Skiddle's Top Ten Festivals in September

Have a look at our our top picks for festivals in September...

Mike Warburton

Date published: 13th Aug 2013

Photograph: Festival No. 6

If you’ve missed out on getting your tents out and catching your favourite bands in luscious green fields around Britain, have no fear, there’s plenty more Festivals awaiting your attendance. Despite the season gradually drawing to a close, it seems that some of the best have been saved for last. We've had a brief look at our top ten favourites. Make sure you don't miss out on this years festivals!

Bestival

September 5th - 8th

Rob and Josie Da Bank's Festival just seems to keep getting better year on year. With a boutique feel, great atmosphere and top headline acts, Bestival regularly manages to translate the warm nature of smaller festivals into one of the most loved large festivals in the country. Some of the artists arriving on the Isle of Wight this year include Elton John, Snoop Dogg, Fatboy Slim, M.I.A, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, Wu Tang Clan, as wella as DJ slots from the likes of Seth Troxler, Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox and Annie Mac. Bestival is perhaps one of the most eclectic festivals on the calendar, attracting attendees from all walks of life. Bestival has to be experienced to be believed.

Electric Eden

6th - 8th September

Returning for 2013 after the overwhelming success of 2012’s inaugural event, Electric Eden once again sets out to bring together community spirit with amazing live music. Featuring the finest in local talent, up and coming artists, and more established acts from further afield, Eden Electrics also has on offer a staggering array of real ales, locally sourced foods, rides, attractions facepainting, gladiator games and even sumo suits, everything it takes to achieve that perfect festival feeling.

Festival No. 6

September 13th - 15th

Portmeirion’s stunning caostline plays host to one of the most beautiful festivals in the country, Festival No.6. With a whole host of bands, DJs, musicians, string ensembles and even choirs performing across the entire site, from the historic town hall to the Colonnade gardens to the picturesque Bay Stage and the promenade along the estuary of the River Dwyryd. The diverse bill ranges from rock and roll to Balearic, funk to folk, seashanties to Welsh male voice choirs. Attendees will get the chance to enjoy cinema screenings, street theatre, prose and poetry readings, midnight masquerades, cliff-top comedy stages, secret parties, impromptu interactive moments and even participate in cultural lectures and debates. Expect to be dazzled, confused, and mesmerized, as Festival No. 6 remains genuinely original, unique, a far cry from any festival you’ve been to before. Highly recommended.

Shrewsbury Fields Forever

September 13th - 15th

Shropshire’s Shrewsbury Fields Forever is a festival that somehow manages to bring together the very best in music, artistry, breakthrough acts, comedy and a unique sense of community lacking from many festivals. What’s more, with the festival being so close to the town, you can easily find hotels to accommodate your Shrewsbury Festival in style. However the option is always there to camp if you want to stay true to the festival ethos, and remain right in the middle of all the action. As far as the line up is concerned, expect to see star turns from Maximo Park, Sister Bliss, Plump DJs, Roni Size, Athlete, The 1975 and even comedy from Dylan Moran and Carl Donnelly plus many others. Also thrown into the mixture of this festival will be a fully operational fun fair, a wide range of performing arts, as well as visual and artistic entertainment.

Ramsbottom Festival

13th September

Each year, the small town of Ramsbottom gets prepared to welcome a weekend soundtracked by everything from indie, ska, rock and folk, witnessed by a crowd of good natured revellers and festival goers. With local produce providing all manner of wonderful delicacies and traditional offerings, this isn’t a festival where you’re going to dread being served awful food at massively inflated prices. The lineup also continues to impress, sourcing from new up and coming artists, to well established legends like this years Inspiral Carpets, I Am Kloot, and Thea Gilmore, Ramsbottom is gaining more and more loyal followers every time.

Loopallu

20th September

Loopallu has been the home for an enticingly intimate event which has boasted a line up punching well above its weight year upon year, and that reputation will only increase with chart topping The Enemy as the focal point in 2013. They will be joined by The Beat, Roddy Woomble and The Moulettes. What started off as a festival geared towards entertaining the local community, things have progressed considerably, and now Loopallu is one of Scotlands up and coming stars, a genuine event, and a joy to be a part of.

Mint Festival

September 21st

The Mint Club and Mint Warehouse are home to some of the UK's finest underground dance music parties. Following the overwhelming success of last year's event, Mint Festival 2013 promises to be even bigger, and now boasts seven covered arenas (no need to fret about the weather) and an increased capacity of over 10,000. The all-day festival will again feature first-class lineups across the electronic music spectrum, curated by leading club nights System, Louche, Teknicolor, Blacklight, Bitch, Distrikt, Jungle Jam & Detonate, Goodgreef & Digital Society, Bigger than Barry, Set One Twenty and Mono Audio. With artists this year including Seth Troxler, Marco Carola, Eats Everything, Dusky, Marcel Dettman and Ferry Corsten - Mint is undoubtedly one of the dance music highlights of the year. Don’t miss out on the after party too at Mint Warehouse!

Live On The Square

21st September

Set up in support of the Andrew Flintoff Foundation, Live on the Square is a one day spectacular aimed at bringing the family together. Starring a comprehensive bill that includes Celebrity TV stars, sports heroes, and of course Matt Cardle, fans of pop music and in particular fans of X Factor andBritain's Got Talent will be overcome with joy. The event will also include a whole host of family friendly activities. Expect a funfair, games, sports challenges, great food, and a Pimm’s marquee for the adults.

Shakedown

September 28th

Attracting a largely younger crowd, the festival is a rowdy celebration of pop culture, a no holds barred rave up in the sunshine that easily rivals other Brighton festivals, providing an exciting alternative for hedonistic retreat. This year will see the likes of Rizzle Kicks, Labrinth, Nero, and Sub Focus rocking the Brighton crowd. Shakedown is a one day party that will undoubtedly end the festival season on a huge high.

Sunset 2 Sunrise

28th September

With over ten clubbing brands called in to regularly curate the seaside town’s house music festival, Sunset 2 Sunrise is a mammoth 14 hour full on party, which invites some of the most legendary DJs in the UK house music scene as well as some of the leading performers in the world of clubland. This year sees the arrival of Artful Dodger, Tom Zanetti, Sweet Female Attitude and Siobhan Gallagher to the Blackpool’s North Pier extravaganza. 

Head here to check out other Festivals in September

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