The Chic of Some People: Euro Festival Report

Berlin Festival
WHERE: Berlin, Germany
WHEN: September 10-11
WHO: Guten himmel! Famous for its blend of indie, pop and electronica, this year’s Berlin Festival has plenty to recommend it. Headline performers include LCD Soundsystem, Fever Ray, Editors, Tricky, Seabear, First Aid Kit, 2manydjs, Atari Teenage Riot, Boys Noize, D.I.M, Gonzales, Strip Steve VS Das Glow, Djedjotronic, Erol Alkan, Housemeister, Peaches, and Soulwax. Top indie label City Slang will also be at the bash celebrating its 20th birthday, with performances by label mates Caribou, Herman Düne, and Port O’Brien.
WHY: The central location and early September time-slot making it the perfect good-bye to a summer of great music. Better still, it's taking place slap-bang in the middle of Berlin Music Week (aka Popkomm). This is a chance for music industry professionals from all over the world to get together and talk business. Might not seem too exciting for music fans, but Berlin Fest ticker holders will get a chance to check out the forums and workshops at Popkomm’s B2C Day on the Friday.
Oh, and the entire music festival takes place inside an old airport. Pretty bad-ass!
How to get there: Neighbouring Tempelholf Airport closed for business in 2008, so you can no longer fly straight to the party. However, it’s still accessible by Berlin’s transit system. Regardless of where you’re coming from, you want to take the U-Bahn train U6 to Platz de Lüftbrücke.
You can pick that up from any U-Bahn stop in the city centre. From Schönefeld airport, take the S9 line to Freidrichstrasse, and switch to the U6. From Flughafen Tegel, take the bus 128 to Kurt-Schumacher-Platz and pick up the U6 there. Remember though, there’s no camping, so make sure to book your own accommodations.
Tickets: 2-day festival tickets (including entry to Popkomm on Friday) are €65. Pick them up from Konfusion, 5a Crown Alley, Temple Bar. 01-707760 or www.berlinfestival.de.

Benicassim
WHERE: Benicassim, Spain (near Valencia)
WHEN: July 15-18
WHO: Unfolding on a gorgeous, sun-kissed beach Benicassim 2010 features The Prodigy, Dizzee Rascal, Ian Brown, Kasabian, Vampire Weekend, The Specials, PiL, reformed dance champs Leftfield, The Courteeners, Cut Copy, Echo And The Bunnymen, and current Irish number 1 Mumford & Sons.
WHY: Besides the spectacular location, the festival, now in its 15th year, has something for everyone. Setting aside the fab music, there’s also a comprehensive line-up of dance, art, theatre, fashion, silent disco, short films and, well, whatever you’re having yourself!
And if you’re the type of music fan who doesn’t mind sleeping until noon, FIB is the festival for you – the day’s events don’t start until 5 pm, and typically run until 8 the next morning, leaving you with a glorious nine sunny hours to spend lounging on the beach.
How to get there: Valencia has the closest airport, but you can also fly into Reus, Barcelona, Alicante, Girona, or Madrid. Benicassim has its own train station, with trains and buses arriving regularly from Valencia, Barcelona, and Madrid. Valencia’s by far the closest, and therefore the quickest (about an hour) and probably cheapest option.
Tickets: Four-day tickets with camping are €160. The camping grounds are open as early as July 12 and you can stay as late as July 20, making it perfect for sun worshipping. fiberfib.com.

Roskilde
WHERE: Roskilde, Denmark
WHEN: July 1-4
WHO: Taking place in the Copenhagen exurbs, Roskilde is arguably Continential Europe's most famous festival. Muse, Gorillaz, NOFX, Pavement, Alice in Chains, Them Crooked Vultures, Jack Johnson, and Florence and the Machine top the bill in 2010. Other notable acts include Beach House, Motorhead, Kasabian, Wild Beasts, and Wooden Shjips.
WHY: Started in 1971 by two high school students, the festival was taken over the following year by the Roskilde Foundation, which runs it on a non-profit basis for the development and support of music, culture, and humanism.
That means the proceeds are donated directly to humanitarian and cultural causes, so you can have a great time while feeling like a good person!
How to get there: Roskilde is about 35km away from Copenhagen and you can take the train from the city to the festival’s very own train station.
Tickets: Approx. €225 (general admission), €298 (camping with small tent) and €362 (camping with large tent). These all include the June 27-30 warm-up events. www.roskilde-festival.dk.

