MoshMag’s 2023 Festival Preview Part II
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- February 28, 2023
United Kingdom and Ireland// Summer, Autumn and Winter 2023
Always tying up loose ends // a Moshmag preview by Jimmy Tins
Nearly there now comrades. 3 minutes of extra day light a day apparently. It’ll be summer before we know it. Get that camping stuff out, are you really going to get another year out of that old sleeping bag? Treat yourself to a trolley this year perhaps? Get yourself prepared.
Now I imagine many of you will have long ago booked your festivals based on our Stanley’s MoshMag’s 2023 Festival Preview Part I (link it) but for those who haven’t please allow my to introduce Part II (MoshMags Revenge).
Longtitude Festival // Marlay Park Dublin (ooooo exotic) // 1 -2 July 2023
The eagle eyed you will have noticed the subtitle has always been “United Kingdom and Ireland”, that my friends, was no accident. For those unacquainted with the Emerald Isle then you should know Ireland is and always will be good fun. I couldn’t possibly guarantee you’ll have a good time (you might be a right miserable sod) but if you don’t, that’s probably on you. Admittedly the line up is a little metal-lite but life is what you make of it plus your abroad, like a proper holiday, try something new!
NASS Festival // Shepton Mallet Nr. Bristol // 6 – 9 July 2023
I’m a curious George at the best of times but I must admit the thought of Wu-Tang Clan headlining NASS Festival intrigues me. The poster promises an “‘Enter the Wu’ 30th Anniversary Special” which is both exciting and properly depressing. 30 YEARS!!!! HOW?!
Anyway, if the music’s not your taste there’s BMX and Skate competitions as well as Street Art. Tickets are tiered so the earlier you book the cheaper they are so if you fancy it, get on it early friends.
Tickets – NASS Festival 2023 – 6 – 9 JULY 2023
TRNSMT // Glasgow Green Glasgow // 7 – 9 July 2023
I grew up in a household where going North during summer is considered unnatural. Like Geese flying South for winter or the Buffalo and whatever it is they do, the Tins household have a natural southernly migration pattern that cannot be messed with. Come May you’d be doing well in getting one of us to much more further north than Prestwich. That said, exceptions could be made for TRNSMT. Glasgow it an excellent party city and TRNSMT is positioned right in the heart of it meaning if you didn’t fancy sticking about one night to see who the lead singer of a certain band gets of with you can be back in town before last order. Win win!
Tickets and Packages | TRNSMT (trnsmtfest.com)
Wireless // Finsbury Park London // 7 – 9 July 2023
I do like Wireless, I think it’s nice those culturally deprived Londoners finally get some attention! That said it seems to zip about the capital more than Scott “Scottie” Parker’s playing days, this year returning to Finsbury Park. No news on the line up as yet but you can sign up to receive info below;
Latitude // Henham Park Suffolk // 20 – 23 July 2023
You can’t have Longtitude without Latitude, I tried it once, it had it’s moments but as a whole it was very up and down. More and more often festivals are encouraging families to attend and perhaps none more so than Latitude. Regular readers of our wonderful website will know we wholeheartedly support moves to making live music accessible to all and this includes kids. When you’re not enjoying Siouxsie Sioux (or is it just Siouxsie? So hard to keep up), Pulp or Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott you and the kids are free to explore the kids area and enchanted garden, there’s even fancy restaurants to enjoy! They do say a change is as good as a rest.
Kendall Calling // Lowther Deer Park Lake District // 27 – 30 July 2023
Until recently Kendall’s claim to fame was having mint cake. Chocolate, birthday, Christmas…all the cakes, made with such craft they could only be described as “mint” and just like that, the expression Kendall Mint Cake was born…I imagine.
That was until 2006 when Kendall Calling was born. Held in the beautiful Lake District and always boasting a strong line up. No news yet on who makes this years bill however keep an eye out on the website below , it’s expected any day now. Or just book now on the basis that it’s got an Oktoberfest tent, either’s good.
