It’s no secret that when it comes to parties, clubs and festivals, Europe leads the way. We may have Burning Man, but Europe has everything else – from nightclubs that don’t close their doors for the entire weekend (Berlin), to music festivals where the sun doesn’t set for three whole days (Iceland).
If you’re venturing to Europe this summer, it’s a must to factor in at least one of these weird and wonderful music festivals. Spoiled for choice? Here’s our top picks…
Benicassim, Barcelona
When? July 13th-16th 2017
Where? Two hours from Barcelona, and an hour from Valencia. Switch out your wellies for your sunglasses – the arena and campsite are right on the beach!
What is it? The award-winning Festival Internacional de Benicassim has Spain’s best-loved music festival for over two decades, and over 150,000 revellers descend on the site every year. Alongside pop, rock, dance and indie acts, you’ll be able to enjoy a smattering of artsy films and even fashion shows during this three-day extravaganza.
For fans of: Dance-tinged indie, edgy Brit-pop, late nights, camping in the heat and cooling off in the Mediterranean Sea… as well as all those culture vultures who want to load up on amazing art, food and architecture in nearby Barcelona afterwards.
Who’s playing?
Deadmau5, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Foals, 2ManyDJs, Stormzy, Bonobo, The Weeknd, Kasabian, Courteeners, Blossoms, Jesus and Mary Chain, Biffy Clyro, Liam Gallagher, Dinosaur Jr., Pete Doherty, Years & Years
Who we’ll be seeing:
Find out more about ticket pricing and accommodation here.
NOS Alive, Portugal
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PDT
When? July 6th – 8th 2017
Where? Oeiras, on the outskirts of Lisbon in Portugal
What is it? Recently renamed from Optimus Alive, NOS has been a favorite amongst music critics since its conception in 2007. The famously hard-to-impress British music magazine NME have even awarded it a 10/10 – which never happens!
For fans of: Stylish cities with awesome nightlife and food (Lisbon, obviously), ambient electronic, indie, Heineken, highly Instagrammable neon signs, balmy evenings spent cocktail in hand, chilled crowds and not losing their friends for an entire day because the festival site is too big.
Who’s playing?
Foo Fighters, The Weeknd, The XX, Depeche Mode, Royal Blood, Ryan Adams, Alt-J, The Avalanches, Courteeners, Warpaint, Imagine Dragons, Fleet Foxes, Floating Points, Bonobo, Phoenix, Blossoms, Warpaint, Wild Beasts
Who we’ll be seeing:
EXIT Festival, Serbia
When? July 5th – 9th 2017
Where? Petrovaradin Fortress (yes, that’s right, a fortress), Novi Sad, Serbia
What is it?
Initially started as a student protest to stand up for peace in Serbia back in 2000, EXIT is now composed of a main stage, a huge dance arena, and an ‘Explosive Stage’ for rock bands, plus dozens of other weird and wonderful tents, mini-stages and bars, all set in and around a 400-year old fortress. Despite it’s scale, and its reputation for not being for the faint-of-heart festival-goer, the non-profit organizers still maintain a strong social mission.
EXIT is the kind of place you’re likely to come away from with a raging hangover, a hundred crazy stories, and maybe even a tattoo (true story). Anyone Interrailing around eastern Europe this summer needs to attend to get a full taste of the Serbian spirit. CNN wouldn’t have named it one of the best in the world for nothing.
For fans of: Off the beaten path experiences, doing things differently, making friends with interesting new people having lost all their own friends, amazing architecture (It’s inside a fort, after all), walking (it’s massive), politics, history, stadium rock, offbeat pop, industrial techno, and everything in between.
Who’s playing?
The Killers, Years & Years, Jason Derulo, Duke Dumont, Liam Gallagher, Nina Kraviz, Hardwell, Solomon, Dixon, Rodhad, Faithless, Jake Bugg, Hot Since 82, Jeff Mills, Ellen Allien, Rodhad, Jake Bugg, Jamie Jones, Lost Frequencies
Who we’ll be seeing:
Find out more about how to get tickets and where to stay here.
Hideout, Croatia
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PST
When? June 26th – 30th 2017
Where? Zcre Beach, on the island of Pag in Croatia *swoon*
What is it? Trust us when we say, this gorgeous eastern European country takes no prisoners when it comes to partying. You must have been under a rock for the last five years if you haven’t heard about all the Croatian music festivals that have been stealing young house and techno fans away from Ibiza’s clubs each summer… and Hideout is the king of them all.
Most attendees choose to stay in the on-site apartments which flank a string of bars and hotels, where the stages pump out music until sunrise. There’s also an overwhelming amount of boat parties to jump aboard, and Croatia’s 100-odd islands to explore before and after… hello, sailor!
For fans of: House music, heavy bass, British people, pool parties, boat parties, all-night parties, any kind of party really, skimpy clothing, flexing their muscles, or just gazing at other people from behind the guise of their shiny new Ray Bans, and not cooking alive in a tent in 95 degree heat.
Who’s playing?
Marco Carola, Stormzy, Jamie Jones, Patrick Topping, Bicep, Skream, Major Lazer, Martinez Brothers, Diplo, Hannah Wants, Ryan Ellot, Heidi, Gerd Janson, Leon Vynehall and about 150 other big names in electronic dance music.
Who we’ll be seeing:
Get tickets here.
Electric Picnic, Ireland
When? September 1st-3rd 2017
Where? Stradbally Hall Co, Laois, Ireland
What is it?
Named Ireland’s answer to Glastonbury, this music AND arts festival showcases massive burning-man worthy sculptures and artistically designed environments to make sure festival-goers have an experience to remember. The main stage pumps out indie and alternative, as for the others? Anything goes!
It boasts a little bit of everything: a varied line-up across 5 larger stages, parties in the woods, a circus of acrobatics, an artisan food market for when dancing has depleted all matter of energy sources as well as a tent of spoken word, comedy and body massages.
And just when you thought you’d seen and heard it all, head to the MindField Arena and get inspired by innovative ideas, readings, political debates and science experiments.
For fans of: Decorated forests, an eclectic mix of the old and the new, house and electro, hip hop, funk, ska , spoken word, glitter, swimming in lakes, exploring rabbit hole-esque spaces, eco-villages and great veggie and vegan food. (Don’t worry – there’s also options for carnivores!)
Who’s playing?
The XX, A Tribe Called Quest, Duran Duran, Pete Tong, Chaka Khan, Madness, Interpol, Annie Mac, London Grammar, Floating Points, Rag and Bone Man, Band of Horses, Soulwax, Krept and Konan, Run The Jewels, Father John Misty and more..
Who we’ll be seeing:
So, if you thought European music festivals were all about trudging through cold mud in Wellington boots, think again. Get more festival inspiration and get something booked here!