Five Amazing Dance Music Festivals You Might Not Have Heard Of

We shine the spotlight on some of the best under-the-radar dance music festivals that you need to know about (if you don't already).

Mike Warburton

Last updated: 15th Jun 2016

Photo: Groove Loch Ness

We're lucky in the UK, we're certainly not short of dance music festivals come summer time. In fact, some of the biggest festival brands in the world originate on British soil - when it comes to dance music, we're essentially experts.

With festivals like Creamfields, Electric Daisy Carnival, Cocoon In The Park, South West Four and more, there's no shortage of big stage dance music festivals, but you might not be aware of the raft of intimate green field experiences you could be enjoying over the warmer months. We've looked at five of the best.

MADE Birmingham 30th July

Shortlisted for the Best Metropolitan Festival in 2014, MADE Birmingham is back bigger than before with a rammed roster of high grade dance music as well as a full showing from Birmingham's best visual and street artists, designers, set builders and creatives. Rudimental, Kano, Andy C and Shy FX are just a few of the big names hitting The Digbeth Triangle at the end of July. Get MADE Birmingham tickets here.

Kiddstsock 6th August

Famed for staging outrageous parties in ambitious locations, Alex Kidd's hard dance spectacle Kiddstock burst back onto the scene last year with a colossal festival featuring some of the scene's biggest hitters. This year Kiddstock returns to Majuba Beach in Redcar on Saturday 6th August with a searing line up - Zatox, The Prophet, Andy Whitby, Ultrabeat and Alex Kidd himself are just some of the acts appearing across four stages. If you like your dance music fast and hard, Kiddstock is unbeatable.

Groove Loch Ness 20th August

Back for its second edition after wowwing us last year, Groove Loch Ness is one of the best situated festivals in the country, being right on the banks of the world famous home of Nessy. It's minimalist approach and mesmerising stage design was a winner, as was its line up. 2016 looks like expanding on those successes with Duke Dumont, Boys Noize, Mark Knight and the legendary Glasgow double team Optimo all involved. Pocket Groove Loch Ness tickets here.

Moovin Festival 26th - 28th August

Whilst not strictly being a dance festival, there's more than enough represented in the rave spectrum to delight dance music aficionados. There's a definite flavour of the Hacienda about Moovin - housed at Whitebottom Farm in Stockport, the festival features sets from Justin Robertson, 808 State and Jon DaSilva. But there's also drum & bass maverick Goldie, junglist supremo Congo Natty, and breaks turntablists (above) Stanton Warriors, amongst many other highlights. Nab Moovin Festival tickets here.

Reminisce 10th September

St Helens might seem like an unlikely town to host an all day dance music blow out, but that's exactly what happens later in the year when Reminisce showcases the best in classic rave tackle at Sherdley Park. Expect to witness live performances from old skool heroes like Black Box, Reel 2 Real, Robin S and the Vengaboys, whilst the likes of Todd Terry, Allister Whitehead, Darren Styles and Agnelli & Nelson represent trance, hard dance, and classic house across five arenas. Reminisce Festival tickets are on sale here.

Check out our complete Festival Guide here.

More like this? Read our Ultimate Festival Checklist.

Looking for the 2015 edition of this article? Find it here.

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