Festival-goers should pay a deposit of at least £25 to encourage them not to abandon their tents at Reading and Leeds festival, campaigners have said.
Pictures emerged after the Bank Holiday festivals showing tents, litter and other detritus left behind by revellers.
Clean Up Britain is now proposing a “tent tax” in the hope of cutting down on the number of tents left behind.
John Read, the group’s founder, told The Independent he hoped the deposit scheme would prevent “the very sad sight of seeing thousands of tents just abandoned in Reading and Leeds”.
His group has suggested those pitching tents would pay a deposit of £25, which they would lose if they did not take their tent with them.
1/20 All Points East (24 May-2 June)
In its second year, All Points East asserts itself as a serious competitor to some of London’s most longstanding music festivals. Taking over Field Day’s position in Victoria Park, Hackney, this 10-day event includes headliners like The Strokes, Christine and the Queens, Bon Iver, Bring Me the Horizon and Chemical Brothers. Each day’s lineup tends to reflect the headliner, so The Strokes are preceded by performances from The Raconteurs, Interpol, Johnny Marr and Courtney Barnett; you can catch James Blake, Kamasi Washington and Princess Nokia before Christine and the Queens, while Bring Me the Horizon curated their own lineup, including Architects, Run the Jewels and Alice Glass. Last year’s inaugural highlights included The XX (pictured).
Jordan Curtis Hughes
2/20 BBC’s Big Weekend (25-26 May)
With the BBC’s considerable weight backing this location-hopping festival, fans have become used to an event that hosts some of the biggest names in pop. This year is no different: Miley Cyrus, Stormzy, Anne-Marie, Charli XCX (pictured), Sigrid, Vampire Weekend and Two Door Cinema Club are all performing at Stewart Park in Middlesbrough.
Rex
3/20 Slam Dunk (25-26 May)
Fans seeking a nostalgia-drenched weekend of pop-punk, metal and alternative music need look no further than Slam Dunk, which more than delivers on both fresh and familiar faces. This year you can catch All Time Low (pictured), Bullet For My Valentine, The Mezingers, Plain White T’s (yep) and Employed to Serve. Saturday’s action takes place at Temple Newsham Park, Leeds, on the Saturday, while the following day the circus moves to Hatfield Park, Hertfordshire.
Redferns
4/20 The Ends (31 May-2 June)
We’re taking a bit of a punt on this one, as it’s actually a brand new festival in Croydon, but the lineup is too good to ignore. Organisers felt this part of London had been somewhat neglected in the past, but they’re more than making up for it now. It’s an absolutely massive lineup, featuring headliners Nas, Wizkid and Damian Marley (pictured), plus De La Soul, J Balvin, Ghetts, Kojey Radical, Nao and Nadia Rose to name but a few.
AFP/Getty Images
5/20 Field Day (7-8 June)
This year marks Field Day’s move to a brand new location in Enfield, north London, but that doesn’t mean the festival’s knack for rounding up some of the most thrilling live artists has changed. They’ve managed to nab Skepta (pictured) in a headline slot, which will take place right after the release of his new album Ignorance is Bliss. Jorja Smith, Diplo, Pusha-T, Bonobo (DJ set), Octavian and many more have also been announced.
Getty
6/20 Parklife (8-9 June)
Parklife in Manchester consistently boasts one of the best lineups of any UK festival that year. This year, they’ve outdone themselves by getting Solange, The Streets, Cardi B, George Ezra, Migos, Christine and the Queens, Nas, Kaytranada, Jungle, Mark Ronson, Loyle Carner, AJ Tracey, Octavian, Yxng Bane, Earl Sweatshirt, slowthai and Peggy Gou on the same billing.
Parklife 2017/FANATIC
7/20 Download (14-16 June)
The UK’s biggest rock festival is always a blast, which has a lot to do with its friendly albeit incredibly rowdy atmosphere. This year, organisers have invited Slipknot (pictured), Def Leppard and Tool to headline, as well as Enter Shikari, Rob Zombie, Skindred, Lamb of God and Blackberry Smoke.
