As the sun starts to shine a little brighter and the days get longer, my favourite time of the year starts to happen. That’s right, I’m talking about festival season. It’s time to gear up for an epic summer filled with live music, arts, and unforgettable experiences right here in our backyard. From the much-anticipated Back2Festival featuring Celebrity Big Brother housemate Chesney Hawkes to the tranquil vibes of the BareFoot Festival complete with yoga and crafts, there’s something for everyone to look forward to. And let’s not forget the electrifying beats at Forbidden Forest and the unique offerings of the Noisily Festival, both promising to be unforgettable highlights of your summer. Plus, if you’re in the mood for some delicious local flavors, the Artisan Cheesefair in Melton Mowbray is just what you need. So grab your favourite beverage whilst I give you the news that you need to know about.
1. Chesney Hawkes Joins Celebrity Big Brother
Chesney Hawkes, the iconic ’90s pop star, has just entered the Celebrity Big Brother house. I know, I’m gobsmacked and/or confused also. What doesn’t confuse me is that the move now adds extra layer of excitement to his upcoming performance at Back2Festival.
Hawkes’ participation in Celebrity Big Brother is likely to introduce him to a new generation of fans, further boosting attendance at this year’s festival. Not that it’s necessarily needed, due to the festivals killer line up. I’m talking Darren Styles, The Cheeky Girls, Hixxy, Rednex (they’re the folks behind Cotton Eyed Joe) and tons more artists from the 80s-00s.
Wanna see the full line and snag your tickets? If so, check out the Back2Festival website. Day tickets here start at just £29 per adult whilst camping tickets start at £137 per adult. Something to note that there is a VERY limited number of VIP tickets left (I’m talking less than 40) so if you want a taste of the high life, lock in your tickets now.
This year’s Back2Festival will be taking place at Cattows Farm from the 7th-10th August.
2. Katie Rose Is Heading To BareFoot Festival
I loved interviewing local musician Katie Rose earlier on this year. She is a wonderful human being so I’m stoked to see that she’s part of this year’s BareFoot Festival lineup.
Alongside the great live music lineup, BareFoot Festival sets itself apart by offering a wide range of activities beyond just music. Attendees can participate in yoga sessions, perfect for starting the day or unwinding after dancing.
Arts and crafts workshops provide a creative outlet for festival-goers, allowing them to express themselves and take home unique souvenirs.
Various other workshops round out the offerings, ensuring that there’s always something new to learn or experience throughout the festival. This diverse range of activities makes BareFoot Festival an attractive option for those seeking more than just a music event.
Day tickets for this festival will set you back £60.29 per adult, whilst weekend camping is £111.11 per adult. Both ticket types are available via Eventbrite alongside one of, if not the most flexible payment plan that I’ve seen in the 6 years of doing My Melton.
As for dates and location? This festival is also taking place at Cattows Farm and will be happening from the 25th-28th July.
3. Limited number of day tickets for this year’s Forbidden Forest have been released.
Forbidden Forest has just released a limited number of day tickets due to missed payment plan payments. This is a great opportunity to check out this huge drum and bass festival without worrying about pitching a tent.
Day tickets are available for both Saturday and Sunday, something that hasn’t been the case since the start of this year. However, it’s worth noting that camping tickets remain the only way to see Fisher perform, so if you’re a Fisher fan, bare this in mind when deciding what ticket is best for you.
Something that is different this year is that there is a ticket option higher than VIP. This is the backstage ticket option and it’s available as a weekend non-campimg option or a 4 day camping ticket. So how does it work? Well, you get the perks of a VIP ticket aka access to an exclusive area AND get to go backstage on the Azteca stage. Meaning you can see the likes of Skepta, Jamie Jones and Honeyluv live from the wings. As far as ticket upgrades go, this one is pretty damn awesome.
Forbidden Forest is happening at Belvoir Castle from 29th May to the 1st June. Day tickets start from £75, 3 day weekend camping starts at £185 and 4 day camping starts at £205. For the full festival lineup, check out the Forbidden Forest website. Please note, this festival is 18+only.
4. Noisily is making it easier for you to discover your new favourite artists.
Noisily Festival has just released their full lineup for all three music stages, and it’s looking impressive. The festival is also offering a unique feature through their app, allowing you to link your Spotify account to hear this year’s lineup. Given Noisily’s focus on underground dance artists, this app is a must have and having it on your phone innovativ makes it easier than ever to plan your weekend and discover new artists.
Beyond the music, Noisily is expanding its Mind, Body and Soul offerings. Attendees can look forward to a variety of activities including crafts, yoga, dance classes, and even a kink dome for the more adventurous. That’s without the gorgeous art work and sculptures that fill up the forest. Trust me, checking the woods out at night is a must, take it from first hand experience.
This year’s festival takes place at Barkstone Woods from the 10th-13th July. Tickets for this festival are £220pp plus booking fees. Also this is an 18+ festival only.
5. Glastonbudget introduces a Happy Hour offer
Glastonbudget has just released its full lineup timings but you probably won’t find them on the socials just yet… instead, you need to download the Glastonbudget app. This free app allows you to plan your weekend with the ability to favourite your must see acts.
This year, the festival will feature performances across two stages (mainstage and big top), along with an in-bar singalong for those who are camping but don’t want to do the silent disco for 3 nights on the trot
In addition Glastonbudget is introducing a happy hour from 11pm to midnight, offering discounted beverages to those of you who can last that long.
Glastonbudget returns from the 22nd to 25th May at Turnpost Farm. Day tickets are £53 per adult whilst 4 day camping tickets start at £159 per adult. Please note the 3 day camping tickets from previous years have been scrapped so if you can get the Friday off work, please do so. If you want an idea what to expect, I’ve reviewed the last two Glastonbudgets (2023 and 2024) so give those reviews a read/watch after you’ve finished reading this post.
6. Groupon (our lord and saviour) is back allowing you to get discounted tickets to this year’s Artisan Cheese Fair.
The Artisan Cheesefair is set to return to The Stockyard on May 24th and 25th, offering a delicious alternative to the music-focused festivals in Leicestershire. While details have been scarce, we’ve got some exciting news for cheese lovers and bargain hunters alike.
Groupon tickets for the Artisan Cheesefair are now available, offering a great way to save on admission to this popular event.
Long-time follower folk/blog readers will know that I will bleat about these tickets until I’m blue in the face. Newbies, keep an eye on Groupon when we get close to one of the 4 Melton Mowbray based food festivals because there one can typically buy discounted tickets as opposed to paying on the gate/official food festivals website. This isn’t pushed by our official tourism board, so if you want more top tips about different businesses/events/etc. then you’ll need to follow me on the socials. You can find me on:
Until next time folks.
Love and virtual hugs,
Kelly