The Best Small Boutique Festivals

You know what they say, good things come in small packages. The same ethos can be carried over to festivals. We mean sure, Glastonbury and R&L are great, but there’s something special about small boutique festivals.

They’re charming, enchanting, intimate and many of them are centred around a specific genre or theme, which can make for crowds filled with people of a similar ilk. Small festivals are also top because you can make new friends and have a good chance of bumping into them later. If you make friends at Glasto, you best believe you’ll never see them again. 

Whether you’re looking to catch the best new indie bands or dance until you can’t feel your legs to hypnotic tunes spun by the best DJs- or if the Glastonbury tickets weren't quite secured- this list of the UK's best boutique music festivals in 2024 will more than have you covered. 

 

We Out Here

Image: We Out Here / Facebook.com

2024 lineup: Andre 3000, Sampha, Floating Points, Kae Tempest, Louie Vega & The Elements Of Life, Mount Kimbie, Black Thought, Mala, Loraine James, Corinne Bailey Rae and many more

When: Thursday 15th - Monday 18th August 2024

Where: Wimborne St Giles in Wimborne

We Out Here is a festival for everyone, with its bold and wild-spanning programme covering everything from spiritual jazz, live drum and bass, bossa nova and British funk, all represented by true pioneers and exciting emerging talent alike.

Rap legend Andre 3000 lead the programme highlights, alongside acclaimed UK favourite Sampha, electronic cult hits Floating Points and Mount Kimbie, and Grammy-winning jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater. 

If you couldn't tell, it's one of the coolest festivals about, and the intimate vibe means that it's also filled with the coolest people about. Get those tickets for their fateful return to Wimborne this August, you won't regret it.

 

Find tickets, FAQs, and more information on We Out Here - HERE

 

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Manchester Psych Festival

2024 lineup: Baxter Dury, The Horrors, Temples, NewDad, Juniore, Willie J Healey, James Holden, Mdou Moctar, Gurriers, Hotwax, Heartworms, White Flowers and many more 

When: Saturday 31st August 2024 

Where: Various venues around Manchester 

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 one of the UK's finest alternative events. The wild success of 2023 saw a cavalcade of eclectic 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. Many of the city's most treasured venues have provided their services, from YES and Deaf Institute to Albert Hall, the O2 Ritz and beyond.

Already announced are the likes of The Horrors, NewDad, James Holden, Hotwax and Baxter Dury, 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! Also check out Edinburgh Psych Fest for more of the same otherworldly vibes north of the border. 

 

Find tickets, FAQs, and more information on Manchester Psych Festival - HERE

 

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Highest Point Festival

2024 Lineup: Tom Odell, Busted, Sam Ryder, Cat Burns, Utah Saints, Yousef, Jaguar Skills, Culture Shock, Gok Wan, Charlie Tee, Sarah Story and many more 

When: Friday 10th - Saturday 11th May 2024

Where: Williamson Park in Lancaster

Lancaster's number one open-air live music event, Highest Point has confirmed its return to the city's majestic Williamson Park next summer.

Taking over the magnificent grounds of the hill-top park once more, providing two days of amazing wall-to-wall entertainment, the festival will welcome a score of fantastic performances from recently announced headliners, Tom Odell, Busted, Cat Burns and Sam Ryder, who will take to the stage on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th May. Many more acts have still yet to be announced.

Tickets for the sixth instalment of the popular North West event are already in high demand. Secure yours now to avoid bitter disappointment.

 

Find tickets, FAQs, and more information on Highest Point Festival - HERE

 

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Kelburn Garden Party

2024 Lineup: Erol Alkan, HAAi, DJ Marky, Prince Fatty & Horseman, DJ Storm, Alogte Oho and his Sounds of Joy, James Holden and many more

When: Friday 4th - Sunday 8th July 2024

Where: Kelburn Country Centre in Largs

Interactive art installations, pop-up parties, waterfall plunge pools, workshops, a 13th-century painted castle, the magical Kelburn Garden Party festival has it all. The surreal Scottish favourite, located just outside of Edinburgh, is a cultural and artistic safari for the mind, body and soul, featuring a unique programme of music, art and entertainment spread throughout the ancient  forest glen and gardens. 

This family-friendly, independent event is bursting at the seams with creativity. Turning its back on the standard idea of what a festival should be, entertainment can be found, seen and heard in the most absurd of environments. 

2024 sees the magical garden party returning for another year, and bringing it with a host of familiar music names. The lineup includes DJ sets from the likes of Erol Alkan, HAAi, DJ Marky and DJ Storm, with live sets from talents like Alogte Oho, James Holden, An Dannsa Dub and many more.  

 

Find tickets, FAQs, and more information on Kelburn Garden Party - HERE

 

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WAH Open Air DnB All Dayer Festival

2024 Lineup: Hybrid Minds, Andy C, Hedex

When: Saturday 29th June 2024

Where: Dreamland in Margate, Kent

Taking over Dreamland, Margate’s all-you-can-treat seaside entertainment sensation, thousands of Drum & Bass fans from far and wide will find a who’s who of top-tier DJs performing throughout the day, with a dozen artists setting the pace and giving everyone something to skank to.

Worried About Henry made a huge impact on Dreamland’s open-air stage last year, bringing a wicked day of soulful sounds, sun and vibes from start to finish. This year they are set to send ripples across the ocean as they return with genre legends Hybrid Minds, heavy-weight DJ Andy C and returning DnB icon Hedex; plus many more. 