Getty Images
8/20 Black Deer (21-23 June)
With country music growing in popularity among UK audiences, it was only a matter of time before the genre got its own festival. Black Deer is a lovingly curated event comprising some well-known US country music staples, but also a number of British folk, country and American acts carving out impressive careers of their own. Plus there’s really good BBQ.
9/20 Glastonbury (26-30 June)
It’s back! Returning after its traditional fallow year, Glastonbury is the biggest UK festival of 2019. Maybe you’re not impressed with the headliners (Stormzy, The Cure, The Killers), but as any Glasto veteran will tell you, that’s not what this festival is about. It’s about the atmosphere, which is like nothing else, and the chance to stumble upon a new or previously unknown artist who might just change your life.
Getty Images
10/20 British Summer Time (5-14 July)
Possibly the most convenient festival in the UK, at least in terms of access and transport, British Summer Time takes place in London’s Hyde Park. Organisers were apparently intent on securing legends this year, so headliners include Celine Dion (pictured), Stevie Wonder and Barbra Streisand, plus Florence + the Machine, Robbie Williams, Bryan Ferry, The National, Blood Orange and Nadine Shah. The weather is usually excellent around this time (sorry if this jinxes it) so make sure you take some sunscreen.
Rex
11/20 2000 Trees (11-13 July)
Trees (11-13 July)
Six friends sat together after a few (perhaps many) drinks and realised they had become disillusioned with a festival they had been attending for the past few years. They decided to start their own. Twelve years later and this small but mighty event is still going from strength to strength, with a stellar lineup and wonderful community atmosphere at Upcote Farm, Gloucestershire, all surrounded by the stunning Cotswold Hills.
Gareth Bull
12/20 Lovebox (12-13 July)
Lovebox has outdone itself this year by securing a wealth of talent to perform in its new west London home of Gunnersbury Park, from US stars like Chance the Rapper (pictured) and Solange to homegrown talent including J Hus, Giggs and Loyle Carner.
AP
13/20 Bluedot (18-21 July)
Held at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, this three-day festival has a lineup to make any electronic music fan starry-eyed. Headliners this year are Hot Chip (pictured), Kraftwerk and New Order, while lower down the bill but no less excellent are Jon Hopkins, Gruff Rhys, John Grant, Sons of Kemet, Anna Calvi, Omar Souleyman and KOKOKO!
Getty Images for FYF
14/20 Womad (25-28 July)
“Womad’s great strength is its eclecticism,” read our review of last year’s festival. “There are bands from right across the globe, offering glimpses into lesser-known musical traditions from more than 50 countries, or slamming them together in unexpected combinations.” Taking place at Charlton Park, near Malmesbury in Wiltshire, organisers are continuing that tradition in 2019, with a lineup including Orbital, Ziggy Marley, Youssef, Bantou Mentale and Dakhabrakha.
Victor Frankowski
15/20 Standon Calling (25-28 July)
Set in beautiful Hertfordshire, Standon Calling is a family friendly festival that manages to curate an impressively diverse and current lineup each year. Along with plenty of entertainment for adults and children, guests can watch performances from the likes of Nile Rodgers and Chic, Wolf Alice, Rag’n’Bone Man, Echo and the Bunnymen, IDLES and Lewis Capaldi.
Justine Trickett
16/20 Boomtown (7-12 August)
Music and mayhem go hand in hand at this spectacular and creative event. Composed of several districts built across the sprawling hills of Hampshire, Boomtown has a surprise around every corner. Now in its 11th chapter, the festival’s lineup is as wildly eclectic as ever. Look out for the likes of Bedouin Soundclash, Kabaka Pyramid, Nova Twins, Lauryn Hill, Che Lingo, Four Tet, Hak Baker, Little Gay Brother, She Drew the Gun and This is the Kit.
