Festival Essentials

Once more, summer brings with it our favourite time of year: festival season. The weather is (largely) great, all of your favourite bands are within walking distance of each other, and it’s one of the best ways to catch-up with friends and let off some steam.

Away from the big boys of Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and Reading and Leeds, there is a host of amazing festivals taking place across the length and breadth of the country this year, as well as further afield. Whether you’re looking for the classic camping experience, or now prefer the cosmopolitan inner-city festivals, read on to find out our pick of this summer’s festivals and men’s festival clothing.

Since it was first launched a few years ago, Tramlines has been one of the most popular names on the festival calendar, being as it is one of the north’s premier city-based events.

This year the organisers have gone all out with the lineup, with the Libertines, Primal Scream and the Coral all appearing over the weekend. More than a couple of mass singalongs between those three.

When looking for festival clothing ideas for Tramlines you’re thinking of two things: an outfit that will have you covered for the exertions of the day that will also be suitable for the many, many after parties taking place across the Steel City. If we were you, we’d opt for a short sleeve floral print shirt, or our signature My Generation tee. Grey skinny fit jeans will transition you from day to night with ease, and a Harrington Jacket has long been the perfect smart-casual outer layer.

Not only has the Lake District’s premier outdoor festival booked the Stereophonics and Manic Street Preachers to headline this year, but Beach Boys head honcho Brian Wilson will also be making his way to the Lake District to perform the seminal album Pet Sounds in all its glory.

As anyone who’s ever been to the Lakes before will know, you’ve got to plan for the weather. The most idyllic forecast can be transformed into a torrential downpour at the drop of a hat.

The parka has long been the Mod go-to to protect from the elements, and is your ideal festival jacket to cover from the inevitable storms, too. Swap between our apple-print twill shirt and target t-shirt as an underlayer - you’re going to get wet so will need a few options - and team with our rinsewash skinny fit jeans to complete the look.

If you want to get as far away from the rain as possible this summer but still take in a festival, Soundwave is the one for you. Taking place on the picturesque Croatian coast, Soundwave is now one of Europe’s premier music festivals, with its diverse lineup and almost guaranteed idyllic sunshine making it a huge hit with Brits in particular.

This year, the festival will welcome the Pharcyde, Go Go Penguin and Roni Size to its stage as well as a whole host of the world’s biggest DJs for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend.

For us, sun calls for a Hawaiian shirt, and our short sleeve version of this style classic is just the ticket. Pack our palm tree print t-shirt as a backup festival top. Stretch slim chino shorts are once more our top choice for sunny days, but do pack a pair of stonewash skinny fit jeans too in case the Croatian weather does take a turn for the British.

Formerly taking place on the Isle of Wight and now firmly on mainland Britain in Dorset, Bestival is one of the most hedonistic and boutique festivals on the summer circuit.

Taking place in early September and acting as the final curtain on festival season, Rob Da Bank’s Bestival is famed for its wild parties, fancy dress, and eclectic line up.

This year, The XX, A Tribe Called Quest and the Pet Shop Boys lead a huge lineup, covering the breadth of the musical smorgasbord from pop to jazz to electro and everything in between.

While the sun may be setting on the summer by the time it comes around, Bestival is all about fun, and as such you want your festival wear to be full of colour and pattern. We think our short sleeve Bandana shirt is the perfect fun festival top and the Romford polo, in a range of vivid hues, will see you through the rest of the festival. Sling on the Modern Trucker jacket to protect you once the sun sets beyond the horizon, and pair them all with our trusty stretch slim chino shorts.

Make sure you are dressed to impress this festival season by visiting our festival shop.