We take a look at seven of the best summer festivals that the UK and Europe has to offer.
1. HIDEOUT 30th June – 3rd July | Pag, Croatia
A front-runner on the Croatian festival scene, Hideout is your go-to for barefoot dancing until the sun starts shining. Located on the infamous Zrce beach, you can sun-worship whilst snoozing by morning, catch a dj set out at sea in the afternoon, watch the sunset cocktail-in-hand at one of the four pool parties in the evening and once the sun goes to sleep you’ve got the likes of Disclosure, Jamie Jones, Route 94, Pillowtalk, Rudimental and Solomun to choose from amongst a string of other internationally renowned artists – what’s not to love?
Full festival pass €129. www.hideoutfestival.com
2. SECRET GARDEN PARTY 24th July – 27th July | Huntington, UK
A glitter-fueled fantasyland of fancy-dress parades, kooky art displays, guerilla science experiments, boisterous mud-wrestling and kaleidoscopic paint-fighting – that’s before we even look to the music. Hosting Jagwar Ma, Little Dragon, Fickle Friends, Maya Jane Coles and Clean Bandit amongst others, there’s a reason Secret Garden Party has grown from an invite-only gathering to the seminal festival it is today. A utopia of merriment, Secret Garden Party is your go to for 240-acres of unadulterated fun.
Full festival pass £175 www.secretgardenparty.com
3. SONAR 12th June – 14th June | Barcelona, Spain
Sonar 2014 marks the 21st edition of the Spanish music, new media and art festival institution, which means that the line-up is dare I say it, better than ever. From Massive Attack, Lykke Li and Caribou to Richie Hawtin, Jon Hopkins and Evian Christ – whether you would prefer to sit back and take in the soothing sounds of Bonobo or dance your socks off to one of Rudimental’s enigmatic sets, Sonar ticks each of the all-important boxes.
Full three day pass €195 www.sonar.es
4. BESTIVAL 4th September – 8th September | Isle of Wight, UK
No matter what your real age, mental age or music preference, Bestival can be appreciated purely for the fusion of creativity it houses all on one site. The crazed vision of Rob Da Bank encompasses a retro Roller Disco, the euphoric Ambient Forest, the infamous Bollywood Fields, the Big Love Inflatable Church (for all your marriage requirements) and of course, HMS Bestival at The Port. When it comes to the line-up it would be easier to tell you who isn’t playing at Bestival 2014, but we recommend catching London Grammar, Chvrches, Route 94, MK and of course, headliners – Outkast.
Full four-day pass £195 www.bestival.net
5. SOUNDWAVE
If you’re looking to head overseas in search of sonic pleasure this summer, Soundwave is calling your name. Nestled amongst a sting of other attractive Croatian festivals, Soundwave boasts something a little more intimate. With a line-up of both heavyweight and emerging artists, who straddle the genres of hip-hop, reggae, dance and electronic music, it’s perhaps one of the most eclectic curations of the summer and with a beach and a string of boat parties – what more could we ask for? Soak up the sun to the sounds of Mr. Scruff and Gold Panda and don’t forget to pack an open-mind and some sunscreen.
Full weekend pass £125 www.soundwavecroatia.com
6. FARR FESTIVAL 18th July – 20th July | Newnham, England
If you’re not looking to stray too far from the capital, Farr is the festival for you. It may be only four years old, but the boutique gathering sure attracts an appealing crowd – from Hercules & Love Affair and Gentleman’s Dub Club to Waze & Odyssey and Detroit Swindle, Farr also boats a host of emerging dj’s, which is the reason why Farr has grown organically over the years. The three-day fiesta takes place in a deserted enchanted woodland, which will erase all memory of London until you hop on the Disco Bus home.
Full weekend pass £99 www.farrfestival.co.uk
7. GOTTWOOD 19th June – 22nd June | Anglesey, Wales
Celebrating both electronic music and the arts, this year marks Gottwood’s 5th return to Anglesey, Wales. Pioneering yet another batch of emerging underground artists, Gottwood prides itself on forward thinking. From Maribou State, Artwork and Craig Richards to the perhaps lesser known, more experimental sounds of Larkin & The Sky – you can hear house and electronic aficionados spin tracks alongside artists who will have stepped up the ladder to fame by this time next year. Still a relatively new festival, Gottwood attracts a fun-loving care-free crowd like no other festival.
Full weekend pass £105 www.gottwood.co.uk