Sziget
WHERE: Budapest, Hungary
WHEN: August 9-16
WHO: The Hungarian capital comes alive again with an eclectic Main Stage line-up that includes Bad Religion, Iron Maiden, Muse, Gwar, Papa Roach, The Cribs, The Hives, and Kasabian. The World Music Stage boasts the even more diverse talents of Amparo Sanchez, Jaune Toujours, Daniel Kahn & the Painted Bird, 08001 and Orquest Bueno Vista Social Club, among others.
WHY: Sziget takes place on a wooded island in the middle of the Danube, in the centre of Budapest. So you get the best of both worlds – a fun, relaxed island atmosphere and the ability to get to the city centre within 15 minutes. There are five stages, and plenty of other activities like belly-dancing, bungee-jumping, learning Hungarian, swimming, movies, karaoke, and football.
How to get there: You can take the local HÉV train from Batthyány tér and get off at the stop Filatorigát. During the festival, the trains run more frequently to Budapest in the morning and evening (and the afternoon during the weekends). Plus night trains are in operarion.
Tickets: Non-camping tickets are €140; tickets with camping are €170; and caravan tickets are €110. www.szigetfest.co.uk.

Glastonbury
WHERE: Glastonbury, England
WHEN: June 23-27
WHO:The grand old man of European festivals, Glastonbury has been waving the banner for hippy values since the '70s. Taking care of headlining duties this year are a trio of superstars, U2, Muse and Stevie Wonder. Also on the bill are Dizzee Rascal, Vampire Weekend, MGMT, LCD Soundsystem, Snoop Dogg, Willy Nelson, Phoenix, Scissor Sisters, Jackson Browne, Faithless, Jack Johnson, Ray Davies, Slash, The Flaming Lips, Florence and the Machine, Local Natives, Editors, Imogen Heap, Julian Casablancas and several hundred more.
WHY: Simply put, it’s the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world. Attending Glasto is a rite of passage for any self-respecting festival junkie. It takes place at the Vale of Avalon, one of the most mythologically historic sites in the world (back in the day it was one of King Arthur’s fave haunts). It’s pretty much its own huge tented city, with great music and fun people who are trying to save the planet and generally spreading good vibes.
How to get there: There aren’t any connecting services from airports, but you can take a free shuttle bus from the Castle Cray Station to the Festival bus station. You’ll need your festival ticket to use this shuttle.
Tickets: Sold-out. www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk.

Exit
WHERE: Novi Sad, Serbia
WHEN: July 8-11
WHO: Serbs up for the summer! Headliners at this year's Exit include The Chemical Brothers, Faith No More, Mika, Missy Elliot and Placebo. Also waiting to take Serbia by storm are David Guetta, Röyksopp, LCD Soundsystem, Crystal Castles, Klaxons, DJ Shadow, Pendulum, Bad Brains and Suicidal Tendencies.
WHY: As the biggest music festival in South Eastern Europe, Exit provides gig-goers with a relaxed atmosphere filled with eclectic music and postitive energy. There's some great scenery too, with Exit taking place in an ancient Hungarian fortress overlooking the Danube. If you’re going to camp, you also get the experience of the nine-day Exit Village, a mini-festival in itself, which includes workshops on such subjects as social education on democracy, tolerance, and multiculturalism. We can also personally vouch for the quality of the around the clock partying that goes on there!
How to get there: On its website, the festival offers a special Exit Trip deal if you fly into Budapest first and then on to Novi Sad. Otherwise, Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla airport is about 15km away from the centre of Belgrade and you can get buses into the city-centre from the airport. Once in Belgrade, there are buses to Novi Sad every 15 to 45 minutes from 03.00 to 23.59.
Tickets: Until May a four-day festival ticket is approx. €85 or €105 if you want to camp in the Exit Village. Afterwards the prices rise to €99 for a four-day festival ticket and €25 for camping. www.exitfest.org.

