01 May 07

Features

MUSIC FESTIVALS

Festival Spirits

Above: throw your hands in the
air at Scotland’s T in the Park
this year .With a choice of festivals taking place across Europe this summer, you can book your ticket today and be legless in a field tomorrow.

IT’S either your idea of pure heaven or pure hell. Spending a weekend knee-deep in mud and overflow from the portaloos, vitamin intake limited to slithers of fried peppers in your noodles, and surrounded by music, music – and just when you thought you couldn’t take any more, a little more music.

Granted, it sounds dubious on paper, but more than 21 million people across Europe sign up for the experience each year. Why? Because the prospect of seeing dozens of amazing bands in the space of a weekend with 99,999 friends-in-waiting is simply irresistible.

With 280 festivals to choose from and the whole of Europe your playpen, it’s easier to find your perfect line-up. The Scots can head south to England to escape a weekend in the rain; Portuguese heavy metal fans can travel to that music’s spiritual home of Scandinavia, and those lucky enough to get a ticket to Glastonbury in the UK can experience one of the world’s most famous music festivals.

Here, we present the essential guide to the cream of this year’s festivals – tickets still available – with just one word of warning: when you’re in the moshpit, keep your passport safe!

Amy Winehouse is
heading for Germany Rock am Ring

Where: Nürburgring, Germany
When: 1-3 June
Fly to: Frankfurt-Hahn from over 40 Ryanair destinations daily including Porto and Krakow

The Goliath of European festivals – boosted infinitely by its MTV sponsorship – Rock am Ring features the big names of alternative rock, with a slightly heavier focus than most. This year, Linkin Park, The Smashing Pumpkins and Die Ärzte have bagged the headline slots, while Amy Winehouse, My Chemical Romance, Evanescence and Machine Head aren’t far behind.

Don’t expect: to be able to spot your face in the crowd on telly afterwards.
www.rock-am-ring.com

Norwegian Wood

Where: Oslo, Norway
When: 14-17 June
Fly to: Oslo Torp from 11 Ryanair destinations daily including Marseille and Milan

The organisers suggest you bring your swimming trunks. You heard right. It’s because the event’s venue, Frognerbadet, is a public bath that can be used by festival-goers – that is, if you can take your eyes off the stages. Tori Amos will play before Wolfmother, Brian Wilson will be in attendance, and Travis shares the same headline slot as Shawn Colvin and Korn; perfect for those with an open mind and funky swimwear.

Don't expect: music snobs, thankfully!
www.norwegianwood.no

Kaiser Chiefs find themselves
“employment” in Belgium
this summer. Rock Werchter

Where: Belgium
When: 28 June–1 July
Fly to: Brussels Charleroi from 20 Ryanair destinations including Shannon and Rome

Belgium may have as many festivals as it does people, but this is the best of the bunch, picking up awards for the past two years running. This year, the trend seems set to continue, and the stellar line-up includes Interpol, Kaiser Chiefs, Marilyn Manson, Metallica, Queens of the Stone Age, Damien Rice and Snow Patrol. Impressed? We are.

Don’t expect: to find your friends easily.
www.rockwerchter.be

T in the Park

Where: Kinross, Scotland
When: 6-8 July
Fly to: Glasgow Prestwick from 20 Ryanair destinations including Grenoble and Riga

The UK has a plethora of huge festivals, but it’s the friendly Scottish nature of T in the Park that sets it apart. Now running for three days, the lineup boasts Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys and The Gossip, plus homegrown acts like The Fratellis.

Don’t expect: tea in the park.
www.tinthepark.co.uk

Benicàssim International Festival

Where: Valencia, Spain
When: 19-22 July
Fly to: Valencia from eight Ryanair destinations including East Midlands and Dublin

It’s a given that many of the people here are likely to be repeat offenders. The glorious weather and Mediterranean set-up mean it’s as much about the country as it is the music. Not only will you find acts like Muse, Arctic Monkeys, The B52’s and The Rapture, but it promises short films, fashion, theatre, art and dance, too.

