Glastonbury tickets went on sale this morning, and those of you too laid-back
to have registered your interest weeks ago will not, of course, have got
one. Nor will those of you who registered but overslept, and are reading
this on Sunday afternoon — 2005 sold out in less than three hours. So, this
article isn’t for the 177,000 smug mudlarks who now have their tickets, but
for those of us who don’t, and are thus inclined to think, what with ID
cards, sponsorship and Stasi-style fences, that the hippie state of
Glastonbury has turned into a corporate police state.
There are plenty of other festivals around the world, some even guaranteeing
decent weather. Here are 10 marvellous options. One word of warning: many
lineups are still being finalised (look how many places at once some of the
bands appear to be), so check the confirmed roster with the organisers’
website before you book if you have a particular act in mind. Unless stated,
ticket prices include camping and assume you will take your own tent; camper
vans, ready-pitched tepees and parking are extra.
CALIFORNIA
What? Coachella, an annual three-day bash held at the Empire Polo
Fields in Indio, is the biggest music festival in the Sunshine State. You’re
out under the desert sun near Palm Springs — bring plenty of sunscreen.
When? April 27-29. Who? Don’t ask who is there, ask who isn’t. Acts
include Arcade Fire, Björk, Arctic Monkeys, Rage Against the Machine, Rufus
Wainwright, Lily Allen, Gillian Welch, Kaiser Chiefs and Amy Winehouse.
Top-notch, in other words.
How? The three-day tickets have gone (apart from on the internet, where
they are fetching top dollar), but some day tickets are still available for
about £45. For lineup details and booking, visit www.coachella.com.
Trailfinders (0845 054 7777, www.trailfinders.com)
has five nights, room-only, at the three-star Wyndham Palm Springs from
£539pp, including flights with British Airways from Heathrow to Los Angeles
and five days’ car hire. For further venue and travel details, call
California Tourism on 020 7257 6180 or visit www.visitcalifornia.com.
SHETLAND
What? Shetland Folk Festival, Lerwick. If that raises a snigger, where
have you been these past couple of years? Folk is fashionable once again.
Nick Drake is God, Pentangle have risen from the dead and Vashti Bunyan is
the second coming (well, there were 35 years between albums).
When? May 4-6.
Who? Shetland’s unique selling point is the Foys, on the last night,
when you get to see all the visiting acts. They are shuttled between venues
by minibus and play a punchy 15-minute set each. This year’s festival
features local and international acts, with headliners including Mary Black,
Sharon Shannon and Terrafolk, from Slovenia. How? Application forms for
tickets will be available at www.shetlandfolkfestival.com
on Friday. The website also has links to travel and accommodation pages.
Alternatively, call 01595 694757 for further details.
GERMANY
What? Rock am Ring, at the famous Nürburgring racetrack, near
Cologne, is one of Europe’s biggest festivals, with about 80,000 attending.
When? June 1-3. Who? The White Stripes, the Hives, Arctic Monkeys, the
Kooks, Kaiser Chiefs and German bands such as Wir Sind Helden and Die Arzte.
How? Tickets cost £86. They are available from www.tickets-per-post.de,
or 00 49 69 - 9443660 (English spoken). See also www.rock-am-ring.com/festivalnewsenglish.html.
The nearest airports to the Nürburgring are Cologne-Bonn (80 km), served by
Easyjet (0871 750 0100, www.easyjet.com)
from East Midlands, Gatwick, and Liverpool, and Düsseldorf (120 km), served
by Air Berlin (0871-5000 73, www.airberlin.com)
from Stansted, Glasgow, Manchester and Belfast. Then take the train from the
respective airport to Koblenz station (www.bahn.co.uk)
where a bus shuttle from Koblenz to Nürburgring and back will run during the
festival (see the English version of www.nuerburgring.de
for full timetable).
CHICAGO
What? Chicago Blues Festival, held in Grant Park; bands play from noon
until 9.30pm.
When? This free festival in the heartland of urban blues runs from June
7 to 10. I said, this free festival in the heartland of urban blues runs
from June 7 to 10. (You always repeat the first line with the blues.)
Who? As the name suggests, it’s heavy on the 12-bar, evoking the
spirits of Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith and Howlin’ Wolf with, last year,
the likes of Elvin Bishop, David “Honeyboy” Edwards and Bobby “Blue” Bland.
This year’s lineup has yet to be confirmed (visit www.chicagobluesfestival.org),
but you can expect plenty of after-dark action in the city’s clubs, too. See
also www.choosechicago.com.
How? Bon Voyage (0800 316 3012, www.bon-voyage.co.uk)
has a three-night break to coincide with the festival; £499pp, including
Heathrow or Manchester flights and room-only accommodation at the three-star
Essex Inn.
SWEDEN
What? The seven-stage Hultsfred “rockparty” is one of Sweden’s biggest
and — despite some problems in the past with Babyshambles and Hole —
best-organised bashes. It takes place in a forested arena next to a lovely
lake (bring mossie repellent).
When? June 14-16. Who? Ozzy Osbourne, Wolfmother, the Drones and Korn
set the tone, which is decidedly fuzzed and flanged. Amy Winehouse offers a
pause for breath.
How? A three-day pass costs £123; you can buy online at www1.ticnet.se.
The festival’s website (www.rockparty.se)
has some pages in English. Airlines flying to Stockholm include Ryanair
(0871 246 0000, www.ryanair.com)
and SAS (0870 607 2772, www.flysas.com).
