With the summer music festival season about to kick off, its time to look at the best of the big music events that Europe has to offer. Some are infamous, some not so famous, but all promise great music, unique locations and a top day out!
(In date order from now:)
WHERE?:
Neuhausen Ob Eck, Germany
WHEN?:
June 22nd to 24th, 2012
HEADLINERS:
Justice ; Florence & The Machine; The Cure ; Blink 182 ; The Kooks ; New Order ; Rise Against ; Die Artze ; Mumford & Sons ; The Stone Roses ; The xx ; Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds ; Garbage ; M83 + many more.
ABOUT:
Of the many music events that Germany hosts throughout the year (including Rock am Ring/Rock im Park and Melt), 'Southside Festival' presents the best, and most varied, collection of artists on the German calendar.
With everything from the acoustic-folk of Mumford & Sons to the electronic crunch of French dance-rockers Justice - and healthy nods to the past - this festival, taking place just north of Lake Constance, has something to suit all musical tastes.
WHERE?:
Roskilde, Denmark
WHEN?:
July 5th to 8th, 2012
HEADLINERS:
Björk ; Bon Iver ; The Cure, Mew ; The Roots ; Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band ; Jack White + many more.
ABOUT:
Whilst there are many new players on the European circuit, Denmark's time-honoured Roskilde festival remains a highlight.
Set in an ancient Viking city, this festival was started in 1971 by two high school students and, over the years, has played hosts to such legendary acts as The Kinks, Bob Marley, Lou Reed, Eric Clapton, Nirvana and, on numerous occasions, Bob Dylan.
Fast-forward to 2012 and Roskilde can still be relied upon to produce a line-up that meshes established musical royalty with the freshest of up-and-comers.
WHERE?:
Novi Sad, Serbia
WHEN?:
July 12th to 15th, 2012
HEADLINERS:
Guns N Roses ; Duran Duran ; New Order ; Erykah Badu ; Plan B ; AVICII ; Richie Hawtin ; The Gossip ; Laurent Garnier ; Knife Party ; Claude Von Stroke + many more.
ABOUT:
The small, student city of Novi Sad lies approximately an hour and a half north of the Serbian capital Belgrade.
On the banks of the mighty Danube, this city is home to a magnificent, 18th century fortification called the 'Petrovaradin Fortress'. This fortress plays host to 'Exit Festival', one of the world's most spectacularly located music extravaganzas.
The line-up now includes acts from all genres, but also stays true to its roots by retaining a strong electronic presence.
FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE BENICASSIM
WHERE?:
Benicassim, Spain
WHEN?:
July 12th to 15th, 2012
HEADLINERS:
Bob Dylan ; Florence & the Machine ; David Guetta ; At The Drive In ; Chase & Status ; The Stone Roses ; Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds ; New Order + many more.
ABOUT:
The seaside resort of Benicassim hosts the Iberian peninsula's premier music festival. The chance to take a dip in the Mediterranean, before and after festivities, competes with acts like Bob Dylan, Florence & the Machine and David Guetta as the main attraction.
This festival is also handily timed and located in relation to Pamplona's infamous San Fermin festival (running of the bulls), which make it an easy add-on for many young travellers.
Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
WHEN?:
July 27th & 28th, 2012
HEADLINERS:
Chase & Status ; Friendly Fires ; Armin Van Buuren ; Markus Schulz ; Tinie Tempah ; Afrojack ; Nero ; Skrillex ; Knife Party ; Above & Beyond ; Ferry Corsten ; Magnetic Man ; Annie Mac ; W&W + many more.
ABOUT:
Whilst festivals like 'Creamfields' remain extremely worthy contenders, 'Global Gathering' is the United Kingdom's premier dance music festival. As its moniker suggests, it is a veritable who's who of the international dance music scene.
Whilst the genteel setting of Stratford-upon-Avon (birthplace of William Shakespeare) might invoke more images of sonnets than dirty beats, the Bard's hometown makes a terrific setting for dance music royalty and their loyal subjects.
