Who doesn’t love a festival? Soaking up the summer sun in front of your favourite artists with your pals is an annual highlight for so many of us in the UK. Here at blu, we’re no different.

This year, it’s fair to say we’ve had a case of festival fever. We’ve been up and down the country taking in the festivities (and doing some work, too). Here’s a run through of the festivals we’ve popped up in – let us know if you’ve seen us there!

Bournemouth 7s

Known as ‘the sporting Glastonbury’, this multi-award-winning festival is a must-attend in the calendar of sport and music lovers. Bournemouth 7s combines the thrills and spills of sporting action with some of the best musical acts in the country.

The festival hosts 7 sports including rugby, netball, hockey and basketball, with 1,500 matches carried out by 5,000 players. Admittedly, we sat back and watched the action from a comfortable distance, but it looked like the competitors certainly earned a party!

With 100 live acts and DJs, a party was never too far away. This festival was positively buzzing, with a whopping 30,000 people spread out across 12 festival arenas. It’s safe to say we all had a lot of fun dancing the night away on the South Coast.

Gottwood Festival, Anglesey

North Wales is known for its natural beauty, and it’s hard to think of a better setting for a boutique electronic music and arts festival than the picturesque isle of Angelsey. Gottwood Festival provided all that and more when we had the honour of attending the sustainable event in the middle of June.

Hidden away in the Welsh woods in the grounds of a country estate, the critically acclaimed electronic festival had an equally breathtaking location and lineup. Showcasing the best of underground electronic music, this intimate underground music festival had 5,000 revellers in attendance, making it truly feel like a secret little party tucked away in the wilderness.

NASS Festival

In July, we attended another cultural celebration closer to home in Shepton Mallet near Bristol in the form of NASS Festival. A carnival of music and street culture, there was a real community feel at the heart of this festival.

Epic headliners like Wu Tang Clan, Chase & Status, and Little Simz, and global drum and bass icons soundtracked the iconic street art, skate and BMX performances, creating a vibe that can’t be matched.

With 150 hours of music spread across 6 stages, it’s fair to say the ‘NASStronauts’s’ had a time to remember. blu certainly joined their ranks this summer and look forward to attending again.

Forbidden Forest

The most mysteriously named festival of the summer, Forbidden Forest is a silent disco and forest rave in the charming Belvoir Castle. blu attended the eighth edition alongside 30,000 party-goers, sampling the best in DnB, Techno, and House music across four stages.

A celebration of togetherness set to a striking backdrop of nature and electronic music, it’s easy to see why the Leicestershire festival is a yearly pilgrimage for so many. Next year, we hope the forest will be calling our name once again.

Love Supreme Jazz Festival

What could be better than bopping about to jazz in an East Sussex field? Love Supreme Jazz Festival harnesses all that’s great about the scene, bringing a line-up of old and new favourites to a bumper crowd. The July sun was a welcome addition, as attendees across the grounds enjoyed main stage masterclasses and up and comers alike with some extra events sprinkled in for attendees of all ages.

Access the Festival

We were delighted to be in attendance at the third edition of Access The the Festival over in Warwick in June. The festival promised a bigger and better set-up and experience, and it’s fair to say they delivered. With carefully curated house, disco and techno wonders on the menu, as well as street art, food and leisure activities, the open-air party was full of feel-good vibes.

Eldorado Festival

There was even more dance music to sample as we two-stepped over to Eastnor Castle in July for Eldorado Festival. This four-day woodland wonderland welcomed 9,000 people into a world of colour and design. The unique Treasure Island stage was a huge highlight which must be seen to be believed. Even the wetter weather couldn’t dampen the spirits as all acts delivered a barnstorming experience.

Beat-Herder

As far as small festivals go, Beat-Herder is right up the top. With breakbeat, reggae, dubstep, folk, psychedelic rock and much more covered across its extensive line up, you’re unlikely to leave without a smile on your face no matter your tastes. Hosted in Lancashire in July, this unique festival was a summer highpoint for blu.

Junction 2

Bringing some of the biggest global DJs and producers to Boston Manor Park, Junction 2 has a real eclectic feel to it. Its reputation for cutting-edge sound design and immersive atmosphere was backed up during our time at the festival, which is surely a must-visit for any lover of electronic music.

Y Not Festival

We donned our bucket hats and headed off for some indie classics at Y Not Festival back in August. With favourites such as Kasabian, Royal Blood, Bombay Bicycle Club, DMA’s, James and The Wombats to savour, there were bouncing crowds and singalongs aplenty during our weekend trip to the Peak District.

Houghton Festival

Aimed at fans of underground art and music, Houghton Festival is a raver’s favourite. With crowd-filling belters blasting through the Norfolk mansions ground where it’s held, this is the perfect place to escape for a weekend. Rumour has it Kate Middleton was spotted in the mix this year. While she didn’t pop over to say hello to blu, we prefer to think this isn’t just one of those festival myths.

We Out Here Festival

We Out Here 2023 was a magical experience. Its stages effortlessly ebb between electronica, soul, jazz, house, hip hop, and much more, providing a diverse and ever-shifting vibe. Full of flavour and fun, this Dorset festival is guaranteed to get you moving.

Lost Village Festival

Lost Village is known for making the most of its surroundings. From sets housed in cabins in the wood to parties in abandoned airplane cockpits and bumper cars, the electronic festival harnesses the energy of its natural home. The likes of Four Tet, Bonobo and Peggy Gou took this energy to the next level, much to the joy of the huge crowds they drew.

We Are FSTVL

2023 marked the tenth birthday of We Are FSTVL, and there was a party atmosphere to match. Think less streamers and candles, however, and more glowsticks and strobe light in this paradise for ravers. This year’s edition featured icons such as The Prodigy, Shy FX, Skream, Carl Cox, Patrick Topping, and many more.

Forwards Festival

Back in Bristol, we also attended the two-day music and politics extravaganza known as Forwards Festival. The event features political talks and presentations alongside an eclectic mix of musical acts ranging from the dreamy soul of Erykah Badu to the snarling Aussie punk of Amyl and the Sniffers, ensuring it’s an experience that will live long in the memory.

We are Beer Festivals

Finally, blu were out and about at the We are Beer Festivals in London, Bristol and Manchester this summer sampling different beers and had a lot of fun deciding on the best vaping and craft beer pairings.

Did you see blu?

As you can see, we’ve certainly made the most of the many great festivals the UK has to offer. Did you spot blu while you were at any of these festivals? Let us know over on Facebook or Instagram.