Put a spring in your step with our favourite European music festivals for the upcoming season. To help you click into the groove, ahead of all the dancing, catharsis and introspection that you’ll be doing, tune into our spring festival playlist for a taste of what to expect at these festivals.
Lisboa Dance Festival – Lisbon, Portugal
Lisboa Dance Festival is a great place to delve deep into the world of electronic music @ Lisboa Dance Festival
Dance to the sounds of some of the best electronic artists on the planet in a former industrial complex turned creative hub (Lx Factory).
Now in its second edition, the Lisboa Dance Festival features a strong lineup that straddles the vast territories of electronic music. Complete your festival experience by attending one of its master-classes or debates, featuring some of the key protagonists within electronic music and urban culture du jour.
When: March 10-11
Headliners: Hercules & Love Affair, Marcel Dettman, Tokimonsta, Mount Kimbie
Book tickets via Festicket.com
Sónar – Istanbul, Turkey
Sónar’s inaugural festival in Istanbul will push the boundaries of your curiosity @ Sonar Istanbul
Predominantly electronic by nature, the inaugural Sónar festival in Istanbul is billed as a celebration of music, creativity and technology. This is the sort of place where you can really enjoy your music, thanks to its intimate setting (the Zorlu Performing Arts Centre, with a capacity of 5000), top-notch acoustics and a lineup that’ll tickle the limits of your curiosity.
The Sónar brand was founded in Barcelona in 1994 and has since staged events in over 50 locations the world over, in addition to the annual marquee festival, Sónar Barcelona, which takes place in mid-June.
When: March 24-25
Headliners: Roisin Murphy, Moderat, Nina Kraviz
Book tickets via Festicket.com
Horizon Festival – Andorra
Head to Andorra’s Horizon Festival for some fun in the snow @ Horizon Festival
Andorra’s Horizon festival takes place at the base of the ski resort, Arinsal, which can be accessed via both Barcelona as well as Toulouse.
A fest of gargantuan proportions that puts the “A” into après-ski, this is not a party for the fainthearted. Thankfully, you don’t have to be a ski ace to attend – the slopes here vary in difficulty and gradient, featuring everything from off-piste thrills to gentle, beginner-friendly options.
Combine your trip to Andorra with a pre-party in Barcelona on the 25 of March, if you’re eager to hit the ground running. Once at the festival, spice things up with a foray into the secret forest for a full-on rave and if you fancy sporting a storm trooper look, take part in the infamous forest paintball wars. Once you’re doing tearing down the slopes and stomping to the tunes of the eclectic lineup on this year’s billing, you’ll find plenty of bang for your buck at Andorra’s numerous tax-free shops.
When: March 26 – April 2
Headliners: Motor City Drum Ensemble, Ben Ufo, Floating Points
Book tickets via Festicket.com
Rewire – The Hague, The Netherlands
Danish band Efterklang wow the crowd at Rewire © Pieter Kers
The rough assemblage feel to The Hague’s Rewire Festival programme shouldn’t work, but it does: with indie rock bands going back-to-back with cosmic jazz outfits, neo-classical orchestras, and wonky-pop troubadours, all hosted in a range of inner city venues.
With such a vast array of sounds reverberating through the city, you’d easily forget that you are embracing culture-on-the-fringes in one of the world’s most significant, pencil-pushing administration hubs. Rather than neutering the energy surrounding the festival, the juxtapositional locale only feeds into the adventurous charm of Rewire – the festival that rebels from within!
When: March 31 – April 2
Headliners: Arca & Jesse Kanda, SUMS: Kangding Ray & Barry Burns (Mogwai), Forest Swords
Book tickets via Festicket.com
Snowbombing – Mayrhofen, Austria
Get ready for piste-side raving at Snowbombing © Snowbombing
Love music? Love snowboarding? Then, you need Snowbombing in your life, which has been perfectly combining the two since 2000.
With pistes ranging from green to black, and a mix of electronic DJs and indie live acts, there really is something for everyone. Better still, festival organisers make the most of lush west Austrian surroundings, with concerts and DJ sets held in the strangest of places, from forest clearings to alpine farmsteads and an igloo village.
