Got any good tips on European Music Festivals...

Lonelyplanet.com is doing a special feature on European music festivals and we’re looking for your tips on making sure this summer's festivals are memorable for all the right reasons. We want to hear what you’ve got to say about cool camping, keeping hydrated, safe footwear and the best in bin-bag couture.

And while we would love to hear about the best way to sneak into Glastonbury, keep it legal thanks.

Just to start with the rock festival closest to Paris, at the end of August is Rock en Seine in Saint Cloud. The festival lasts 3 days.

This year's lineup includes Arcade Fire, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Jarvis Cocker, Just Jack, Craig Armstrong, Björk, etc.

The only Celtic music festival in Europe is in Galicia;
Ortigueira
Every July with some big Celtic names.

A wave/gothic festival: M'era Luna, Hildesheim, Germany, mid August.

With Rock in Park and Rock am Ring in Germany...do not get the two things confused! Yes they are twin festivals, but confusion with the location can really screw you... Rock im Park is in Nurnberg in Barvaria and Rock am Ring is in Nurnbergring, a race track kind of near Bonn and we had to go from train to smaller train to bus to taxi to get there. A lot of people seem to think their next to each other. No, not in real life.

Also, Rock im Park is usually held in Zepplinfeld in Nurnberg, you'll notice the large grey structure...yes thats the famous place where Hitler had his rallies, and the same from the footage of the swastika being blown up by American soldiers. I wondered why it looked so familiar first time I went.

For the best little festival in alternative music, check out Haldern-pop in Germany. Haldern-pop. Also a good festival with music from all over the world is Festival Mundial in Tilburg, the Netherlands. Festival Mundial 2007 (Dutch only, sorry)

Of course also the Lowlands festival in the Netherlands is a good festival, as it has a lot to offer besides the music, it also has theatre, films, comedy, and much more. For the other huge festivals check Pinkpop (NL), Rock Wechter (B), Pukkelpop (B), Reading (UK), Roskilde (DK)

it's Nürburgring... not Nürnbergring

Okay, since not much information is being added, I will add Les Eurockéennes in Belfort, in France but near the German and Swiss borders.

The "Tanz und Folkfest" in Rudolstadt, Thüringen is Germany's largest folk, roots and world music festival. The event happens every year during the first full week in July. This year it will be held on July 6-8, and will last for 55 continuous hours, on 20 different stages. Rudolstadt is set on the banks of the Saale River, in the former East Germany. Castle Heidecksburg looms over the city and its' courtyard acts as one of the festivals many concert stages. Thüringen is known as the "Green Heart of Germany", and has lots of mountains, valleys, and hiking trails throughout the state. The festival is a must do, and set in some of Germany's most beautiful scenery. www.tff-rudolstadt.de

11-16 July 2007 Les Francofolies in La Rochelle, for those who are interested in the new French music scene. It isn't what you think it is. Abd Al Malik, Olivia Ruiz, Ridan - all worth discovering.

I suggest Skanderborg Festival in Denmark.

Again this year, there are several international artists, the major one being Peter Gabriel.

The link: www.smukfest.dk<BR><BR>/Søren

Lowlands is my favourite festival, there is a lot to explore and there's a lovely afmosphere. Its like a big fairground. Look at http://www.lowlands.nl/ and you will see what i mean, and http://www.low-lands.nl/ "programma" for more bands.

Okay, some tips to survive Lowlands or any outside festival.
I don't know the english word for it, but take some equipment with you to make soap bubbles (bellenblaas) and make bubblefriends.
Rubber boots ofcourse
* forget the crowded bars and take a 2 liter bag-in-box wine. Tap whenever you want!

Switzerland has some great summer music festivals, but they tend to sell out in spring. Paleo is one good one, and of course the Montreux Jazz Festival, which isn't all jazz. If you're into classical music, head for Salzburg and Vienna.

SONAR Music festival in Barcelona! The biggest music festival in Europe. It's on from 15, 16, 17th June and is mind blowing! I'll be there this year, cant wait. Here's a link to their website - www.sonar.es. HIGHLY reccomended!!!

i like the fusion festival (electronic) 28.6.-1.7. 150 kilometers north-west of berlin. they have got a good line up, lots of arty stuff and the people are nice.

I recommend St.Gallen Openair Festival in Switzerland, on every year, usually the first Saturday in July. Check out www.openairsg.ch

There is also Musica Nel Chiostro, in the tiny Italian town of Batignano. Every year a load of mostly british musicians (and singers) go there for 6 or so weeks to rehearse and then perform a couple of operas, in the open air.

They don't appear to have a website, but at the bottom here it gets a mention, and there's an interesting article about it here.

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<hr>And while we would love to hear about the best way to sneak into Glastonbury, keep it legal thanks.<hr></blockquote>

How about pole vaulting the fence? You could argue with security that you are in training for the London olympics?

