European Music Festivals

1

Start at the end of January and go to Celtic Connections in Glasgow.
Then in May you've got the Shetland Folk Festival , the most northerly in Britain and Orkney festivals
Both very popular and ccommodation is tight so book ahead, even for campsites.

In June, see if the Kirkmichael Guitar Festival is on again - they've had a break lately. Great stuff. Jazz, rock, folk - big names playing in pubs and tents

T in the Park for the big muddy "pop" music thang, in July - book now 2008 is selling out already.

Hebridean Celtic Festival on Lewis in July.

Small local FFs at Girvan, Newcastleton, Stonehaven, Lossiemouth, Guildtown, Auchtermuchty, Speyfest in Fochabers, throughout the summer - ya have to be there - some great gigs and sessions - those special memories that only small festivals can bring. Take a tent

Tartan Heart near Inverness in August
Wizard Festival near Aberdeen later in August
Finish off with Loopallu in Ullapool in September and you haven't even left Scotland yet

2

not forgetting the daddy of them all, Glastonbury in uk in June.

but the uk ones are most expensive. theres ahuge and cheap one in poland in june/july (heineken i think). and a good one in spain on a campsite near the beach (guaranteed hot weather) in July Bellicisamo or something similar. as a whole all the european ones are cheaper than in the uk, but i think theyre a bit more corporate but less likely to rain

3

efestivals.co.uk details the absolutely huge array of festivals throughout Europe each year.

I'd also recommend Wickerman, Indian Summer and Knockengorroch, staying in Scotland. Like Norv says, any big ones in the UK expect tickets to sell out within minutes of going on sale. It's a bit of a national pastime here.

"You're rude beyond comprehension. Seek help." anamore

4

TT collection

5

The Spanish festival Norvern is on about is Benicassim - very nice festival, but hot and in a town. Sonar in Barcelona is good too, but again is not a green field event. Exit Festival, set in the grounds of a Serbian castle on an island, has a very good reputation but the line-up never looks all that special. Roskilde is well regarded but a bit lacking in atmosphere. German festivals can be good, but often very drunken affairs. There are usually a couple of good reggae festivals in Germany every summer.

I'm the first to criticise the British for what they do badly, but music festivals are one thing that we do very well. There are hundreds of festies across the UK, ranging from the enormous 200,000 strong behemoth (Glasto, of course) to the tiny 5,000 capacity boutique festival (Secret Garden for example). And there's something to cater for all tastes.

Glasto is really the only one that covers all bases - over 2000 acts play on 30-odd stages in a stunning location and with lots of cool stuff on the side to keep you amused.

Reading, Leeds, V, T in the Park are the ugly corporate crapfests and are to be avoided at all costs.

Of the rest, Bestival, Bloom, Secret Garden, Beautiful Days, Big Green Gathering, Big Chill, Glade, Shambala & Endorse-it are all either very good or excellent green field festivals (or brown mud festivals this year...).

You'll also find good one-dayers in London (Field Day, Lovebox, Get Loaded, Wireless) and of course the mighty Notting Hill Carnival (go on the sunday when the crowds aren't quite so ridiculous).

If you like dance music there's Global Gathering, Glade, Cross Central.

For folk, try Cropredy, Sidmouth and Cambridge.

For world music there's WOMAD.

For metal there's Download.

For indie, try Truckfest, Reading (if you must), Field Day, Loch Ness.

There are hundreds more. My favourites are Bestival, Bloom, Glade, Glasto and Secret Garden.

As Chi Rup says, efestivals should be your first port of call - they're all there.

Have fun!

I let loose in a profuse manner like Bruce Banner...

6

No festival comes close.... sziget festival...

Choose my bluest tape and unlock my car
An honest tune with a lingering lead has taken me this far

7

These are the biggest music festivals held in Spain:

- Summercase
- FIB
- Primavera Sound
- Creamfields
- Sonar

Have fun!

8

I definitely second #6. Sziget towers above them all.

Others:

Lowlands (indie/alternative)
Wacken Open Air (Biggest metalfest in the world)

L'homme est un nomade