Music Festivals... in Europe?

[tegwin]

I have never been to a full on music festival in the UK due to the cost, mud and large numbers of chavs...

Anyway...this year I want to make an effort and go to a decent festival...



Been to a couple of smaller music type things in Europe (Switzerland and Austria) and love the atmosphere and friendlyness of everyone....


I have no idea whats available on the continent... so what festivals have you all been to outside of the UK, and what did you recon to them?


Not after some rediculously huge event, but something with quality music and lots of european strength beverages!

[The Joker.]

My brother went to the pink pop festival in holland a year or two ago and he said it was far better than the leeds festival, worth a look ?

Edited by The Joker. on Monday 23 February 21:23

[TheEnd]

Rock am Ring.

Never been to the music bit, but you can accidentally drag you missus along for a car holiday with out her realising.

[crofty1984]

sunsplash rototop in osoppo, italy.
reggae.

[DrTre]

Am just weighing up Primavera and/or Benicassim in Barca.

[mouk786]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Werchter

Rock Werchter 2009 so far has confirmed Coldplay, The Killers, Placebo, and Metallica as playing. On Thursday the 12th of February following bands were also confirmed: Kings of Leon, Limp Bizkit, Oasis, Mastodon, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, Dave Matthews Band, The Streets, Amy McDonald and Elbow New names were announced on Friday the 20th of February. They are: 2manydjs, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, The Prodigy, Katy Perry, Tiga, Seasick Steve, Jason Mraz, Emiliana Torrini and Henry Rollins Spoken Word. There was also a basic planning released.

[Garett]

mouk786 said:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Werchter

Rock Werchter 2009 so far has confirmed Coldplay, The Killers, Placebo, and Metallica as playing. On Thursday the 12th of February following bands were also confirmed: Kings of Leon, Limp Bizkit, Oasis, Mastodon, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, Dave Matthews Band, The Streets, Amy McDonald and Elbow New names were announced on Friday the 20th of February. They are: 2manydjs, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, The Prodigy, Katy Perry, Tiga, Seasick Steve, Jason Mraz, Emiliana Torrini and Henry Rollins Spoken Word. There was also a basic planning released.

I've been to RockWerchter for the previous 2 years and its fking ace. I've been to alot of festivals in the UK and this one wins hands down, the diversity and caliber of the lineup is just the start of it. Its also over 4 days, UK festivals are usually 3, plus they have a licence til 2am, UK usually finishes by 12 midnight.

The people are generally very friendly, more so than a british crowd. Mainly Belgian and Dutch, quite a few German but I read somewhere 30% were British!

Food and beer is cheaper, you don't have to que up for it, literally stroll up to the bar and theres usually 15 people ready to serve you. You also have a massive choice in food, unlike the UK.

Its so much cleaner, toilets are cleaned regularly loo roll is freely distributed.

To be honest it doesn't work out much more expensive (if at all). Once you are in Belgium your festival ticket covers you for FREE rail transport and its fast and reliable, once you are in Leuven there's a free bus to the site 10 mins away.

Last year i saw. The Chemical Brothers, REM, Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Kings of Leon, Duffy, Moby, The Verve, Beck, Neil Young, Jay-Z, Lenny Kravitz. Those are just the big names and I can't think of another festival in Europe with as many big names! 2007 was even better for me personally.

This year its hit and miss whether I can go or not, € is much stronger than the previous 2 years. I really want to go tho, the lineup is immense.

Edited by Garett on Tuesday 24th February 02:11

Edited by Garett on Tuesday 24th February 02:12

[Benni]

If you are into loads of guitars of stoner/doom/heavy Rock,
check out the Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, NL.
IF you can get a ticket for this on ebay or wherever,
this legendary, but quite unknown (but for insiders) festival sold out in 45 minutes.
http://www.roadburn.com/frames.html
The LineUp is almost unbelievable, ranging from Orange Goblin to Saint Vitus (!),
and from Amon Duul to Motorpsycho.
Regards,
Benni

[Gentleman Geoff]

For the last two years I've been to the Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Great atmosphere, excellent bands, really well organised, no chavs and lots of friendly Scandinavians.

We took the lazy option in 2007 and booked a pre-pitched tent. Unfortunately, it was biblically wet that year and everything was flooded. Didn't stop us enjoying The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Muse, The Who, Tiesto, The Beastie Boys, The Red Hot Chili Peppers or My Chemical Romance, though.



After the 2007 festival, I got a letter from the organisers apologising for the bad weather (!) and offering me a free ticket for 2008. So, off we went again to see the Kings of Leon, Robyn, Radiohead, Neil Young, Goldfrapp and Jose Gonzalez in the glorious sunshine... it was so hot that we even took a dip in the lake one afternoon.



Rock Werchter sounds good, I might look into that.