RealSoundsOK Guide To European Festivals

FESTIVAL season is almost upon us folks, so here at RealSoundsOK we have decided to have a look over on the continent to check out some of the top events Europe has to offer.

Ticket – and beer – prices tend to be cheaper, but obviously the flights add to the cost. However, the whole package can still work out cheaper than some UK festivals.

So here’s a little run down – in no particular order – of 11 festivals from across Europe.

1) B’ESTFEST SUMMER CAMP - ROMANIA

When?: July 5th to 7th.

Where?: On the shores of Pasarea Lake, Tunari village, on the outskirts of Bucharest.

Tell me more: Three large stages covering rock, indie and electronic music with numerous smaller stages, entertainment areas, bars & terraces featuring live shows, DJ sets, unconventional art exhibitions, creative workshops, relaxation spaces, games and hand-made fashion-fairs.

Who’s playing?: Chase & Status live, Nas, Nneka , Noisia, Joker, Friction, Soilwork, Tiamat, among others.

How much are tickets?: A three-day pass is around 34 Euros, which is about £28-30.

Where can I find out more?: http://bestfest.ro/editia2013/bilete/?lang=en

2) BERLIN FESTIVAL – GERMANY

When?: September 6th and 7th.

Where?: At the Tempelhof Airport in Berlin.

Tell me more: It boasts a genre clash of pop, techno and indie, the much-loved Art Village, a poetry slam, spoken word and a mix of underground and mainstream.

Who’s playing?: Blur, My Bloody Valentine, Pet Shops Boys, Björk, Ellie Goulding, Klaxons.

How much are tickets?: The “all-inclusive festival ticket” (please check to see what that means) is 129 Euros – around £110 – plus booking fee.

Where can I find out more?: www.berlinfestival.de or www.facebook.com/Berlinfestival

3) EXIT FESTIVAL – SERBIA

When?: July 10th to 14th.

Where?: Within the historic walls of the Petrovaradin Fotres, Novi Sad.

Tell me more: It has been extended this year to five days with 20 stages dipping into most genres with “something for everyone”.

Who’s playing?: The Prodigy, Atoms For Peace, Bloc Party, Ceelo Green, Snoop Dogg/Lion, Chase & Status, Diplo, DJ Fresh, Rudimental.

How much are tickets?: A standard five-day ticket is £95 plus booking fee. However, ticket prices go up as the festival date nears, so book sooner for the cheaper prices. A camping pass is £25 plus booking fee.

Where can I find out more?: www.etickets.to/exit

4) OFF FESTIVAL – POLAND

When?: August 2nd to 4th.

Where?: Katowice, southern Poland.

Tell me more: It won the Best Medium Sized Festival award at the European Festival Awards in January 2012. Pitchfork also chose it as one of the top 20 summer festivals in the world.

Who’s playing?: My Bloody Valentine, Smashing Pumpkins, Black Emporer, AlunaGeorge, Godspeed You! Deerhunter, The Walkmen, Patrick Wolf.

How much are tickets?: A three-day pass is 36 Euros (circa £30) without camping and 46 Euros (circa £39) with camping.

Where can I find out more?: http://offsklep.pl/public_html/settings/lang/en

5) TERRANEO – CROATIA

When?: August 7th to 9th.

Where?: In a disused military facility on the outskirts of the picturesque town of Sibenik in the heart of the Dalmation coastline.

Tell me more: It’s a new three-day festival that will feature more than 120 acts on three stages – and two DJ stages - attracting music lovers “in search of world-class performances, glistening seas and endless sunshine”. 

Who’s playing?: My Bloody Valentine, Azealia Banks, Calexio, The Bots, Postolar, Tripper, Kawasaki 3P, Svi Na pod, Icarus Dawn.

How much are tickets?: A package of tickets went on sale at 60 Euros (around £50) on April 16th. However, the price is only valid until the next announcement of acts added to the bill.

