Weekend’s Best Parties: It’s The Battle Of The Festival

This weekend it’s Field Day vs Park Life, as two of the UK’s biggest city festivals take place over Saturday and Sunday. As well as plenty of bands, Londoners will be treated to DJs and producers including Evian Christ, Innervisions (aka Dixon & Ame b2b), Jackmaster and Oneman doing Can U Dance, Jamie xx, Lunice, Vessel, Moxie, Eclair Fifi, SBRTKT and more. Up in Manchester, Heaton Park will be packed with artists including Katy B, Jamie Jones b2b w/ Seth Troxler, Ben Ufo, Maya Jane Coles, A$AP Rocky, Cyril Hahn, Mount Kimbie, Factory Floor, MNEK, Duke Dumont, Route 94, Flying Lotus, Zomby, Jacques Greene and Thundercat. Feeling in need of a Berocca just thinking about it, and that’s before all the night-time afterparties.

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@ 3Sixty, Reading**

Friday Jun 6

If the ominous cloud/sun symbol on this weekend’s weather map is putting you off the festvial vibe, then there are other party options available. Making their ‘Reading Debuts’ at the 2,000 cap 3Sixty venue are the mighty Hudson Mohawke (probably hyped off the back of

. Earlier this week, Hudmo Tweeted: 'I’ve never been to Reading before this upcoming Friday, don’t rly do uk shows except major cities. Let’s make it a proper party for once.' Don’t disappoint him.

Flying Lotus, Thundercat @ Colston Hall, Bristol

Friday Jun 6

Lapalux & Illum Sphere @ Start The Bus, Bristol

Friday Jun 6

It’s a Brainfeeder special in Bristol this weekend, as Flying Lotus heads into town to play a special set put together by the people behind the Simple Things Festival (it returns to the city in October, but tickets are already on sale). The groundbreaking LA producer, otherwise known as Steven Ellison, will likely play from his Warp heavy-hones Cosmogramma and Until The Quiet Comes, while (hopefully) giving a clue as to what will be on his forthcoming 2014 ‘TBA’ release. Support comes from vocalist, songwriter and killer bassist Thundercat, whose 2013 record Apocalypse is a skewed future-funk delight. An after party at Start The Bus, features a set from another Brainfeeder mind, Lapalux, which the promoters promise will be a 'trip in every sense of the word'.

Field Day 2014 @ Victoria Park, London

*Saturday Jun 7 *

Sunday Jun 8

Having studied the Field Day line-up, we’ve discovered that it’s totally possible to not stop dancing from 12.00pm (Moxie, Red Bull Stage) until 6am the next day. Over those hours you can feasibly see (deep breath) Eclair Fifi (Bugged Out, 1pm), Gerd Janson (Bugged out 2pm), deep and strange Vessel (RBMA 3.15pm), the wild pop of SOPHIE (RBMA 4.10pm), straight up party of Jackmaster b2b with Oneman as ‘Can U Dance’ (Bugged Out 4.30pm), a tiny bit of South African magic from John Wizards (Shacklewell Arms 5.50pm), blissful Jamie xx (Bugged Out 6.15pm), Ryan Hemsworth (RBMA 7.05pm), Lunice (RBMA 8.20pm) aaaand SBTRKT’s new show (Bugged Out 9.50pm) and that’s before the after parties or Nguzunguzu the next day (RBMA 5.50pm). Phew. When you need to refuel, be sure to check out treats from street-food favourites Street Feast (from healthy gyoza to slow-smoked beef ribs) the Venn Street Market (what don’t they have) or, if you’re feeling competitive, one of the eating competitions taking place at 3pm both days.

Ame, Jackmaster, Daniel Avery @ Oval Space, London

Saturday Jun 7

The other brilliant thing about Field Day? It’s East London location means there are plenty of after parties only a short jog down the canal. This year’s official one takes place at the impressive Oval Space, with sets from German duo Âme, NTS favourite Moxie, Jackmaster (please read this) and Daniel Avery..

Parklife Weekender @ Heaton Park, Manchester

*Saturday Jun 7 *

Sunday Jun 8

Not in London? Well, great, you’re spared the extortionate rents and 2hr-round trips just to get to your friends’ houses. If you’re specifically in Manchester, even better, as this weekend it’s the city’s Warehouse Project promoted Parklife, featuring even more ways to dance than at Field Day. Stage times are TBA, but between the nine stages and two days, you can sample everything from popstars (Katy B, Rudimental, Disclosure, even a slow sway to London Grammar) to hip-hop stars (Snoop Dogg, A$AP Rocky), the best DJs (Jamie Jones b2b Seth Troxler, Hannah Wants, Maya Jane Coles) to party producers (Jacques Greene, Jamie XX, Julio Bashmore) and, well, loads more (Joy Orbison, Zomby, Tensnake, Pearson Sound). The only bad thing, tickets are sold out so, if you don’t have one, it’s time to start blagging.

Parklife Afterlife, Various Locations, Manchester including Happa @ Kraak Gallery, Hot Creations Afterparty @ Albert Hall, Manchester, The Warehouse Project Presents @ The Ritz, Manchester, Now Wave x FACT Presents Oneman, ryanhemsworth @ Deaf Institute, Manchester

*Saturday Jun 7 *

Sunday Jun 8

Or time to look up one of the many, many ‘Parklife Afterlife’ parties happening all over the city. The taxi drivers and takeaway owners must be rubbing their hands with glee. As all-encompassing of genres as the festival itself choose from nights presented by housey Hot Creations (Saturday), Hit&Run, Drop The Mustard, The Warehouse Project, Lost Control, Now Wave and Fact Magazine. They’re all here, now excuse us, off to carb-load and pick out the perfect outfit.

Follow Sian on Twitter @SianRowe_

This article originally appeared on The Debrief.