Thursday, 12 January 2012

100 things you need to know about festivals.

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Eight things you need to know before you start organising a festival... http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2010/08/26/129449645/starting-a-music-festival-eight-things-you-need-to-know



St. Louis is home to two brand-new music festivals this weekend. So we thought we'd ask their organizers about what they had to do to launch such events from scratch.
Brian Cohen is putting on LouFest, a gathering of indie stars including She & Him, Broken Social Scene and Jeff Tweedy. He used to work in TV production and had never staged a music event before. By contrast, Mike Kociela started Entertainment St. Louis a decade ago and has been producing music shows, street festivals and Mardi Gras parades ever since. He's running the first St. Louis Blues Week, a mix of performances, workshops and an awards show, which got underway last night.


Here are their tips on getting your own music festival off the ground:

1. Get Some Help

"My first step was to surround myself with people who know what they're doing, who've done this before," Cohen says. "It was a matter of asking around, who's the best booker in town, who's the best production manager in town."

Kociela, having more experience, had a better idea of how to get started, but he lined up outside expertise right away, too, bringing on Jeff May, the booker at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups, a little St. Louis club near the ballpark.

2. Get You Some Money

While the first task for LouFest's Cohen was to assemble a knowledgeable staff, Blues Week's Kociela offers different advice. "The first thing is to find money," says Kociela. "All the great ideas in the world don't get you anywhere unless you find funding." Blues Week is a free event, so he is unapologetic about selling sponsorships "purely as a marketing opportunity."

Cohen's advice — again — is to find someone who knows how. "Sponsorship development is difficult and I had no experience in doing it," he says. It's especially tough when you're a new game in town. "Some of the reaction was, 'It sounds like a cool idea, but we'll have to see how it goes Year One.'"
3. Get Your Acts Together
For Kociela, picking out a lineup for a blues festival came naturally. He decided to go with a tribute show motif, putting together sets featuring local musicians playing local styles or paying homage to St. Louis guitar great Albert King.
Cohen had to decide just what kinds of bands he wanted to showcase. He sat down with his booker and talked about who they would want to hear — not just the headliners that could draw crowds, but the surprises who might delight people while they waited around for their favorites to come on later. Cohen put it out there on Facebook and concentrated on the acts that got repeat business in the comments section. "If we saw trends, obviously people wanted to see Tweedy, we used the data to determine who we booked."
4. Don't Fight City Hall
Both Cohen and Kociela say city agencies did their best to be accommodating. The parks department embraced LouFest as its first sponsor — the event is taking place in Forest Park — and the mayor's team worked hard to help the newbies navigate the various permitting processes. "We made contacts as early and often as we needed to," Cohen says. "A lot of times, city agencies get requests at the last minute and that's a hassle."
5. It's Not All About The Music
Festivals these days have to offer attractions other than sound. LouFest's "nosh pit" will feature eats from respected restaurateurs, including Pi Pizzeria, an Obama favorite. Its "kids village" will offer child-friendly musicians and entertainers and activities including a rock-climbing wall.
6. Go Green
"With an event of this size, it's really not an option any more not to consider the environment," Cohen says. LouFest is trying to make its carbon concerns real, not just through the expected recycling and public transportation options, but by convincing vendors to use only compostable products and giving fans free water to cut down on the number of plastic bottles.
7. Do Your Homework
Cohen and Kociela both stress the need to start plates spinning early. All the stuff listed above — hiring people, pulling permits, attending to booking musicians, negotiating contracts with vendors — need to be dealt with many months before your concert date. "We had meetings six months ago where people asked why they were there," Cohen says. "'This is like a day before the show meeting.'" Cohen didn't want to take any chances.
"We did all our hard work a month ago," Kociela says. "We like to do everything well in advance so that everyone is doing their job and it all just unfurls."
8. Learn To Let Go
It's not like planning a wedding. It's a lot bigger. So rely on help. "As a first-time producer, first-time festival organizer," Cohen says, "the best decisions I made were the people I brought on board."

