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Music and theatre festival in the northern city of Gdynia, this year featuring Sigur Ros, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, Groove Armada, Manu Chao and many more. Weekend tickets are a mere 249 PLN (around £50) which includes camping, if you reserve your spot.
Takes place July 6-8 2006.
Gdynia, Lotnisko Babie Doly (that's the airport).
Takes place in March (so yes, a summer festival on this side of the planet!) in Adelaide's botanical gardens. Such a fantastic setting for a festival - chill under the giant fig trees listening to the best of Womad. A great atmosphere - one of the highlights of the year in Adelaide (ok that's not hard.. but believe me womadelaide is fantastic). Bring a sun hat and a rain coat and dance the day and night away.
The latest in new festivals in the West Country, Dorset's Sound Music Festival brings top headline acts such as CAPDOWN and Claire Toomey, as well as live youth bands all day. With urban and street dance demos, music workshops, a kidz field, climbing wall and graffiti project, there will be something for everyone. A great start to the school holidays, and it's alcohol free.
Sound Music Festival, Off Cranes Drive, The Fuzzy Bit, Verwood, Dorset;
July 22, from 1-10pm (kids programme until 6.30);
Tickets: £10 in advance;
email: TCooper@eastdorset.gov.uk for more details;
www.musicfestverwood.org.uk
The festival has the most amazing atmosphere all weekend. Top acts performing and there is non-stop top class music.
October 20 - 22, Whitby Pavilion;
www.musicport.fsnet.co.uk
Three full days of folk and folktronica in the Glanusk Park Estate in the Brecon Beacons national park with Donovan, Martha Wainwright, Bert Jansch, an evening of “Psychfolk Commune Films”, real food, proper ales and no corporate sponsorship. This is what small, family-run festivals are all about.
August 18-20, Glanusk Park, near Crickhowell, Brecon Beacons;
www.thegreenmanfestival.co.uk;
Nearest train station is Abergavenny, and there will be a coach service from there to the festival site.
The last and best festival of the summer. Highlights from last year included the world's largest fancy dress party and a proper cocktail bar.
September 8-10, 2006, Isle of Wight;
www.bestival.net
Camp by the Danube, go hot air ballooning by night, party on the beach and listen to the likes of Dave Clarke, Franz Ferdinand, Pet Shop Boys and Suzanne Vega. All for only €66.75.
(Tip originally posted in 2006 - see links below for up to date festival information on a yearly basis)
www.exitfest.org/
tinyurl.com/49qngu
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EXIT_%28festival%29
July 6-9, Petrovaradin Fortress, Novi Sad.
Novi Sad is 80km north-west of Belgrade. You can catch a bus from there, and some companies run regular car services from Belgrade Airport.
If you want to do something a little different, I suggest you go to Les Vieilles Chaurres. It's a festival in Brittany which combines some of the biggest bands in the world, with traditional Bretagne music and theatre productions. Tickets are a small 60 Euros for a whole weekend of live music.
I have been for the past two years and the atmosphere there is amazing. There isn't really any violence, everything is very peaceful and you can sit down on the grass during the day, sharing your jug of beer and cigarettes with some French youths who will always make an effort speak to you in English. At night, everyone runs between the two main stages to see the delights.
Bands such as Franz Ferdinand, GLC, Buena Vista Social Club, The Streets, New Order, Kings of Leon, Muse and Starsailor have played at this calm and chilled out festival.
This year will see the talents of Tracey Chapman, The pixies and 2 Many Dj's. The two main stages host the big names of the festival whereas the smaller stage hosts DJ's and hip hop groups. In a separate field there are all sorts of amazing food stalls (everything from crepes to pizza and paella to huge baguettes and green tea). There are stages for circus acts, stages for small Bretagne bands and stages for performances of all sorts.
The festival takes place at the end of July normally around the 20th so the weather is warm, however last year I ended up wearing a bin liner when there was a terencial downpour.
This year is my third year of going and I can't wait because I know it promises to be a fantatstic weekend of cheap French rose, an excellent wide range in music and improvement of my French.
My tips are stuff your pockets with toilet paper (there never is any in the toilets), take bottle caps off water bottles before going in otherwise they confiscate them - so hide them in your socks or tuck them into your hair!
Don't go if you have the attitude of a 70 year old(what's the point in hating them because our grandparents do). And finally, enjoy the weather, the friendliness of our neighbours and the delights offered to you.
July 20-23
www.vieillescharrues.asso.fr
A 3 day world music festival in the beautiful and historic seaside town of Whitby. Now in its 7th year, this indoor festival has very rapidly become one of the foremost events on the world music calendar and every year features great and well known artists alongside new and upcoming acts from around the globe. It is family friendly and has a range of childrens activities and workshops in addition to the main music programme.
This year's line up includes: Buena Vista Social Club presents Cachaito Lopez, 'Guajiro' Mirabal, Manuel Galbon & 'Aguaje' Ramos; Natacha Atlas/Ali Slimani Band (UK/Algeria); Joana Amendoeira (Portugal); Go Lem System (Spain/Argentina), Yasmin Levy (Israel)and Spiers & Boden (England) amongst many others.
The festival takes place on the 20th -22nd of October and is the perfect antidote to the end of summer blues (though early booking is recommended)
www.whitbymusicport.com
Tel: 01947 603475
Venue: Spa Pavilion Complex, West Cliff, Whitby.
