The festival season is almost over us; days of endless summer, laying on the grass and listening to new tunes or raving in front of the stage with like-minded spirits.
Music festivals in Europe have gone from a series of concerts to a musical event. The different festivals often have a specific theme and people are willing to travel far to get to the festival they think is right for them.
Here’s our top 5 list of formidable festivals in Europe:
Glastonbury Festival | UK | 21-25th June 2017
This Grand old Dame of European Festivals already had great stars like T-Rex on the line-up list back in 1970 when it all began. Over the years it has evolved from a £1 per ticket folk festival to the biggest festival in Europe. This festival combines tipis and Kate Moss in hotpants & Wellingtons, the old Rock’n’roll and the new hipsters.
The lineup of 2013 featured stars like Rolling Stones, Arctic Monkeys, Portishead, Primal Scream, Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, Smashing Pumpkins, Public Enemy and Sinead O’Connor.
Roskilde Festival | Denmark | 24th June – 1th July 2017
This Scandinavian music festival is the largest in Northern Europe and has been around since 1971. It’s put together by a well-structured non-profit organisation that focuses on sustainable, green initiatives and social responsibility.
The 2013 lineup included Metallica, Kraftwerk, The National, Queens Of The Stone Age, Rihanna, Slipknot, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, James Blake, Crystal Castles, Kris Kristoffersen and Suicidal Tendencies.
Nos Alive | Portugal | 6-8th July 2017
This Portuguese festival celebrated its 10th year anniversary in 2016 with an impressive lineup. It’s the perfect way to combine some Lisbon sightseeing before the event, enjoy the music and then recover on the golden sand beaches nearby.
The impressive 2016 line-up mentions The Chemical Brothers, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, José Gonzales, Band of Horses, Pixies, Tame Impala and many more.
Rock Werchter | Belgium | 29th June – 2nd July 2017
This festival is probably the third largest in Europe even though it takes place in one of the smallest countries on the continent. The central location of this festival makes it a great choice, whether you’re visiting the beer-loving town of Brussels (30 km), the coffee shops of Amsterdam (205 km) or the boulevards of Paris (344 km). It started as a Rock & Blues festival back in 1975 but now has certainly expanded its taste in music, all well as its size!
The usually sold-out festival has previously featured bands like Blur, Depeche Mode, Phoenix, Rammstein, Green Day, Kings of Leon, 30 Seconds to Mars, The Hives and Band of Horses.
Sziget Festival | Hungary| 9-16th August 2017
Sziget Festival was the proud winner of the „2011 Best European Major Festival” award and attracted almost 400.000 fans from over 70 countries to a beautiful island in the heart of Budapest, providing a complete festival-holiday experience with non-stop party, great live concerts, a widely international community and all the touristic features the city has to offer. The festival offers several other cultural programs, like theatre, circus, and exhibitions. This is the only big festival where you will find a Roma tent beside a gay-lesbian venue. It’s not just a festival – it’s the party of the year in Budapest!
The 2013 lineup included Franz Ferdinand, Regina Spektor, Blur, Bad Religion, Editors, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Die Ärzte, Bat for Lashes and Skunk Anansie.
