We Are FSTVL
Best festival in London for: raving in a field
Noise complaints aren’t something that this mass-scale party has to worry about, since it’s set in a vast aerodrome, surrounded by countryside – which is handy, because We Are FSTVL’s stellar DJ line-up makes a lot of noise. Superstar house DJs like Armand van Helden and Loco Dice rub shoulders with cooler club kids like The Blessed Madonna, while techno don Adam Beyer provides the harder stuff. There’s also garage from Lisa Maffia and Pied Piper, plus drum ’n’ bass from Andy C and Shy FX.
Address: We Are FSTVL, Damyn’s Hall Aerodrome, Aveley Road, Upminster, RM14 2TN
When: Saturday 6 – Sunday 7 September 2022
Website: wearefstvl.com
Tickets: From £40 (day ticket) and £80 (weekend ticket)
Naked City Festival
Best festival in London for: soulful sounds surrounded by nature
Party promotion pros Krankbrother are behind this laid-back gathering set in a gorgeous, leafy corner of southeast London. The musical vibe is a mix of jazz, dub, soul, house and funk, with a few tougher beats and pieces thrown in. A proudly London-heavy line-up (plus some international names) will be supplying the sounds, including Don Letts, Kojey Radical, Heléna Star, Dennis Bovell and LTJ Bukem. There are multiple stages scattered around the park, plus a kids’ area and plenty of top London street food vendors.
Address: Naked City Festival, Beckenham Place Park, Beckenham Hill, London SE6 3PU
When: Saturday 10 September 2022
Website: nakedcityfestival.com
Tickets: From £35.50
Waterworks
Best festival in London for: a purist partying experience
Waterworks’ ethos is simply to ‘celebrate independent electronic music culture’, and with its active ‘no headliners’ policy and a dizzying, cross-genre line-up of excellent DJs and producers, it looks to be well on the way to achieving its goal. Some of the many taste-making names on the roster include Ben UFO, Digital Mystikz, Hannah Holland, Moxie, Skee Mask, Bradley Zero and tons more. Expect cutting-edge club sounds all the way, supplied by some of the best in the game.
Address: Waterworks, Gunnersbury Park, Popes Lane, London W3 8LQ
When: Saturday 17 September 2022
Website: waterworksfestival.co.uk
Tickets: From £47.50