Glastonbury may be over for another year but Europe is buzzing with the promise of yet more awesome festivals – bring on the summer!
T in the Park, Scotland – 12–14 July 2013
For the last seven years T has been has a three day music festival, but has been held each year since 1994. The biggest festival to hit Scotland, the audience numbers around 85,000. And in case you wondered what the ‘T’ element is – it’s named after the event sponsors: Tennents Brewery. In total there are seven stages and a funfair, along with a Big Wheel.
Where: Kinross, north of Edinburgh, Scotland
Line up: Mumford & Sons, Rihanna, The Killers, Chase and Status.
Ilosaarirock 2013, Finland – 12–14 July 2013
The Finnish city of Joensuu hosts the second oldest rock festival in the world each July. First held in 1971, the festival is held over five stages and as well as rock, punk, reggae and hip hop is also represented. And in case you wondered, Ruisrock in Turku in Finland is the oldest European rock festival, established in 1970. Roskilde Rock Festival in Denmark was also founded in 1971.
Where: Joensuu, Finland
Line up: Hot Chip, Imagine dragons, Sigur Ros.
Cactus Festival 2013, Belgium – 12-14 July 2013
If you like your music festivals small and intimate, then the Belgian Cactus Festival is for you. Quaint and eclectic, this festival has won the best small festival award in 2010.
Where: Bruges, Belgium
Benicàssim Festival, Spain – 18-21 July 2013
First held in 1995, Spain’s biggest festival, Benicassim features pop, rock and electro music as well as film, art and fashion. Audiences of up to 130,000 soak up the atmosphere on the artificial beach resort over the 4 day festival. Musical acts perform in the cooler part of the day, from 5pm, right through to 8am.
Where: Benicassim village, Valencia, Spain
Line up: Beady Eye, Arctic Monkeys, Queens of the Stone Age, The Killers and Noel Gallagher will also perform with the High Flying Birds – watch out for a potential meeting of the two Gallagher brothers, aka Oasis!
Latitude Festival, Suffolk, UK – 18-21 July 2013
Now in its eighth year, Latitude is held in the affluent Suffolk seaside town of Southwold. Music is fused with comedy, poetry and theatre. The main Obelisk stage features mainstream music and the new BBC Radio 6 Stage features leftfield and alternative artists. Latitude is one of the unmissable music festivals in the UK this summer!
Where: Southwold, Suffolk
Line up: Bloc Party, Kraftwerk, Foals, Texas and on the Comedy Stage: Eddie Izzard, Sean lock and Russell Kane.
Global Gathering, UK – 26–27 July 2013
Electronic acts make up the hugely popular Global Gathering festival which is held together with Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The acts are international and GG has been running since 2001. Legendary club Godskitchen has a dedicated stage, as does BBC radio station 1xtra.
Where: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, UK
Line up: Plan B, Rudimental, Disclosure, Example, Katy B.
Southburgh Festival of World Music 2013, Norfolk, UK – 26-28 July 2013
Food, dance and music are the highlights of this small and intimate three day festival in a tucked-away corner of Norfolk. The international line up lights up the rural community festival, which is held for charity.
Where: Southburgh, Norfolk, UK
Line up: Kanda Bongo Man, the Turbans, The Vagaband.
Deerstock 2013, UK, 26-28 July 2013
The three day Deerstock festival features 40 up and coming musical acts and bills itself as a family friendly event, complete with free camping. The festival supports Help for Heroes.
Where: East Bridgford, Nottinghamshire