Summer is upon us so this means festival season is near and thus, we are looking at another great year for live music entertainment. This summer season will be packed with popular festivals such as Wireless, Fresh Island, and Glastonbury Festival, along with a handful of other fun-filled festivals.
Many festivals claim to be multi-genre but will often only feature very few acts from the worlds of hip-hop, rap, soul, and urban genre. Thus, we have put together a list of the best festivals that put these genres at the forefront.
#10 BoomBap
Headline Acts: Pharoahe Monch, RA The Rugged Man, A-F-R-O
If you are a hard-core UK hip hop fan then BoomBap Festival is the one for you. Even though it is relatively new, BoomBap is rapidly growing as one of the go-to summer events for UK hip hop scene. The Brit-heavy line-up includes the best underground talents from the UK. Catch artists such as Pharoahe Monch, D Double E and Elf Kid on the Suffolk stage.
When & Where: 29 – 31 July 2016, Mildenhall, Suffolk
#9 V Festival
Headline Acts: Justin Bieber, Sia, Rihanna, David Guetta
Always count on V festival to offer a line-up of the biggest hitmakers in the world. V Festival is going big this year with a constellation of stars such as Rihanna, Tinie Tempah and Big Sean lighting up the stage this summer.
When & Where: 20 August 2016, Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire
#8 Outlook Festival
Photo Credit: Outlookfestival.com
Headline Acts: Damian Marley, Slum Village
This September Outlook Festival is offering a celebratory fusion of everything hip hop and urban. Joey Bada$$, Lady Leshurr, Damian Marley, Stormzy and Section Boyz are all set to perform on the Fort Punta Christo stage this year.
When & Where: 31 September – 4 August 2016, Fort Punta Christo, Croatia
#7 Strawberries & Creem
Headline Acts: Kano, Nelly
Strawberries & Creem Festival is new to the festival scene; the independent music festival is set to come to Cambridge this year, featuring some amazing acts indeed. Catch Nelly, Big Narstie, Kano and D Double E on the Haggis Farm stage.
When & Where: 11 June 2016, Haggis Farm, Cambridge
#6 WILD LIFE
Headline Acts: Disclosure, Rudimental
After a successful start last year, Wild Festival returns to the scene with tops acts from 2016. Popular acts from around the world such as Pusha T, Skepta, and James Bay will perform at the Brighton City Airport stage this year.
When & Where: 11-12 June 2016, Brighton City Airport
#5 Parklife
Photo Credit: Parklife.com
Headline Acts: The Chemical Brothers and Major Lazer
Packing as much fun in two days as many festivals manage in three days, this year’s Parklife returns with their biggest line-up yet with acts such as Ice Cube, Stormzy, Skepta, Craig David, De La Soul, Katy, Section Boyz and many more urban acts set to grace the Heaton park stage this summer.
When & Where: 11-12 June 2016, Heaton Park, Manchester
#4 Lovebox
Headline Acts: Major Lazer, LCD Soundsystem, Run The Jewels, Jungle
Set in East London, Lovebox Festival is offering a line – up of well-known and alternative acts. The two days running festival event will welcome acts such as Big Nartsie, Kano, and Major Lazer.
When & Where: 15-16 July 2016, Victoria Park, London
#3 Glastonbury Festival
Headline Acts: Muse, Adele, Coldplay, Foals
Although Glastonbury Festival may be an odd choice for hip hop and urban music lovers, the 2016 line-up includes acts from the worlds of Grime, Hip Hop, and R&B. Skepta, Stormzy, Lady Leshurr, Nao, D’Angelo are all going to grace the stage at Glastonbury festival this summer.
When & Where: 22-26 June 2016, Worthy Farm, Pilton
#2 Wireless Festival
Photo Credit: Wirelessfestival.co.uk
Headline Acts: J. Cole, Boy Better Know, Bryson Tiller, Future, Chase & Status
It wouldn’t be a great list without including Wireless Festival. Every year, Wireless Festival sees the world’s famous urban acts from the US head over to London’s Finsbury Park for one big party. J Cole, Future, Young Thug and Boy Better know are all set to perform at Wireless this year.
When & Where: 8-10 July 2016, Finsbury Park, London
#1 Fresh Island
Headline Acts: Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, Kehlani, Ty Dolla $ign
Names like Pusha T, Nas, Rick Ross and much more have played at Fresh Island Festival. This festival brings the finest hip-hop, rap and RnB music on the planet to Croatia.
When & Where: 12-14 July 2016, Zrce Beach, Croatia
Here at Everythinghiphop.com, we have put together a curated collection to keep you styled for festival season. Head over to our Festival shop and get yourself all the festival essentials.