The five best small festivals out there (for under £100)

Now, don’t get me wrong. Glastonbury is excellent. Full of music, theatre, comedy and, well, plain awesomeness. But it is really very expensive. And why would you want to spend £200 seeing four granddads struggle in the mud and the rain when you could spend less than half of that seeing a plethora of acts in surroundings much smaller, quainter and pleasanterer?

So, on that note, here’s my little round-up of five festivals that won’t break your bank.

Chagstock Festival, Chagford, Devon - £65 (19-20 July) 
This place sees the reunion of Irish New Wave legends The Boomtown Rats, alongside that lovable rogue Billy Bragg. Though they are the only big names to grace 2013’s Chagstock at the moment, last year saw the likes of KT Tunstall, Fun Lovin’s Criminals & The Martin Harley Band grace the stage. Not a bad innings for this delightful little not-for-profit fest!

Bingley Music Festival, Myrtle Park, Bingley, West Yorkshire - £49.50 (30 August – 1 September) 
Indie boys The Cribs, alternative rock outfit The Wonder Stuff & everyone’s favourite psychedelic troupe Primal Scream head up the first announcement for this terrifically cheap weekend. Very much like Chagstock, if the pedigree of last year’s acts are anything to go by (Razorlight, The Charlatans and a young man by the name of Jake Bugg), rest assured that your £49.50 will be money well spent.

Lakefest, Croft Farm Waterpark, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire - £79 (9-11 August) 
Originally beginning as a giant cider festival in the waterpark, Lakefest more or less became a festival instantly, when The Wurzels popped along and played some music to accompany the scrumpy consumption. Now in its third year, the event has expanded into three days, and features Ocean Colour Scene, The Beat & those ‘rockney’ legends Chas & Dave. Good family fun – and with a waterpark too!

Y Not Festival, Pikehall, Derbyshire - £79.50 (2-4 August)
Boasting an extremely impressive line-up for the price – featuring The Cribs, The Horrors, The Enemy, Ash, Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, The 1975, Toy, and more to be announced – you’ll have no end of fun in Pikehall’s charming little setting. And the music doesn’t look half bad either.

Parklife Weekender, Heaton Park, Manchester - £69.50 (8-9 June) 
And now for the piste de resistance. For fifty pence shy of £70, you’ll be spoilt for choice between a dozen Mercury Prize-nominated acts, a former member of The Smiths, scores of DJs, and even one of the foremost hip-hop groups of the last two decades. Not to mention Baauer and his Harlem Shake. Go on...you know you want t.

Have we missed an awesome festival coming up this summer? Or are you a seasoned V Festival fan? Let us know in the comments and @sixoutoftenmag

Tom has a beard, a copy of ‘The Next Day’ on vinyl, and a distinct lack of inhibitions. When he’s not gadding about in PR, he can be found spinning a yarn over on his blog. Self-deprecation and cynicism are two strong weapons in his ever-increasing editorial armoury, but be warned... he’s working on optimism. Really really hard.