Just as the British music festival scene bulges and threatens to burst at the
seams with phenomenal demand and increasing supply, so European events
become ever more accessible with cheap flights to just about anywhere.
Increasing numbers of Brits are looking to new or exotic locations to combine
their festival-going with a holiday.
Repeated muddy Glastonbury experiences and a dreadful British summer in 2007
has left music fans gagging for better weather and different cultures.
The lure of the Spanish coast and the Med, reports of hard partying and
cheaper everything in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, the viking madness of
Scandinavia - not to mention the plethora of events in Germany and France -
make it all too tempting to jet off to experience similar lineups of bands
in new surroundings.
Despite the pound being in trouble against the euro, many places are still
cheaper to have fun, and ticket prices are generally lower for festivals
across the Continent. And real bargains can be had where the euro has not
yet been implemented - Poland's Open'er festival will set you back just £66
for 3 days of the very best bands. Less than half the price of UK
equivalents.
What's more there's tickets available for most of the big festivals across
Europe, unlike many in the UK.
Tempted yet? If you are make a beeline to one of these excellent
destinations...
See the festival websites for ticket details
Primavera Sound, Barcelona,
Spain - May 29-31
Where better to enjoy an urban event than in buzzy Barcelona. Primavera Sound
is first of four fine festivals to be held in the Parc del Forum convention
space this summer. There's space for a few differnet venues and fine views
to the stage and out to sea in the main amphitheatre arena.
Portishead play twice, there's hip-hop and rap from legends De La Soul and
Public Enemy, and a host of the best indie, dance and rock bands including
British Sea Power, Cat Power, Vampire Weekend, Simian Mobile Disco, The Go!
Team and Tindersticks.
Sonar is a
legendary electronically-inclined event that has large all-night parties at
Parc del Forum as well as live acts and DJs in more intimate venues across
the city from June 19-21. Performers include Goldfrapp, Bestival and Radio
1's Rob da Bank, Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animal's 80s retro project Neon
Neon and dancefloor luminaries Miss Kittin, Ricardo Villalobos and Frankie
Knuckles.
You have forgotten about Norways best jazz and bluesfestival in Arendal, July 21 - 27. The pearl of Southern Norway! www.canalstreet.no - check it out!
Lisa, Arendal, Norway
Rock Am Ring anyone???
Jordan, Loughborough, UK
Ian - Suggest looking at the full Roskilde line-up, much more than the few electro-poppers mentioned and there's plenty of variation in styles and genres - it's looking like one of the best around. www.roskilde-festival.dk
Sue, Worthing, UK
What about the Macerata Opera festival? Held in July and August in a spectacular open air ampitheatre tickets start at only 15 euros for standing only and good seats can be had for 40 euros. Macerata is a medieval hill top Italian town in Marche with beautiful scenery in an unspoilt area of Italy
c chapman, corridonia, italia
I think the line-up for most of these festivals explains why tickets are still available.
Richard Stevenson, Charlotte, USA
Agree with Ian Fraser. This article title is misleading- music is not just Pop/Rock.
caroline, Paris, France
Vltava and Budapest? PLEASE.
Sziget is the best indeed.
kobren, Uxbridge, UK
Regarding the " Sziget " in Budapest the name of the river is NOT
the Vltava it is the Danube .
The " Sziget " is one of the best in Europe .
Catch it while you still can ... before the Hungarians join the
Euro ... :-(
Tamas , Los Angeles ,
yeah, yeah there is a Vltava river in Budapest, what's running through London Siena??? btw Sziget was OK,but too crowdy now there is a Balaton festival for the second time this year w Massive Attack & Fatboy Slim! Cheers!
Damir, Zagreb, Croatia
Summercase - great festival, cheap, ace lineups, but terrible location and logistics in Madrid. 40 min bus journey out of the centre, no camping, and a horrendous night bus journey back to not even the centre of Madrid at 4.30 am. And a concrete feria ground, with the smallest piece of grass ever.
Lizzie, Marbella,
Sorry , but when I saw the title "Summer Music Festivals" , I assumed that you were to be detailing Festivals where MUSIC was to be heard.
All I saw was a list of festivals featuring electrified pop .
Whatever happened to festivals where Real Music (Classical , Jazz , Folk etc) are performed?
Ian Fraser, Newcastle upon Tyne,