Best London Festivals Part I

Best London Festivals Part I

21 July, 2008
by: Robin

Ladyfest
The Underworld
Fri 9 May – Sun 11 May
Fri and Sat £20; Sun £15; weekend £40
Celebrating female creativity in all its forms, Ladyfest events have been taking place all over the world for the past few years, but the inaugural London festival is their biggest yet. Art, film and poetry events will take place across Camden and Islington, with the musical branch taking over three days at the Underworld. Ex-Moldy Peach and Juno soundtrack anti-folk hero Kimya Dawson is the highlight, with a plethora of new talent appearing across the weekend.
Headliners: Kimya Dawson, Angie Reed, The Actionettes
Spoonfed recommends: Peggy Sue & The Pirates, Betty & The Werewolves, Comanechi, Das Wanderlust, Slow Club, The Bobby McGees
Best for: Feminists, and their loyal boyfriends

Stag and Dagger
Shoreditch
Thu 15 May
£15
Stag and Dagger basically runs on the idea that if you sort out one night of insane gigs around London’s East End and give the kids armbands to get into all of them, then the result will be mental.
Headliners: The Mae Shi, 1990s, A-Trak, Filthy Dukes, Diplo, Duke Spirit, Bumblebeez
Spoonfed recommends: Fucked Up, Jimmy Edgar, Zombie Zombie, Chik Budo, Allez Allez DJs
Best for: Hoxton twats, MySpace punk hunks

The Insomniacs Ball 2008
SeOne
Sat 31 May
£12.50
Taking over the spacious depths of SeOne in London Bridge, The Insomniacs Ball returns for the first time since last year’s party was cancelled at the last minute. Don't be fooled by the thin-looking line up: the Ball has a tendency to throw up a few big surprises, and with the messiness going on till 6am, this is an indie gig without the annoying kids dancing in your way. Trust us, you just have to go.
Headliners: The Long Blondes
Spoonfed recommends: Dead Kids, Haunts, Joe Lean and The Jing Jang Jong, The Ghost Frequency
Best for: Insomniacs, naturally.

Meltdown
Southbank Centre
Sat 14 – Sat 21 June
Individual concerts £12.50–£45
The Meltdown Festival returns to the South Bank Centre for another spectacular weekend of live music, and this time it's being curated by none other than Bristol trip-hop legends Massive Attack. With the now-customary mix of unique programming and unexpected returns and revivals, expect this one to be the thinking person’s event of the year.
Headliners: Massive Attack, Elbow, Stiff Little Fingers, Gong, Horace Andy, Grace Jones, George Clinton
Spoonfed recommends: Gang of Four, Tunng, Dalek, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Flying Lotus
Best for: Beatniks, space cadets

Hard Rock Calling
Hyde Park
Sat 28 – Sun 29 June
Sat £50–£220; Sun £65–£245; weekend £110–£460
Hard Rock Calling returns to Hyde Park with another line-up of rock 'legends' over two days. With The Police and Eric Clapton headlining, other Top Gear favourites further down the bill and the option of luxury 'club experience' or VIP tickets, your dad is going to love it – assuming you're at least 25 yourself.
Headliners: Eric Clapton, The Police, Sheryl Crow, KT Tunstall, Starsailor
Spoonfed recommends: The Stranglers, The Charlatans, The Bangles, Carbon Silicon
Best for: Those with retirement in their sights

Click for London Festivals Part II

Click here to view all London Live Music 

Robin