European Music Festivals - Summer 2008
Roskilde Festival
When: 3-6 July 2008
Where: Roskilde, Denmark
What: One of the largest and most musically diverse festivals in northern Europe, the four-day-long Roskilde will be sure to satiate your sonic craving. It's been on the groove since 1971. These Danes know how to put on a well-orchestrated event: lethargic campers can even choose a pre-pitched tent option. All profits go to humanitarian causes.
Who: The Chemical Brothers, Grinderman, Jay-Z, Radiohead
More: http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/
Rock Werchter
When: 3-6 July 2008
Where: Leuven, Belgium
What: A four-day music festival literally beside the road 15 kilometers from Leuven.
Who: Sigur Ros, Lenny Kravitz, Mika, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Editors, R.E.M. and Radiohead
More: http://www.rockwerchter.be/RW2007/fase2/live.asp
Exit Festival
When: 10-13 July 2008
Where: Novi Sad, Serbia
What: What started out in 2000 as a protest against the Milosevic regime has turned into an annual event, attracting more than 400,000 people over four days. EXIT prides itself on its political agenda - which includes campaigns around issues like drug trafficking and migration. The line-up has some major international acts.
Who: Sex Pistols, Gossip, Paul Weller, The Hives
More: http://eng.exitfest.org/
Montreux Jazz Festival
When: 4-19 July 2008
Where: Lake Geneva, Switzerland
What: Europe's premier jazz festival takes place in the Francophone part of Switzerland every summer on the shores of Lac Leman. More than 200,000 people pour in during the Montreux Jazz Festival's two-week run, and headlining acts (to be announced in late April) perform at the Miles Davis Hall and Stravinski Auditorium. While the festival's 1967 roots are pure jazz, the lineup has expanded exponentially in recent decades to include blues, rock, funk, soul and more. Perhaps even more of a lure than the headliners is the festival's overall atmosphere -- boats blaring everything from salsa to gospel to samba create a carnival atmosphere on the lakeshore while enticing festivalgoers for boozy pleasure cruises. Even if you don't get tickets to the biggest shows, you can look forward to more than 300 free acts performing in venues as varied as wine bars and city parks across Montreux.
Who: Quincy Jones, Leonard Cohen, Etta James, N.E.R.D
More: http://www.montreuxjazz.com/
Oxegen Festival
When: 11-13 July 2008
Where: Dublin, Ireland
What: Dublin plays host to over 100 acts and 100,000 rockers at this sells-out-fast event featuring confirmed concerts so far from R.E.M. and Kings of Leon (Snow Patrol, Scissor Sisters, Wu Tang Clan, Tori Amos, The Goo Goo Dolls, Razorlight, Arcade Fire, and Cagedbaby were on hand last year). Overnight camping at Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, County Kildare for those doing all three days (and everyone is) of the Oxegene Festival starting July 11 in 2008. Tickets go on general sale March 7. Scalpers thrive here; may the force be with you if you forge on to Dublin ticketless -- you can always commiserate with other hopes-dashed travelers in Temple Bar, Dublin's downtown pub-hopping place to be.
Who: Kings of Leon, R.E.M., The Verve, RATM, The Chemical Brothers, Prodigy, Amy Winehouse
More: http://www.oxegen.ie/2008/splash.html
T in the Park
When: 11-13 July 2008
Where: Balrado, by Kinross, Scotland
What: Big stages, big steel fence, and big names. No concert tickets at the gate (don't bother trying -- serious security). Bring campervans (like VW Westfalias -- no trailers, though) and tents -- this is the biggest camping party in Europe. T in the Park sells out instantly (within an hour of opening ticket sales in February, 2008) -- chances to buy new (and usually progressively more expensive) tickets will keep popping up through the spring, though.
Who: Primal Scream, R.E.M., the Kooks, the Verve
More: http://www.tinthepark.com/
Benicassim International Festival
When: 17-20 July 2008
Where: Benicassim, Spain
What: If the words 'Spain' and 'summer' aren't reason enough to go, then how about the fact that this festival takes place on the gorgeous Costa Azahar? Benicassim has drawn an increasingly impressive number of indie and electronic acts to this Castilian paradise since 1995. As well as music, the festival includes tempting side-bars like a short-film festival and beach-side art exhibition. The official festival lasts four days, but you can stay and laze around for nine.
Who: Leonard Cohen, Gnarls Barkly, Sigur Ros, Roisin Murphy
More: http://fiberfib.com/en/festival/the-festival/
Salzburg Festival
When: 26 July - 31 August 2008
Where: Salzburg, Austria
What: Not really into the dreadlocked or head banging crowds? If a classical scene is more your calling, tap into more than a month's worth of music and theatrical performances in one of Europe's most captivating music capitals. Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, is a symphony for the senses, with the city's Baroque architecture backed by alpine views. And when you add the Salzburg Festival's continuous lineup of classical music to the equation, the city positively sings. Operas by the town's prodigal son as well as Dvorak, Bartok and Verdi will be performed. And world-class orchestras in attendance include the Berlin Philharmonic and the Cleveland Orchestra.
Who: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra
More: http://www.salzburgerfestspiele.at/
Pukkelpop
When: 14-16 August 2008
Where: Hasselt-Kiewit, Belgium
What: With a name like Pukkelpop, what's not to love? Belgium's best outdoor festival has drawn over 135,000 people and a very-now line-up in previous years. This year looks to be heading in the same direction.
Who: Metallica, The Killers, Flaming Lips, Serj Tankian
More: http://www.pukkelpop.be/fase1.aspx
Sziget Festival
When: 12-18 August 2008
Where: Obudai Island, Hungary
What: Budapest's Hajogyar Kikoto (Shipyard) on the Danube River's Obudai Island becomes its own tent city for the Sziget Festival, Hungary's massive music blast with tons o' stages featuring fun from mainstream to madness starting August 12 in 2008. The Sziget Festival kicks off with one concert (Iron Maiden) on "Zero Day," followed by five days of bands like The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs, Flogging Molly, 3 Inches of Blood, and The Wombats (no sign of Gogol Bordello this year). Off the main stage, wander to the iWiW World Music Main Stage, the Hammerworld venue or Converse Wan2, and Mastercard will be sponsoring the "Party Arena."
Who: Sex Pistols, REM, Iron Maiden
More: http://www.sziget.hu/festival_english
Electric Picnic
When: 29-31 August 2008
Where: County Laois, Ireland
What: Set amidst the gentle landscape of Stradbelly, Electric Picnic has a killer line-up to go with its boutique philosophies. With felt-hat making, paintball, yoga, a foot spa salon and carbon blueprint talks on offer, Electric Picnic caters for body and soul as much as it does ears and eyes. Swanky camping options include beach huts, bivouacs, podpads, tipis or a double-decker 'bus-bed'.
Who: Sex Pistols, My Bloody Valentine, Underworld, Grinderman
More: http://electricpicnic.ie/