About.com also has some information for festival goers.  Click here for 10 things not to forget to take with you to a fest:  http://worldmusic.about.com/od/festivals/tp/BringToFest.htm



7 things you need to know about music festivals

Sound and Vision
It’s festival season and if you’ve been smart, you’ve got yourself tickets to a music festival as part of your holiday plans this year. Raghu Dixit, who just played Glastonbury over the weekend, certifies the claim that the festival is a life-changing experience. I make it a point to go to at least one festival a year, and here’s what I’ve learned over the years:
Don’t over-plan – The first mistake that a festival first-timer makes is to meticulously plan every single minute of the festival. Yes, I understand that you want to catch each and every one of your favourite bands, but you haven’t taken into account the time it’s going to take to trek across stages (which are always farther than they look on the map), the cold glass of cider in the hot afternoon sun that’s always going to be distracting and the cute girl that just smiled at you, whose number you now want. So look through the schedule, mark the must-see-or-I’ll-weep acts, and then take it as it comes.
People are friendly – In India, we are not used to making friends at random – we turn up our nose at people that come up to us at a party, unless they’ve been introduced (and thus okayed) by a common friend. Forget all that. Chat with people, make new friends; you might just find out about a secret gig, the cleanest bathroom and bar with the shortest line. Almost everyone at a festival is there to have a good time, and most of them are happy to help – I’ve been offered shoulders to sit on so I could get a clearer view of the band, had about fifty people worry about my well-being in the middle of a crowded pit, and even had a make-believe tea party with some new friends at 3 a.m. in the middle of a crazy night.
Front and central – This was one of my biggest revelations – you can get right up in front of the stage and as close as you want to your favourite acts. I’ve watched LCD Soundsystem, Gorillaz, Snoop Dogg with them being just a few feet away.  While it seems almost unfathomable, it’s because most of the people at festivals are there to relax, have a good time, and don’t want to sweat it in the front with the enthusiasts. You might just have to camp out in the pit for the evening, so pack a couple of Snicker bars for quick energy.
There’s more than just music – If you’ve travelled to a music festival all the way from India, chances are you’re a pretty hardcore music fan. But don’t be a music snob, go and check out all the other insanely cool things that are part of most music festivals; everything from graffiti wars, to interesting cinema.
Let loose – To me, the best thing about a music festival is the vibe. They’re Alice-in-Wonderland-esque places with almost surreal amounts of happiness, quirkiness and also a whole lot of nonsense, and the best way to experience it is to embrace it wholeheartedly. Get into costume and join the ranks of the fairies, clowns and animals; party for three days straight; make friends with a truck-driver from Arkansas – it’s all good.
The Essentials – When you’re off to a festival, pack light and don’t pack anything you’d have a nervous breakdown if you lost. What’s most important to take along is a small sling bag/pouch. Zip up your basic essentials – phone, camera, wallet, festival guide – in a little waterproof pouch, and then put that in your little bag. Those four essentials are about all you really need when you’re running around from stage to stage trying to catch your favourite band.
Must-pack – Sunglasses (these are summer festivals), sweater/long johns (it always gets cold in the night, especially if you’re camping – just don’t let that cute girl see you in them), poncho (if it rains you’ll thank me, if it doesn’t they’re great to sit on), basic medicines, extra batteries for your camera/phone (it’s almost impossible to find a quick charging station no matter how many stations Vodafone sets up).  http://www.gqindia.com/content/7-things-you-need-know-about-music-festivals


Some interesting information with an American outlook..


Blackwater Music Festival: 10 Things To Know Before You Go

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http://festgrrl.blogspot.com/2011/09/blackwater-music-festival-10-things-to.html



Blackwater Music Festival hits Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. this weekend. Here's 10 things you need to know:


1. There will be shade for your tent.


2. You can camp for free on a beautiful cypress lake -- choose primitive "lake camping." Reese Lake, lined with cypress trees, is close to the stages, it has nearby Port-o-lets, and the lake bathhouse and showers are a three-minute walk away.


3. Don't be discouraged by the roundabout kooky drive to get to lake camping. Keep a level head. Persevere. You'll find it. It's worth it:






4. Bring a baby pool for your campsite instead of firewood - fall's not here yet, y'all.


5. In the morning, the on-site Suwannee Music Park restaurant has a good breakfast buffet. They have nice bathrooms. Also a really cool hand-painted mural of local wildlife.


6. You can get fresh ice at the camp store next to the restaurant.


7. The Suwannee River beach is not to be missed (see top pic.)There's a rope swing. The river's a long walk from the fest site -- grab a ride or a golf cart.


8. The Suwannee River water is dark (dyed by tree tannins), but it is spring-fed and the river bottom is clean and sandy.


9. There's a giant bat house. It is just beyond lake camping in the field -- ask other campers where it is. At sunset, you can grab a beverage and go watch incredible numbers of bats fly out!