Rebellion Festival // Winter Garden Blackpool // 3 – 6 August 2023
Back on familiar moshing territory the UKs largest independent Punk Festival once again returns to Blackpool’s famous Winter Gardens with a set list reading like a who’s who of punk; Die Toten Hosen, The Only Ones, New Model Army, The Exploited…well you get the picture. And it’s in Blackpool!! The thing about Blackpool is you either love it (fun people) or hate it (boring people), with absolutely no in-between. When a man is tired of Blackpool, he is tired of life. For there is in Blackpool all that life can afford…and its got that bar that people burst into dead scared after walking through that horror house, I love that place.
Weekend tickets for all four days are very reasonably priced and with hundreds of B&Bs you’ll not be short of a place to stay.
Boardmaster Festival // Newquay Cornwall // 9 – 13 August 2023
A night out in Newquay is surely a right of passage of anyone. Admittedly most people tick it off their list in their late teens but if you’re still yet to sample Cornwall’s party town (or you are in fact a late teen) then Boardmaster festival provides the perfect excuse. There’s some genuinely “MoshMag names” on the bill with Bob Vylan and Kid Kapichi alongside two proper headliners. Florence + the Machine adds up to an excellent closing act however my eye is drawn to Saturday nights headliner. It’s only r’ Liam! Who seems to have a canny knack of giving the audience exactly what they want. Weekend tickets are now sold out however day tickets are still available, so if you need a little break to get away for holiday why not throw in an evening with Burnage’s finest?
Bloodstock // Catton Park Derbyshire // 10 – 13 August 2023
Very much the heir apparent to Download, the Prince of Darkness if you will, Bloodstock is seemingly growing exponentially year on year, fast becoming the jewel in the Heavy Metal Festival crown. Killswitch Engage, Meshuggah and Megadeth give the top billing a distinctly American feel. With very reasonable weekend and camping tickets what more could you want?
Bloodstock Tickets | 10th – 13th August 2023 (seetickets.com)
Camp Bestival // Weston Park Shropshire // 17 -20 August
Just under 40 minutes away from Catton Park, but a world away in every other aspect, Bestival returns to Shropshire for the Northern leg of the festival (Dorset’s being at Lulworth Castle on 27 – 30 July). Mister Tumble, Dick and Dom and Horrible Histories will be on hand for some wholesome family fun along with Napalm Death. Yep, that’s right, the Napalm Death are making an appearance. If nothing else tell me you aren’t interested to see how that pans out! It’s an utterly bizarre booking and I for one wholeheartedly support it, so credit to festival and credit to the band for giving it a crack. If curiosity gets the better of you a whole selection of ticket types await.
BUY TICKETS (campbestival.net)
Reading and Leeds // Richfield Avenue (Reading) and Bramham Park (Leeds) // 25 – 27 August 2023
There are a few festivals that have an emotional pull for this old magazine but Leeds Festival is very much one of them. The double headliners is a joy, flitting between two huge stages, barely a stone throw apart is a wonderful way to spend the last August bank holiday weekend and for many, the perfect way to round off the festival summer. Reading and Leeds makes a conscious effort to tailor its bill to all tastes and this years headliners suggest the same approach is being adopted. Billie Eilish, Sam Fender and the Killers are this years later Main Stage East names, with Imagine Dragons, Foals and that cheeky Lewis Capaldi rascal headlining the Main Stage West. With more names to be announced we’d also suggest keeping your ear close to ground for some of those interesting names that make up the earlier part of the bill. Or alternatively just take the plunge using the link below.
Electric Picnic // Stradbally Hall County Laois Ireland // 1 – 3 September
Here’s the good news, if you can’t make Leeds Festival then you can see the headliners at Electric Picnic the following weekend. The bad news however is you’ll have to have already purchased your tickets as all are now sold out. Though what can you expect from Ireland’s answer to Glastonbury. Electric Picnic is more than just the music however, with food, theatre, spoken word, visual art and even a swimming lake. If you’ve missed out this year organise yourselves early for next year. For those lucky few with tickets already, have an outdoor swim for me.