When: April 3-8
Headliners: Chase & Status, Run The Jewels, De La Soul
Book tickets via Festicket.com
Lost & Found – Malta
Mediterranean madness at Malta’s Lost & Found Festival © Lost & Found Festival
Building on the momentum of previous events, Lost & Found Festival returns to the blissful island of Malta for another year of dance bangers, boat parties and all-night raves – only BIGGER.
Curated by the prodigious BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, the festival draws the biggest names in contemporary club culture to keep the 4-day party going strong. Grab your sunscreen, a pair of shades and a pool float, and head for this Mediterranean bash.
When: April 13-16
Headliners: Annie Mac, Jamie Jones, Andy C, David Rodigan
Book tickets via Festicket.com
DGTL Festival – Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Challenge yourself. DGTL Amsterdam creates experiences that go beyond the realm of music @ DGTL Amsterdam
The “more than a festival” tagline is a cliché that has been tossed about in the marketing of many a festival lately. In the case of DGTL Amsterdam, however, it is clear that plenty of thought has been put into making it an event that moves its attendees to action, long after the party is done and dusted.
A 100% emphasis on vegetarian food and a poetic array of art installations are but two of the innovative catalysts for change that DGTL have factored into their event. Underscoring this, you won’t need any cash on you during the event – all transactions will take place via RFID technology embedded in your festival armband.
Musically, expect a lineup that is strongly rooted in the electronic genre. All of this takes place in industrial surroundings that inspire and challenge at the same time.
When: April 15-16
Headliners: Black Coffee, Fort Romeu, Tiga
Book tickets via Festicket.com
Groezrock – Meerhout, Belgium
Norwegian punk rock band, Turbonegro wow the crowd at Groezrock © Achim Raschka
If the thought of spending a brisk spring weekend bopping around in a mosh pit sounds like your idea of a good time, then sign yourself up for Groezrock.
This year, an expected 40,000 music fans are set to seize the quaint village of Meerhout in the Belgian province of Antwerp, all in celebration of “heavy music”. From emo to screamo, hardcore to ska, the lineup is an embarrassment of punk rock riches, and the atmosphere is charged. Despite its growing popularity, Groezrock sticks to its local, grassroots mentality as a friendly, mohawk-coaxing cradle for rock’s most boisterous misfits.
When: April 29-30
Headliners: Anti-Flag, The Flatliners, Bouncing Souls
Find a flight to nearby Antwerp
Nuits Sonores – Lyon, France
An audio-visual bonanza at Nuits Sonores © Brice Robert
If you happen to be visiting France’s second city in May, chances are you won’t be able avoid to Nuits Sonores.
This pioneering multi-disclipinary festival dominates Lyon, swooping in to 40 of its public spaces, from a former light bulb factory to the Musée des Confluences science institute, and handing them over to the most exciting names in electronic music and visual arts.
With 80,000 attendees every year, the festival’s mission statement is to encourage conversation and curiosity. The inclusive vibe and out-of-the-box programming make Nuits Sonores a culture vulture’s playground.
When: May 24-28
Headliners: Jon Hopkins, The Black Madonna, Nina Kravitz
Book tickets via Festicket.com
The Great Escape – Brighton, UK
Music fans gather to watch ‘the next big thing’ perform at The Great Escape
The Great Escape – the clue is in the name. Held in the seaside town of Brighton (a 30-minute train ride from London’s Gatwick Airport), thousands of music fans vacate the humdrum of the 9-to-5 to get lost in the music.
And, oh, what music! Every year, the dedicated team behind The Great Escape deliver a lineup showcasing the best in new music, with 450 genre-spanning acts performing in 30+ local venues, from the regal Brighton Dome to the backroom of a local pub after closing hours. The festival also hosts a prestigious industry convention, featuring panel debates, interviews and keynote speeches from industry bigwigs and music tastemakers. Organised by the same team behind the multi-genre summer festival, Womad, The Great Escape is every music bod’s paradise.
Looking for the next big thing in 2018? Visit The Great Escape and you might just see them a year early.
