Oh yes… the party is back! After a unplanned two-year hiatus due to that pesky little virus (that none of us want to mention anymore) it finally feels as though the UK festival scene is springing back to life and it feels like it couldn’t be a moment too soon!
Are you ready to crack out your costumes and dance wildly in a field? We certainly are - and that's why we’ve put together a list of our favourite festivals of 2022 that you shouldn’t miss this summer!
Since starting Ashanti Empress in 2015 we have traded at so many festivals around the UK, ranging all the way from small boutique festivals; eco festivals, all the way to beasts like Wilderness and WOMAD that are like cities in themselves.! Now we want to share some of our favourites with you so that you can plan your summer of FREEDOM!
BEST SMALL FESTIVAL - TROPICAL PRESSURE
We are going to start this list of great festivals with what has to be our all time favourite festie, Tropical Pressure. This gem of a festival is set on a cliff top overlooking Porthtowan beach in Cornwall and often has sublime sunsets as the backdrop to the main stage. It’s small and cosy, with a capacity of 4000 which means you can leave your phone at home and fully immerse yourself in the festival experience.! The music brings a tropical vibe, as the name suggests, with Latin inspired tunes on the Friday, African on Saturday and a chilled Caribbean Sunday.!
This is one that should not be missed and best of all… you’ll find the Ashanti Empress pop-up shop right next to the main stage!
BEST ‘WILD CARD’ FESTIVAL - NOSTOCK THE HIDDEN VALLEY
Nestled in amongst the Hereford hills, Nostock is a fun filled festival for everyone! The site is compact but bursting with an eclectic music line-up that spans genres along with plenty of workshops and stalls to top up your wholesome vibes. This summer the main stage will be graced by the almighty Sister Sledge, D’n’B legend Andy C and classic comedian Bill Bailey amongst others.
You may not have heard of heard of it before but you certainly will be talking of it afterwards – and that’s why we reckon if you’re going to pick a Wild Card festie this summer, Nostock is the one!
https://nozstock.com/
BEST MAINSTREAM FESTIVAL - GLASTONBURY
It’s got to be in there… the beast that is Glastonbury! There is a good reason why there are so many die hard Glasto fans who have been attending the festival since 1970 something… The festival somehow manages to feel friendly and welcoming even though it is now the size of a city when it is in full swing, with 210,000 visitors there to party.! The music line-up eclectic and you can always expect the best in musical talent from around the world.
2022 is going to be our first time trading with Ashanti Empress at Glastonbury and we can’t wait! (well actually we can… we’ve been waiting since 2020!)
BEST ECO FRIENDLY FESTIVAL - SHAMBALA
Shambala is everything you want from a festival, with added sparkles on top! Set on a beautiful country estate in Northamptonshire this festival is full to the brim of musical and artistic talent. Shambala has put a lot of effort into being a sustainable and eco- friendly festival and this ethos reverberates throughout it’s whole production. They have committed to being meat free and all of the food traders offer delicious vegetarian and vegan food. They also eliminated single use plastics from the festival, instead focussing on reusable or compostable products. It is a wonderland of fun for the whole family and should definitely be on your festival bucket bucket list!
Shambala is a firm favourite on the Ashanti Empress festival calendar and you will find us there this summer, just look for the big yellow tent!
BEST ELECTRONIC MUSIC FESTIVAL - NOISILY
Noisily has got a great reputation building as a fun, friendly festival with amazing production. Whilst it is rooted in the electronic music scenes, Noisily is a holistic environment which feeds the mind, body and soul. It’s a celebration of psychedelic art and culture in a society which is increasingly looking within for happiness and fulfilment in the non-material.
It's going to be our first time at Noisily and we are excited to get involved in this special festival.
We hope this list has got you feeling all tingly and excited about all the great festivals that are happening around the UK in 2022 and we hope to see you on the dance floor of some of them real soon!
Check out our Festival Diary to see the full line up of festivals Ashanti Empress will be popping-up at this summer.
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