You missed Coachella. Or you didn’t, and now you’ve got “music festival fever”― a warm weather specific craving for surrounding yourself with music-obsessed strangers from all over the world, the year’s hottest acts from every possible genre and 3-days of a guilt free hot dogs and beer diet. Why not combine two of humankind’s most exhiliarating, life-changing endeavors: music and travel? The ease of travel between countries means European festivals really combine many nations under one groove. Score a cheap international flight and you could be among us, discovering new music and enjoying established favorites, while in an exciting new place, doing what normal people do. Not to mention, the requisite sexual charge, copious amounts of ‘spirits’ and lowering of inhibitions that comes with rock and roll…
Normally, I’d say head to England’s mammoth Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts where the cross-genre beef between Jay Z and Liam Gallagher of Britpop group, Oasis, all started. Gallagher said Jay Z headlining in 2008 was “not what Glastonbury was about.” Jay opened his set crooning “Wonderwall” with a guitar strapped to his chest. So far, Gallagher has had no comment on the fact that along with U2 and Coldplay, Beyonce is headlining. Alas, this ‘proper’ English festival is so standard that 2011 has been sold out since October 2010. Re-sale tickets (returned or cancelled) go on sale on April 17th; still the chances are so slim you’ll score any, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite European festivals, so you don’t miss your chance to get lost in the Europe’s small cobblestone streets by day and party with your favorite bands by night.
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1. ROCK WERTCHER (BELGIUM)
DATE: June 30th-July 3rd
VENUE: Festivalpark Wertcher,
VIBE: MEGA
THE LINE UP: Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Linkin Park, Bruno Mars, TV on the Radio. Also on the smaller stage, Robyn and Selah Sue.
NOTES: There are only two stages, which means you won’t be able to wander from one band, stage, or crowd to another ― which is what creates that freewheeling, adventurous atmosphere that makes festivals so special. That said, the line up is so strong even the small stages will be rocking with acts like bluesy Belgian vocalist Selah Sue and Swedish electropop firebomb, Robyn.
BEYOND THE FESTIVAL: While I’m not a *huge* fan of Brussels, Belgium does not lack for smaller, lighter, more youthful cities. The shopping in Antwerp, the quaint river and ornate bridges of Brugges and the college town cool of Gent, are all very much worth a look-see. Also Antwerp and Brussels rival the likes of London and Paris for colorful and diverse immigrant communities. Also, Belgian beer and chocolate…
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2. SAN MIGUEL PRIMAVERA SOUND
DATE: May 26th-May 29th
VENUE: BARELONA
VIBE: ALT. FASHION FORWARD.
THE LINE UP: James Blake, Belle & Sebastian, Das Racist, Big Boi, Odd Future, PJ Harvey.
NOTES: PRIMAVERA SOUND, as a brand, has blown up on the strength of year round concerts, mostly featuring indie, critically acclaimed musical acts. Last year, Major Lazer (Diplo) turned the Barcelona Forum into Kingston Jamaica’s Tivoli Gardens, with a great big sound system and some very acrobatic Passa Passa dancers. Still, Primavera has probably never been so hip-hop as this year will be. Concert spaces include the Forum, which is by the sea, to Poble Espanyol, which is in the mountains. Primavera literally spans the entire city.
BEYOND THE FESTIVAL: This festival is held in one of Europe’s greatest cities: Barcelona. Mixing the festival experience with a city trip? Seamless. Natural. The after parties and pre-parties that inevitably spring up around the festival (many of those on the beach!) means you’re literally discovering the city AND it’s local cool kids while catching your favorite bands.
Above: The writer poses with Diplo.
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3. SOLIDAYS (FRANCE)
DATE: JUNE 24th-26th
VENUE: L’HIPPODROME DE LONGCHAMP
VIBE: BIRKINSTOCK!
THE LINE UP: Mark Ronson and the Business International, Balkan Beat Box, Pete Doherty, The Go! team, Yael Naim.
NOTES: Solidays, to be frank, is one crunchy ass festival. I discovered it In 2009, on my 50-11th visit to Paris, drawn by it’s socially conscious bent. Solidays is dedicated to raising money, promoting awareness, and expressing solidarity in the fight against HIV. At one concert, the audience was asked to lay in the grass and hold hands in silence. Seriously. Featured acts tend to be lesser known and “more roots,” but the ambience is more laid back and familial. It’s also the most affordable of all the festivals.
BEYOND THE FESTIVAL: If you leave the concerts before they’re over (to avoid the crush), and walk the 15 minutes or so to the free Festival bus provided, 20 minutes later you’ll be right back in the center of Paris. Do you need more incentive?
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4. EXIT (SERBIA)
DATE: JULY 7th-9th
VENUE: PETROVARADIN FORTRESS, NOVI SAD
VIBE: KINETIC.
THE LINE-UP: House of Pain, M.I.A., Jamiroquai, Portishead, Steve Aoki.
NOTES: This is a personal favorite, as it’s the only music festival to begin with a protest. EXIT started in 1999, while Slobodan Milosevic was still in power and NATO had just bombed the country. A few students from the University of Novi Sad decided to put together 100 days of music and theater as part of a drive to get the youth involved in politics and change the regime. Today, EXIT is one of the most popular festivals on the continent. Like Glastonbury, EXIT has stages in the double digits, DJ stations, art exhibitions, even films, set up at various points around the maze that is the Petrovaradin Fortress. Getting lost in it is almost itself worth the price of admission. Regional and traditional acts provide a look into the local culture you may not get as a regular tourist.
BEYOND THE FESTIVAL: Belgrade (the Serbian capital) and Novi Sad do not lack places to drink and people watch, not to mention the adorable and lively clubs and cafes on the boats that line the Danube River. But also here’s your chance to check out one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in Europe, right at the tipping point. Aside from being a lot cheaper than most of Western Europe, the Balkans have contain every type of landscape: mountains, beaches, vast farmlands … Rent a car. Explore.
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5. SONAR INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ADVANCED MUSIC AND MULTIMEDIA ART (SPAIN)
DATE: JUNE 16th-18th
VENUE: FIRA EUROPA, MACBA. BARCELONA.
VIBE: FUTURISTIC.
THE LINE UP: Jonelle Monae, Die Antwoord, Ms. Dynamite, Buraka Som Sistema, Dizzie Rascal and the [un]retired, James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem.
NOTES: Sonar-by-day takes over the “coolest” part of the city (at least according to the New York Times), the neighborhood called, Raval. Sonar doesn’t transform the area, as much as increase its “place-to-be” quotient, with more half-naked revelers, louder music, and alcohol-swigging that starts even earlier than usual. Check out the stations set up in a little roped off area featuring the newest in music making technology that they even let you play with! And do not miss the DJ sets. The drum and bass, jungle and electronic turntablists, primarily out of the UK, are what really make this festival Jetson-esque.
BEYOND THE FESTIVAL: See PRIMAVERA SOUND. ADD BLAZING HOT WEATHER.
