Sun is back again. Here comes the moment where you day dream about your spring break even your summer holiday right? What will you do, where will you go? No idea huh. The only thing you can do is already picturing yourself dancing tirelessly until sunrise with a drink in your hand…
Well my friends, just don’t ask yourself too many question, the answer to your problem is simple : just go to a festival! Festivals in Europe have flourished and grown though out years, today there are plenty of festival to choose from the continent. Time to stop envying Coachella or Burning Man, discover my selection of the top 10 festivals in Europe!
Hope it’ll give you a little hint of your plan for the next coming month…
DGTL Amsterdam / DGTL Barcelona
The DGTL Festival is an unmissable event that blends techno and house underground music. This two-day festival is happening in two of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe Amsterdam (NDSM Docklands) and Barcelona (Parc del Fòrum). The DGTL is one of the best simply because of the lineup that always announces some of the greatest Djs and the atmosphere each year keep on being slick as fuck. Walking between the different indoor arenas you’ll assist a festival of lights and deeply feel the party vibes. If you’re hungry for party, you must experience it!
When & where:
15-16 April 2017, Amsterdam, Netherlands
11-12 August, Barcelona, Spain
Line up: Jamie Jones, Dixon, Maceo Plex / Solomun, Jeff Mills, Recondite [live]
Sonus Festival
Next stop: the idyllic beaches of Croatia. Who said that the underground techno festival had its place only in obscure warehouses? Get your swimming suit, your sun cream and I’ll see at Sonus Festival, a heaven on earth for all techno lovers. This year the Sonus Festival invites the legends and pioneers of the underground scene on the fine sand of Zrce. In addition, the two mythical clubs Papaya and Kalypso will open their prestigious doors in the occasion of the Sonus Festival. Prepare yourself for 4 days of non-stop partying.
When & where:
When: 20-24 August 2017
Where: Novalja, Croatia
Line up : Adam Beyer, Chris Liebing, Ricardo Villalobos
Weather Festival
Traveling to Paris to visit the ‘Tour Eiffel’, the very famous ‘Champs-Elysées’?Beautiful but kind of boring, nah? My friendly advice will be for you to head to the well-known Weather Festival. This one has built a solid reputation thanks to its prestigious lineups. Festivalgoers each year explore a very unique techno, house/disco and minimal universe. There, the party never stops. Although the festival is officially finished before midnight, it continues until the end of the night with a whole series of after-parties which animate the best clubs of the city Light.
When: June 02 to June 4th 2017
Where: Paris, France
Line up: Adam Beyer, Marcel Dettmann, Chris Liebing.
Primavera
Primavera is always pushing the boundaries of the alternative scene. The festival takes place in Barcelona and is offering a lineup that brings together all styles and genre such as pop, rock, underground, electronic and dance music. Too good to be true. Creativity is in the spotlight at the Parc del Fòrum with installment that push things over the edge. If you are a music nerd and dream to attend one of the best festival in Europe, you must go to Primavera.
When: May 31st to June 4th 2017
Where: Barcelona, Spain
Line up: Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Fran Ocean, The xx
Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland is without any doubt one of the biggest electro show on earth. You must experience it to understand the crazy atmosphere that animates the site. Fireworks, biggest names of the dance music genre, blow minding stages, mushrooms, colors and the list goes on… It’s an insane world full of exuberant characters. The atmosphere is electrifying. Just to give you a hint of the level of craziness, an entire terminal at Brussels airport was given over the festival as well as a lending spot for dedicated “party planes”.
When: July 21-23 and July 28-30, 2017
Where: Boom, Belgium
Line up (2016): deadmau5, Axwell ^ Ingrosso, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
Awakenings Festival
The legendary Dutch brand has been organizing parties, crazy weekends and insane festival since 2000 and never has failed in satisfying us. I’ve attended this one last year and it is sincerely very hard to put this experience into words. The lineup is simply out of scale. What do I mean by that? Just think Sven Väth, Chris Liebing, Berghain residents, Ben Klock & Marcel Dettman… More than that, you’ll get to walk in a huge site under the sun light discovering insane installment and listening to your favorite Djs. If you’re a techno fan, go to Awakenings you won’t believe your eyes.
