15 music festivals worth travelling for this summer (and with tickets still available)
The best rock and pop festivals on foreign shores, including options in Spain, France, Portugal and Scandinavia.
1. AMP Lost and Found, Malta
Staged in scenic locations and curated by Radio One DJ Annie Mac, this small but diverse dance festival is now a firm favourite with Britons and is celebrating its fifth year across a bank holiday. The main stages are compact and easy to navigate, while parties are planned on the beach, in boats, in castles and at the seafront Café del Mar in time for sunset. Skream, Black Coffee and The Black Madonna are set to play, along with Annie herself.
When: May 2-5 (from £142)
More information: lostandfoundfestival.com
2. Primavera Sound, Barcelona, Spain
Primavera pits cult names alongside the freshest new bands and, with a programme that bursts at the seams, has a reputation for being genuinely exciting. Mornings are for exploring the city before joining the crowds that pour down the concrete ramps of the Parc del Forum. Bands and DJs play through the night until around 5am, when the sea breeze becomes decidedly nippy and sends you finally off to bed. A sister weekend follows in Porto, Portugal. Erykah Badu, Lizzo, Aldous Harding, Mac DeMarco and Primal Scream play this year, among others.
When: May 30 - June 1 (from £170)
More information: primaverasound.es
3. We Love Green, Paris, France
Set in leafy Bois de Vincennes, just outside of Paris, this growing festival has strong eco-friendly credentials and attracts an open-minded crowd with critically-acclaimed indie acts. The event is 100 per cent fossil-fuel free, all toilets are dry to save water and even cigarette butts are recycled. Camping options include pretty, wooden bungalows and the food is sustainably-produced, with a tented restaurant for vegan banquets. Tame Impala, Christine and the Queens and Idles perform, plus there is a focus on electro this year, led by Laurent Garnier.
When: June 1 - 2 (from £78 for a two-day pass)
More information: welovegreen.fr
4. Meadows in the Mountains, Bulgaria
Occupying a breathtaking position on a hillside in rural Bulgaria, Meadows is intimate, with a handcrafted feel and an independent spirit. Local villagers, who let attendees stay in their houses and camp in their gardens, welcome festival-goers with folk music and pagan Kukeri dancers. The site contains four stages, one of which is positioned to witness sunrise over the mist-filled valley. A programme of yoga and nature-inspired wellness sessions runs during the day, accompanied by under-the-radar folk, indie and dance music.
When: June 6-9 (from £122)
More information: meadowsinthemountains.com
5. Roskilde, Denmark
Providing the opportunity to tour Copenhagen before heading to Roskilde, 20 miles away, this festival is the biggest in northern Europe - a Scandi Glastonbury, if you will. It is not-for-profit, showcasing a number of musical genres over a week. Pre-pitched tents are available and campsites are lively communities. Last year’s more dubious highlights included a naked race and a food stall offering crickets. Parquet Courts, Bob Dylan, Cypress Hill and Julia Holter play in 2019.
When: June 29 - July 6 (from £245)
More information: roskilde-festival.dk
6. Exit Festival, Novi Sad, Serbia
This large and long-running festival looks down from the 17th-century Petrovaradin Fortress in Serbia’s second city, Novi Sad. With 20 outdoor stages, it has one of Europe’s most diverse bills and you can find everything from death metal to reggae in the various courtyards, ramparts and underground tunnels. The dance arena can see 20,000 enjoying themselves and waiting for sunrise down in the moat. Both hotel stays and camping are possible. This year’s acts include The Cure, Skepta and Carl Cox.
When: July 4-7 (from £89)
More information: exitfest.org/en/
7. NOS Alive, Lisbon, Portugal
International big-hitters and one of Europe’s most fashionable cities are the draw at this traditional-style festival. The line-ups guarantee big names but NOS mixes things up by reserving stages for the stars of Portuguese fado and Afro-house music too. Nothing much starts before the early evening, giving festival-goers a chance to enjoy Lisbon. Vampire Weekend, The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever are promised for 2019.