Don't expect: an 11pm curfew
www.fiberfib.com

Sziget Festival

Where: Budapest, Hungary
When: 8–15 August
Fly to: Balaton from Frankfurt Hahn and London Stansted daily

Sziget is a festival like few others – not only because it takes place on an island, but also because this island is conveniently located in the city of Budapest. The place is a popular choice for jetsetters, and this year, they’ll be treated to the likes of The Killers, The Chemical Brothers, Mika, The Hives and more.

Don’t expect: to be able to walk to the site.
www.sziget.hu

Frequency Festival

Where: Salzburg, Austria
When: 15-17 August
Fly to: Salzburg from Brussels, London, Dublin, East Midlands and Liverpool daily

Now in its seventh year, regulars will agree that the Frequency Festival has matured in to an internationally competitive weekender. This year, it brings the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Kaiser Chiefs and The Good, The Bad & The Queen, as well as featuring local acts such as Fotos and Tocotronic. Two thumbs up!

Don’t expect: Mozart-based interludes.
www.frequency.at

V Festival

Where: Hylands Park, Chelmsford, UK
When: 18-19 August
Fly to: London Stansted from over 40 destinations across the Ryanair network

It’s sponsored by Virgin, but be prepared to be bombarded by even more brands, as it’s possibly the most heavily advertised of all the festivals. It’s not surprising, as it’s aimed at 20- and 30-somethings with lots of disposable income. It redeems itself with a line-up that includes Foo Fighters and The Killers as headliners. The bill also offers, among others, the likes of Snow Patrol, Pink, Kanye West and Damien Rice.

Don’t expect: to find Sir Richard Branson in the moshpit.
www.vfestival.com

Above: Budapest
revellers are overcome
by the odour of the great
unwashed Electric Picnic

Where: County Laois, Ireland
When: 31 August–2 September
Fly to: Dublin from over 40 Ryanair destinations across the Ryanair network

In its third year, Electric Picnic may be the bunch, but it is already overtaking the mighty Oxegen as the festival of choice for Ireland’s discerning music fans. Attracting a slightly older crowd, with a mix of more leftfield acts – Beastie Boys, Iggy & The Stooges, Björk, LCD Soundsystem, The Jesus & Mary Chain – it also concentrates on the festival experience, by keeping tickets limited and offering some nice features like a Body & Soul Village.

Don’t expect: underage drinkers snogging in the middle of the field. It’s all very grown up.
www.electricpicnic.ie

Must-see bands

BJÖRK

She’s back on the live circuit after too long a time away — so don’t miss her!

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS

As tempting as it is to boycott the grunge legends for reforming seven years after playing their “last ever shows”, can you really say no to hearing Today or 1979 live?

ARCTIC MONKEYS

Frantic, loud and full of melody, it would be sacrilege to miss the psychedelic guitar rock heroes.

AMY WINEHOUSE

London’s favourite new jazz/soul star is powerful on and off the stage. Alluring vocals, massive presence and looks that kill, Amy is one to watch

'I travel!'

Three festival-goers give us their thoughts on music-fests

“I went to Sziget in Budapest last year to see Radiohead. They probably won’t ever come to Serbia, but I love going to festivals anyway, as there’s a great spirit — a lot of people sharing their energy with the bands. It was definitely worth the money; I have great memories from it.
Natasa Kozic, Serbia

I went to Benicàssim last year with a group of my friends. The best thing was spending a whole weekend of quality time together, which wouldn’t happen at home.
Barbara Favi, Italy

Sometimes I feel like a swallow flying abroad for the festival season! However, I live far closer to an airport than I do Hultsfred, the main festival here, so it makes sense if I want to see all the bands that wouldn’t come to visit the town of Lünd, where I live.
Lotta Gustafsson, Sweden

Living it posh

Some festivals offer a camping area with deluxe facilities, which can include extra toilets and showers. Check out www.tangerine.fields.co.uk

Better still, book a hotel. www.ryanair.com has plenty of recommendations, and if you book the ticket and flight well in advance, nearby rooms will be less likely to have sold out.

When you arrive at your destination, hire a campervan. Not only will you be protected from Mother Nature, but you’ll have transport to and from the airport too!

If you’re scared of using the portaloos (and, let’s face it, you should be), a rule of thumb is the smaller the festival, the better the WCs.