10. Bring a hammock. The ampitheater is full of trees!
Top 10 European Festivals



Often being open-minded and creative types, travellers and backpackers seem to love their music – so what better way to combine your love for music, travel and partying than a European music festival? The summer was made for festivals so why plan your trip now and book a ticket to a top European music festival? This is my guide to some of the best on offer (in no particular order):

1. The Festival Internacional de Benicàssim, Spain

Serious music lovers seem to be the only people outside of Spain who have heard of Benicàssim. Benicàssim is a small port town located in between Barcelona and Valencia and every year it plays host to a fantastic music festival. The four day festival takes place in mid-July and predominately features alternative rock and electronic artists, but it’s also well known for a great place to rave. The event differs from the many music festivals who are restricted to a 2am curfew – here the music starts at 5pm and continues through the night until early the next morning.
It’s one of the few festivals in the world where you relax on the beach during the day and another bonus is that you can buy your food in a supermarket instead of paying festival prices. You even won’t need to worry about personal hygiene as the campsite has its very own purpose-built outdoor showers!
The 2011 lineup included headliners The Streets, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys and Arcade Fire. So far The Stone Roses, Florence and the Machine and The Vaccines have been confirmed for the 2012 festival.

2. Roskilde European music festival, Denmark

The Roskilde festival in Denmark is one of the biggest European music festivals. Two students and a promoter founded the event in 1971 before it was taken over by the Roskilde Foundation. It’s now run as a non-profit event with the aim of developing music and culture in the area. Visitors come to the festival from all across Europe, providing tourists with a reason to visit the expensive Scandinavian country. The festival is usually a great mix of music, days long parties, organic food and experimental art and design. Everyone arrives early so you could potentially have up to eight days of fun.
The 2011 lineup included Arctic Monkeys, Iron Maiden and Kings of Leon, watch this space for more information on 2012.

3. Open’er Festival, Poland

Poland’s big event is held in Gdynia, which is located on the north coast. The festival takes place in early July with an eclectic range of artists so expect everything from electronic and pop to rock and reggae. The event is held in a huge airfield containing 7 stages where the live music starts at 4pm and goes on until 2am. DJs continue to 5am. It also features a ‘festival town’ where you can buy merchandise and see films, theatre performances eat or even play some sport.
Catering to everyone’s musical tastes, previous artists have included Cypress Hill, Groove Armada, Fatboy Slim, Kasabian, Pearl Jam and Skunk Anansie. The 2011 headliners included Coldplay, Pulp and none other than Prince!
This is an excellent opportunity to visit Poland and once here you can enjoy the Eastern European culture and even head out to more party zones (like Warsaw, Krakow or neighbouring Latvia) for an extended break.

4. INmusic Festival, Croatia

Croatia’s largest open-air festival, INmusic started in 2005 and attracts approximately 25,000 people each year. It enjoys a pretty idyllic location on a small island in Lake Jarun making it a popular festival with some great acts. Over the last couple of years big names who have appeared include Franz Ferdinand, Lily Allen, Massive Attack and the Prodigy.
INmusic was rated as one of Europe’s best festivals in 2008 by The Times. If you want to extend the fun when the festival ends, try exploring one of Croatia’s many other (and very beautiful) coastal resorts. The 2011 headliners were Jamiroquai, The Streets, Arcade Fire and Cypress Hill. A perfect way to combine sun, sea and scenery with plenty of festival fun.

5. Exit, Serbia

This is a great summer European music festival in Serbia, held in the Petrovaradin Fortress of Novi Sad. Since 2003 the event has extended from three to four days, and over the years it has been used to get across political and social messages.
Since 2004, the festival has attracted an increasing amount of household names. In 2005 Fatboy Slim and The White Stripes appeared whilst a year later Franz Ferdinand and Scissor Sisters starred. In 2009 Arctic Monkeys, Manic Street Preachers and Lily Allen played and in 2010 the summer line-up included Placebo and The Chemical Brothers. For 2011 the organisers secured Arcade Fire, Pulp and Jamiroquai.
The festival has even created its own record label and releases albums in MP3 form so people can download them for free from the website. Bands that have benefited from this so far are Obojeni Program, E-Play, Jarboli and Ritam Nereda. All of which have all released albums through the label.

6. Pukkelpop, Belgium

The Belgium festival is held near Hasselt towards the end of August. The festival takes place in a large area of fields and woodland in the village of Kiewit and over 180,000 people turn up each year. The 2011 event was sadly hit by tragedy when storms caused a stage to collapse, although the three-day festival will still take place in 2012 with free food and drink vouchers issued to those who bought tickets in 2011.
The 2010 festival was the 25th anniversary and had an impressive line-up which included Iron Maiden, Placebo and Snow Patrol. The big acts for 2011 were Foo Fighters, Eminem and The Offspring.
The festival isn’t Belgium’s largest but it’s well worth visiting. Sometimes the smaller festivals are more personal and allow you to get closer to the stages and I personally think have a better atmosphere.

7. Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands

This Dutch festival takes place in Landgraaf and is thought to be one of the oldest annual festivals in the world, having started in 1970. The event is held Pentecost weekend, hence its name (in Dutch it’s called Pinkster). It’s a three day event that attracts 60,000 visitors every year.
Over the years some big names attend the event including Franz Ferdinand, Placebo, Snow Patrol, The Killers and The Script. Alanis Morissette has also played three times whilst Counting Crows have appeared four times. 2011 saw headliners Coldplay, Elbow and Manic Street Preachers take to the stage.

8. Oxegen, Ireland

Formally the Witness festival this is Ireland’s biggest commercial music festival. The event initially lasted three days but was extended to four days in 2008 and it’s traditionally held at Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare (although this is to be confirmed for 2012). The event is huge and over 90,000 people turn up each day. Oxegen is Ireland’s answer to Glastonbury and over the last few years some of the top bands that have played here include Green Day, Kings of Leon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snow Patrol and The Foo Fighters. In 2011 the huge bill was topped by Coldplay, The Black Eyed Peas, Foo Fighters and Beyonce.
Oxegen is an incredible event and I think it’s one that’s definitley worth a visit. Having said that there are a few downsides – it can be expensive, not very accessible and of course you can’t always count on great weather.
  • 2012 dates are still to be confirmed
  • Tickets normally around €244.50 camping, €199.50 without camping. €99.50 for a day ticket €225
  • Oxegen
  • Camping not your thing? Try nearby hotels Monaghans Harbour Hotel or Lawlors Hotel

9. Sziget Festival, Hungary

Hungary’s top music festival is held in Budapest, the nations capital. The event lasts for an eye wateringly long seven days and usually starts at the beginning of August. By the end of the week around 1000 artists would have performed.
The festival is held on Óbudai-sziget (translated as Old-Buda Island), which is a huge leafy 266 acre Island on the Danube. In 2010 the festival attracted over 350,000 visitors who went to see a strong line-up including Gorillaz, Iron Maiden, Kasabian and The Hives. The eclectic bill for 2011 included Kasabian, Amy Winehouse, Manic Street Preachers and Pulp.
The event isn’t just about music – there are lots of other activities available. If you want to take a break from the music you can always kick around on the island’s football pitch, try indoor rowing or go to the cinema. Another bonus is that you can still enjoy a bargain in Hungary and many things are cheaper than a lot of other places in Europe. Once the party is over you can wind down in the famous Hungarian baths or if you want to keep partying head into the centre of Budapest where you’ll find plenty of clubs and bars.

10. The Isle of Wight Festival, UK


The Isle of Wight festival has enjoyed a long and colourful history. The event started in 1968 and in 1969 Bob Dylan performed in front of an estimated crowd of 200,000 people. The following year it was even better when in excess of 600,000 people turned up to see the incredible and now legendary line-up which included Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and The Who. The festival was revamped in 2002 and is now held at Seaclose Park near Newport. The 2010 summer line-up included Florence and the Machine, Paul McCartney and an excellent performance from Pink. The 2011 line-up boasted Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, Kasabian and Pulp.  http://www.globalgrasshopper.com/destinations/europe/top-10-european-music-festivals-2011/


Top Music Festivals To Visit This Year

You may be waiting for the festival season to kick in so you can get yourself onto that muddy field, armed with your tent and a 12 pack of lager, but you don’t need to wait! There are so many musical festivals all over the world that you can literally go to one a month if you had the time or money (well both would help really). In aid of all you music fans we have created a list of the top 20 musical festivals that you need to attend before you die.
Now this is not just a list of rock or pop festivals this is a list of all sorts of strange and exciting genres and topics I could get my hands on, so I hope you enjoy reading this list, and of course if you do decide to go along to any of these let us know via the comments section so everyone can hear about the time you had whilst you were there. I hope this helps some of you that were looking for something different to attend this year.