Where can I buy tickets?: For those outside Croatia, head to www.eventim.hr

6) FIB BENICASSIM – SPAIN

When?: July 18th to 21st.

Where?: On the east coast between Valencia and Barcelona, by the Costa Asahar.

Tell me more: It’s one of the biggest and best known European festivals and therefore has a line up to rival those in the UK.

Who’s playing?: Queens of the Stone Age, Beady Eye, Primal Scream, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, Jake Bugg, Miles Kane, Kaiser Chiefs, Dizzee Rascal, Everything Everything, Hurts, La Roux.

How much are tickets?: Day tickets are 70 Euros (circa £59) and weekend tickets are 163 Euros (circa £138) – both subject to booking fees.

Where can I find out more?: http://www.fiberfib.com/index.php/en/

7) OPEN’ER FESTIVAL – POLAND

When?: July 3rd to 7th.

Where?: Gdynia-Kosakowo Airfield, Gdynia.

Tell me more: It’s the biggest festival in Poland and one of the biggest in Europe, combing music, art, fashion and theatre.

Who’s playing?: Blur, Arctic Monkeys, Kings Of Leon, Queens of the Stone Age, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Tame Impala, Crystal Castles, Animal Collective, Editors, Disclosure.

How much are tickets?: Five day tickets are £113.

Where can I find out more?: http://opener.pl/en

8) MEADOWS IN THE MOUNTAINS – BULGARIA

When?: June 7th to 9th.

Where?: In the Rhodope Mountains.

Tell me more: Disco, electronica, chill, funk, folk, jazz, art, sun and nature set in stunningly beautiful, untouched scenery (apart from the stages and all the people one guesses).

Who’s playing?: Mt Wolf, Baby Prince, Nick Monaco, Wbeeza, Moomin, Northern Purpose, Demob Happy, The Common Tongues.

How much are tickets?: Tickets are £95 + £6.35 booking  fee.

Where can I find out more?: http://www.meadowsinthemountains.com or https://www.facebook.com/MeadowsInTheMountainsFestival

9) ECHO FESTIVAL – CROATIA

When?: June 6th to 9th.

Where?: Kanegra beach, Istria, on the Adriatic coast.

Tell me more: Showcases some of the best names and emerging talents in electronic music, along with the new Echo Art Network.

Who’s playing?: Magda, Davide Squillace, Petre Inspirescu, Nick Hopper, Delano Smith, John Roberts, Kassem Mousse, Space Dimension Controller, XXXY.

How much are tickets?: A four-day ticket is £65.

Where can I find out more?: www.echofestival.com

10) SUNSPLASH FESTIVAL – TURKEY

When?: June 2nd to 9th.

Where?: Antayla, on the Turkish Riviera.

Tell me more: It’s website says it’s Turkey’s “biggest little festival” and combines style, travel and serious dance music. (No LMFAO then, cos they’re not serious).

Who’s playing?: Jamie Lidell, Gilles Peterson, Norman Jay M.B.E, Koreless,  Mad Professor, Kirk Degiorgio, Stuart Patterson, AtJazz, Sinbad, LeFto, Rainer Trueby, Tim Keenooy, Ahu, Kaan Duarat, Simbad, The Mighty Zaf.

How much are tickets?: Tickets here include a hotel room on half-board basis (breakfast and dinner) and start from £320 for a triple room for three nights, while a triple for seven nights is £500.

Where can I find out more?: http://sunsplash-festival.com

11) MELT FESTIVAL - GERMANY
When?: July 19th to 21st.
Where?: Ferropolis, near the village of Graefenhainichen, eastern Germany.
Tell me more: The three-day festival will feature more than 120 acts across six stages.
Who's playing?: Atoms For Peace, Alt-J, Azealia Banks, Everything Everything, Rudimental.
How much are tickets?: Regular three-day tickets are 119 Euros (about £100) plus booking fee and five Euros for "garbage disposal".
Where can I find out more?: www.meltfestival.de/tickets