Boomtown Fair
17/20 ArcTanGent (15-17 August)
This popular event is where you’ll find the biggest and best names in metal, math rock and experimental music. You might think this sounds a bit niche, but it’s a surprisingly welcoming festival for people of all musical tastes, and there’s so much eclecticism within the lineup you’re bound to find a few things you love. It takes place at idyllic Fernhill Farm, 10 miles from Bristol.
Ed Sprake
18/20 Green Man (15-18 August)
One of the best independent festivals in the UK, Green Man has rounded up a solid set of artists to perform in the gorgeous Brecon Beacons – not to mention showcases for literature, poetry, film, comedy and theatre. On this year’s stages you can catch Yo La Tengo, Eels, Sharon Van Etten, Khruangbin, Car Seat Headrest, Aldous Harding, Julia Jacklin and more.
Max Miechowski
19/20 Creamfields (22-25 August)
This massive festival is essentially an A-Z of the dance music scene. Above & Beyond, Calvin Harris, Camelphat, Peggy Gou, Martin Garrix and Dillon Francis (plus many more) will ensure fans in the Cheshire countryside keep dancing into the early hours.
20/20 End of the Road (29 August-1 September)
The event that serves as a kind of closer to UK festival season is also one of the biggest. Its lineup is arguably stronger than it has been the past few years, with Michael Kiwanuka (pictured) appearing in his debut headline slot, plus Beirut, Metronomy, Courtney Barnett, Mitski, Courtney Barnett and Parquet Courts, making this an indie music fan’s dream come true. Head to Larmer Tree Gardens, near Blandford, in Dorset.
1/20 All Points East (24 May-2 June)
In its second year, All Points East asserts itself as a serious competitor to some of London’s most longstanding music festivals. Taking over Field Day’s position in Victoria Park, Hackney, this 10-day event includes headliners like The Strokes, Christine and the Queens, Bon Iver, Bring Me the Horizon and Chemical Brothers. Each day’s lineup tends to reflect the headliner, so The Strokes are preceded by performances from The Raconteurs, Interpol, Johnny Marr and Courtney Barnett; you can catch James Blake, Kamasi Washington and Princess Nokia before Christine and the Queens, while Bring Me the Horizon curated their own lineup, including Architects, Run the Jewels and Alice Glass. Last year’s inaugural highlights included The XX (pictured).
Jordan Curtis Hughes
2/20 BBC’s Big Weekend (25-26 May)
With the BBC’s considerable weight backing this location-hopping festival, fans have become used to an event that hosts some of the biggest names in pop. This year is no different: Miley Cyrus, Stormzy, Anne-Marie, Charli XCX (pictured), Sigrid, Vampire Weekend and Two Door Cinema Club are all performing at Stewart Park in Middlesbrough.
Rex
3/20 Slam Dunk (25-26 May)
Fans seeking a nostalgia-drenched weekend of pop-punk, metal and alternative music need look no further than Slam Dunk, which more than delivers on both fresh and familiar faces. This year you can catch All Time Low (pictured), Bullet For My Valentine, The Mezingers, Plain White T’s (yep) and Employed to Serve. Saturday’s action takes place at Temple Newsham Park, Leeds, on the Saturday, while the following day the circus moves to Hatfield Park, Hertfordshire.
Redferns
4/20 The Ends (31 May-2 June)
We’re taking a bit of a punt on this one, as it’s actually a brand new festival in Croydon, but the lineup is too good to ignore. Organisers felt this part of London had been somewhat neglected in the past, but they’re more than making up for it now. It’s an absolutely massive lineup, featuring headliners Nas, Wizkid and Damian Marley (pictured), plus De La Soul, J Balvin, Ghetts, Kojey Radical, Nao and Nadia Rose to name but a few.
AFP/Getty Images
5/20 Field Day (7-8 June)
This year marks Field Day’s move to a brand new location in Enfield, north London, but that doesn’t mean the festival’s knack for rounding up some of the most thrilling live artists has changed. They’ve managed to nab Skepta (pictured) in a headline slot, which will take place right after the release of his new album Ignorance is Bliss. Jorja Smith, Diplo, Pusha-T, Bonobo (DJ set), Octavian and many more have also been announced.