Sonar
WHERE: Barcelona
WHEN: June 17-19
WHO: Barcelona is one of Europe's party capitals, so it's no surprise it should be home to one of the Continent's most thrilling festivals. Highlights this year include Roxy Music, Chemical Brothers, Air, LCD Soundsystem, Dizzee Rascal, 2manydjs, The Sugarhill Gang, Booka Shade and Hot Chip. Sonar By Night will once again focus on the finest dance music 2010 has to offer, with appearances by LuckyMe feat. American Men, Machine Drum, and Éclair Fiji & John Computer and Mary Anne Hobbs presenting Flying Lotus, Joy Orbison and Roska.
WHY: It’s the ultimate electronic music festival in one of the liveliest cities on the planet. Sonar By Day gives you multimedia art, record/clothes fairs, technology demos, and the Sonar Cinema while Sonar By Night features DJs and VJs that spin a broad spectrum of dance music throughout four key locations. At both, you’ll find concerts by legends and newcomers in techno, house, electro, IDM, and hip-hop that any self-respecting electronic fan wouldn’t want to miss.
How to get there: Sonar By Day takes place in CCCB and MACBA in the city centre (Montalegre 5) with Sonar By Night moving to Fira Gran Via 2 in l’Hospitalet, just beyond the city-centre. Check out www.sonar.es for full bus and subway details.
Tickets: A complete festival pass costs €165; a two-night ticket is €100 (available only until May 31); Sonar By Day ticket €39; and Sonar By Night ticket €60. 2010.sonar.es.

Hop Farm
WHERE: Kent, England
WHEN: July 3
WHO: Bob Dylan and Ray Davies are headlining, with Mumford & Sons, Seasick Steve, Peter Doherty, Laura Marling, The Magic Numbers and Foy Vance also down to play.
WHY: Irishman Vince Power has launched the Hop Farm as an alternative to the more corporate-minded events that dominate the UK festival scene. There’s no guest-lists, corporate branding or the other malarkey that often rankles with punters.
How to get there: You can take a train from London to Paddock Wood Station in about 45 minutes. Throughout the weekend, the festival will be provide a courtesy shuttle from Paddock Wood Station to the Hop Farm, with return trips on the hour and half-hour, ending at 10pm on Friday and 1am on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets: Saturday tickets are €65, plus an extra €25 if you want to camp on Friday and Saturday. www.hopfarmfestival.com.

Bestival
WHERE: Isle of Wight
WHEN: September 9-12
WHO: If the UK can be said to have an equivalent of Electric Picnic, it's probably Bestival. The main acts this year include The Prodigy, Dizzee Rascal, The Flaming Lips, Roxy Music, Hot Chip, The xx and LCD Soundsystem. Also featuring in the line-up are Jónsi from Sigur Rós, Mumford & Sons, Gil Scot Heron, Echo & The Bunnymen, Ewan Pearson and Hot Press faves Wild Beasts. The event is the brainchild of dance DJ Rob Da Bank who mans the 1’s and 2’s along with the likes of Mylo, Zane Lowe, Aeroplane and Erol Alkan.
WHY: A boutique affair, there’s no real corporate involvment and lots of space to move around in. In keeping with Bestival tradition, there’s a fancy dress theme – Fantasy – which it’d be bad manners not to adhere to. Other highlights? A giant inflatable church where you can get actually get married (they have a Reverend and everything) and an area called, ahem, 'Breastival', which aside from being the most cleverly named part of any festival ever, aims to make nursing mums feel more at home.
Tickets: Weekend camping tickets are approx. €170, with Campervan tickets an additional €70. www.bestival.net.

PinkPop
WHERE: Landgraaf, Limburg, The Netherlands
WHEN: May 28-30
WHO: As anyone who’s ever spent a lost weekend in Amsterdam knows, the Dutch know how to have a good time (as well as inventing vending machine greasy chips -genius!). So it's no surprise that PinkPop is among Europe's liveliest festivals. Headliners this year are Rammstein, Green Day, P!nk and The Prodigy with other notable acts including Paolo Nutini, Pixies, John Mayer, Editors, Florence and the Machine, Mika, Slash, Wolfmother, Kate Nash, 2manydjs, Yeasayer and Gogol Bordello.
WHY: Europe’s longest running open-air festival, PinkPop is a fantastic start to the summer and has a lot in common vibe and line-up wise with the likes of Reading and Oxegen.
How to get there: The nearest airport is Maastricht Aachen. From there you can take a taxi to Landgraaf or first travel to the city of Maastricht (Central Station) and take a train to Landgraaf. From Landgraaf train station, there are shuttle buses to the festival site.
Tickets: Weekend tickets are €140, while day ones are €75 plus service charges. www.pinkpop.nl.