From there, it’s about 200 miles to Hultsfred. Trains take about four hours,
with fares starting at £50 each way; visit www.resplus.se.
Holiday Autos (www.holidayautos.co.uk)
has a week’s inclusive car hire from £226.
SPAIN
What? The Festival International de Benicassim (FIB), which takes place
in the eponymous port 56 miles north of Valencia airport, is one for the
nocturnes. The music doesn’t kick off until, as headliners Arctic Monkeys
might say, the sun goes down, along with the temperature.
When? July 19-22.
Who? The above-mentioned Monkeys, the Stooges (back from oblivion), the
Magic Numbers, Klaxons, Muse, Dinosaur Jr, the Human League, Bright Eyes,
Calexico and Micah P Hinson (the last two giving the festival more of an
alt-country twist this year).
How? Tickets cost £100 for a three-day pass, £110 for four: book
through www.fiberfib.com
or www.nme.com. Airlines
flying to Valencia include Ryanair (0871 246 0000, www.ryanair.com),
EasyJet (www.easyjet.com)
or Iberia (0870 609 0500, www.iberia.com).
Trains from Valencia to Benicassim take just under an hour, with fares
starting at £3.70 each way.
DUMFRIES
What? It might sound as if you’ll be trapped inside an effigy and
torched, but the Wickerman festival is an attempt to create “the
counterculture vibe of festivals from a bygone era”. In other words,
Glastonbury as it used to be. It features multiple stages, sound systems,
kids’ areas and, well, a giant wicker man that gets burnt on Sunday night
(with nobody in it, we hope). When? July 20 and 21.
Who? This year, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, the Orb, I Am Kloot, Jah Wobble,
the Yardbirds, Hayseed Dixie and scores of others.
How? The event takes place at East Kirkcarswell, near Dundrennan (M74
then A711), and tickets cost £76.40pp. For more details, visit www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk
or call 01738 450442.
HUNGARY
What? The Sziget Festival, held on Obudai island, in the middle of the
Danube, just outside Budapest. When? It’s a long one — August 8-15. Who?
Pencilled in are the Killers, Faithless and the Good, the Bad and the Queen,
among many, many others.
How? Tickets cost £82 if purchased before April 16, and can be bought
online through www.szigetfestival.com.
Airlines flying to Budapest include EasyJet (www.easyjet.com),
Jet2 (0871 226 1737, www.jet2.com)
and Malev (0870 909 0577, www.malev.hu).
ISLE OF WIGHT
What? The perky little brother of the main IOW festival in June (which
sold out even before it was announced that Mick Jagger would appear),
Bestival, at Newport, bills itself as three days of “boutique festival fun”.
There’ll be eight stages, along with everything from a Bollywood-themed bar
to a farmers’ market.
When? September 7-9.
Who? “Curated” by Rob da Bank, with the Beastie Boys and the Chemical
Brothers headlining, and the Levellers, Gregory Isaacs, Billy Bragg, Tim
Westwood and Gilles Peterson.
How? Tickets cost £115; visit www.bestival.net.
Packages including tickets, ferry and accommodation are available through
Red Funnel (0870 444 8898, www.redfunnel.co.uk/bestival).
MALAWI
What? The Lake of Stars Festival, which takes place in the grounds of
the Chintheche Inn, raises money for charity and promotes Malawian music. In
a stunning spot on the edge of Lake Malawi, it’s a long way from fields of
mud.
When? October 5-7.
Who? A mix of African and international bands and DJs: Wambali
Mkandawire, Gilles Peterson, Rob da Bank, the Wombats and plenty more to
come.
How? Tickets are available from Ticketline (0161 832 1111, www.ticketline.co.uk);
£40 plus booking fee. For details, visit www.lakeofstars.co.uk.
Getting there is the pricey part. Western & Oriental (0870 499 0677 www.westernoriental.com)
has a sevennight package at Makuzi Beach for £1,200pp, including flights,
transfers and shuttles to the concerts. STA (0871 230 0040, www.statravel.co.uk)
has flights from Heathrow to Lilongwe from £650. Ensuite rooms on site start
at £12. Further details from Malawi Tourism (0115 982 1903, www.malawitourism.com).
Thats right, California is the Golden State.
Reference: http://www.50states.com/bio/nickname1.htm
JJ, London, England
Um, Florida is the Sunshine State.
Pax McEvoy, Miami, FL
You've not mentioned the world's largest music festival, Summerfest in Milwaukee WI (Just 90 miles north of Chicago for the geographically impaired). It runs from June 28th to July 8th. Headliners include Bon Jovi, John Mayer and The Fray plus others to be announced. Attendence for Summerfest runs almost to 1 million. Milwaukee also then has ethnic festivals every weekend throughout the rest of summer; Festa Italiana, Germanfest,Irishfest, and many others. Summerfest makes Chicago's Bluesfest look like your grandmothers picnic. So, if you are coming all the way to the midwest, skip Chicago and come a bit more north!
Paul Wckert, Milwaukee, WI/USA
The Benicassim festival in Spain is excellent.
Laze around at the beach or the huge campsite during the day, and chat with other fans from all over Europe. Go to the festival from 10pm until 9am and watch the best bands in the world perform whilst the sun comes up.
Glastonbury....no thanks. You know that a Scene is well and truly over when the scramble to get tickets becomes front page news and the majority of the audience cease to go for the music, but so they can tell their friends when boarding school starts again how drunk they were for three days.
Max, London,