6th April 2021. Organisers of the popular Bluedot dance festival have announced the cancellation of their July event. In a statement orgainsers said that this decision was made due to a lack of support from the government to back any kind of insurance scheme along with feedback from artists and ticket holders. They are now focused on 2022 and hope to retain the headliners from this years cancelled event. Ticket holders can roll over to 2022 or apply for a refund. 

5th April 2021. Organisers of Solfest in Cumbria have announced thier line-up for the festival due to take place 26th – 29th August 2021. Solfest have been fortunate to receive £175,000 from the Culture Recovery Fund helping to make the festival possible. Headliners include Razorlight, Maximo Park, Amazons, Basement Jaxx and Echo and the Bunnymen. The event is mostly sold out but anyone interested can still obtain their Adult Weekend Ticket.

2nd April 2021. Organisers of the Standon Calling Festival in Hertfordshire have announced a family programme of activities for their 22nd - 25th July dates. Family activities include Horrible Histories, Dick and Dom DJ Battle and How to Train Your Dinosaur. Among their musical acts headliners include: Bastille, Hot Chip, Primal Scream and Craig Davide presents TS5 plus many more. Tickets for the weekend have sold out but are still available for other days. 

2nd April 2021. (Music Week). Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has announced details of over 2,700 organisations being offered nearly £400 million in grants and loans to help the culture and heritage sector reopen and recover. It brings the government's total investment across grants, capital and repayable finance from the Culture Recovery Fund so far to more than £1.2 billion.
By Andre Paine

31st March 2021. Organisers of the Hampton Court Palace Festival in London have announced a date change from June to 13th – 24th August 2021. Headliners were also announced including Sir Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Keane, Bastille and Bjorn Again. Existing ticket holders can transfer to the revised dates or request a refund. For anyone interested tickets are still available.

30th March 2021. Organisers of the BST Hyde Park Festival have announced the cancellation of their July event. In a statement orgainsers said that following a review of the most recent government advice, the latest timeline means that they are unable to deliver with certainty the quality BST Hyde Park is known for in the time available. Headliners Duran Duran, Pearl Jam and the Pixies have been confirmed for 2022. Ticket holders can roll over to 2022 or apply for a refund.

29th March 2021. The YAM Carnival is a new festival that celebrates black culture form around the world and is set to take place in London’s Clapham Common on 28th August 2021. The headliners include Nigerian star Davido along with Kehlani, Yemi Alade, Pa Salieu, Nao, Honey Dijon, Fatoumata Diawara and Princess Nokia. For those interested tickets go on sale form Thursday 1st April 2021. 

26th March 2021. Isle of Wight Festival has announced headliners for their September (16th - 19th) festival in Newport. Their impressive lineup over the four days includes Liam Gallagher, Snow Patrol, David Guetta and Duran Duran. Also confirmed are Kaiser Chiefs, Lightning Seeds, LONA, Primal Scream, Roachford, Sam Fender, Seasick Steve, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Supergrass. For anyone interested a variety of ticket options are available.

25th March 2021. Victorious Festival has announced headliners for their August (27th - 29th) festival in Portsmouth. Their impressive lineup over the three days includes Madness, The Streets, Royal Blood, Richard Ashcroft, The Kooks, The Fratellis, Cast, Feeder, Craig David, Melanie C, Supergrass and Fontaines D.C. plus many more. For anyone interested early bird tickets at just £30 are on sale now.

24th March 2021. The HARD Events brand is launching its first standalone festival in London at a new venue: Drumsheds. The EDM focused event is scheduled for 21st August 2021 and the line up includes Alesso, Jauz, Tchami, Malaa, Dillon Francis, Noizu, Kayzo, Duke & Jones and Whipped Cream. For those interested pre-sales tickets go on sale on 31st March 2021. This new event is in addition to the HARD Event already scheduled for 31st July – 1st August in California. 

23rd March 2021. Parklife has announced headliners for their mid-September festival in Heaton Park, Manchester. The lineup announced includes Disclosure, DaBaby, and artists like slowthai, Dave, Megan Thee Stallion, Carl Cox and Eric Prydz among many more. For those interested pre-sale tickets are available starting 24th March while general admission tickets will start on 25th March. Over 250,000 pre-registered for tickets so be quick. 