When: July 11-13 (from £122 for a three-day pass)
More information: http://nosalive.com/en
8. Bilbao BBK, Bilbao, Spain
Set on a mountain within the Basque city, this laid-back festival can be combined with daytime fun such as eating pintxos, lazing on surf beaches or touring the Guggenheim before making your way up to the festival later in the day. For 2019 there is a new stage dedicated to music under 100BPM, where festivalgoers are invited to disconnect and get lost in between beats. Elsewhere, you can expect The Strokes, The Good, The Bad & The Queen, Nils Frahm and Thom Yorke.
When: July 11-13 (from £126)
More information: bilbaobbklive.com/en/
9. Melt, Dessau, Germany
Taking over the open-air industrial museum of Ferropolis, with a backdrop of hulking iron mining machines, Melt is a well-respected festival that may have had techno beginnings but has now broadened to include rock and hip-hop. It’s not all industrial chic on site either, with a forest stage and a lake to dip into also. Berlin is 140 km away, while glamping and camping are available for anyone not staying in Dessau. Look out for Bonobo, Pearson Sound and Bon Iver this year.
When: July 19-21 (from £112)
More information: meltfestival.de/en
10. OFF, Katowice, Poland
Eastern Europe’s festivals are great value and OFF is one with a steadily growing reputation based on its expert curation of new music and a switched-on vibe. Katowice is an industrial city but it has some fabulous modernist and brutalist buildings, as well as many parks, one of which contains the festival. Krakow is just 80km away, so can be easily combined. The line-up for 2019 at this medium-sized event features Foals, The Comet is Coming, Loyle Carner and Suede.
When: August 2-4 (from £67)
More information: off-festival.pl
11. Sziget, Budapest, Hungary
Stay in Budapest, soak up some culture and tour its eclectically-furnished “ruin” pubs before taking the train or river boat to one of Europe’s larger festivals, set on an island in the Danube. With a beach, themed parties at the main stage, countless mini-stages and playful installations dotted about, there is plenty to discover. In fact, the festival lasts for a week. Acts span rock, pop, indie, dance, reggae and folk music and this year include Florence + The Machine, The National, Foo Fighters and Richie Hawtin.
When: August 7-13 (from £182 for a three-day ticket)
More information: szigetfestival.com/en
12. Way out West, Gothenburg, Sweden
Nominated for best medium-sized festival last year, Way out West is set in a green park and prides itself on offering great food for vegetarians. Attendees can stay in the comfort of the city which is handy too for Stay out West, the festival’s programme of club nights that take place after hours and are included in the ticket price. Jon Hopkins, James Blake, Stormzy and Stereolab take to the stage.
When: August 8-10 (from £166)
More information: wayoutwest.se
13. Flow, Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki’s well-regarded summer weekender is a good bet for those who like their festivals a little more refined. Stay in stylish city digs, pop out for a sauna and choose from an array of food by Michelin-star chefs on site. The organisers possess impeccable taste in both design and music, so expect plenty of quirky, Instagrammable areas, along with a bill from the US, Europe and Scandinavia that this year features Robyn, Big Thief, Blood Orange and Father John Misty.
When: August 9-11 (from £178 for a three-day pass)
More information: flowfestival.com/en/
14. Pukkelpop, Hasselt, Belgium
Another of Europe’s long-standing festival giants (running over 30 years), Pukklepop’s musical fancies are not all as saccharine as its name might suggest, spanning rock, hip-hop and house, as well as pure pop. The event starts with a big warm-up evening, called Boiler Party, while late-night clubbing takes place around the decks at the Booth stage. Fans of Belgian beer will appreciate the two pubs, while there is also a secret cocktail bar to find. Most people camp (glamping is available) but you can also stay in Hasselt and take a free shuttle bus in. Don’t miss Anna Calvi, Anderson .Paak and Franz Ferdinand, among others.
When: August 15-18 (from £87 for a single day pass)
More information: pukkelpop.be/en/
15. Oasis, Marrakech, Morocco
A spa resort in Marrakech is about as chic a spot as you can get for a music festival. Hosted by Fellah Hotel, Oasis’ lineup features world-class DJs (think Carl Cox, The Black Madonna) and some North African artists. Attendees are a more mature crowd, either found dancing or lounging with a cocktail by the pool. It’s expensive but civilised, with a side plate of Moroccan street food and a beautiful backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. This year expect an on-site gallery featuring North Africa’s rising artists, a new design space and DJs including Four Tet and Horse Meat Disco.
When: September 13-15 (from £140)
More information: theoasisfest.com
