Boomtown Fair (Winchester, England; August 11-14)
Source: Boomtown Fair
Unfolding over four days on the stately premises of Matterley Estate near Southampton, England, Boomtown Fair is one of the U.K.’s most eclectic and colorful music festivals, attracting ravers of all ages. Headliners this year include Damian Marley, second-wave ska kingpins Madness and U.K. EDM pioneers Leftfield. Boomtown Fair presents everything from trance to folk music across nine different, individually-themed stages, but it’s probably reggae where the festival is strongest. Featured on the reggae-centric Lion’s Den stage this year are Tarrus Riley, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Inner Circle, Tanya Stephens, Kabaka Pyramid, Morgan Heritage, Junior Kelly and “Showtime,” a tribute to U.K. soundsystem culture presented by The Heatwave featuring such British bashment icons as Tippa Irie, General Levy and Flowdan.