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Devon music festivals: summer 2014

14th May 2014

Categories: Visitor News

There are plenty of Devon music festivals happening in 2014 – large, small and somewhere in between. We’re a creative, fun-loving lot here in Devon, and that means that we love nothing better than to put on a music festival. Relaxing in a field or fine building, listening to great tunes, with a glass of something cool and refreshing … what could be better? So whether you’re in to big name bands, local folk artists or international classical musicians, you’ll find something to enjoy this summer.
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Somersault
July 17-21, Castle Hill, North Devon
Everyone’s talking about this five day music festival, new for 2014, which promises to be laid-back, family friendly, foodie – and fielding big names. Jack Johnson and Ben Howard are in the lineup, plus plenty of up-and-coming national, international and local musicians. And the fringe offerings at Somersault sound great too: on-site boutique camping, daytime activity excursions, under-canvas dining from top chefs including Nathan Outlaw, kids’ camp and even after-party parties – this one’s set to be a corker. More

Dart Music Festival
May 16-18, Dartmouth, South Devon
This mostly free music festival is run by a team of music-loving volunteers, resulting in a totally non-commercial atmosphere, and artists and audiences who are there for just for the love of the music. Performances range across a wide range of musical styles, in venues in the two beautiful waterside towns of Dartmouth and Kingswear – over a planned 156 hours of live music and 95 shows. If you can’t find something you like at this festival … you need your ears testing. More

GoldCoast Oceanfest
June 20-22, Croyde, North Devon
‘It’s a lifestyle thing’, say the organisers of this annual music festival-come-beachsports tournament, and they’re right: this is one great way to achieve full immersion into Devon’s surf culture, set as it is right beside and on Croyde beach. Music-wise, Oceanfest this year is featuring artists including Newton Faulkener, Hudson Taylor and Mason Jennings in its three day programme of all-day live music. Alongside this are the beach sports to watch or take part in, including beach soccer, a surf school, a skate ramp, and the UK’s largest open beach volleyball event. More

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Beautiful Days   The festival that sells out by not selling out … has sold out for this year. But remember it for 2015, as it’s one of the bigger annual festivals. More
Lemon Fest   This one day event in Newton Abbot (May 31) this year celebrates five years of new music with acts such as Gentleman’s Dub Club, The Correspondents, Luke Friend and The Other Tribe. More
Bicton Fest   The best of Devon’s musical talent plus up and coming unsigned acts across the UK, in the grounds of Bicton College in Budleigh Salterton (August 29-31). More
Field of Dreamz   Local bands and DJs perform at this one-day family event near Torrington, North Devon (June 7). More

Find more music festivals around Devon

Barbican international jazz and blues festival
June 13-15, Plymouth
Enjoy excellent music in the setting of Plymouth’s historic quayside quarter of Plymouth. The free live music from national and international acts such as Brassroots, Rabbitfoot and Robin Henkel begins on the festival’s outdoor stage at 12 noon each day, and you can expect music ranging through jazz, blues, jump-jive, swing, funk and r’n’b. This is all alongside the excitement of international yacht race, the Solitaire du Figaro. More

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Teignmouth Folk Festival   Acts over three days (June 20-22), and a fantastic atmosphere in Teignmouth, South Devon. More
Dartmoor Folk festival A friendly traditional festival in South Zeal (August 8-10) , with top national and local artists and camping available nearby. More
Foxy Folk   An annual, family friendly, folk and acoustic festival in St Marychurch (July 19) with great music from artists including Paper Anchor, Haunt the Woods and Locked Box Project. More
Baring Gould Festival   Not on ’til October, but worth a note in the diary for this small festival, inspired by the folk song collecting of Sabine Baring-Gould, in Okehampton (Oct 25-27). More

Budleigh Music Festival
July 11-19, Budleigh Salterton, East Devon
A wide range of classical musical styles are covered at this popular festival that’s set in the pretty seaside town of Budleigh. The top class line up of artists includes The Pleyel Ensemble, Yuanfan Yang, Trio con Brio from Copenhagen, The Festival Orchestra with Sara Trickey, Red Priest and the Henschel Quartet, plus there are free lunchtime concerts for the 2014 Festival, with most held in local churches. More

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Shaldon Festival of Classical Music A collection of concerts from classical musicians held over four days (June 19-22) in Shaldon. More