It is great to leap on a train and go to music festival in a town not far from where you live, where you are almost guaranteed to bump into a bunch of people you know. Listening to familiar local bands and big names thrown together can be a real thrill. But sometimes it is better to head far afield, where the weather is more reliable and the music offers something a little different in among the headline acts. Bands can also benefit from expanding their horizons and looking for gigs at music festivals elsewhere in Europe, which will allow them to play music, make new contacts and have a holiday all at the same time.
More fun, without the financial sting
European music festivals can also be a much cheaper choice compared to the increasingly wallet-scorching ticket prices of festivals at home. This summer, a two-day camping ticket to the Hartera Festival in Rijeka, Croatia, cost just €85 as opposed to €224.50 for three days at this year's Oxegen Festival, or around €233 for Glastonbury in England. However, you do have to take the cost of travel into account. Unless you
manage to grab a very cheap flight you will probably end up paying the same, although you do get a lot for your money.
A lot of people like the idea of a summer music festivals but prefer to stay away from camp sites unless they involve a luxury trailer complete with fridge, shower and a leather sectional recliner to laze on whilst listening to the tunes. If so, the good news is that a lot of European music festivals offer the music without the mud and lack of permanent plumbing. There are a number of world-class festivals in Europe that offer great music without the need to camp.
One of the wackiest and most lively festivals on the planet is the month-long
_blank”>KaZantip event in Crimea, Ukraine, a lovely part of the world that declares itself to be an independent republic once a year, even electing its own 'preZident'. Instead of buying tickets, visitors must buy either single- or multiple-entry visas that will allow them into the temporary republic so they can enjoy electro music in an utterly unique atmosphere.
Alternately, for a more sedate experience head to the small, intimate festival in Antalya, Turkey, for the likes of Gilles Peterson, Theo Parrish, and Tim Sweeney. The Sunsplash Antalya festival price comes with hotel accommodation included at about €745 for a full seven days of sunshine and chilled sounds, as well as workshops on everything from mixing to graffiti art.
Gilles Peterson also hosts his own event in Sète, France, called Worldwide: a four day festival ending with a huge eighteen-hour party on the beach. Last year the festival, which also has a sister event in Singapore, included music by artists such as Jamie xx, Ghostpoet, Quantic, MC Dynamite and James Blake.
Croatia is a great place for a festival. Lying outside of the Eurozone, living costs within the country are usually a little lower than elsewhere in Europe, and during the summer months hot, sunny weather is pretty much guaranteed. As well as the Hartera Festival, mentioned above, Croatia is home to a number of other festivals including Outlook at Fort Punta Christo, Pula, in the north of the country, and INmusic in Lake Jarun, Zagreb, the country's capital city.
Across Europe music lovers have created events that cover all kinds of music, served up in beautiful locations that would be worth visiting just for themselves. From electro, dubstep and bass in a ruined Croatian fort to Gypsy-inspired folk music on the beach in Spain, everyone will find a festival to suit their musical taste.
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