2 jazz festivals in 2 wonderful locations, in Italy and France
Umbria Jazz
and
Jazz A Vienne

www.rockwerchter.be

click here

what a pity I saw this thread not 2 weeks ago: there is a HUGE musicfestival every may in Osnabrueck, Germany. it is called Mayweek and is 10 days FREE concerts of ALL kinds on 10 stages.
no, not one stage per day: you have the daily choice of where to go, what to hear on ten (!) stages, PLUS street musicians.

exact dates on Osnabrueck - Germany, search for "Maiwoche"

I can only recommend the Spirit of Woodstock Festival
it takes place near the Lake Maggiore (Northern Italy)
This is a fantastic 10 days festival at the end of July/beginning of August with international bands playing the most various styles (Cyberrock, Dance and Electronica, Metal, Blues, Folk, etc.) They got bavarian beer and Oktoberfest specialities at this festival, yay!!! Don't forget to bring your tent.

summercase festival in barcelona and madrid, on 13th and 14th july. a city festival. air, the chemical brothers, pj harvey, scissor sisters, arcade fire, lcd soulsystem, block party, dj shadow and many more play this year.

primavera sound, also in barcelona. an independent festival, from may 31st to june 2nd. new bands, more than 120 artists. very good one.

these two festivals are in the city, so there's no need to camp. everyone can take the metro to get there, it's very easy and safe. the tickets can be bought online.

Cool camping is totally over-rated. Don't get me wrong, I love festivals and I love camping. But doing it in style? Forget about it! The good thing about festivals is that you can be your scruffy, smelly self. And if everyone is scruffy and smelly then they're even - if just for the weekend. Plus, 'cool camping' tends to apply to those with cars - if you're catching public transport to the event/campsite, you'll struggle to carry anything more than a tent, camp mat, sleeping bag and spare pair of socks.

Anyway, with that whinge over - the Green Man festival in Wales is wonderful. Just the right mix of old wrinkly psychadelic guys and young, laid-back folk fans. A mix of local talent and headliners such as (this year, at least) Robert Plant from Led Zep fame. And best of all, its curated by two musicians called Jo and Danny, a couple who really do care about music and their punters. Beautiful site, too www.thegreenmanfestival.co.uk

Summer music festivals in Switzerland are really good (Paleo, Montreux Jazz) but if you're visiting Switzerland, you should definitely go to Rock Oz'Arènes because it is located in the roman amphitheatre of Avenches. The place is really amazing....Rock'Oz Arenes website

small but GREAT rock & roll fest in belgium

sjock rock 2007

big fest, but loads of good bands

pukkelpop

4 day fest in the french speaking part of belgium.
it's getting kinda big, but has good value for its money.
from techno to punk to metal to hip hop

dour festival

Portugal’s Festival of the Mediterranean 2007

Annual world music festival dedicated to the Mediterranean, will take place June 27 - July 1, in the historical center of Loulé (Algarve), Portugal.

The lineup this year includes Aynur (Turkey); Sara Tavares (Portugal); Sergent García (France); Natacha Atlas (Egypt); Tinariwen (Mali); Akli D (Algeria); Yerba Buena (USA); and others.

Go and enjoy!

http://www.festivalmed.com.pt/</a>

yes, Rock'Oz Arenes (Avenches, Switzerland) is definitly a must!!! There are some more open-air festivals in Switzerland, which are mostly worth a visit: Gurten Open-Air near Bern, Gampel Open-Air which is in the middle of the alpes (Wallis)...

For classical music lovers there is an outstanding festival at Verbier in Switzerland. This summer, for example, the likes of James Levine, Renee Fleming, Evgeny Kissin, Lang Lang, Rene Pape, etc. will be there. There is also an opportunity for amateurs to do some chamber music the week before the festival starts.

WACKEN Open Air - "Biggest Heavy Metal Open Air in the world," somewhere in Northern Germany, on August 2-4.

NOVA ROCK large open air festival at Nickelsdorf, about 30mins east of Vienna, from June 15th to June 17th

Festival Lagoa Jazz in spectacular location!

Hello everyone

Festival Lagoa Jazz – 15th, 16th, 17th June 2007 – Sitio das Fontes, Estombar

Starts at 10PM and takes place in the open space auditorium at Sítio das Fontes.
Open from 6 PM to purchase tickets (8 euros). There is also a music/CDs fair as well as a photo exhibition.

This year you’ll find JD Walter quartet (USA; Friday 15th); Hilaria Kramer & BB Band (Italy/Switzerland; Saturday 16th) &; Richard Galliano & Tangaria quartet (France; Sunday 17th)

The 'fontes' are natural springs just behind Estombar on the old Lagoa-Portimão road that runs past Slide and Splash waterpark.

Taxi trip from Praia da Rocha, Algarve costs less than 10 euros.

Hope you can make it!
Lagoa Jazz Festival