's glorious Hyde Park, along with James Blake, and Alabama Shakes singer Brittany Howard (plus more), Kendrick will be pulling out all the stops to make his date in the capital an unforgettable one.
Find out more about Kendrick Lamar at BST.
Nile Rodgers and CHIC - Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival
When: Thursday 30 July - Saturday 1 August
Where: The Belldarum Estate, Inverness
What better way to spend a summer evening than grooving to the sounds of one of the finest producers, guitarists and songwriters of all time ('Le Freak', 'I Want Your Love'). They put on an incredible live show, spanning multiple decades, all led by the wizard himself, Nile Rodgers.
As well as the many hits made famous by his own group, Rodgers also dips into some of the classic hits he's produced for the likes of Madonna, Daft Punk, Diana Ross and more. Yowsah Yowsah Yowsah indeed.
Find Belladrum Festival tickets.
CHVRCHES - Playground Festival
When: Saturday 1 August
Where: Rouken Glen Park, Glasgow
Another festival bringing a host of big names to Scotland this summer, Playground Festival in Glasgow has this year revealed that Underworld, Neneh Cherry, The Flaming Lips, The Wailers, Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5, plus loads more will be taking to the stage. Though it is indie-synth-pop outfit CHVRCHES who we think deserve special attention.
In their only Scottish show of the year, the three piece will top the bill at Rouken Glen Park off the back of a lengthy run of US dates supporting Halsey, and will do so in some style. Fans will be hoping to hear glimpses of new music, with the band's last full length release, Love Is Dead, released back in 2018.
Find Playground Festival tickets here.
Foals - Kendal Calling
When: Sunday 2 August
Where: Lowther Deer Park, Penrith
One of the finest UK indie exports of recent years, Foals seem to excel with every release they put out. And with no less than two albums arriving last year, they're really at the top of their game right now.
Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 1 and Part 2 might have made it more difficult for the Oxford outfit to choose a setlist, but their headache is their fan's gain, with tracks like 'Exits', 'In Degrees' and 'Black Bull' added to the likes of stonewall indie bangers 'My Number' and "Mountain at My Gates'.
Bringing the house down on the main stage at Kendal Calling 2020 is their task for this summer, and one we're sure they'll excel at. May we suggest you make sure you're there for it.
BICEP (Live) - Creamfields
When: Thursday 27 August - Sunday 30 August
Where: Creamfields festival site, Daresbury
Imagine the scene. It's August Bank Holiday weekend, the sun is setting after a glorious day of raving. You're with your best mates, drink in hand, and BICEP are delivering the goods on one of the many enormous stages at Creamfields. At that moment, the opening bars of 'Glue' begin drifting through the air. The hairs on the back of your neck stand up, your body starts to tingle as the tune takes over.
Sound good? Yeah, of course it does. After many years of performing DJ sets, it's a big moment for Creamfields this summer as they welcome BICEP live. We'll see you down the front shall we?
Find Creamfields tickets here.
Image: Parklife Festival