Issue 155

European festivals: your guide in 2007

14th May 2007

Music festival organisers are predicting a record year of high-decibel outdoor entertainment right across Europe. With Fflam whetting the festive appetite, and Glastonbury's 140,000 tickets all sold out, Front's Jack Yuille recommends joining the growing number of continental festival-hoppers this summer...

Roskilde - Denmark

When?: 5-8 July
Confirmed Acts Include: Artic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, Brian Jones Town Massacre, Muse.

The annual Roskilde Festival is one of the biggest rock and pop music happenings in Europe. This great Danish experience also has a strong social and environmental ethos with some of the profits made by the organisers being ploughed back into humanitarian and cultural initiatives. Undoubtedly one of the most remarkable features of the festival is 'the naked race', where the winner wins a ticket to next year's festival.

Rock Werchter - Belgium

When?: 28 June- 1 July
Confirmed Acts Include: Kaiser Chiefs, Frank Black, Bjork, My Chemical Romance.

Rock Werchter has grown from a small blues festival in 1975 to a massive four day rock festival in 2007. Tickets can be bought for individual days; or for 160 Euros you can stay the duration and as a bonus get free public transport within Belgium. The strength of this years line-up show why this is an award winning festival.

Sonar - Spain

When?: 14-16 June
Confirmed Acts Include: Beastie Boys, Cornelius, Jeff Mills, Devo.

This progressive music and multimedia arts festival takes place every year in Barcelona. There are two distinct parts to the festival; 'Sónar By Day' which focuses on live music performances, DJ sets, art installations, film screenings and record & technology fairs. While 'Sónar By Night' hosts some of the biggest names in electronic and avante garde music.

Montreux International Jazz Festival - Switzerland

When?: 6-21 July
Confirmed Acts Include: Placebo, Chemical Brothers, Van Morrison, Jimmy Cliff.

Running for over forty years this is one of Europe's more established and most venerable festivals. Originally a pure jazz festival, Montreux broadened its scope in the 1970s to include blues, soul and rock - and today it presents artists of every imaginable music style, while retaining jazz as an important part of the festival. Deserving of particular mention in this years lineup is The Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, the best live act this Front editor has ever seen!

Sziget - Hungary

When?: 8-15 August
Confirmed Acts Include: Chemical Brothers, The Killers, Gogol Bordello, Faithless.

Now in its 15th year Sziget is predicted to attract a whopping 400,000 people from around the globe. This massive festival is superbly located on an island amidst the river Danube, in the heart of Budapest. It is host to over one thousand artists and sixty stages - so there will be no shortage of entertainment to cater for every taste. With weeklong camping tickets costing less than a hundred pounds it represents real value for money - though seven days of festival conditions can get a bit gruelling, so day trips into the city are advised!

Jack Yuille