When: May 18-20
Headliners: The Age of L.U.N.A, Sigrid, Hannah Georgas
Book tickets via Festicket.com
Find a flight to nearby London
CLICK Festival – Helsingør, Denmark
Reaching for the stars at Denmark’s CLICK Festival. © Mathias Vejerslev/CLICK festival
One for the chin-stroking, but fun-loving musos, CLICK is a festival sent straight from the future. CLICK is not as popular nor as large as other Danish festivals, giving it a unique, if not homely feel that is only enhanced by its varied focus areas. Literature, art, animation, workshops and talks are all part and parcel of the experience here, so there is plenty to see and do for the curious festivalgoer. This is a place where international purveyors of performance art, science and technology come together to host production workshops and seminars, plus unforgettable, one-night-only productions.
Hosted in Helsingør’s Kulturværftet (The Culture Yard) – and just a 45-minute train ride from inner city Copenhagen – attending CLICK also gives punters the chance to explore Danish history, with Kronborg, aka Hamlet’s castle, within walking distance.
When: May 20-21
Headliners: This is Not This Heat, Yves Tumor, Anna Zaradny
We are FSTVL – Upminster, UK
There is no shortage of thrills at The UK’s We are FSTVL @ We are FSTVL
We are FSTVL glows with a youthful exuberance that livens the East London town of Upminster each spring. Sporting an accessible, varied music lineup and all the perks of festival camping, this grand gathering is growing in status and popularity every year.
If the idea of getting married under the auspices of an inflatable plastic church (yes, this actually happens) or getting pampered at mobile glitter stations and beauty parlours sounds appealing, then Upminster is a town you may want to get familiar with this spring.
Accommodation options range from fancy tentage to basic camping, where the classical festival experience (cue cans of tuna and wellies) reigns supreme.
We are FSTVL has raked in a number of industry accolades over the year, amongst them the Festival award for Best Medium-Sized Festival in 2015 and best new festival in 2013. Find out for yourself if it is worth the hype.
When: May 26-28
Headliners: Carl Cox, Armand Van Helden, Jamie Jones
Book tickets via Festicket.com
Find a flight to nearby London
Primavera Sound – Barcelona, Spain
The English rock band, Savages, performing for a partisan crowd at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound @ Primavera Sound
Primavera Sound is yet another of many notable cultural exports from Barcelona. Now in its fifteenth year, the festival prides itself on its eclectic nous and has become a blueprint for urban festivals the world over.
At Primavera, you can look forward to a lineup that juxtaposes star-studded acts and budding underground sensations with aplomb. To this end, Primavera Sound is widely regarded as one of the major influencers of Indie and alternative music worldwide.Drawing an audience of over 200,000, Primavera sound is the perfect cathartic cocktail to banish the cold and darkness of the winter to mere memory.
When: May 31 – June 4
Headliners: Bon Iver, Frank Ocean, Grace Jones, Aphex Twin
Book tickets via Festicket.com
Distortion – Copenhagen, Denmark
Distortion’s street parties are some of the most iconic in Scandinavia @ Jacob Schjørring
Distortion is orchestrated mayhem, staged on the streets of different boroughs in Copenhagen for the first two days, before peaking with ‘final parties’ on the island of Refshaleøen – a former shipyard.
A veritable manifestation of Copenhagen’s street life and club culture, the festival has grown in size and scale since its humble beginnings in 1998 and now pulls crowds of over 100,000 who take to the streets in a loud, proud display of hedonism.
If the idea of a street party crammed with merrymakers and one intimate stage after another floats your boat, this is where you want to be at the start of June. Note that whilst the street parties (which many locals hail as the highlights of the event) are free, you will need to buy a ticket for the final parties if you wish to extend your festive spree.
When: May 31 – June 4
Headliners: Mike Skinner, rest of lineup TBA to be announced
Elbjazz – Hamburg, Germany
Hamburg’s Elbjazz showcases the best of the genre against the industrial backdrop of the city @ Elbjazz
Hamburg’s Elbjazz is a Mecca for all things jazz. This spring festival combines the narrative of the maritime city’s shipyards and docklands with 50+ class acts straddling the downtempo rhythms of jazz and its sub-genres.