Getty
6/20 Parklife (8-9 June)
Parklife in Manchester consistently boasts one of the best lineups of any UK festival that year. This year, they’ve outdone themselves by getting Solange, The Streets, Cardi B, George Ezra, Migos, Christine and the Queens, Nas, Kaytranada, Jungle, Mark Ronson, Loyle Carner, AJ Tracey, Octavian, Yxng Bane, Earl Sweatshirt, slowthai and Peggy Gou on the same billing.
Parklife 2017/FANATIC
7/20 Download (14-16 June)
The UK’s biggest rock festival is always a blast, which has a lot to do with its friendly albeit incredibly rowdy atmosphere. This year, organisers have invited Slipknot (pictured), Def Leppard and Tool to headline, as well as Enter Shikari, Rob Zombie, Skindred, Lamb of God and Blackberry Smoke.
Getty Images
8/20 Black Deer (21-23 June)
With country music growing in popularity among UK audiences, it was only a matter of time before the genre got its own festival. Black Deer is a lovingly curated event comprising some well-known US country music staples, but also a number of British folk, country and American acts carving out impressive careers of their own. Plus there’s really good BBQ.
9/20 Glastonbury (26-30 June)
It’s back! Returning after its traditional fallow year, Glastonbury is the biggest UK festival of 2019. Maybe you’re not impressed with the headliners (Stormzy, The Cure, The Killers), but as any Glasto veteran will tell you, that’s not what this festival is about. It’s about the atmosphere, which is like nothing else, and the chance to stumble upon a new or previously unknown artist who might just change your life.
Getty Images
10/20 British Summer Time (5-14 July)
Possibly the most convenient festival in the UK, at least in terms of access and transport, British Summer Time takes place in London’s Hyde Park. Organisers were apparently intent on securing legends this year, so headliners include Celine Dion (pictured), Stevie Wonder and Barbra Streisand, plus Florence + the Machine, Robbie Williams, Bryan Ferry, The National, Blood Orange and Nadine Shah. The weather is usually excellent around this time (sorry if this jinxes it) so make sure you take some sunscreen.
Rex
11/20 2000 Trees (11-13 July)
Trees (11-13 July)
Six friends sat together after a few (perhaps many) drinks and realised they had become disillusioned with a festival they had been attending for the past few years. They decided to start their own. Twelve years later and this small but mighty event is still going from strength to strength, with a stellar lineup and wonderful community atmosphere at Upcote Farm, Gloucestershire, all surrounded by the stunning Cotswold Hills.
Gareth Bull
12/20 Lovebox (12-13 July)
Lovebox has outdone itself this year by securing a wealth of talent to perform in its new west London home of Gunnersbury Park, from US stars like Chance the Rapper (pictured) and Solange to homegrown talent including J Hus, Giggs and Loyle Carner.
AP
13/20 Bluedot (18-21 July)
Held at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, this three-day festival has a lineup to make any electronic music fan starry-eyed. Headliners this year are Hot Chip (pictured), Kraftwerk and New Order, while lower down the bill but no less excellent are Jon Hopkins, Gruff Rhys, John Grant, Sons of Kemet, Anna Calvi, Omar Souleyman and KOKOKO!
Getty Images for FYF
14/20 Womad (25-28 July)
“Womad’s great strength is its eclecticism,” read our review of last year’s festival. “There are bands from right across the globe, offering glimpses into lesser-known musical traditions from more than 50 countries, or slamming them together in unexpected combinations.” Taking place at Charlton Park, near Malmesbury in Wiltshire, organisers are continuing that tradition in 2019, with a lineup including Orbital, Ziggy Marley, Youssef, Bantou Mentale and Dakhabrakha.
