Top Five European Music Festivals

by Shabana Adam | 8 July 2012

For a sunny festival experience look to Europe thi summer

2012 is set to be one of the wettest on record, but music fans planning on attending this year’s festivals need not worry about getting drenched.

Gogobot, the trusted travel advice app, has teamed up with MTV presenter & Grammy blogger Izzy Lawrence, to create an alternative list of top music festivals across Europe, encouraging party goers to swap wellies and thermals for shorts and espadrilles.

“Europe’s music scene is far more than Eurovision and cheesy Europop these days,” said Izzy. “There are so many up-and-coming festivals that many Brits might not be aware of, that are just waiting to be discovered. Several are headlined by acts we know, but supported by bands that we might not be so familiar with. It’s a great chance to enjoy some of your favourite acts live whilst also unearthing new music and styles,” she added.

“Britain’s festival goers are likely to develop gills if weather forecasts are right."

Kelly Schneider Lees, director of marketing at Gogobot, said: “Britain’s festival goers are likely to develop gills if weather forecasts are right. There are some great alternative music festivals practically on our doorstep if revellers want to leave the waterproofs at home this year.

“It’s also a great chance to turn a trip to a festival into a full-blown holiday and really experience each of the countries,” she said.

Here’s Gogobot and Izzy’s top five European music festivals:

1. Exit Festival, Serbia (12-15 July) – a beach-based festival headlined by acts including Kaiser Chiefs, Two Door Cinema Club and The Wombats. Whilst you’re there, why not check out Lorenzo & Kakalamba for Italian-Serbian food.

2. Optimus Alive, Portugal (13-15 July) – taking place in the heart of one of the most vibrant, not to mention sunny, capitals in Europe, you can check out Snow Patrol, The Kooks and Mumford And Sons who will all be performing. Make sure you find time to look up Le Chat, a bar and restaurant popular with Gogobot users.

3. Arenal Sound, Spain (2-5 August) – Sun, sea, and some of the best music to be heard. The festival will see Crystal Fighters, Two Door Cinema Club and The Wombats entertaining sun-drenched crowds. Gogobot hosts several popular travel guides for Spain if you fancy making a real holiday of it.

4. Oya Festival, Norway (7-11 August) – Based in the heart of Oslo, this festival plays host to Florence and The Machine, The Stone Roses and The Black Keys. Oslo is becoming one of the top metropolitan cities in Europe and a trip to this festival would be a great opportunity to visit the Munch Museum and see the Scream in person.

5. PukkelPop, Belgium (16-18 August) – More than just Van Dam and politics, Belgium’s music scene is booming. Hidden gems such as Maastricht bar Take Five are waiting to be discovered in-between rocking out to acts such as Snoop Dogg, Chase & Status, Foo Fighters and Keane.