Features
UK Festivals: Belladrum’s 20th Anniversary, Boomtown’s Chapter 3, Kendal Calling’s Onsale Record
With many of the UK’s festivals struggling under the current economic pressures, in particularly the rising production costs, as well as a disproportionate sales tax on tickets when compared to other European markets, it’s nice to also look at some recent success stories from time to time.
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival’s 20th Anniversary
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival Scotland’s biggest camping festival, celebrated its 20th anniversary with another sold out edition, welcoming 20,000 guests to the Belladrum Estate by Bauley, near Inverness, July 25-27.
The festival, which is part of KMJ Entertainment/DEAG, has been enjoying year-on-year growth for the past two decades. For this year, aside from booking a traditionally eclectic lineup led by James Arthur, Deacon Blue, Sugababes, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and The Shires, organizers improved logistics and traffic control measures.
Belladrum Tartan Heart is known for its family-friendliness and diverse programming, leading some to describe it as a “Scottish boutique Glastonbury.” Approximately 70% of guests camp or stay on site.
Rooted deep in the community of the Scottish highland, the festival contributes massively to the regional economy as well as benefiting local charities each year.
This year’s 20th anniversary year generated over £100,000 for grassroots charities locally, which includes the Elsie Nomington Foundation, the lead charity 2024, Highland Hospice, Mickeysline, Snap (Special Needs Action Project), Cash For Kids, and more, including various schools and community groups.
The last economic impact study was done ten years ago. Even back in 2014, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival’s estimated impact was about £4.6 million ($5.8 million) expenditure in the local Beauly/Inverness economy. For Scotland as a whole, the overall estimate is £6.6 million ($8.4 million).
The festival’s promoters have announced a Loyalty Presale, launching today, Aug. 9. Customers who joined in the 20th anniversary celebrations get priority access to tickets. The general onsale starts Aug. 12 at 9 a.m. local UK time.
“We’ve always stuck to our roots of being a ‘festival for all’, all are welcome here and we carefully curate a line-up that will wow our full audience spectrum,” comments event organiser, Dougie Brown. “But for our 20th anniversary we wanted to give our audience the best version we could to make it one of their best ever Belladrum experiences. This paid off with sold out ticket sales and an incredible line up of artists that brought sheer joy to everyone. Add in a wonderful dollop of sunshine and we’ve had our best year ever.”
Boomtown Has Opened The Gates To The City
Meanwhile in Hampshire, England, Boomtown has kicked of it sold-out 16th edition on Wednesday, Aug. 7, welcoming over 40,000 festivalgoers on opening day – a number that’s set to grow to 66,000 daily guests across the weekend.
At 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug.8, the official City Opening Ceremony took place, opening the gates to the parallel world of Boomtown’s eight unique city districts, 12 main stages and over 50 hidden venues. The Opening Ceremony for Grand Central and Origin stages begins today, Aug. 9, at 12 p.m. UK time.
This year’s storyline is called “Chapter 3: Revolution of Imagination,” and more than 450 acts are providing the soundtrack for it, including Skream & Benga, The Pharcyde, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Pendulum (DJ set), Ezra Collective, Viagra Boys, Marc Rebillet, Earth Wind & Fire Experience by Al McKay, Soft Play, Greentea Peng, Hak Baker, SBTRKT, Ibibio Sound Machine, Children Of Zeus, Ghetts, Dream Wife, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Bob Vylan x Grove, Sleaford Mods, High Contrast, Black Sun Empire, Lava La Rue, and many more.
Fans can already sign up for early access to next year’s Boomtown tickets here.
See: Live Nation, Gaiety, SJM Invest In Boomtown UK
Kendal Calling Breaks First-Day Sales Record
It’s nothing new for Kendal Calling in the UK’s beautiful Lake District to sell out in advance – it has been doing so for all of its 19 editions since inception.
Next year’s 20th anniversary, July 31-Aug. 3, 2025, is no exception: more than half of available 40,000 tickets sold out by the end of the first day of onsales. It took fans just two hours to snatch up more tickets than ever before in the festival’s history, according to a press release from promoter From The Fields.
It’s another stellar UK festival offering the full package: world-class artists, breakthrough bands, DJs, comedians, alongside a vast program off stage inviting guests to explore and discover – from sing-alongs and story-telling, art and light installations, the annual themed parade, to Kids Calling, where the little ones can roam freely.
‘Bringing Artists To Beautiful Locations’: Q’s With Andy Smith, Co-Founder Of Kendal Calling
Andy Smith, co-founder of Kendal Calling, commented, “Each year, on the morning we go back on sale, we wake up with nervous flutters about how the day is going to unfold. Last weekend was the best show yet, but we’re only human and have the same anxieties anyone else would have. We needn’t have worried – you turned out this morning in record numbers, keen as we are to get back in those fields. This is something we will never ever take for granted and we are so excited to be working to make next year’s 20th birthday jollification the best festival we can possibly produce.”
Tickets for Kendall Calling’s 20th anniversary at the Lowther Deer Park are on sale.