#1 Mardi Gras, New Orleans

Mardi Gras 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
If you want to be part of one of the most well-known festivals on the planet then you had better hurry up and head over to New Orleans, USA because the party is just around the corner. Known for the eccentric behaviour of the participants, the Mardi Gras is one of the most looked forward to events in North America. Basically it is one giant holiday which incorporates music, parades, picnics and of course a lot of alcohol consumption. Whats amazing about this festival is that it goes on for a period of TWO WEEKS at which point almost all of the stores and shops in the area are closed, now surely that can’t be great for business right? The Mardi Gras is fun, flowing with colours, friendly and very much top of the bill in North America, so if you want to try something completely different this year then I highly suggest going to New Orleans and staying there for the duration f the festivities, you wont be disappointed.
Fiked Recommends: Staying At The Queen And Crescent Hotel In New Orleans
Website: Queens And Crescent Hotel
Date: March 8th 2011
Location: New Orleans, USA
Cost: Rooms Are Available From $65 – $112 Per Night
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#2 Pukkelpop, Steenweg, Belgium

Pukklepop 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
Pukkelpop Is a music festival held in Belgium every year and has been ongoing for over twenty years now, quite a feat for any event I’m sure you will agree. Over the years Pukkelpop has managed to gain high respect and bring in a lot of big names as the years have progressed, recent bands include Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead and even the Foo Fighters! It really is one hell of a festival and you can get as smashed as you want whilst you are there provided you aren’t a trouble maker. The festival has a large following which it has accumulated over its twenty year history and even the veteran fans keep coming back for more, it’s just that good. The atmosphere is electric the fans are mostly friendly and of course once the festival is over you can always do some sight-seeing in Belgium if that floats your boat.
Fiked Recommends: Adding Pukkelpop To Your Favourites Over At Virtual Festivals
Website: Virtual Festivals
Date: 18th – 20th August 2011
Location: Kempische, Steenweg, Belgium
Cost: Approx £120 (Prices May Increase This Year)
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#3 Lollapalooza, Grant Park, Chicago

Lollapalooza 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
Lollapalooza started off in 1991 by Perry Farrell the front-man of infamous band Jane’s Addiction since then it has grown each year, turning Grant Park (Chicago) into a huge mix of music, frolicking and blissful ignorance. The event seems to get bigger each year and there are some truly great bands which will be headlining in 2011′s event which is again held at Grant Park, however the vent has now become international thanks to addition to a Chilean version which will also take place this year. 2011 will see its biggest year to date for the Lollapolooza event and there may be even bigger names to come, in 2010 Green Day, Lady Gaga and Arcade Fire were some of the biggest additions and the fun is just beginning. So if you are intending to visit Chicago in 2011 Make sure you do not miss this event!
Fiked Recommends: Keeping Up To Date Via Their Website
Website: Lollapalooza Festival
Date: 5th-8th August 2011
Location: Grant Park, Chicago, USA
Cost: $90 – $850
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#4 Reading Music Festival, Reading United Kingdom

Reading Music Festival 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
Reading Music Festival is now known all over the world due to its high popularity and the continuing success of getting big head-liners to the events. In recent years the festival has seen the likes of Guns N Roses, Arcade Fire, Blink 182 and even Paramore! This year has been promised to be the best yet and I highly suspect that it will be just that. Located in Northern England the festival takes place over three day’s with each day having its own set of heavy hitting head-liners. This is definitely a festival you do no want to miss, especially if your grass roots are firmly located in the rock traditions.
Fiked Recommends: Keeping Up To Date Via Their Website
Website: Reading Music Festival
Date: 26th – 28th August 2011
Location: Richfield Avenue, Reading UK
Cost: £238 – £386 (For The Duration Of The Festival Including Camping)
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#5 Projekt Revolution, Tour Dates Around The World

Projekt Revolution 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
Projekt Revolution is a hard-hitting event that happens once every other year, the brain-child of Rock/Rap stars Linkin Park, Projekt Revolution has become infamous not only for the quality of artists that attend and play but also because of its mysterious times of duration. The reason for the confusion (of when and where the event will take place next) is down to when and where Linkin Park are actually able to organise the event. Obviously these things arent built overnight and so a considerable amount of organising must take place, meaning that Linkin Park must sacrifice something else in order to do arrange it. Previous years have seen the likes of Cypress Hill, Xzibit and even Placebo join the ranks and these names are just a few of them. There is a rumour that this is going to be happening this year but in order to find out whether it does or not you will have to keep posted on the Linkin Park website.
Fiked Recommends: Keeping Up To Date On The Linkin Park Website
Website: Link Park Website
Date: Unknown
Location: Undisclosed
Cost: Approx $60 – $200
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#6 Glastonbury Music Festival

Glastonbury Music Festival 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die