All of the action takes place at the Elbphilharmonie Hall and the Blohm + Voss shipyard, where you will enjoy a presentation of exhilarating, sometimes experimental sounds at compelling locations. Indulge in introspection and casual enjoyment under the auspices of a city with a rich industrial tradition on the banks of the Elbe river.
When: June 2-3
Headliners: Akua Naru, Nina Attal, Anna Lena Schnabel
Book tickets via Festicket.com
Papillons de Nuit – Saint Laurent de Cuves, France
Papillons de nuit (Butterflies of the night) takes place in the quiet town of Saint Laurent de Cuves @ Papillons de nuit
Ordinarily, the quaint town of Saint Laurent de Cuves is a quiet, undisturbed commune in Normandy that leads a life of quietude. Come springtime, however, and its population of slightly over 500, skyrockets – boosted by over 70,000 festivalgoers who come here for the varied music lineup cast against a backdrop of idyllic architecture and calming surroundings.
If you’re on the lookout for a large festival with an intimate, family feel, this is it. The poetically named Papillons de Nuit (Butterflies of the Night) oozes with a contagiously personal feel that is much to the envy of many a European spring festival.
When: June 2-4
Headliners: Matmatah, Jain, Renaud
Book tickets via Festicket.com
Find a flight to nearby Deauville
Rock am Ring – Nürburg, Germany
As the name suggests, Nürburg’s Rock am Ring is a rock music festival heavyweight @ Rock am Ring
One of only a handful of European spring music festivals focused on the rock genre specifically, Rock am Ring (Rock at the Ring) is a paradise for lovers of the craft, young and old. This German festival heavyweight is staged simultaneously to Nuremberg’s Rock im Park festival (Rock in the Park) and features a lineup that is almost identical.
Whilst this year’s billing is more accessible than past lineups, it still features some excellent rock names.
When: June 2-4
Headliners: Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, System of A Down, Rammstein
Book tickets via Festicket.com
Find a flight to nearby Cologne
Rock in Vienna – Vienna, Austria
Rock in Vienna is slowly becoming a mainstay on the annual rock music festival calendar @ Rock in Vienna
Rock in Vienna brings the best of rock and metal to a capital which is more well-known for its classical music heritage than it is for its rock.
Now in its third year, this rock festival is steadily establishing itself as one of the European heavyweights and from the looks of things, is aiming to field a strong rock lineup that also features several mainstream names. Rumour has it that The Rolling Stones will headline the proceedings, though this has yet to be confirmed by the festival itself.
You will find Rock in Vienna on the Donauinsel – a long, narrow island in the Danube river.
When: June 2-5
Headliners: Kings of Leon, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Die Toten Hosen
Book tickets via Festicket.com
NOS Primavera Sound – Porto, Portugal
Lounging bubble fun at Porto’s NOS Primavera Sound © Hugo Ima
Launched in 2012 as the smaller Portuguese side-project to Barcelona’s Primavera Sound, this Porto party is no baby. Sure, it will always stand in the shadows of its huge Iberian counterpart, but this fun weekender manages to steal a big handful of its best acts, plus some great local talent (both in terms of music and winemaking), and delivers it to indie music lovers for half the price.
Beyond the festival frolics, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore one of the most architecturally rich and romantic metropolises in all of Southern Europe.
When: June 8-10
Headliners: Aphex Twin, Sampha, Flying Lotus
Book tickets via Festicket.com
Sideways – Helsinki, Finland
Sideways © Vilma Timonen
With the storming success of Helsinki’s Flow Festival every August, it was just a matter of time before a new-fest-on-the-block turned up to whet the appetite of Finland’s “Indie Cindys”.
With a small audience capacity of 12,000 people, Sideways is an intimate affair. However, the festival is still large enough to draw in prominent international figures from the Indie world – a testament to its quality. Last year also offered up record-stalls for avid collectors, and a retro arcade hall.
Be quick! Tickets for last year’s Sideways Festival debut sold out way ahead of schedule. Earn yourself some cool points and get yourself to this new festival before the rest of hipsterdom takes heed.
When: June 9-10
Headliners: TBA
Book tickets via Festicket.com