Victor Frankowski
15/20 Standon Calling (25-28 July)
Set in beautiful Hertfordshire, Standon Calling is a family friendly festival that manages to curate an impressively diverse and current lineup each year. Along with plenty of entertainment for adults and children, guests can watch performances from the likes of Nile Rodgers and Chic, Wolf Alice, Rag’n’Bone Man, Echo and the Bunnymen, IDLES and Lewis Capaldi.
Justine Trickett
16/20 Boomtown (7-12 August)
Music and mayhem go hand in hand at this spectacular and creative event. Composed of several districts built across the sprawling hills of Hampshire, Boomtown has a surprise around every corner. Now in its 11th chapter, the festival’s lineup is as wildly eclectic as ever. Look out for the likes of Bedouin Soundclash, Kabaka Pyramid, Nova Twins, Lauryn Hill, Che Lingo, Four Tet, Hak Baker, Little Gay Brother, She Drew the Gun and This is the Kit.
Boomtown Fair
17/20 ArcTanGent (15-17 August)
This popular event is where you’ll find the biggest and best names in metal, math rock and experimental music. You might think this sounds a bit niche, but it’s a surprisingly welcoming festival for people of all musical tastes, and there’s so much eclecticism within the lineup you’re bound to find a few things you love. It takes place at idyllic Fernhill Farm, 10 miles from Bristol.
Ed Sprake
18/20 Green Man (15-18 August)
One of the best independent festivals in the UK, Green Man has rounded up a solid set of artists to perform in the gorgeous Brecon Beacons – not to mention showcases for literature, poetry, film, comedy and theatre. On this year’s stages you can catch Yo La Tengo, Eels, Sharon Van Etten, Khruangbin, Car Seat Headrest, Aldous Harding, Julia Jacklin and more.
Max Miechowski
19/20 Creamfields (22-25 August)
This massive festival is essentially an A-Z of the dance music scene. Above & Beyond, Calvin Harris, Camelphat, Peggy Gou, Martin Garrix and Dillon Francis (plus many more) will ensure fans in the Cheshire countryside keep dancing into the early hours.
20/20 End of the Road (29 August-1 September)
The event that serves as a kind of closer to UK festival season is also one of the biggest. Its lineup is arguably stronger than it has been the past few years, with Michael Kiwanuka (pictured) appearing in his debut headline slot, plus Beirut, Metronomy, Courtney Barnett, Mitski, Courtney Barnett and Parquet Courts, making this an indie music fan’s dream come true. Head to Larmer Tree Gardens, near Blandford, in Dorset.
He said some people had suggested a higher cost for the deposit, adding: “If they didn’t feel £25 was enough of an incentive, then maybe £50 or more.”
He said: “It’s more about trying to get the festival advertisers to accept, as part of their green sustainability strategy, that this should be part of it next year. The festival-goers need to understand that it’s not good enough in this day and age just to abandon a tent which is in most cases is probably perfectly good to clean and reuse.”
Mr Read said photographs showed a “significant number” of tents had been abandoned in the aftermath of the festivals. “We’re not talking about half a dozen or a dozen here, we’re talking about hundreds of thousands.”
He said the group wanted attendees “to be more socially responsible and to be more conscious of the environments and the effects of litter and fly tipping”.
He added: “Many young people do ardently profess their environmentalism and care about the environment but when you see photographs like that, all I can see is pollution, litter and fly tipping – none of which are good for the environment.”
The money raised from the forfeited deposits could be used to run a tent distribution scheme, Mr Read said, which could send the tents to homeless charities, youth clubs or community groups.
He said this would ensure they are not sent to landfill, which he described as “a pretty horrific thought” as there is often “nothing wrong with these tents”.
The tents had “probably had a bit of beer spilt over them,” he joked, “but by and large with a bit of cleaning they’re probably fine”.
Clean Up Britain also called on festivals to run a “sustained and highly visible advertising campaign” advising young attendees about environmental issues such as littering and fly tipping.
Mr Read said the campaign should make young people “aware of the environmental damage that littering and fly tipping does to our country and ensure that they take personal responsibility for their actions.”
“We’re asking them to behave in an environmentally friendly and caring way,” he added.
