Feature
THE BEST SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS AS CHOSEN BY YOU
Words by Julie Alpine and Sophy Grimshaw
COULEUR CAFÉ
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 29 JUN-1 JUL www.couleurcafe.be
IN A NUTSHELL Taking place at the Tour & Taxis venue just outside Brussels' city centre, Couleur Café has proved a huge hit since it started in 1990. The multi-cultural fest is dedicated to fusion music set against a buzzing, urban backdrop. Expect more than 50 concerts over three days, a young designers' market, dance classes and world food stalls. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE De la Soul, Nas, Erykah Badu, Jessie J (pictured). WHERE TO STAY Camping Zen is the on-site camp. WHAT IT COSTS A one-day ticket is €38, a three-day ticket with camping is €97. YOU SAY... "The only Belgian music festival where I find the best of reggae, hip-hop, latin, rock, pop, dub, electro and world music!" Kristien Dubois, Paris, France
ELECTRIC PICNIC
STRADBALLY, IRELAND 31 AUG-2 SEPwww.electricpicnic.ie
IN A NUTSHELL Set amid the rolling lawns and woodland of Stradbally Hall, a 243ha estate less than an hour from Dublin, Electric Picnic promises an eclectic mix of live music, art, theatre, comedy and spoken word. Now in its ninth year, it has a family friendly vibe, and you'll never find yourself far from an organic food/holistic medicine/massage stall. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE The Cure, The Killers, Elbow, Patti Smith. WHERE TO STAY A weekend ticket includes camping. Pre-pitched tents, beach huts, tepees and yurts are available, or bring your own. WHAT IT COSTS €236.10 for a weekend camping ticket, €105.60 for a Sunday ticket. THEY SAY... "The Cure are a band we've been trying to get on the bill for seven years!" John Reynolds, organiser
THE GARDEN FESTIVAL
TISNO, CROATIA 4-11 JUL www.thegardenfestival.eu
IN A NUTSHELL This dance music-based festival is brought to you by Zadar's iconic club The Garden - but this year the party will be moving to its new home at Tisno, just down the road from Zadar. Among the many ticket packages available is one that includes the Electric Elephant festival in the same location from 12 to 16 July. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Nicolas Jaar, Tiger & Woods, 2020 Soundsystem. WHERE TO STAY On-site apartments and camping (your own tent or a luxury Shikar), or hotels in Tisno. WHAT IT COSTS Tickets for the week cost £90 (€116). YOU SAY... "There's a mix of musical genres and always an amazing community spirit. The whole atmosphere is magic." Kate Binns, Liverpool
SÓNAR
BARCELONA, SPAIN 14-16 JUN www.sonar.es
IN A NUTSHELL The International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art takes place over three days and nights, and brings together some of the finest electronic acts around. Since 1994, it has provided a platform for emerging talent - by day the programme focuses on new artists and by night three stages play host to the headliners. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Hot Chip,The Roots, Fatboy Slim (pictured). WHERE TO STAY Sónar has partnered with budgetplaces. com to recommend hotels, apartments and hostels. WHAT IT COSTS From €42.80 (one day) to €200 ("pro" pass). YOU SAY... "I go every year. The quality of the artists, venues and visuals is simply world class." Martyn Moutinho, London
LOVEBOX
LONDON, ENGLAND 15-17 JUN www.lovebox.net
IN A NUTSHELL This city music festival in east London's Victoria Park was created by the band Groove Armada and has become the big noise of the London summer. The stellar musical line-up is spread across several stages and areas, and around the site you'll find funfair attractions and candy floss stalls for hipsters to get in touch with their inner kid. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Lana Del Ray, Grace Jones, Azealia Banks. WHERE TO STAY There's no on-site camping, so you'll need to find your own digs. WHAT IT COSTS Day tickets from £31.90 (€39), three-day pass £108.90 (€133). VIP passes available, up to £185 (€226) for three days. THEY SAY... "Brace yourself." Grace Jones on her set this year.