Nothing really shouts “festival” like a trip to Pilton dairy farm in Somerset. The days are long and fruitful, with everyone getting along, the bands are always pumping out their music has hard as they can and there is an amazing amount of other things you can do too, such as try out the oxygen tent (bizarre). Glastonbury needed no introduction because it is now favored throughout the world for its ability to pick great bands and keep them coming back for more. Who would have thought that this classic dairy farm in the middle-of-nowhere would become the mammoth festival known throughout the world! This is one you definitely want to attend if you are in the UK at the time tickets are scarce though as the 2011 festival sold out in just 4 hours!
Fiked Recommends: Keeping Up To Date On The Linkin Park Website
Website: Glastonbury
Date: 22nd-26th June
Location: Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset
Cost: £195 (With A £50 Deposit)
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#7 Coachella, California, USA

Coachella 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
The Coachella Festival in California is always the place to be when it comes to music festival season. The blistering heat, half-naked people and the fantastic music brings the large crowds back again and again every year without fail. The quality of the festival itself is well above par too, with their sights securely set on making all of the festival goers and campers as happy and comfortable as can be which is something not all festivals tend to do, they usually put the money first the people second but not here. Another great thing about the Coachella Festival is that they never book the same artists twice in recurring years, this means that every year is always different and refreshing. California is the place to be if you want to get your dance on in the USA.
Fiked Recommends: Getting A Pick Up Pal To Get You There From The Airport
Website: Pick Up Pal
Date: 17-19th April 2011
Location: Indio, California
Cost: Approx $100 Per Day or $269 For The Full Festival
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#8 Primavera Sound Festival, Barcelona, Spain

Primavera Sound Festival 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
This is a great festival for those that don’t wish to be stuck in a field for three day’s (although that is part of the fun right?) the Primavera Festival is set right by the sea, and although it doesn’t have many amenities or a very large camping site the shows they put on are second to none, bringing some very high-end performing artists which keep the crowds coming back, year after year. The fun starts on May 25th and stays ongoing until the 29th. This really is a great festival to attend at as it is a lot smaller than the other festivals mentioned, you feel all that more part of it, you are close to the action and you are close to the people around you. If this sounds like your thing then head over to the Primavera website and check out this years line-up.
Fiked Recommends: Checking Out The Website
Website: Primavera Sound
Date: 25th – 29th May 2011
Location: Indio, California
Cost: 150 Euros + Booking Fee (For The Whole Festival)
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#9 Summer Sonic, Osaka, Japan

Summer Sonic 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
The Summer Sonic Music Festival has been alive and kicking for over a decade now, starting off in 2000 it is one of the younger festivals to attend, although do not let the age of this festival to cloud your judgement, this is a very big deal over in Japan. Every year the bands get better and bigger and they continue to add bigger and better names every year. Some of the more noticeable ones you will have heard of before are; Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park, if these names haven’t gotten you all excited I don’t much else will. This is a really great festival to attend especially if you are in the area doing some backpacking at the time. This year the confirmed line-up so far has The Strokes and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers playing live, so this could be even bigger than any other to date so far. So what do you think? Will you be having a super Sonic Summer this year?
Fiked Recommends: Keep Up To Date With Their Facebook Page
Website: Summer Sonic Facebook Page
Date: 13th – 14th August 2011
Location: Osaka, Japan
Cost: (Approx) 1 Day: £116, 2 Days: £200
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#10 Music Fest, Perugia, Italy

Music Fest Perugia 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
Perugia, Italy, what a fantastic place to be, the streets are clean and the air is crisp and all the while you feel relaxed, so why am I telling you this if it is a supposed to be a festival? Well the Music Fest Perugia is a two week extravaganza of some of the most beautiful music in the world, unfortunately if you are in Italy and was hooping that this festival was going to rock your world then you are sadly mistaken. This festival is all about Classical music, a subject that we’ve not yet touched on this list. This isn’t just any festival though, there are significant differences such as the fact the performers are either students still learning to play, or masters who are there to help teach. This really is a one of a kind festival and if you like Classical music you will love this.
Fiked Recommends: Visiting The Official Website For More Details
Website: Music Fest Perugia
Date: 3rd – 16th August 2011
Location: Perugia, Italy
Cost: Free
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#11 Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland

