SO YOU DIDN’T get Electric Picnic tickets …
And the Coachella Instagrams are threatening to send you to an early grave …
But instead of flat-out retweeting competitions to win tickets, might we suggest looking elsewhere for your summer fun this year?
… Maybe even somewhere where there’s less of a risk of your tent floating away into makeshift bog land?
Imagine that. Sunshine! At a festival!
Here’s a couple of options to get on to your festival bucket-list …
1. A poolside party at Sea Star festival in Croatia.
After an electric premiere edition Sea Star festival is set to return to beautiful Stella Maris laguna in Umag on May 25th and 26th, while the opening day will take place on May 24th and the after party on Sunday, May 27th.
The festival was nominated for ‘Best European New Festival’ at the prestigious European Festival Awards. Umag is a beautiful Istrian town, with gorgeous renaissance buildings and narrow streets – the perfect place to chill after wrecking yourself all day.
Line-up: Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hurts, Robin Schulz, Paul van Dyk, Disciples, Ofenbach, Tram 11, and more.
Go if… You’re a dance fanatic looking for a holiday too!
Sea Star takes place from 24 – 27 May 2018. More info available at seastarfestival.com
2. Check out the midnight sun at Secret Solstice festival in Iceland.
Secret Solstice takes place in Reykjavik from 21 – 24 June during the surreal summer solstice – meaning the sun never sets … Which means the festival never ends.
There’s plenty of tourist attractions in Reykjavik to check out if you fancy combining a day-trip with your festival activity.
Line Up: Slayer, Gucci Mane, Stormzy, Bonnie Tyler, Death From Above, Steve Aoki, Jet Black Joe, 6lack, Goldlink, J Hus, IAMDDB, Charlotte de Witte, Skream, Masego, A-Trak, Högni and more.
Go if… You’ve an eclectic taste and cash to burn!
Secret Solstice takes place from 21-24 June 2018. More info available at secretsolstice.is
3. Party in a fortress at EXIT Festival in Serbia.
Come for the tunes, stay for the views. Just a short ride away from the Serbian capital Belgrade, the magical Petrovaradin Fortress set high on the banks of the river Danube in Novi Sad provides the setting for EXIT Festival.
What started as a student protest in 2000, with young people fighting for political change and freedom, EXIT continues to spread positive vibes, promoting change and positive education, supporting many community and humanitarian missions, while throwing a damn good party.
Line Up: Migos, David Guetta, Fever Ray, LP, Ziggy Marley, Alice Merton, Maceo Plex, Nina Kraviz, Richie Hawtin, Ben Klock, Jax Jones, Slaves and more.
Go if… You want an unforgettable experience on a slightly tighter budget!
EXIT takes place from 12-15 July 2018. More info available at exitfest.org.
4. Have your own rave in the woods at Positivus Festival in Latvia.
Taking place in the picturesque coastal town of Salacgriva in Latvia, Positivus is the largest music and arts festival in the Baltic States.
Featuring chart-topping headliners, underground emerging talent and exciting art and dance stages to their unspoiled atmospheric coastal setting amid stunning woodland, it’s what makes it a close counterpart to EP.
Take a dip in the Baltic Sea (hopefully just in name and not nature!) or take in the atmosphere in a hammock beneath the trees.
Line Up: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and more to be announced
Go if… Irish line-ups left you hankering for more guitar bands!
Positivus takes place from 20 – 22 July 2018. More info available at positivusfestival.com.
5. Swot up on all the artists none of your friends have ever heard of at OFF Festival in Katowice, Poland.
OFF Festival takes place in ‘Three Lake Valley’, Katowice – a beautiful green oasis in the heart of industrial Silesia. OFF is promoted as being “a way of life, one that flies in the face of current trends and stays true to itself”.
Organiser Artur Rojek aims to at support art and music with the festival bringing many acts to Poland for the first time. OFF Festival’s reputation is growing year on year driven by the festivals forward–thinking, eclectic music policy and it’s bold and eclectic lineups.
Line Up: Grizzly Bear, Ariel Pink, Jon Hopkins (live), AURORA, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah play “Some Loud Thunder”, Marlon Williams, Turbonegro, Wednesday Campanella 水曜日のカンパネラ, Big Freedia, Egyptian Lover, OXBOW, Bishop Nehru, Jacques Greene, Moses, The Como Mamas, Housewives , Yellow Days and more.
Go if… You’re the “alt” friend in your group.
OFF Festival takes place from 3-5 August 2018. More info available at off-festival.pl.
6. Party with the Dutch at the Lowlands Festival in Netherlands.
Taking place next to the Walib Fairgrounds, Biddinghuizen Lowlands features some of the biggest headliners, impressive installations including the new iconic Armadillo food and drink area, plus unique covers for every stage so you can enjoy all the music rain or shine.
Just over an hour’s drive from Amsterdam, you can easily mix your festival trip with a few days city break in Amsterdam if you snag yourself some cheap flights!
Line Up: Gorillaz, Kendrick Lamar, The War On Drugs, Dua Lipa
Bonobo, Dropkick Murphys, Fatima Yamaha, Gavin James, Grizzly Bear, Rag‘n’Bone Man, Spinvis, Stormzy, Bicep (live), BROCKHAMPTON and more.
Go if… You hate the rain at festivals!
Lowlands takes place from 17 – 19 August 2018.. More info available at lowlands.nl