HOP FARM
PADDOCK WOOD, ENGLAND 29 JUN-1 JUL www.hopfarmfestival.com
IN A NUTSHELL With its "No sponsorship, no VIPs, no branding" ethos, Hop Farm Music Festival takes place in 36ha of Kent countryside. Legendary artists line up alongside hot-ticket contemporary acts. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Bob Dylan (pictured), Peter Gabriel and the New Blood Orchestra, Richard Ashcroft. WHERE TO STAY Want hot showers and clean loos? The festival grounds include the Snoozebox portable hotel and luxury tepees, as well as a camper-van field and general camping facilities. Londoners can catch the last train home. WHAT IT COSTS Day ticket £55 (€67), weekend including camping £162 (€198). THEY SAY... "The best, most civilised festival in the world." Morrissey
TOMORROW- LAND
BOOM, BELGIUM 27-29 JUL www.tomorrowland.be
IN A NUTSHELL Not for nothing has the colossal, fairytale-themed Tomorrowland been called the ultimate dance music festival. This summer's event promises a glittering bill of big-name DJs, impeccable production and a monster crowd - who will be descending on the appropriately named Belgian town of Boom. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Pendulum (pictured), David Guetta, Fatboy Slim, Skrillex. WHERE TO STAY DreamVille has camping, pre-installed tents, and real bed options. WHAT IT COSTS Standard tickets from €77.25 (one day) to €177.25 (three-day), plus camping from €37.75. THEY SAY... "The energy is on another level to most festival crowds... mind-blowing." Avicii, Swedish super-DJ
MELT! FESTIVAL
GRÄFENHAINICHEN, GERMANY 13-15 JUL www.meltfestival.de
IN A NUTSHELL Originally conceived to fill a gap in the festival market for "electronic meets rock", the Melt! Festival quickly grew in popularity. Its current location is Ferropolis, a former quarry and now an open-air museum for industrial machinery. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Bloc Party, Justice, M83, Rufus Wainwright And His Band. WHERE TO STAY Camping is included in the ticket price, with on-site VIP and hotel options available. WHAT IT COSTS A three-day pass is €126, which includes a €5 garbage deposit, returnable on receipt of a full rubbish bag! YOU SAY... "I can understand why Noel Gallagher says Melt! is like the inside of Marilyn Manson's head! Spectacular." Lawrence Millar, London
T IN THE PARK
BALADO, SCOTLAND 6-8 JUL www.tinthepark.com
IN A NUTSHELL Scotland's biggest music festival (the T stands for Tennent's lager) started life in 1994. In 1997 it moved to its current site, a disused airfield in Kinross-shire, where it now accommodates 85,000 up-for-it festival-goers. Homegrown and international artists perform across 11 stages, and attractions include a cinema and funfair. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Snow Patrol, Tinie Tempah (pictured), The Stone Roses. WHERE TO STAY Luxury yurts and huts, pre-pitched tents or plain-old regular camping. WHAT IT COSTS Day tickets £78.30-£86.75 (€95-€106), weekend including camping, £198.95 (€242). YOU SAY... "The crowd and bands are always up for a great time. My favourite fest." Jenna Scherczer, Edinburgh
HEINEKEN OPEN'ER
GDYNIA, POLAND 4-7 JUL www.opener.pl
IN A NUTSHELL Organised by concert agency Alter Art, the Heineken Open'er takes place on Gdynia-Kosakowo, a former airfield on the Polish coast. This year the music will be accompanied by a photo exhibition celebrating the festival's history, as well as a Ferris wheel, silent disco, signing tent (for autograph hunters) and kids' zone. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Franz Ferdinand, Mumford & Sons, Björk (pictured). WHERE TO STAY Camp just 400m from the stages. WHAT IT COSTS Tickets range from a one-day pass for 165 PLN (€39), to a four-day pass including camping for 410 PLN (€98). YOU SAY... "It's the Glastonbury of Poland! I was in the crowd for Prince last year and it was incredible." Chris Phillips, London
ØYA
OSLO, NORWAY 7-11 AUG www.oyafestivalen.com
IN A NUTSHELL Celebrating its 14th birthday this summer, this boutique festival draws a diverse line-up from around the world to a Medieval Park in the Norwegian capital. Get your festival fix surrounded by the Oslo fjord to the south, the Ekeberg Hill to the east, and the Oslo skyline to the west. You'll be treated to 200 bands across four stages and 30 clubs in central Oslo. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Björk, The Stone Roses, The Black Keys (pictured), Florence + the Machine. WHERE TO STAY Local hotels, hostels, apartments and camping off-site. WHAT IT COSTS A week's pass is 2,200 NOK (€290), with day tickets at 765 NOK (€96). YOU SAY... "The crowd are people who care about the music, not just the partying." Andy Mathieson, Aberdeen
CREAMFIELDS
LIVERPOOL, UK 24-26 AUG www.creamfields.com
IN A NUTSHELL One of the UK's biggest, best and brashest dance music festivals, brought to you by legendary Liverpool nightclub Cream. Expect a diverse line-up crowned by world-famous super DJs. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE David Guetta (pictured), Tiësto, Avicii. WHERE TO STAY Bring a tent or choose from more upmarket camping options, such as a luxury "Podpad", a little like a wendy house! WHAT IT COSTS Tickets range from £66 (€81) to £263.50 (€322) depending on how long you go for and the accomodation you choose. YOU SAY... "The consistency of the line-up is what does it for me. I'm always safe in the knowledge it will be awesome - and I like the friendly vibe up north too." Hayley Lloyd-Henry, Prestwich