19th March 2021. Hit The North Festival in Newcastle announces 23rd October 2021 as their confirmed festival date. There will be new venues and new artists with an impressive lineup of 130 bands including DMA’S, Sports Team, Baby Queen, Greentea Peng, The Blinders, Ryan McMullen, L Devine Andrew Cushin and Just Mustard. Tickets are still available and on sale now.

19th March 2021. Latitude Festival organisers have confirmed that their event for 22nd – 25th July will incorporate all appropriate safety protocols in light of the coronavirus pandemic. With most UK adults expected to have been vaccinated by July they also confirmed that the festival will run at full capacity. Headliners have been confirmed as Lewis Capaldi, Bastille and First Aid Kit. Tickets for all packages are still available and on sale now. 

17th March 2021. ZENfest has announced a new date for their long running house music festival of Sunday 4th September. The festival is set to take place at Brentwood's Kelvedon Hall in Essex and the line-up confirmed so far includes Richy Ahmed, ANOTR, Rossi, Pat Wilson, Max Dean, Ryan Resso, DJ Caspa and Funk Cartel. General release and VIP tickets are still available and on sale now. 

16th March 2021. FI Fest has announced headliners for their summer festival near Windsor. Lightening Seeds and Toploader will perform on Sunday 29th August. The family friendly festival features a KidsZone and Hospitality Suite for those wishing to splash out with private bar and toilet facilities. For those interested tickets are on sale now and still available 

16th March 2021. The new family friendly festival is scheduled to take place in Mowbray Park, Sunderland on 7th and 8th August 2021. Headliners just announced include the Kaiser Chiefs and Deacon Blue. The inaugural festival was supposed to launch in 2020 but was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic so 2021 will be the first Lamplight Festival. Tickets are still available for those interested.

New Date: BeCider Seaside Festival Announces May 2021 Dates 

15th March 2021. Bredy Farm has announced 3 new dates for their series of festivals for this year kicking off with the 4-day BeCider Seaside 12 event on 28th – 31st May. The festivals are held within Bredy Gate, a natural amphitheatre nestled into the rolling hills on the Jurassic Coast of Dorset. Headlining the May festival is popular UK electro trio Subgiant Tickets for all 3 festivals are on sale now.

11th March 2021. Creamfields the biggest UK dance music festival has announced impressive headliners for the festival. Chemical Brothers will perform on Friday 27th August and David Guetta on the Saturday. They join artists like Armin Van Buuren, Carl Cox, Charlotte De Witte, Eric Prydz Nina Kraviz Pete Tong and  Tiesto among many others. The 70,000-visitor festival has already been sold out but anyone interested can still join their waiting list should tickets become available.

10th March 2021. Tickets go on sale from 12th March for this popular multi-genre festival with dates announced for 17th – 19th September 2021 in downtown Las Vegas. The headliners have also been announced including Billie Eilish, Green Day and Tame Impala. Early bird tickets sold out quickly and the organisers are running an RSVP service for those interested in getting any tickets that become available on general release on 12th March.  

9th March 2021 (Hackney Gazette). Jamie xx and Kano are the first headline acts announced as All Points East returns to Victoria Park over August Bank Holiday. The four-day music festival, which was cancelled last year, has now moved from its usual May slot due to Covid restrictions. With tickets on sale from 10am on March 10, other acts lined up to perform on Saturday August 28 include Northampton rapper slowthai, whose latest album Tyron came out in Feb, All Points East favourite Little Simz, hotly tipped newcomer Arlo Parks whose debut album was released in January, and singer songwriter Tom Misch.
By Bridget Galton    

8th March 2021 (Skiddle). One of Scotland's biggest electronic music festivals - Terminal V returns to Edinburgh over the Halloween weekend this year (Royal Highland Exhibition Centre from Saturday 30th October - Sunday 31st October 2021), for an unprecedented rave event. Launched back in April 2017, what was originally a one-day event held over two stages, has now grown into one of the largest and most unique music festivals, found anywhere across Europe. With Terminal V now branching out globally, with the launch of their new Berlin event for 2022, Edinburgh remains the flagship and home of the brand with thousands now flocking to the event from all over Scotland and beyond.

