The Best Free Music Festivals in the UK in 2023

Festival Fun For Free

If you’re into live music then festivals are a great way of seeing lots of different types; whether it’s your favourite band or a genre you’ve never listened to before, there’s something about the atmosphere at a festival, the shared experience, that makes the music sound better. It’s also no secret that listening to music has a range of health benefits; it can even help reduce stress.

However, festivals can be expensive; once you’ve bought a ticket and paid for transport/parking, accommodation, and food, it all adds up, especially if you want to go as a family. In a time when we’re all very much aware of the cost-of-living crisis, we thought we’d take a look at some of the free music festivals of 2023.

Here’s what we found:

Worcester Music Festival

The Worcester Music Festival takes place from 15th – 17th September in more than 20 venues across the city centre, including pubs, restaurants, breweries and historic buildings. It’s a non-profit making event run by volunteers and its aim is to support new and emerging artists and make live music more accessible, all while raising money for charity.

The festival supports a different local charity each year and since it started in 2008 it has raised almost £64,000. It also provides free music workshops for the local community, from singing in a choir to learning an instrument.

ZEE London Mela

This is an annual event that takes place over one day in various parts of the UK. The London event will be in Gunnersby Park in West London and the aim is to showcase emerging British Asian artists; highlighting a wide diversity of cultures using classical and urban music, fashion, dance, comedy, Bollywood, and street theatre, as well as exhibitions. It’s a mix of both modern and traditional and is suitable for all ages.

Birmingham Jazz Festival

The Birmingham, Sandwell and Westside Jazz festival is held from 18th – 24th July and has been running since 1985, making it one of the longest-established jazz festivals.

Taking place across the city in a variety of venues; including bars, galleries, libraries, canal boats, and the occasional bus and train, it regularly has over 200 performances. It also runs workshops, talks, exhibitions, and masterclasses.

It’s a non-profit making event that relies on volunteers and is supported by the Musicians Union.

Bristol Balloon Festival

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta takes place from the 10th – 13th August and is one of Europe’s largest ballooning events. It’s free of charge and great for all ages. There are activities for the whole family, including live music, children’s entertainment, talks, and displays.

Get there first thing in the morning for the 6am balloon lifts as the sun rises, then finish the day with the evening nightglow event at 9pm and watch as 75 balloons magically light up in time to music.

Notting Hill Carnival

This is an annual event that was started as a celebration of the rich history of Caribbean culture in London. It takes place every year over the August Bank Holiday weekend, which is 26th – 28th August this year.

First held in 1965 with just 500 people, it’s gone on to become the largest street festival in Europe, with an estimated one million people watching up to 50,000 performers. It’s well known for its great party atmosphere with bands, parades, 30 different sound systems and an area specially set aside for children’s entertainment for the younger visitors. There are also 300 food stalls offering a range of Caribbean cuisine.

In a world where we can stream music at the touch of a button, live music brings people together and offers an experience you can’t recreate with technology. The UK has one of the most vibrant music scenes in the world, with some really unique live music venues. It’s part of our culture as well as an important part of the economy, attracting fans from all over the world.

If music is your thing and you dream of playing at a festival; whether that’s playing a DJ set, picking out tunes on a guitar or performing in an orchestra, then you might want to consider music insurance. All of our policies start with a set of standard benefits designed to cover you for everyday circumstances, which you can add to with a range of optional benefits to create a bespoke policy that suits your needs. Take a look today and get a free, no-strings quote that will be music to your ears!

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