There's a second announcement coming soon, so keep your eyes peeled. but with these three already announced it's pretty much a no-brainer for DnB lovers. Get it sorted!

 

Find tickets, FAQs, and more information on WAH Open Air DnB All Dayer Festival - HERE

 

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51st Festival

Image: 51st Festival / Facebook.com

2024 lineup: TBA 

When: Saturday 3rd August 2024

Where: Copthall Playing Fields in London

51st festival in London had a hugely successful 2023 edition, which included names like Roger Sanchez, Louie Vega, Todd Terry and Grant Nelson. The names for 2024 are yet to be announced but you can rest assured knowing that the festival always curates an experience that celebrates the very best in house music culture.

Exploring classic house, tech house, afro-house, garage, soul, dancehall and much more, it exemplifies the global movement that the genre has become. Tickets are on sale now and you can find them below. Mark Saturday 3rd August in your calendars and get ready to dance all day long.

 

Find tickets, FAQs, and more information on 51st Festival - HERE

 

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Baltic Weekender

Image: Baltic Weekender / Facebook.com

2024 lineup: Chaos in the CBD, Ghoulish, Job Jobse, Palms Trax, Sally C, Shanti Celeste, Simone and many more

When: Friday 31 May - Saturday 1 June 2024

Where: Baltic Triangle, Liverpool

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! 

This year we have a top tier lineup of electronic talent, including Chaos in the CBD, Ghoulish, Shanti Celeste and more setting the best small festival vibes. And of course, being in the city, you can get a lovely AirBnB instead of lying in your own filth in a field in the middle of nowhere.

 

Find tickets, FAQs, and more information on Baltic Weekender - HERE

 

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Green Man Festival 

Photo: Green Man Festival / Facebook.com

2024 lineup: TBA

When: Thursday 15th - Sunday 18th August 2024

Where: Crickhowell, Brecon Beacons 

Located in the beautiful Brecon Beacons near the Black Mountains in Wales, Green Man Festival is an immersive, otherworldly experience. When not taking in the jaw-dropping views, you’ll be watching some of the finest indie and alternative acts from around the world. 2023 had a huge lineup including First Aid Kit, Self Esteem, Sudan Archives and Young Fathers, so we can't wait to see what 2024 has in store. 

The mesmerising boutique festival site has ten entertainment areas and a whole host of activities to get involved in. Previous years celebrated literature, art, stalls offering Japanese kumihimo braiding, candle wax-powered boats and more. Plus, you’ll get to witness the flames engulf the huge wicker effigy on the closing night!

 

Find more information on Green Man Festival - here

 

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Slam Dunk Festival 

Image: Slam Dunk / Facebook.com

2024 lineup: You Me At Six, The All-American Rejects, Boys Like Girls. Asking Alexandria, The Skints, Funeral For A Friend, The Blackout, Pale Waves, The Selecter and many more

When: Saturday 25th May 2024 (South) / Sunday 26th May 2024 (North)

Where: Hatfield House, Hatfield (South) / Temple Newsam, Leeds (North)

Pop punk never dies! Since its inception in 2006, Slam Dunk Festival has become a mecca for pop-punk and rock fans. With both a North and South edition over the same weekend, pop punk fans all across the country will be going mad to their favourite tunes on the same weekend. It's almost poetic. 

If a day of moshing and screaming along to some of the hardest pop-punk anthems isn’t enough, you can sign up for the official launch and after-parties where you can catch some awesome exclusive sets from big bands. But, for the main event, Slam Dunk have really pulled it out of the bag this year with legendary bands such as You Me At Six, The All-American Rejects, Boys Like Girls. Asking Alexandria and Funeral For A Friend, and there are still plenty more bands to be announced.  

 

Find more information on Slam Dunk Festival North - here / Slam Dunk Festival South - here 

 

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Knockengorroch Festival

Image: Knockengorroch / Facebook.com

2024 lineup: 808 State, A.Skillz, Eva Lazarus, Mungo's Hi Fi, Bombskare, Honeyfeet, DJ Rap, John Fairhurst, The Breath and many more

When: Thursday 23rd - Sunday 26th May 2024 

Where: Knockengorroch in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland

Boasting a varied lineup of reggae, folk, electronica and beyond, Knockengorroch is a family-friendly affair that brings good vibes from deep within a Scottish uplands river valley. In addition to its beautiful setting, the festival will feature the sounds of multi-genre masters like 808 State, A.Skillz, Eva Lazarus and Mungo's Hi Fi, among others. 

Like with other boutique festivals of its ilk, the good times don't just stop with the music at Knockengorroch. Music, cabaret, spoken word, comedy and dance all take place across five venues along with a sauna, dedicated children's activities, workshops and food stalls. Set in what was a populated village in ancient times, the festival re-populates the valley for the four days of the event. Plus it's ran by a local Knockengorroch family and presided over by their cows. What's not to like? 

 

Find tickets, FAQs, and more information on Knockengorroch - HERE

 

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Missing out on Glasto tickets doesn't seem so bad, does it? These small boutique festivals have everything you'd want in an event and more, providing intimate and memorable experiences no matter what your genre you're after. If these small boutique festivals leave you interested in what else is out there, look no further than our festival finder here.

 

 

Header image credit: We Out Here / Facebook.com