7th March 2021 (Your EDM). British festival directors called an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the return live music. Artists and fans may have to take the coronavirus vaccine - and show proof - before attending UK music festivals this summer. Festival organizers are considering this approach following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s roadmap announcement for exiting lockdown. With live music set to return on June 21, festivals are selling out in record time and demand is high. To make festival season happen, organizers are weighing out the options for on-site COVID-19 testing, vaccine passports, and plenty of other health and safety protocols.
By Karlie Powell 

5th March 2021 (Bishop Stortford Independent). With The Boomtown Rats, The Undertones and Happy Mondays as headliners. Stone Valley South, the weekender for ska, mod, indie, punk and northern soul fans, returns to East Herts this summer. Organisers originally hoped to host the three-day music festival for a third time in May, but with Covid-19 restrictions on events not expected to be lifted before June 21, they have rescheduled to August 13-15. The Stone Valley brand was established in Stanhope, County Durham, where it has grown into a sell-out annual celebration.
By Sinead Corr 

3rd March 2021 (Music Week). Ahead of Rishi Sunak’s Budget, there were key priorities for the music sector including the furlough scheme and government-backed insurance for festivals. There was some good news on the extension of the furlough scheme to September, a business rates holiday until June (and a 66% rate until April), an extension of the Self-employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) to 600,000 new starters, and £300 million for the Culture Recovery Fund. But there are still concerns for the live sector and the self-employed who don't qualify for support.
By Andre Paine 

2nd March 2021 (Music Week). In his Budget this week (March 3), Rishi Sunak will announce a £400 million boost for the creative industries. But while the funding has been welcome, music industry figures are calling for other key measures from the Chancellor to help the sector survive the pandemic. It follows the government’s announcement on the roadmap out of Covid restrictions by June 21, with socially distanced performances taking place no earlier than May 17. UK Music, the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and DCMS Committee chair Julian Knight MP have all stressed the importance of a government-backed insurance scheme covering Covid if festivals are to go ahead this year.
By Andre Paine 

2nd March 2021 (Insurance Business UK). A host of musical performers have lent their voices to the call for the UK government to underwrite cancellation costs of live events such as music festivals. The acts, which include Jools Holland, The Chemical Brothers, Depeche Mode, Johnny Marr, Sir Cliff Richard, Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey, Amy McDonald, Frank Turner and Judas Priest, say that the move will help restart the live entertainment industry this summer. This follows a recent YouGov survey that found that half of the UK population want to go see a live event this summer, while 75% believe such events are an important part of British culture.
By Gabriel Olano 

27th February 2021 (NME). Since the roadmap announcement both Reading & Leeds and Creamfields sold out almost instantly this week. Live Nation has sold nearly 200,000 tickets to UK festivals this week since the government set out the roadmap out of the country’s coronavirus lockdown. While this year’s Glastonbury, set for late June, has already been cancelled, and May’s The Great Escape is going online instead, a number of festivals taking place later in summer revealed this week that they would be going ahead as planned as the government outlined plans for England to gradually exit lockdown by the end of June.
By Will Richards 

25th February 2021 (iNews). The roadmap announcement has paved the way for events with large crowds to take place in the summer. Music festivals could be given the go-ahead this summer following the Government’s lockdown roadmap announcement earlier this week. Boris Johnson said all limits on social distancing could be removed by 21 June, paving the way for events featuring large crowds to take place. Although the June date was given as a “best case scenario” by ministers, several festival organisers have said this week they are planning on hosting their events in the summer. Here’s a list of all the festivals which are planning on going ahead. 
By George Martin 

24th February 2021 (U Discover Music). The news comes after the release of England’s ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown, which predicts that the government will remove all legal limits on social contact by June. In a post celebrating the news, the Reading and Leeds festivals Twitter page posted, “Following the government’s recent announcement, we can’t wait to get back to the fields this summer. LET’S GO.” Bosses in charge of the festivals have yet to confirm detailed plans for the events, including whether social distancing measures and temperature checks will be incorporated into the organization of this year’s festivals.
By Eleanor Forrest 

22nd February 2021 (Audio Media Int). UK nightclubs and festivals will return to the UK by the end of June, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s schedule to remove all COVID-19 social distancing restrictions. The government’s roadmap to reopening the UK economy states that all social distancing measures could lift on June 21 at the earliest. The government will continue to monitor COVID infection rates and will change in accordance with the data.The easing of lockdown restrictions has been broken down into four phases.  
By Daniel Gumble