Montreux Jazz Festival 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
Another Festival with a difference here, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switerland, now in it’s 45th year, this generation old festival is full of vibrant life when it hits the city of Montreux in July every year. There are some names you may well remember that have played in the recent years too; Mich Hucknall or De La Soul ring any bells? This is a very unique festival which is pleasing to the Jazz fans throughout the world. Each year more people attend and the artists seem to get bigger and bigger too, which after 45yrs is now a hard feat to accomplish each year. If you are backpacking in Europe, or if you are actually going to Switzerland then you should definitely takt the time out to go and visit the Montreux Jazz Festival, even if you never do it again, it is an event you will remember for a long time.
Fiked Recommends: Keeping Updated via Their Website
Website: Montreux Jazz Festival
Date: 1st – 16th July 2011
Location: Montreux, Switzerland
Cost: Free – $200 (Prices TBA)
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#12 T In The Park, County Kinross, Scotland

T In The Park 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
T In The Park, has had a growing number of supporters over then past 16yrs and it grows bigger and better each year, this year it appears there is no stopping the behemoth music festival with a line-up already consisting of some heavy hitting superstars; Foo Fighters and Blink 182 being two of those. Supported and covered by the BBC ‘T In The Park’ is expected to go with all guns blazing this year to make it stand out from the saturated industry of the music festival scene. The festival is actually held in Kinross, Scotland which is a beautiful place at the best of times but with the added attraction of this music gorging delight Kilnross will become all that more appealing to those of you that are music fans. This is something you should go and attend especially if you have always wanted to travel to Scotland and see what all the fuss is about.
Fiked Recommends: Getting In Early To Avoid Disappointment
Website: T In The Park
Date: 8th – 10th July 2011
Location: Kinross, Scotland
Cost: From £65 – £170 Without Camping, £180 – £190 With Camping Included
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#13 Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Ireland

Electric Picnic 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
Electric Picnic, it may have a strange-sounding name but the festival itself is pure gold for music lovers. Like many of the mentioned festivals, this one keeps getting bigger and bigger, although Electric Picnic does come with a twist that others festivals don’t seem to have; they allow children to attend. Not only do they allow children to attend but there are specific areas that you can take your kids to enjoy other activities other than listening to the music; some of the things on offer here are painting, greencrafts and even comedy. This really is a picnic in the park with a difference and you will be able to have all this fun whilst listening to bands such as Leftfield, Roxy Music and Massive Attack! If you want to try a festival with a difference, or if you have been wanting to get back to your festival going roots but haven’t been able to because you have since had children then this beauty is for you.
Fiked Recommends: Taking A Look At The Website For More Details
Website: Electric Picnic
Date: 3rd – 5th September 2011
Location: Stradbally Hall, Ireland
Cost: 199 Euros Per Person (Includes Camping For The Duration Of The Festival)
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#14 iTunes Festival, London

iTunes Festival London 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
This is pretty breaking news really, as I have just been informed that the iTunes 2011 festival has definitely got the green light to go ahead! Now with it being iTunes it was never going to be your average festival right? Right! So on offer in 2011 iTunes Festival goers will get the chance to listen to 62 bands over the course of 31 nights in just one venue, did I mention this one was a little unorthodox? Itunes always keeps very secretive about the artists that perform these events and so only three names have been released and confirmed although there are rumours about many more artists. What I can tell you is that as of today the confirmed artists are; Linkin Park, Duran Duran and Runner, however I expect you will see a lot more big named bands starting to be confirmed the closer we get to the start of the festival. The festival starts July 31st and is on throughout the month of July. To get tickets you should go over to the site and click on the bands that you would like to see upon doing so you will have to enter your name, address and country and you will be entered into a prize draw, good luck!
Fiked Recommends: Getting Your Name In The Prize Draw ASAP
Website: iTunes Music Festival 
Date: 1st – 31st July 2011
Location: Roundhouse, London
Cost: Entry Via Prize Draw Only – Tickets Are Not Sold Only Won
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#15 Relentless Wakestock, Gwynedd, North Wales

Relentless Wakestock 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
Relentless Wakestock (sponsored by the Relentless drink) brings a whole new meaning to the phrase rolling-around-in mud, given the dependable welsh weather and the ample grassed area of this festival you should see girls and boys wrestling, jumping and frolicking in the mud in no time. However this festival is more than watching girls wrestle naked in the mud, it’s about the music, isn’t it? Well yes and no, it’s actually about Wake boarding too hence the name of the festival. Set on one of the most stunning area’s of Wales, Wakstock offers mud wrestling, wake boarding and some of the best artists you will see anywhere, and who would have thought it is all under the same event? If you are bored of going to the authentic and traditional festivals then try this out you may get more from it than you could expect!
Fiked Recommends: Trying This Out If You Want Something Different
Website: Relentless Wakestock
Date: 8th – 10th July 2011
Location: Gwynedd, North Wales
Cost: Weekend Ticket: £95 , Weekend Camping Ticket: £120
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#16 Eurockeennes, Belfort, France

