Top 10 Music and Art Festivals for Comedy
A good giggle is the perfect hangover cure, yet, the Comedy tents at UK music festivals can often be overlooked; we don't like that. Here's our list of the best so you don't miss out!
Last updated: 30th May 2023
Originally published: 23rd Feb 2023
Now we all love going to festivals, don't we? Camping in a field with your pals, drinking copious amounts, seeing all your favourite artists live over the space of a weekend, and just having the most fun you possibly can. Music festivals are unrivalled in their ability to induce laughter and fun out of the good times you have with your closest mates. Yet, many facets of festivals can often be overlooked when the focus is on the music, and for us, one of the main victims of this is the Comedy often found at Music and Arts festivals in the UK.
Usually on in the morning, the Comedy tents at the UK's biggest festivals can be the perfect hangover cure. A place to sit down, and giggle along to the comic on stage and try and forget the searing headache. Plus, these festivals don't hold punches in their bookings. Huge stars from your telly and arena-level comics can grace the stages; as well as a curated selection of some of the finest up-and-coming comedic talent. Basically, there's little chance you won't be in constant fits of laughter when you decide to visit.
So with this criminal oversight from many of the sheer amount of comedy at UK music festivals, we decided to put a list together of all our favourites, all so you don't miss out on some amazing times at the festivals you attend, as they may very well be one this list. Scroll down and check it out!
2023 Lineup: Ed Gamble, Bridget Christie, Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Ed Byrne, Fern Brady, Russel Kane, Brennan Reece, Rosie Holt
When: Thursday 20th - Sunday 23rd July 2023
Where: Henham Park in Beccles
Latitude is a festival that has become renowned for its unique atmosphere as well as its eclectic and thoroughly enjoyable mixture of Music, Art, Theatre, Cabaret, Poetry, Dance, and even Politics! But the one that piques our interest the most is just how great their comedy lineup is.
Year after year the festival welcomes some of the biggest names in the UK scene to its Comedy Arena, which features a menagerie of stand-up comedians, sketch artists, comedy skits and character actors, and this year looks especially brilliant. With the likes of TV superstars Ed Gamble, Sarah Pascoe, and Romesh Ranganathan; rising stars Fern Brady, Brennan Reece, and Rosie Holt; and even some classic established acts like Ed Byrne and Russel Kane. It's this sort of lineup that makes latitude stand out among music festivals with comedy.
Find more information on Latitude - here
2023 Lineup: Johnathan Pie, Paul Smith, Omid Djalili, Scott Bennett, Tom Wrigglesworth, Harry Stachini, Danny McLoughlin
When: Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd July 2023
Where: Hillsborough Park in Sheffield
If you get down early enough to Sheffield's biggest weekend of the year, Tramline, then you'll be able to head off to T'Other Stage and see a quality range of comics start the day off in the right way, a belly full of laughs - that'll hopefully not be too harsh on your hungover head.
Many a comedian has graced this stage, and this year, the lucky punters who head down early will be treated to a quality lineup. Headlining each day will the connoisseur of political satire Jonathan Pie; the brutal scouse master of crowd work, Paul Smith; and the British stand-up turned Hollywood Actor, Omid Djalili; with other brilliant comics such as Scott Bennett, Tom Wrigglesworth, Harry Stachini, and Danny McLoughlin filling up the bill. If you aren't too hungover to head down early, then this is an essential part of what makes Tramlines so great, as you can't get a much better start to a day of music.
Find more information on Tramlines - here
2023 Lineup: TBA
When: Thursday 27th - Sunday 30th July 2023
Where: Lowther Deer Park in Cumbria
Kendall Calling is a tad more unique than some of the festivals on this list, and that's all thanks to their widely adorned Soapbox stage. From some of the UK’s finest stand-up comics, the wild and wonderful spectacle of a Drag Bingo session, and an array of family-friendly, and not-so-family-friendly shows, there is something for all audiences! Just be wary of the kids on some of those later ones.
Whilst the lineup for the Soapbox hasn't yet been revealed for the festival's 2023 edition, but the past few years have seen the likes of Daniel Sloss, Mark Nelson, Kai Humphries, Alyson June Smith, Hal Cruttenden, Ted Iliyas, Bill Bailey, Jojo Sutherland, and lots of other amazing comics. Kendall Calling is a great festival with so much to do other than just seeing music, and in our opinion, their Soapbox stage is the best of the lot, make sure to head down if you attend!
Find more information on Kendall Calling - here
2023 Lineup: Phil Wang, Maisie Adam, Jamali Maddix, Laura Smyth, Paul Foot, and more TBA
When: Friday 23rd - Monday 26th June 2023
Where: Worthy Farm Pilton in Shepton Mallett
What can we say about Glastonbury that isn't already pretty common knowledge? The festival is so much more than music, with widespread celebrations of all forms of art, protest, and politics running through the veins of the town of Glastonbury. Their theatre and Cirus Fields are the beating heart of this artistic blood, and throughout the week you can see everything here from jaw-dropping stunts, side-splitting comedy and cutting-edge theatre and circus.
