Throughout the summer months, Europe plays host to a vast array of music festivals, showcasing artists and bands from all around the world and catering to just about all tastes. Indeed, enjoying the sunshine, music and entertainment provided at a festival can be the perfect getaway from the stresses of everyday life.
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So which are the biggest and best European festivals? This blog post looks at some of the most popular events the continent has to offer music lovers in the summer of 2015.
1. Glastonbury Festival – Somerset, United Kingdom
The legendary Glastonbury Festival, recognised as the largest greenfield festival in the world, is an annual five-day music celebration with a history dating back to 1970. Still organised by its founder, Michael Eavis, it has grown in stature over the decades and is now attended by approximately 175,000 people each year.
CC image credit to AwayWeGo210
Although the festival retains much of its hippy influence and emphasises rock music, it is categorised as a contemporary music festival and features a diverse range of artists and styles. The festival traditionally ends on the last Sunday in June, with Glastonbury 2015 set to run from Wednesday 24th June to Sunday 28th June.
Confirmed Acts: Foo Fighters, Lionel Richie
Price: Full Weekend – £225 // Full Weekend + Car Park – £250 // Full Weekend + Camper Van – £315
2. I Am Global Festival – Barcelona, Spain
For those looking to book a cheap holiday to Spain in June of this year, the I Am Global Festival may just be the ideal addition to an itinerary. The unique festival is held at the Illa Fantasia water park in Barcelona and further to the usual water park attractions, more than 200 international artists will take to the stage.
I Am Global single night tickets can be purchased for as little as €50, making it one of the continent’s most affordable major festivals. However, for the more committed festival goer, the full pass – two days and two nights – represents the best value. This year’s event will span the weekend of Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June.
Confirmed Acts:Fatman Scoop, Rae Sremmurd, Charlie Sloth, Ceri, Adam Cotier
Price: Day Pass – €65 // Night Pass – €50 // 2 Day Full Event Pass – €170
3. Electric Castle Festival – Cluj, Romania
Romania’s largest music festival, Electric Castle, takes place annually from within Bánffy Castle’s domain. The 2015 event will be the third edition of the festival and like its predecessors, it will look to combine its picturesque, historic location with extreme sports activities and a great musical lineup.
The event places a focus on electronic music, but alternative and experimental acts are also featured. Despite its relative youth, the festival has already built a strong reputation and has been nominated in a number of European Festival Awards categories. The 2015 Electric Castle Festival will take place from June 25th to June 28th.
Confirmed Acts:Fatboy Slim, Rudimental, Sigma, The Subways, Dub Pistols
Price:Presale Pass – €66 // Regular 4 Day Pass – €73 // Day Ticket – TBA
4. Hideout Festival – Zrce, Croatia
Croatia’s Hideout Festival has been held annually since its inception in 2011 and sees some of the big names in electronic dance music come together to perform in a seaside setting. As well as the musical performances, the festival is set to include art installations and pool parties, providing a perfect blend of culture and celebration.
Including the pre-parties, after party and boat parties, the festival will span five days and showcase more than 100 different musicians. It is also conveniently situated near a number of local airports, providing easy access. The 2015 Hideout Festival will run from Sunday 28th June to Thursday 2nd July.
Confirmed Acts:Duke Dumont, Sigma, MK, Eats Everything, Ten Walls.
Price:Full Weekend Pass – £129 // Full Weekend + Camping – £204
5. Sziget Festival – Budapest, Hungary
The Sziget Festival translates to ‘Island Festival’ and is held on the Old Buda Island in northern Budapest. Dubbed ‘The Island of Freedom’, the event has grown steadily from a small-scale student event in the early 1990s to one of the largest festivals on the planet, winning multiple awards along the way.
While a strong focus is placed on rock music and its sub-genres, there is also plenty to appeal to lovers of pop, hip hop and electronica. The week-long festival now attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and sees performances from hundreds of musicians. This year’s event is scheduled to last from 10th August to 17th August.
Confirmed Acts:Robbie Williams, Florence and the Machine, Alt-J, The Ting Tings, Passenger
Price:Day Ticket – €52 // 5 Day Pass – €199 // 7 Day Pass – €229