Europe’s best music festivals for the adventurous music lover in 2012.
Rock am Ring
When: 1-3 June
Where: Nurburgring, Germany
Highlights: Linkin Park, Metallica, Motorhead, Marilyn Manson, Soundgarden, Gossip, The Offspring, Die Toten Hosen.
Rock am Ring and Rock im Ring festivals are the European cousins of the Reading/Leeds super-fest. They’re Germany’s most popular festival event and they draw lots of party goers, drinking lots of German beer, having lots of fun. And if you’re into your goth and metal acts…well, let’s just say you’ll need a chiropractor after looking at the 2012 lineup.
www.rock-am-ring.com
Bilbao BBK
When: 12-14 June
Where: Bilbao, Spain
Highlights: Radiohead, The Cure, Bloc Party, Snow Patrol, Garbage, The Kooks, The Maccabees, Mumford and Sons.
One of Europe’s most loved festivals, the big name line-ups make this fuss-free fiesta ever popular with revellers from Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls, many of whom combine the two on their Spanish party trail.
www.bilbaobbklive.com
Eurockeennes
When: 29 June – 1 July
Where: Belfort, France
Who: The Cure, Lana Del Rey, The Kooks, Cypress Hill, Justice.
This open air festival in the foothills of the beautiful French countryside by Malsaucy is the sort of thing to go ‘ooh, la, la’ for. Nevermind the fact that you can pitch your tent at the teepee village’s free campsite or that you are in France, the gastronomical capital of the world (hmm French cheese and wine), but some darn good bands play here too – from old school faves to new age superstars.
www.eurockeennes.fr
Roskilde
When: 5-8 July
Where: Roskilde,Denmark
Highlights: Bruce Springsteen, The Cure, Friendly Fires, The Roots, The Refused, Cerebral Ballzy, Bjork, Gurrumul.
Roskildes howcases Scandinavia’s finest and my are they fine (the bands, you perve!). Big name punk, rock and metal bands share the stage with indie gurus and timeless favourites (we’re looking at you Boss) and this year even includes Australia’s very own The Barons of Tang and Gurrumul.
www.roskilde-festival.dk
Benicassim
When: 12-15 July
Where: Castellon, Spain
Highlights: Bob Dylan, Stone Roses,Florence and the Machine, David Guetta, Ed Sheeran, New Order, Crystal Castles, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Ok, so you want some Spanish sunshine, maybe a jug or three of sangria and some sensational tunes? Welcome to Benicassim! Bathe in the Med by day, bathe in the beats by night. This has got to be one of the best festivals ever – where you combine a beach holiday with ridiculously good bands. (Um, sir – can we have mid July off please?)
www.fiberfib.com
Exit Festival
When: 12-15 July
Where: Novi Sad, Serbia
Highlights: Wolfmother, Gossip, New Order, Guns N’ Roses, Duran Duran, New Order, Erykah Badu, Hercules & Love Affair, Citizens.
Petrovaradin fortress. R&B, pop, rock, disco and house. Orgasmic music. Cheap as chips thrills. As well as hosting Aussie rockers Wolfmother, Exit is this year teaming up with the UK’s Bestival to take part in the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) Twin Festivals initiative. Basically double the fun. Oh – and Guns N’ Roses are playing. Sick!
www.exitfest.org
Sziget
When: 6-13 August
Where: Obudai Island, Budapest, Hungary
Highlights: Stone Roses, The Killers, The Ting Tings, Noah And The Whale, Two Door Cinema Club, Korn, The Black Seeds.
This seven day river island festival boasts huge international performers, hundreds of thousands of people and stages as far as the eye can see. Set in the scenic surrounds of one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Sziget is basically the whole world coming together on one island in Eastern Europe over seven days. Epic!
www.sziget.hu
IMAGE: by Paul Miller AAP
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