Eurockeennes 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
Now were heading over to France to the Eurockeennes festival in Belfort which has seen an increasing number of followers over the past couple of years due to the quality of the venue and the artists which appear at the venue each year. The Eurockeennes festival is one of, if not the largest rock festival of the year, it has been home to the likes of Marilyn Manson, Amy Winehouse and Jay-Z. The festival began in 1990, back then it was called Le Ballon – Territorre De Musiques named after a near by landmark. Since the beginning of the festival back in 1990 the number of fans turning up has increased dramatically from 10,000 – 100,000 and it is easy to see why, the venue is set in a gorgeous place, the artists are top of the class and the atmosphere is electric. If you are thinking of going to France this year stop by in June for this festival.
Fiked Recommends: Visiting France For This Monster Rock Festival
Website: Eurokennes
Date: 1st – 3rd July 2011
Location: Belfort, France
Cost: From £35 – £76 Per Person Per Day
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#17 Solsticio Psychedelic Festival, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Solsticio Psychedelic Festival 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
Now this one is a little bit of a mystery to most people, but it is a pretty hefty festival so I thought I would add it to the list anyway. The Solsticio Psychedlic Festival is set in the amazing city of Buenos Aires so there should be no trouble getting to the venue (with the national airport being so close). This festival is almost like going back and forth in time, with the psychedelic theme and the trance music all piled into one giant heap of music loving atmospheric behaviour. This is something for those that dislike rock, pop and classical preferences and instead opting for a choice of renegade trance and hard-house genres. Unfortunately this wont be happening until December 2011 but that means you have more time to save up for all those glow sticks right?
Fiked Recommends: Visiting This Festival If You Love Trance Music
Website: Solsticio Psycheldeic Festival
Date: 18th December 2011
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cost: $80 – $100
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#18 Spirit of Burgas, Burgas, Bulgaria

Spirit of Burgas 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
This is a festival with a difference, set in the unusual city of Burgas in the summer this will delight all of those trance and house fans all over again. With the likes of Prodigy, Faith No More and The Sisters Of Mercy this festival is not for the feint-hearted. The festival takes place over three days and takes the city of Burgas by storm. Once of the more appealing things about this festival is that it is fairly cheap although a little hard to get to. This years line-up has yet to be decided but you can put money on the fact the names will be as big if not bigger than last years event. If you have family over in Bulgaria, if you are thinking of visiting the country or if you have some spare Christmas cash that you don’t know what to spend then try this event out, you will not be disappointed (provided you are into this genre of music).
Fiked Recommends: Getting Google To Translate The Website
Website: Spirit Of Burgas
Date: 15th – 17th August 2011
Location: Burgas, Bulgaria
Cost: 25 – 60 Euros
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#19 T-Mobile INmusic Festival, Zagreb, Croatia

T Mobile INmusic Festival 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
This is the biggest Croation music festival of theyear and is home to some of the best and biggest stars every year for the two-day period in June. The grounds where the festival takes place is huge and there is more than enough room for camping, drinking and whatever it is you want to get up to really. Ticket prices are very good value ranging between 55 Euros – 70 euros, with the addition of a further 30 Euros should you want to camp there too. The city of Zagreb where the festival is held, is one of Croatia’s most well-known cities so it would be great to have a look around once the festival is over. Whilst it is on however you will be able to hear the likes of Massive Attack, Billy Idol and The Flaming Lips. This years event is surely going to be the biggest yet so if you want to head over to Croatia make sure its in June.
Fiked Recommends: Checking Out The Website
Website: Inmusic Festival
Date: 21st – 22nd June
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
Cost: 55-70 Euros Per Person Per Day
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#20 The Secret Garden Party, Huntington, UK

The Secret Garden Party 20 Music Festivals You Need To Attend Before You Die
This is a smallish festival but one that deserves recognition purely due to the facts that the event organiser are so passionate about giving their fans what they want, as well as offering a unique style and theme. The Secret Garden Party is a small event held in Huntington in the UK and has seen some big names, which is surprising due to the age of this event as well as the size; the Gorillaz are one of the more noticeable bands they have had recently and the fans undoubtedly loved that, especially as they would have been very close to the band itself. This is an event which is meant to offer the British music fans something more genial and esoteric in terms of themes and genre, which is great because it means that there is indeed change on the cards for mucic festivals everywhere, and we all like a little change now and again, it keeps things fresh and trending. If you like the sound of this Secret Concert you will have to head over to the website for more details
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