It will soon be festival time again! Ah, the beauty and chaos of UK festivals. You might not be able to predict the weather but at least you can sort your schedules out.

Some of you might remember a time when going to a festival meant possibly never seeing your mates again until the next morning. Back in those days, mobile phones were pure sci-fi. If you wanted to know the running order it was either pinned on a board or via a screwed-up program.

Today, the modern summer festival not only has charging stations and lockers, hot showers, Wi-Fi and 4G towers, they have their own apps.

As well as the official festival apps, there are a number of other handy apps that might prove useful while you’re stuck in the middle of a field.

Festival apps

Isle of Wight Festival: June 8-11

Festival app – iOS / Android

The Isle of Wight Festival is the first major festival in the UK summer calendar.  But the Festival’s heritage reaches back over an extraordinary 45 years.

Most will be familiar with the famous line-up in 1970. If you’re not, can you imagine Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Doors, Joni Mitchell, Supertramp, Leonard Cohen, Joan Baez, Chicago, Procol Harum, amongst others on the same bill? Not to mention that you’d have been with over 600,000 like-minded people.

This year David Guetta, and Run DMC will co-headline the Friday night. The Saturday headliner is Arcade Fire, and Sunday’s bill topper is Rod Stewart, with Kaiser Chiefs, Texas, George Ezra, Bastille, Jack Savoretti, Rag n Bone Man and many more.

Kelvedon Bash: June 30 – July 2

Festival app – iOS / Android version on the way

This one might not be on your radar yet as 2017 is its debut.

The Kelvedon Bash is not just a music festival, it celebrates a whole range of arts. Think of it more like a mini-Glastonbury in Essex.

The venue is Kelvedon Hall, which is a mere 19 miles from London.

The organisers decided to call it a ‘bash’ rather than a festival as it gives it a more intimate and casual feel. Saying that though, the music line-up is none-too-shabby.

Lee “Scratch” Perry, Massive Attack’s Daddy G, Faithless’ Sister Bliss, 808 State’s A Guy Called Gerald, Norman Jay MBE, Brandon Block and David Rodigan are all confirmed. Word is that there’s still a special headliner to be announced.

Love Supreme: July 1-2

Festival app – iOS / Android

The Love Supreme Festival is a jazz-infused weekend in the beautiful ground of Glynde Place in East Sussex.

It proudly boasts to be the only jazz festival in the UK with camping. I think it is under-selling itself though. You see, it’s not just limited to jazz, the festival also covers soul and funk too.

This year’s headliners include The Jacksons, Herbie Hancock, Gregory Porter, Robert Glasper Experiment. Furthermore, you can expect Corinne Bailey Ray, Mica Paris, BadBadNotGood, George Benson and many more.

Livewire Festival: Aug 25-27

Festival app – iOS / Android

Blackpool is host to a number of festivals, including the punk-tastic Rebellion. Livewire is somewhat different to Rebellion, however.

For a start, Livewire is set to be headlined by Will Smith and his buddy DJ Jazzy Jeff. Other acts confirmed for the festival include The Jacksons, Go West, Sinitta and Jason Donovan.

Seems a good one for a nostalgia hit.

Must have apps

Fest prep

Festival Ready: iOS – free

Festival Ready is a one-stop-shop for simply everything you need for camping at a festival site.

The app also comes with a live weather forecast, a packing checklist and, not to mention, a 3D navigation system that drops pins along your routes to help lost friends track you down.

It’s built by Victorinox, them behind the Swiss Army Knife, so there’s plenty of good stuff here.

Car sharing

BlaBlaCar: iOS / Android – free

Carpooling makes sense.Why try to squish onto a coach or bus with a hundred other backpack toting music fans when you could a little more comfortably?

It’s going to be cheaper than the train and you might even make new friends.

The thing is, answering an ad in a forum or magazine might leaving you feeling a bit sketchy.

BlaBlaCar is kind of like Air B&B but for cars. You get to see drivers’ profiles and see what others say about travelling with them before you commit.

Through the app you can book and pay for your seat. If your driver cancels, you’ll be refunded. You also get to leave ratings.

Tent finders

Android: Festival Buddy – free

iOS: BC Tent Finder – free

In all the excitement and breakfast booze haze, pitching your tent is usually a giggle (if it’s not raining). We’ve all been there. It’s the start of the camaraderie that shall continue for the next few days.

Once all the tents are staying up by themselves, it’s time to head to the arena. This is where such familiar phrases as “We’re opposite the tent with the flag” and “I’ll recognise that tree” are all well-meaningfully spouted. You know better though.

Download one of these apps and they’ll use actual GPS to get you back to your temporary home.

Friend finders

Find my friends: iOS / Android – free

This is not a dodgy hook-up app, don’t worry.

Again, by the power of GPS, this app will find your mates by tapping in to their phone’s GPS.

Likewise, through the very same app, they can see where you are. You can also chat with each other and get directions.

Music sharing

Audibly: iOS – free

You didn’t want to drag a Bluetooth speaker to the festival, I get that. But, when chilling back at base, your tinny phone speakers are just not going to cut it.

If only you could harness the power of your friends’ phones too.

Well, Audibly can play your music in sync across nearby iOS devices.

Just choose the songs you want, link up some devices, and you’re ready to go.

First Aid

Red Cross app: iOS / Android – free

Accidents do happen. Not only that, every group has that friend that seems to attract mishaps.

Be prepared and get the British Red Cross First Aid app.

The app provides tips on how to prepare for common emergency first aid situations, as well as step-by-step guides on what to do if you find yourself in said situations.

All the information is contained within the app, meaning you don’t even need an internet connection to access it.

It’s a handy thing whether festing or not.

Need an app building?

If you are organising a festival or large music event, check out Second Screen.

The company has created tie-ups with pop sensation Anastacia as well as several prominent UK festivals, including the Isle of Wight Festival, Liverpool Sound City and Fusion Festival – with further apps set to roll out throughout the year.