When it comes to the comedy, their lineup is no mean feat, and would probably cost the entry price alone to see at their own gigs. With names like Phil Wang, Maisie Adam, Jamali Maddix, Laura Smyth, and Paul Foot, already announced, with more TBA, the comedy at the 2023 edition of the world's biggest festival looks set to be a belter; it's basically a given that you're going to see some of your favourites from the telly and beyond here, and the Theatre and Cirus Fields are often cited as a huge highlight for those in attendance.
Find more information on Glastonbury Festival - here
2023 Lineup: Mark Watson, Rhys James, Reginald D. Hunter, Kiri Pritchard McClean, Lou Sanders
When: Thursday 22nd - Sunday 23rd July 2023
Where: Standon Lordship in Hertfordshire
A tad lesser known than some on this list and all the better for it, Standon Calling is an Independent boutique music and arts festival with big acts, emerging talent and so much more in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside. A major part of the attractions aside from the incredible range of musical talent they have n show here, is, of course, the comedy. for which they have a dedicated stage and consistently brilliant comics.
Past outings at the festival have seen huge names like Seann Walsh, Phil Wang, Milton Jones, Jo Caufield, Ed Gamble and Zoe Lyons, amongst many many others. This year, with the likes of Mark Watson, Rhys James, Reginald D. Hunter, Kiri Pritchard McClean, and Lou Sanders, in attendance, it's going to be amongst the funniest yet! The intimate vibes at Standon Calling make it stand out on this list, and if the comedic talent on the show continues into 2023, which we're sure it will do, then it's an excellent choice for music fans who like a break of hilarity at their festivals.
Find more information on Standon Calling - here
2023 Lineup: TBA
When: Friday 25th - Sunday 27th August 2023
Where: Little John's Farm in Reading (Reading) Braham Park in Leeds (Leeds)
Ah Reading and Leeds, the festival where late teens from all over the UK come and experience the best places on earth for the first time. Whilst it is a festival known for getting some of the biggest acts in the music world to play on its stages, with the likes of Billie Eilish, Sam Fender, Lewis Capaldi, The Killers, Foals and imagine Drgaons headlining this year. Yet, what many don't know, especially the younguns going for the first time, is that the comedy stage is often full of comics of relatively the same calibre.
The lineup is often announced in the same month as the festival happens, however, so we do not have names yet. But with the likes of Simon Amstell, Katherine Ryan, Russell Howards, Munya Chawawa, Joel Dommet and Reginald D Hunter getting the laughs bubbling in the past couple of years, theres little doubt that this year won't be matched in quality.
Find more information on Reading - here
Find more information on Leeds - here
2023 Lineup: Johnathan Pie, Seann Walsh, Emmanuel Sonubi, John Hastings, Matt Richardson, Jojo Sutherland
When: Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd July 2023
Where: Hill Farm in Steventon Oxfordshire
Truck festival is the main event in terms of Oxfordshire festivals. Attracting some of the biggest names in the biz to take over its stages, with the likes of Two Door Cinema Club, Alt-J, Royal Blood, the Wombats and many more supplying the tunes at the 2023 edition, it looks set to be another huge year for Truck. yet, besides the music, one of the best things about Truck festival is just how much they support comedy; giving it its own dedicated stage.
Many huge names have played in the past, but the 2023 edition is already swamped with huge side splitters. The likes of the political satirist, Johnathan Pie; recent I'm A Celeb hero, Seann Walsh; and huge rising star, Emmanuel Sonubi, headline each night. Plus further down the bill, you'll find hilarious names like John Hastings, Matt Richardson, and Jojo Sutherland. Basically, if you're in attendance, you're missing out if you don't check these out.
Find more information on Truck Festival - here
2023 Lineup: TBA
When: Thursday 24th - Sunday 27th August 2023
Where: Lost Village in Lincoln
Lost Village is quite widely considered one of the coolest festivals in the whole country, championing Electronic music, with smatterings of Jazz, Experimental, and World music alongside, this is the type of festival where you do not know half the names you see, but have one of the best times of your life.
Yet, as we all know, no one is too cool to experience a good old-fashioned giggle; and Lost Village knows that too. At the festival, Their 'Lost Theatre' Stage holds regular comics and other comedic acts in the morning, running through into the afternoon. They refer to it as the best cure for a hangover, and we couldn't agree more. Despite not having names announced as of yet, the stage has seen the likes of Joe Lycett, Katherine Ryan, Phil Wang, Joel Dommett, Russel Kane, and Lauren Pattison provide the laughs in the past. So you just know it's going to slap this year too.
Find more information on Lost Village Festival - here
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.