I was knocked out by the amazing music at last year’s Scarborough Jazz Festival. It’s held in the Victorian Spa Complex - a stunning setting looking out over sand and sea towards imposing cliffs and Scarborough Castle. Time for a paddle and fish and chips between acts! Great atmosphere and value. Can’t wait for this year (15-17 September) with Georgie Fame, Bobbie Wellins, Tina May, Scott Hamilton, Ian Shaw, Guy Barker, Norma Winstone, compere Alan Barnes et al.
Details from (01723) 357869 www.scarboroughjazzfestival.net
Tribe of Doris is essentially a festival, held in the beauty of the West Country - but a festival with a difference, one that inspires and creates, sings and dances and celebrates the exploration and unity of different cultures and people from all over the world. For five glorious hot August days you can be taught the vibrant wonders of African dance or Cherokee singing, or relax with tai chi or yoga sessions. With an exquisite combination of drum, dance, song and ceremony, Doris is an absolutely sumptuous and totally unique festival experience! Tribe of Doris; Many cultures, One race.
I have just done Victory Over The Sun in the San Cristobal de Los Angeles metro station, 15.06.06. This is a club with no dancing, which is a refreshing change from the formulaic local clubs.
For a cover charge of 60 euros you can drink as much Cava as you wish (the bar only serve Cava) and watch/participate in performance art (much blood letting). Live Electronic music was the order of the day, which allowed easy communication between the sexes unlike the Madrid dance clubs.
Many of Madrid’s club elite were in attendance, including many club owners and promoters, which may indicate that change is coming on the scene. Victory Over the Sun is based in Dublin and will not return to Madrid until November 06. I believe that it will trigger a sea change in Madrid’s nightlife that will bring it into the 21st century.
San Cristobal de Los Angeles metro station among other venues;
tel: +44 7901 853 216
I am a frequent business visitor to Dublin and have always been disappointed by the homogenised nightlife. There is a high gloss about the club habitués of Dublin yet these shiny people confuse sophistication with formality. The clubs and bars have no concept of edginess. However, on this most recent visit, I discovered Dublin’s best kept secret, Fresh and Clean. This an eccentric and at times unnerving experience where live art meets jazz meets champagne. This is an incredibly exciting club concept, which could change Dublin’s nightscape. Admission is 80 euros. Check it out.
Varying locations in city centre;
tel: +44 77901 853 216
Ely Folk Festival is a small friendly festival held on the second weekend of July. Weekend tickets cost £45. The line up has all the sort of things a
folk festival should such as late night dances, a real ale and cider bar and informal sessions.
Ely is a lovely town to visit as well. The perfect alternative if you left it too late to get tickets for the Cambridge Folk Festival.
This festival in Rotterdam brings together garage rock bands from all over the world (the Spanish are the wildest). It is held on the third weekend in June at the Waterfront Club. No half hearted bandwagon jumpers, no lame nostalgia geeks, just full on garage rock. Loud, fast, very dumb, but great fun. Tickets cost 70 Euros for the full four nights.
The Waterfront also hosts The Rotterdam Rumble on the first weekend of September, the musical policy is more sleazy rawk'n'roll than garage, 30 Euros for three nights.
Based this year in a deer park in South Wales, this indie-folk festival will feature Field Music and the Brian Jonestown Massacre alongside a medieval village and a jousting display.
Margan Park isn't far from the steelworks of Port Talbot, which creates a dramatic view at night - belching flames across the bay, it's very strange and beautiful, the park itself has lots to offer but it's only a short drive from some great beaches namely Rest Bay and a slightly longer drive to the mumbles and Gower Peninsular.
June 30-July 1
www.tapestrygoeswest.com
www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/margampark/attractions.cfm
I have to admit that after having taken the tour bus trip, drank a pint of Guinness and sampled an Ulster fry, there is little else to do in Belfast during the day.
I came to Belfast on a clubbing trip but despite the hype on the Internet I found little innovation or individuality in the local clubs – there is nothing in Belfast that can’t be found in the High Street of any English market town on Saturday night. I believe this is due to the isolation of Belfast from mainland UK and Europe.
However, I did discover on a Wednesday night Victory Over The Sun. This event defies categorisation - I found myself in a disused river culvert underneath the city centre, there was a gratis champagne bar, live performance art, DJ’s playing the coolest jazztronica and best of all, no dancing!
That evening I believe I found the essence of this city at night i.e. pride in not following trends, fierce protection of an underground ethic, erudite people and fascinating conversation. The cost was £50 and worth every penny.
The best time to enjoy a whole lot of caipirinhas and mojitos on the bar-lined hills of the Bairro Alto is when Lisbon turns out on June 13 (or the nearest weekend) for the Feast of Saint Anthony of Lisbon - the patron saint of Portugal who was born in the capital.
Every bar and club in the district shuts its doors and moves its drinks to the windows, or on to tables outside and the streets become one huge party. A bit like the Notting Hill carnival should be: drink- and music-filled and unbelievably friendly.
Posssibly one of the best spots in Europe for a night out. Take the elevator up the hill to the Bairro Alto and wander through the lanes of bars, fado houses and clubs - fantastic on a weekend night when hundreds of people congregate on the streets drinking mojitos and cheap beer out of plastic cups, listening to music from samba to African rhythms. Don't expect to get home before four, or sober!
The best place in Lisbon for live Cape Verdian music - an atmospheric, crumbling old 16th-century mansion with a courtyard that's almost as busy as the main hall on summer nights. Fantastic.
Largo Conde Barão 50, Santos;
tel: 396 3735;
metro: Cais do Sodre
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