Oxegen deprived: European music festivals
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Tired of Oxegen and Electric Picnic? Fancy something new this summer? Then look no further. From Spain to Serbia, there’s no shortage of alternative music festivals to be found in Europe. Cormac Murtagh shines a spotlight on the pick of the bunch...
Summertime is almost upon us and with it comes the prospect of the usual music festivals taking place around the country. What better way to spend a midsummer weekend than in the company of like-minded music aficionados, as you flock en masse to revel in your favourite bands, all the while relaxing in the fine summer weather, cool drinks at the ready?
At least that’s the way things would be in an ideal world. But as anyone who has braved the arduous conditions of a large Irish music festival, such as Oxegen, will tell you, the reality can often be quite different. Rain, muddy campsites and toilets, outrageously expensive alcohol, more rain – need I go on?
So far, so bleak. But fret not – your festival experiences this summer need not be dictated by the temperamental Irish weather. Europe offers a wide range of alternative outdoor music festivals. And the tickets are relatively inexpensive, at least compared to Oxegen prices.
From Belgium to Spain, there’s no shortage of diverse music festivals to be found in Europe. And not only are they an exotic, exciting alternative, many of them can double as a holiday for money-conscious travellers (and who isn’t one of those in these recessionary times?). Combine this with the cheap flights on offer from budget carriers and you’re left with very few excuses not to take the plunge and give an alternative European music festival a try.
So let Compass be your guide to some of the biggest music festivals that Europe has to offer, as we run through all the vital information you need on each one.
Benicāssim International Festival (July 15-18)
The first festival under the spotlight is as far away from Oxegen and other Irish events as you can imagine. The Benicāssim International Festival (July 15-18) is a four-day mix of music, film, fashion and art situated in the sunny climes of Benicāssim, a port town near Valencia, Spain.
In striking contrast to the dreary experiences of most Irish festivals, the town of Benicāssim offers almost guaranteed sunshine for the duration of the festival and, to top things off, it’s located beside a rather enticing beach resort. If you can drag yourself away from the sand, the festival itself starts late (around 8pm) in order to avoid the heat, and continues on into the wee small hours.
The acts announced for this year so far include Kasabian, The Prodigy, Vampire Weekend and Temper Trap, among many others. As is the case with many of these music festivals, Benicāssim features a range of other activities to keep you entertained should you get tired of the music, including short films and even art instalŽlations erected along the beach.
And the best part of it all is that a four-day campŽing ticket is priced at only €175, which is pretty attractive when you consider all the benefits of enjoying a festival on the Mediterranean coast. Situated only an hour away from Valencia airport, Benicāssim is easily accessible from here by both bus and rail transport links. See www.fiberfib.com for more information.
Rock Werchter (July 1-4)
Rock Werchter (July 1-4), a Belgian music festival located near the city of Brussels, is, as the name implies, focused largely on major rock acts.
The 2010 festival is set to include big-name bands such as Muse, Green Day, Pearl Jam, Arcade Fire and Them Crooked Vultures.
Belgium’s largest music festival, Rock Werchter first started in 1974, and has since also grown to become one of Europe’s largest festivals, comparable to Glastonbury and others.
A real heavy hitter in the music festival world, it regularly attracts some of the biggest names in contemporary rock, as this year’s lineup attests. Suffice it to say, your rock cravings will be well and truly sated at this event.
But a word of warning before you book your tickets: prices for this year’s festival aren’t exactly cheap, with a four-day camping ticket coming in at around €200. And unlike some of the other festivals featured here, the location is a bit isolated, situated as it is in the small village of Werchter. But if it’s big-name rock acts you’re after, then look no further. Check out more details of this rock fest at www.rockwerchter.be.
Exit Festival (July 8-11)
If the festivals featured so far seem too expensive for you, but you still want a festival comparable in size and scope to, say, Electric Picnic, then Serbia’s Exit Festival (July 8-11) may be the one for you.
With four-day camping tickets at around €115, Exit remains an attractively priced alternative, considering its favourable size and reputation. And not only is it one of the cheapest festivals, it may also be one of the most picturesque.
The festival takes place in the remarkable surroundings of the Petrovaradin Fortress, on the banks of the Danube, in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city after the capital, Belgrade.
First started in 2000 by three university students, Exit has grown in both size and stature in a relatively short period of time, gaining a reputation for its focus on social issues along the way. It remains a refreshing alternative to many other overly commercial summer festivals. In terms of music, the festival has traditionally featured a varied mix of music, from rock and dance to hip hop and more. If you like the sound of Exit, go to eng.exitfest.org.
Roskilde Festival (July 1-4)
For anyone fed up of the wearying comŽmercialisation of Oxegen and the like, the Roskilde Festival (July 1-4) in Denmark is an attractive alternative. Despite being one of Europe’s biggest music festivals, it is run as a non-profit festival, with the money earned going towards the develŽopment of local music and culture.
This year’s festival, which is priced at €220 for a four-day camping ticket, will feature such crowd-pleasers as Muse, Motörhead and Them Crooked Vultures. If this floats your boat, check out www.roskilde-festival.com.
Paléo Festival Nyon (July 20-25)
Switzerland’s Paléo Festival Nyon (July 20-25) is Europe’s second-biggest open-air music festival, outstripping the likes of Glastonbury and Rock Werchter, and runs for six days at the end of July. It takes place in the municipality of Nyon, Paléo and is easily accessed by train or bus from Geneva airport, which is only 25 kilometres away.
At the time of writing, the lineup for this year’s festival has yet to be announced but as befits an event of this size, you can expect a number of big-name acts to play over the duration of the festival. Tickets are expected to be priced at around €200 and usually sell out quickly, so book early at www.yeah.paleo.ch.
Sziget Festival (August 9-16)
Last, but by no means least, is Budapest’s Sziget Festival (August 9-16), which takes place on a large island – over 100 hectares – in the middle of the Danube River.
In a word, this festival is big. It is Europe’s largest open-air music festival and regularly attracts huge crowds. Some 390,000 were reported to have attended last year over the seven days it was on, and over 50 per cent of attendees came from different countries in Europe.
Another indication of its size is the fact that there are over 1,000 performances each year. Thankfully, the smallest thing about the festival is the camping ticket prices: tickets for the week are just €170 if bought before the end of April, with prices rising to €200 thereafter.
The music lineup for this year’s festival has yet to be announced but you can expect a broad range of performances, ranging from renowned alternative and hard-rock acts – the likes of The Killers, Iron Maiden and Bloc Party have featured in recent years – to dance, hip hop and more.
However, music is but one facet of the appeal of this festival. During the summer months, Budapest’s weather is comparable to Spain, and Sziget has a selection of activities to suit the fine conditions, with bungee jumping, swimming and more available all over the island.
Its attractions are so varied that in recent years Sziget has been favourably compared to the Burning Man festival in America, partly because of its length but also due to its unique atmosphere.
Given its convenient location, people attending Sziget can also come and go as they please, which allows for plenty of opportunities to explore the alluring city of Budapest. More information can be found at www.szigetfestival.com.
So there you have it, six tempting alternatives to the mud, rain and over-priced booze that often seem to be features of the Irish music festival experience. This year, don’t stand for it – start looking for budget flights, and try one of Europe’s music shindigs instead...
- Cormac Murtagh
