Fed up with the bad weather, high prices and lack of variety at home? Why not head for the Continent and choose from the best of European festivals, writes Jim Carroll
LAST SUMMER was a new nadir for Irish music fans. The weather rained and rained and rained on their parade from Oxegen to Barbra Streisand and back again via the Midlands country festival. There were also numerous grumbles about ticket prices and the high cost of food and drink.
Those who decided they were not going to put up with Irish weather and prices and who instead took a plane or a boat and checked out festivals in Britain, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Hungary and even the United States had a much better experience.
This year, even more people will be heading on a exodus to a foreign land in search of festival fun and frolics. The growth in festival tourism has not escaped the attention of those who run European festivals, who have noted a huge increase in the number of Irish accents turning up at events such as Lowlands (the Netherlands), Pukkelpop (Belgium) or Primavera (Spain).
Such foreign trips are hugely appealing for a number of reasons. By going abroad, you can get to combine a holiday with a music festival. In some cases, that holiday can be a city break (you can check out Barcelona at the same time as Sonar, or Paris is you buy tickets for the Rock en Seine festival). Or it can be a beach (Benicàssim, outside Valencia, uses its proximity to beaches as a selling point).
The ticket prices are usually cheaper and, certainly, the cost of food, drink and accommodation offer better value.
You can also get to see many of the same bands you were planning to see in Ireland. When you look through the lists of acts due to play this summer's rake of festivals, some names crop up again and again.
By the looks of things, reformed seminal Irish band My Bloody Valentine will be ideally placed to compare the food and drink options for touring bands in Norway, Spain and the Isle of Wight by the time the summer is over. REM and Justice are two other acts set to enjoy all the summer festival circuit has to offer.
Aside from the financial and climatical concerns, European festivals invariably offer more of an experience. With the exception of Electric Picnic, Irish festivals are really about the bands and little else.
By contrast, the Glastonbury, Bestival or Latitude festivals across the water in Britain offer a cornucopia of non-musical fares. Latitude, for instance, is as much about poetry slams, Edinburgh festival warm-ups, book readings, cabaret and film screenings as about the music on the main stages.
For the intrepid festival-goer, it's now also about festivals beyond Europe. The Sacred Music Festival in Fez in Morocco, for instance, now attracts some Irish music fans, while there are many already hatching plans to take in the infamous Festival in the Desert in Mali next January.
For those who want to head out west, Coachella is the one to take in. Taking place in the middle of the Californian desert at the end of April, Coachella 2008 features Kraftwerk, Portishead, The Verve, Spiritualized, Aphex Twin, Roger Waters performing The Dark Side of the Moon and many more.
Top 10: the best of the European fests
Glastonbury
Somerset, England
June 27-29
Ticket prices to be confirmed soon
www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
This gigantic music and arts festival turns Michael Eavis's 900 acres of farmland into an alternative universe for a long weekend. Truly the pre-eminent festival experience in Europe.
Acts for 2008: Kings Of Leon, Jay-Z and The Verve are already confirmed, with Leonard Cohen and Neil Diamond also expected to feature.
Benicàssim
Benicàssim, Spain
July 17-20
Tickets: 170 (including up to nine days camping)
www.fiberfib.com
This high-summer festival near Valencia has been running since 1995 and attracts festival goers who want to combine a few days on the beach with an amazing line-up.
Acts for 2008: My Bloody Valentine, Róisín Murphy, Leonard Cohen, Siouxsie, Babyshambles, Justice.
Øya
Oslo, Norway
August 5-9
Tickets: five days 1,695 NOK (215), one day 565 NOK (72) www.oyafestivalen.com
The eco-friendly option, Øya attracts 15,000 people each day to the city's striking Medieval Park, a beautiful site surrounded by white sandy beaches and the Oslo fjord.
Acts for 2008: Sigur Rós, My Bloody Valentine, The National, Lightspeed Champion, José González, Iron & Wine, Yeasayer.
Sonar
Barcelona, Spain
June 19-21
Tickets: 30 (day), 48 (night), 170 (weekend)
www.sonar.es
Europe's leading electronic music festival, Sonar has events running all day and night. Besides live acts and DJs, there's also a huge multi-media element to the festival.
Acts for 2008: Justice, Miss Kittin, Camille, Konono No 1, Little Dragon, Yazoo, Erol Alkan, Diplo.
Bestival
Robin Hill Country Park, Isle Of Wight
September 5-7
Tickets: £130
www.bestival.net
This idiosyncratic boutique festival celebrates its fifth year of family-friendly shenanigans and laid-back fun in September. Also the holder of the world record for the biggest fancy dress party (10,000 cowboys and Indians in 2005).
Acts for 2008: Human League, My Bloody Valentine, Lee Scratch Perry, The Breeders, CSS, George Clinton, Chas & Dave, Crystal Castles.
Sziget
Budapest, Hungary
August 12-18
Tickets: From 32 (day ticket) to 100 (festival ticket with camping)
www.sziget.hu
One of Europe's most popular rock fests, Sziget attracts huge crowds (371,000 in 2007, half of whom were visitors from outside Hungary) for its mix of music and culture on an island in the middle of the city.
Acts for 2008: REM and Iron Maiden are already confirmed with more acts due to be announced in April
Eurockéennes
Belfort, France
July 4-6
Tickets: 37 (day),
95 (festival) www.eurockeennes.fr
One of the European festival's old-timers, Eurockéennes has been on the go since 1989 and now attracts a 100,000-plus audience to its striking site on the peninsula of Lake Malsaucy.
Acts for 2008: Acts for the festival's 20th anniversary are yet to be announced.
Roskilde
Roskilde, Denmark
July 4-6
Tickets: 1650 DKK (221)
www.roskilde-festival.com
Roskilde began life in 1971 and is now regarded as one of Europe's leading music fests, mixing internationally renowned superstars, Scandinavian best-sellers and rising acts from all over the world.
Acts for 2008: Radiohead, My Bloody Valentine, Slayer, Band of Horses, Chemical Brothers, The Streets.
Primavera
Barcelona, Spain
May 29-31
Tickets: From 115 (weekend ticket)
www.primaverasound.com
Primavera's big selling point is its excellent line-up, usually starring the cream of the alternative and indie scenes. It's also one of Europe's smartest city fests.
Acts for 2008: Rufus Wainwright, The Go! Team, Nick Lowe, Cat Power, De La Soul, British Sea Power, Public Enemy.
Exit
Novi Sad, Serbia
July 10-13
Tickets: £72 (festival pass), plus £14 for camping
www.exit.org
Held in the 18th-century Petrovaradin fortress by the Danube, Exit began as a student festival in 2000 with a strong anti-Slobodan Milosevic agenda. These days, it draws music fans from all over Europe for its atmosphere and idiosyncratic line-up.
Acts for 2008: Sex Pistols, Paul Weller and Nightwish are already confirmed.