Boom, Belgium
WHEN?:
July 27th to 29th, 2012
HEADLINERS:
AVICII ; Fatboy Slim ; David Guetta ; Bloody Beetroots (dj set) ; Calvin Harris ; Carl Cox ; Steve Aoki ; Swedish House Mafia ; Skrillex ; Ferry Corsten ; Sven Vath ; Laidback Luke ; Cassius ; Fake Blood + many more.
ABOUT:
Already sold out for 2012 - it sold out in half an hour, leaving many disappointed - Tomorrowland is perpetually rated amongst the top dance music festivals in the world.
Set in the appropriately named Boom, this festival hosts artists and DJs from a variety of different dance music genres. Whether you're taste is underground tech or more radio-friendly grooves, there is something here to keep everyone happy.
Its not just about the music, however, with the luxuriously named camping site of 'Dreamville' believed to come with its own attractions.
Montreux, Switzerland
WHEN?:
June 29th to July 14th, 2012
HEADLINERS:
Ed Sheeran ; Chris Cornell ; Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson ; Alanis Morissette ; Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds ; Lana Del Rey ; Rufus Wainwright ; Erykah Badu ; D'Angelo ; Van Morrison ; Pitbull ; Tony Bennett ; Jessie J ; Kimbra ; Bobby Womack + many more.
ABOUT:
Far from being just a jazz festival, as the name may suggest, for two weeks in late June/early July, the Swiss town of Montreux embraces all kinds of popular, non-classical music.
The shores of Lake Geneva play host to an incredible variety of the biggest names in music - from upstarts like Jessie J, Ed Sheeran and Kimbra through to pioneers such as Van Morrison, Tony Bennett and Bobby Womack.
'Montreux' operates differently from the other festivals in this list in that each artist/show is individually ticketed, rather than the 'all you can eat' approach of the others.
In addition to many paid events (the bulk of your 'name' artists), there are also many free events to take in.
Montreaux is a real celebration of modern popular music and its roots.
Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
WHEN?:
September 6th to 9th, 2012
HEADLINERS:
Stevie Wonder ; Justice ; Florence & the Machine ; New Order ; The xx ; Sigur Ros ; Friendly Fires ; Nero ; 2 Many DJs/Soulwax ; Two Door Cinema Club ; Hot Chip ; Bat For Lashes ; Orbital ; SBTRKT + many more.
ABOUT:
Already unique enough due to its setting on the spectacular Isle of Wight, September's Bestival gives us another taste of something different with its fancy dress theme.
Each year, thousands of festival-goers descend on the British island, clad in all manner of costumes, for a weekend of hedonism and to see a fantastic array of the hottest bands and artists.
This year's line-up is second to none.
Mayrhofen, Austria
WHEN?:
April 1st to 6th, 2013
HEADLINERS (2012):
Dizzee Rascal ; Example ; DJ Shadow ; Groove Armada Present Redlight ; The Vaccines ; Booka Shade (live) ; Fatboy Slim's Street Party + many more.
ABOUT:
Already past for 2012, you will have to wait until autumn 2013 for this one, but it's well worth it! "Everything is better in the snow" might not be the official slogan for Austria's 'Snowbombing' festival, but it definitely could be.
Take some of the hottest acts of the modern era and transplant them into a winter wonderland, and you have one of the most unique and exciting music festivals anywhere in the world today.
And you get to flex your winter sports muscles as well!
FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY PERFORMING ARTS
WHERE?:
Glastonbury, United Kingdom
WHEN?:
from June 26th, 2013
HEADLINERS (2011 - event not scheduled for 2012 due to London Olympics):
U2 ; Coldplay ; Beyonce ; Primal Scream ; The Chemical Brothers ; Queens of the Stone Age ; Cee Le Green ; Big Boi ; Kool & The Gang ; DJ Shadow ; The Streets ; Crystal Castles ; Mumford & Sons + many more.
ABOUT:
When it comes to music festivals, this is the grand-daddy of them all!
The legendary 'Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts' - more commonly known simply as 'Glastonbury' - is perhaps only rivalled for scale by California's Coachella festival. What Glastonbury has that Coachella lacks, however, is 40 plus years of unparalleled history.
In late June, it's time to pack your "wellies", prepare to get muddy and have the time of your life watching a collection of the biggest names in music from today, yesterday and tomorrow!
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