Festival season on Freeview

Steven
25 May • 5 min read

The last couple of years have been largely forgettable for live music lovers to say the least. Gigs were cancelled left, right and centre - while festivals weren’t exactly top priority as we tried to navigate ourselves through the height of the pandemic. But there’s no doubt about it, they’re back with a bang this summer.

While many will be grabbing their tents and setting off to their favourite field for a party, many more will be tuning in from the comfort of their own home. So here’s our guide to the best Freeview has to offer over the next couple of months, along with how to relive some absolute gems from the past.

Glasto’s back

Despite being drip fed a few of our favourite festivals last year, there was just something that was missing. Glastonbury. If anyone knows how to throw the gathering of all gatherings, it’s Michael and Emily Eavis. The festival, which has been on almost every year since 1970, is back with a bang next month and what a line up we have on our hands.

From leaders of the new generation like Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish, to living legends a la Paul McCartney and Diana Ross. No one champions variety for its fans like the Worthy Farm extravaganza. It’s very much a case of ‘expect the unexpected’ when things kick off on 24th June. So if you can't be there in person, then you definitely don’t want to miss the non-stop coverage over on the BBC. It’s guaranteed to be a good one.

Dive in the archive

As well as keeping up with the here and now, T3-R customers have the luxury of youtube at their fingertips, which means viewers can hop into a festival time machine back to their favourites from yesteryear. Few sets have gone down in folklore quite like grunge legends Nirvana’s at Reading Festival back in 1992.

And what about disco icons Chic and their 2018 performance at the Isle of Wight Festival. The band, whose hits include Everybody Dance and I Want Your Love put on an unforgettable performance against a sun-lit backdrop as fans boogied under a clear blue sky. The best thing is - you can relive every last drop from the comfort of your sofa. So even if this year’s offering isn’t quite to your fancy, you can personalise your own line up by revisiting your favourite festival classics.

A cause to celebrate

As the saying goes “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” - and it’s safe to say there’s been a newfound appreciation for live music. So with this summer seeing a full return to normal proceedings, we're certain it will be a year to remember.

So what acts are you dying to see? Will you be virtually camped at Worthy Farm or Reading over on the BBC? Or would you rather mix and match your own bespoke line-up on YouTube? As always, we’d love to hear from you. Reach us via email, Twitter or Facebook to get in touch.