Feature The Best European Festivals That You Have to Visit This Summer

Yasmin Lajoie looks at the best parties flying out from Leeds Bradford International Airport in 2010

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Picture this: you queue for hours outside HMV and spend hundreds of pounds on a ticket, your favourite band is headlining and all your mates are going. You’re excited, right? Then reality hits - after waiting for half a day just to get into the car park, it starts to rain. Then it starts to pour. The campsite resembles a swamp and your Cath Kidston wellies are ruined. There are lots of teenagers running around comparing GCSE results. Your tent pegs are then stolen and your belongings blow away, so you buy a pint of overpriced warm cider to cheer yourself up. It doesn’t seem to work, and now you have no money left.

If this sounds familiar it might be time to consider music festivals further afield. Let us introduce you to the best events from around Europe this summer.

 

Primavera Sound

When? 27-29 May

Where? Barcelona, Spain

How much? £155

Who’s playing? The Fall, Pixies, Pavement, Les Savy Fav, The xx

Accommodation: No camping facilities, wide selection of hotels and hostels in central Barcelona

Getting there: Jet2 flies direct from Leeds Bradford to Barcelona (it’s during half term so book early)

For fans of: Pitchfork, ATP

More info and tickets: www.primaverasound.com

 

Roskilde Festival

When? 1-4 July

Where? near Copenhagen,  Denmark

How much? £200 - all profits are donated to charity

Who’s playing? Florence and the Machine, Kasabian, Motörhead, Them Crooked Vultures

Accommodation: Camping included in ticket price (the campsite is open from 26 July, so get there a few days earlier to work on your tan before the party starts)

Getting there: No direct flights are available from Leeds Bradford at the moment, but you can travel from Newcastle or Manchester.

For fans of: Variety - every taste is catered for

More info and tickets: www.roskilde-festival.dk

 

Heineken Open’er Festival

When? 1-4 July

Where? Gdynia, Poland

How much? €98

Who’s playing? Pearl Jam, Hot Chip, Grace Jones, Pavement

Accommodation: Four days camping included in ticket price

Getting there: Fly to Gdansk from Doncaster Sheffield with Wizz Air

For fans of: Cheap beer

More info and tickets: www.opener.pl

 

Rock Werchter

When? 1-4 July

Where? Werchter, Belgium

How much? €188

Who’s playing? Stereophonics, Green Day, Vampire Weekend, Muse, The Gossip

Accommodation: Camping costs an additional €18

Getting there: BMI flies direct from Leeds Bradford to Brussels, take a train to Leuven and then a free shuttle bus to the festival site

For fans of: The environment - the festival uses only renewable energy and prides itself on being eco-friendly

More info and tickets: www.rockwerchter.be

 

Bilbao BBK Live

When? 8-10 July

Where? Bilbao, Spain

How much? Limited number at £65

Who’s playing? Rammstein, Slayer, Pearl Jam, Skunk Anansie, Manic Street Preachers

Accommodation: Camping included in ticket price

Getting there: Fly to Barcelona or Madrid from Leeds Bradford Airport and take the bus to the Termibus station in Bilbao, this will take you the best part of a day. Alternatively, fly direct to Bilbao from London.

For fans of: Long journeys, loud music

More info and tickets: www.bilbaobbklive.com

 

Festival Internacional de Benicássim

When? 15-18 July

Where? Benicássim, Spain

How much? £160

Who’s playing? The Prodigy, Ian Brown, Dizzee Rascal, The Specials

Accommodation: Camping included in ticket price

Getting there: Several flights a day from Leeds Bradford to Alicante

For fans of: Sun, sea and sand

More info and tickets: www.benicassim2010.com

 

Paléo Festival

When? 20-25 July

Where? Nyon,  Switzerland

How much? €150-€210 (concessions available for students and unemployed)

Who’s playing? Crosby Stills & Nash, Iggy & The Stooges, Foals, Paolo Nutini

Accommodation: Camping included, but you have to pay to use the hot showers

Getting there: Fly with Jet2 from Leeds Bradford to Geneva and take the train to Nyon (20 mins)

For fans of: Taking the kids – under 12s go free and children’s entertainment is provided

More info and tickets: www.paleo.ch

 

Sziget Festival

When? 9-16 August

Where? Budapest, Hungary

How much? €170 (€140 if you’re not camping)

Who’s playing? Iron Maiden, Muse, The Cribs, Faithless, Kasabian, Children of Bodom

Accommodation: You can pitch your tent anywhere on site

Getting there: Fly from Manchester with Jet2 or East Midlands with Ryan Air

For fans of: Island life - the biggest music festival in Europe takes place in the middle of the Danube

More info and tickets: www.szigetfest.co.uk

 

Outlook Festival

When? 2-5 September

Where? Pula, Croatia

How much? £89

Who’s playing? Roots Manuva, Mary Anne Hobbs, Loefa & Coki

Accommodation: Camping included

Getting there: The ‘sunshine bus’ departs from Manchester and London on 31st August

For fans of: SubDub, New Bohemia, Exodus, Vagabondz

More info and tickets: www.outlookfestival.com

Posted on Saturday 1st January 2000
Yasmin Lajoie

You are in: » Feature »The Best European Festivals That You Have to Visit This Summer