When: 24-25 June 2017
Where: Spaarnwoude, Netherlands
Line up : Maceo Plex, Nina Kraviz, Adam Beyer, Chris Liebing
Sónar Festival
Barcelona is becoming a city-music and the Sónar Festival is one of the reason why. Sónar solicits the biggest names of the techno scene as well as the rising ones of tomorrow. In addition, you’ll be able to attend events (conferences, workshops) to improve your techno culture with the Sonar+D. A plus for all techno nerds. It’s too good to miss out…
When: 15-17 June 2017
Where: Barcelona, Spain
Line up: Justice, Nicolas Jaar, Moderat
Kappa FuturFestival
Between noon and midnight, the fever is gonna rise in the city of Turin thanks to the Kappa FuturFestival. The festival offers a prestigious international lineup. Sven Väth, Carl Cox, Jamie Jones and other great lads will embark the ravers to a techno expedition. You’ve been warned Kappa is defo a big dive into the world of electro music so put your raver glasses on and I’ll see you under the sun of Italy.
When: 8-9 July 2017
Where: Turin, Italy
Line up: Carl Cox, Sven Väth, Jamie Jones, Tale of Us
BoomTown
BoomTown Fair takes the idea of a festival to a whole other level. You ‘ll be immersed in all other world, one eccentric, extraordinary and unique world. You’ll get to attend to absolutely amazing live where the energy and chemistry are at their very best. Leave your regular-civilian-boring clothing at home and get yourself ready for a wild adventure.
When: 10-13 August 2017
Where: Winchester, UK
Line up (2016): Madness, Damian Marley, Leftfield, Parov Stelar Band
Bestival
When you think about Bestival just picture fancy dresses, music, food and spectacular themes. If you’re looking for a huge lineup, you’ll be in the right place. But Bestival is far from limiting itself to a simple music festival. It also offers all kinds of activities from singing to yoga to speed dating… Trust me guys, Bestival should be on your bucket list!
When: 7-10 September 2017
Where: Isle of Wight, UK
Line up (2016): The Cure, Major Lazer, Wiz Khalifa & Sean Paul, Hot Chip
Dimension Festival
The Dimension festival has always stood out. It has always offered a line up far more underground than anything held on the famous Zrce beach. You’ll get to discover a spectacular site, it’s an old military fort, Punta Christo. The international audience is generally composed of people dedicated to music, having a real deep passion for music rather than simply partying. Dimension Festival is a mix of good music and good vibes. Can you ask for more?
When? 30 August til 3 September 2017
Where? Fort Punta, Pula, Croatia
Line up? Marcel Detmann, Nina Kraviz, Floating Points, Jeff Mills
Outlook Festival
Outlook Festival is simply dimensions sister festival. It is also held on Fort Punta Christo site however it offers a more urban soundtrack of garage, hip hop, reggae and drum n’ bass derived stylings, which appeals very much to a more youthful audience. Explosive deep bass beats, days of blissful sunshine and nights of endless partying on the beach, that’s sums up pretty much the Outlook Festival.
When? 6 September til 10 of September 2017
Where? Fort Punta Christo, Pula, Croatia
Line up? Dizzee Rascal, Dj Shadow, Spooky
Sziget Festival
Were you thinking of visiting Budapest this summer? Don’t forget to swing by the Sziget Festival! You’ll not regret it. The festival is held on an island and features cultural events and insane parties. It is blow minding adventure. A typical day would be to wake up (if you’re staying at the camping), have a friendly conversation with your neighbor, and then go on an adventure. You’ll get to experience great music, enjoy your favourite bands live in action… The dream.
When? 9 til 16 August 2017
Where? Budapest, Hungary, on Óbudai-sziget
Lineup? Kasabian, Major Lazor, Flume, Alt-J, Metronomy
Secret Solstice
Ho man, I swear to you Iceland knows how to party… Not because you spend literally months in the dark over there, but simply because the events are just crazy mad. If you don’t believe me just head to the Secret Solstice Festival, you’ll understand! At the Secret Solstice you’ll party inside a glacier, within the cave system of Langjökull. A unique experience with 72 hours of sun, geothermal pool parties, great music & fun all over.
When? 16-18 June 2017
Where? Reykjavik, Iceland
Lineup? Rick Ross, The prodigy, Foo Fighters, Seth Troxler, Kerri Chandler, Dubfire
Medusa Festival
Medusa Sunbeach Festival which was born in 2014 enters the league of the summer macrofestivals of Spain. The festival has many stages and invites some of the hottest artist of the electro/ techno scene. It’s a festival for everyone and the atmosphere is amazing. If you’re looking for a beach experience that you’ve never had before the Medusa Festival is honestly the best place to be!
When? 9-15 August 2017
Where? Playa de Cullera, Cullera, Valencia, ES
Lineup? Jeff Mills, Steve Aoki, Sven Väth, Jamie Jones, Paul Kalkbrenner
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