Want to get festival fit this year but fancy some sun or just a party abroad? Here are some UK and European festivals to check this summer.
By Padraic O’Connor
So you’re getting festival fit but fancy some sunshine on foreign shores instead of the rain and the mud here in Ireland. Or perhaps you just want to get a bit more value for money with your festival ticket prices than you get here.
Perhaps, as many now do, you want to take a holiday and festival break at the same time; go away for the festival but take a week off afterwards to wind down and do some sightseeing or laze about in the sun. Or you could just want to get away from grim old mythical, mystical Ireland for a week or so and have a load of fun somewhere else.
If for any of the above reasons or indeed any reason you’re thinking of getting your festival fix abroad this year then we’ve a selection of festivals here to float your boat. All happen in the UK or Europe this summer and practically all guarantee you fine weather and, more importantly, the finest music.
May 25 – 29
One of Europe’s finest indie feasts takes place every year in Barcelona and if you fancy some Spanish sunshine but not the searing heat of Benicassim, then this is the one for you.
Awash with the best and newest names in everything from rock to folk to dubstep and everything in between this year’s line-up includes the likes of Caribou, Glasser, The National, Mercury Rev, Sufjan Stevens, Darkstar, Jamie XX and Simian Mobile Disco.
Tickets are €175 for the 5 days or €70 for day tickets. And what better city to bum around in the days after the festival than funky Barcelona? Beaches, bars, clubs and much more fun in the sun.
June 30 – July 3
Taking place in the polish town of Gdynia (just north of Gdansk) Opener won Best Major festival award at last years European Festival Awards.
With a varied musical line-up to suit all tastes this year is the tenth anniversary of the festival and sees Coldplay, Deadmau5, Foals, Paulo Nutini, Cut Copy and our own Two Door Cinema Club take to the stage.
4-day tickets are around €105 (and that includes rail ticket and camping) while single day tickets are around €40
June 30- July 3 (warm-up June 26 – 29)
The Danish festival has garnered legendary status by now for its organization and top acts.
With a line up that draws from pop, rock, dance and more this year’s festival highlights include the afrobeat of Femi Kuti, the slick soul of last year’s Electric Picnic highlight Janelle Monae as well as Kings of Leon, Big Boi (from Outkast), MIA, Chase & Status and PJ Harvey.
Tickets including camping are available for €232
July 14 – 18
Taking place in the picturesque little fishing village of Petrcane on the Croatian coast where the better-known Garden Festival runs each year, the Electric Elephant is the brainchild of Mancunian maestros The Unabombers.
Now in its fourth year the festival celebrates all that is good in house, disco, sulphuric soul and twisted electronics and acts to catch this summer include Andrew Weatherall, The Glimmers, Horse Meat Disco, James Pants, Toddla T, Derrick Carter and Kyle Hall.
Tickets fly for this one and are a paltry €85 for your dancing pleasure. Summed up best on their own website by the line, “sun, sea, boat parties, djs, live music, club nights on the sun-sparkled Adriatic coast.” Yes please!
August 4 – 7
This leisurely jaunt in the late summer sun lays claim to being the original boutique festival and takes place in the picturesque grounds (including lakes and woods) of Eastnor Castle in South West England.
Coming on a bit like the Electric Picnic but with a little less rock and much better weather, the music ranges from well-known pop acts to reggae to world music and there’s also a wide selection of arts as well as the all important gourmet grub on offer.
This year’s acts line up will be announced in the coming weeks but past headliners have included Plan B, Basement Jaxx, Thievery Corporation, Massive Attack, Roisin Murphy, Roots Manuva, Mr Scruff and Norman Jay.
It’s worth going if only for the ever-present sunshine, the relaxed atmosphere and the beautiful surroundings of Eastnor Castle’s grounds… and that’s before the rather excellent music.
Tickets, as per line-up, to be announced in the coming weeks but last year a weekend pass came in at about €170.
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