NOVA
PULBOROUGH, ENGLAND 5-8 JUL www.novafestival.co.uk
IN A NUTSHELL This new festival in West Sussex comes from the creators of The Big Chill and mixes live music and theatre with new work from superstars of contemporary art. Look out for contributions from Damien Hirst and David Shrigley, and play a round on artist Doug Fishbone's crazy golf course, where each of the holes is designed by a different famous artist. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Ghostpoet, Norman Jay (pictured). WHERE TO STAY Camper van, tent, "Bell Tent" or "Podpad". WHAT IT COSTS Standard tickets £145.50 (€178). THEY SAY... "Never in the history of UK festivals have so many established artists merged with musicians to create a sumptuous aural, visual feast." Victoria Burns, co-founder
OFF
KATOWICE, POLAND 3-5 AUG www.off-festival.pl
IN A NUTSHELL Winner of the "Best Medium-Sized Festival" category at the European Festival Awards 2011, the three-day OFF festival is fast becoming one of Europe's best-value summer tickets. Established in 2006, in a beautiful green oasis, the event not only attracts big-name musical acts but also puts art and literature firmly in the spotlight too. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Henry Rollins, Iggy and the Stooges (pictured), Death in Vegas. WHERE TO STAY Camp at Festival Village, or choose a hotel in Katowice itself. WHAT IT COSTS Three-day passes cost €48 with camping, or €40 without. YOU SAY... "We had no idea what to expect from a Polish alternative music festival, but we were totally hooked!" Tom Harvey, London
INTERNACIONAL DE BENICÀSSIM
BENICÀSSIM, SPAIN 12-15 JUL www.fiberfib.com
IN A NUTSHELL Brought to you by British music mogul Vince Power, Brit-rock and pop tends to dominate the line-up at FIB, which is nestled along the coast between Valencia and Barcelona. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Bob Dylan, The Stone Roses, Florence + the Machine (pictured). WHERE TO STAY The campsite is near the arena and the beach, with on-site bars and showers. You can also opt for the VIP area, or choose from hotels and campsites in the surrounding area. WHAT IT COSTS Four-day tickets cost €169, including access to the campsite. YOU SAY... "Think of a UK festival with an incredible line-up, then add sunshine and sandy beaches." Philip Booth, London
WAY OUT WEST
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN 9-11 AUG www.wayoutwest.se
IN A NUTSHELL Held in the 137ha Slottsskogen park, Way Out West also hosts a clubbing concept called Stay Out West - with performances at bars, nightclubs, churches and theatres all around the city. Way Out West boasts a mostly organic food and drink offering, eco-friendly green power, and a line-up spanning rock, electronic and hip hop. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Bon Iver, Feist, Blur (pictured). WHERE TO STAY There's no on-site camping, so book a hotel, hostel or campsite in the surrounding area. WHAT IT COSTS A three-day festival pass, including clubbing with Stay Out West, costs 1,940 SEK (€256). YOU SAY... "Each time it just gets better. There is literally something for everyone." Jessica Lindoff, London
BERLIN FESTIVAL
BERLIN, GERMANY 7-8 SEP www.berlinfestival.de
IN A NUTSHELL The annual Berlin festival takes off at the former Tempelhof airport, where acts perform in two hangars in addition to the main stage. The programme ends at midnight, then the action continues under the banner Club Xberg. Gig and DJ sets go on at the Arena Berlin, Arena Club, Glashaus, and Badeschiff until the small hours. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Sigur Rós, Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Orbital. WHERE TO STAY There's no on-site accommodation, so you'll need to look for a good place to crash in Berlin. WHAT IT COSTS Two-day tickets €81.90-€89.40, one-day ticket €54.40. YOU SAY... "This is the festival that inspired me to move to Berlin from London!" Jessie Brown, Berlin
THE PARKLIFE WEEKENDER
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND 9-10 JUN www.parklife.uk.com
IN A NUTSHELL Now in its third year, this indie and electronica fest looks to be heading towards another sold-out event - and is the last to be held at Platt Fields Park due to increasing demand. Themed chill-out zones, interactive art, a funfair, cabaret, dance troupes, comedy and theatre all compliment the live music. THIS YEAR'S ACTS INCLUDE Dizzee Rascal, The Flaming Lips, Azealia Banks (pictured). WHERE TO STAY There's no campsite, but non- Mancunians will find plenty of hotels and hostels in the city. WHAT IT COSTS Weekend tickets from £70.95 (€87), day tickets from £43 (€52). YOU SAY... "I raved it up to Jamie xx and Annie Mac, plus saw some awesome bands like Everything Everything." Ally Weller, Manchester
