It’s party time
SOUNDWAVE
When: 23 to 25 July
Where: Petrcane, Croatia
What: Soundwave is an idyllic holiday and festival in one. Set in a small fishing village on a Croatian peninsular where the Dalmation Coast meets the Adriatic Sea, the event offers an inland amphitheatre for bands, a beachside terrace that transforms into a nightclub after the sun sets and a rocking boat party to cap the weekend off. If you get bored, there’s swimming, snorkelling and all the chances for exploring you’d expect from a typical European break. All, as the organisers boast, for less than the price of a return train ticket to Glastonbury.
Who: Cinematic Orchestra, DJ Format, DJ Vadim, Part Time Heroes, Zero 7
Tickets: £75 for two days including camping, £130 for a return bus trip from London
FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE BENICÀSSIM
When: 15 to 18 July
Where: Benicàssim, Valencia, Spain
What: Known to its followers as “Glastonbury in the sun”, Benicàssim attracts hordes of partygoers from across Europe every year. The festival boasts some of the biggest names in rock, indie and dance, and under the blazing Iberian sky there’s no need to bring your wellies. The weekend traditionally ends with a crazy all-night party on the beach, and if that wasn’t enough, a VIP ticket gives you access to the swimming pool used by the bands.
Who: Kasabian, The Prodigy, Dizzee Rascal, Vampire Weekend, Gorillaz
Tickets: £160 for four days including camping, €300 (£255) for VIP passes
WINTERWELL
When: 18 to 21 June
Where: Secret location near Cirencester, Gloucestershire
What: Winterwell is one of the most intimate and quirkiest festivals you’ll come across in Britain. This year, 1,500 guests are set to don fancy dress on a novel theme – “The Entire Works of Roald Dahl” – and cavort around to the sounds of some of the country’s best underground bands and DJs. As well as music, Winterwell lays on a host of other activities including late-night cabaret, arthouse film showings and live rock karaoke to keep the fun flowing. If you can’t see yourself roughing it for the weekend, there’s a “hotel” camping area with queen-sized double beds and electricity to charge up your BlackBerry or iPhone.
Who: DJ Yoda, Norman Jay, Animal Kingdom, The Fontanas
Tickets: £90 for three days including camping, luxury packages from £600 for two people
CORNBURY MUSIC FESTIVAL
When: 3 to 4 July
Where: Charlbury, Oxfordshire
What: Designed as an antidote to the endless queues and extortionate prices of some of the larger festivals, Cornbury is a boutique gig set in the lush countryside at the base of the Chiltern hills. The event has its roots in an English fayre held at the site since the 18th century and as a result you’re just as likely to find gourmet cake stalls and hot air balloons as bars. For those who don’t fancy fiddling around with guy ropes and tent pegs there’s a “glamping” option – a choice of yurt or caravan, complete with showers and personal toilets.
Who: David Gray, Noisettes, Candi Staton, Buddy Guy, The Feeling
Tickets: £115 for two days including camping, £170 for glamping
THE GREEN MAN FESTIVAL
When: 20 to 22 August
Where: Powys, Wales
What: The gorgeous Usk Valley in Powys is host to this chic gathering, which has become a favourite among City dwellers looking to escape the capital’s hustle and bustle. Although in recent years downpours have sent Green Man devotees scrambling for their waterproofs, the festival’s good-natured atmosphere and raft of top headline acts guarantees a memorable time. Music lovers will be delighted by line-ups on some of Green Man’s smaller stages, which play host to bands ranging from the eclectic to the downright weird.
Who: Doves, Flaming Lips, Joanna Newsom, Mumford and Sons, Wild Beasts
Tickets: £120 for three days including camping
WOMAD
When: 23 to 25 July
Where: Charlton Park, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire
What: Womad – World of Music and Dance – is the mother of all alternative festivals. Fusing jazz, reggae and Latino sounds, the event brings together bands from around the globe for a weekend-long party every year. Expect loud music and colourful characters galore, but also be prepared to feast on exotic food and take in stand-up comedy and drama. This time around the Womad workers are even offering to pitch your tent and blow up your airbed for you.
Who: Horace Andy, Gil Scott-Heron, Ozomatli, Afro Celt Soundsytem
Tickets: £125 for three days including camping, between £125 and £420 extra for luxury camping