10 music festivals in Europe: Who's playing? How much? How to get there from Ireland?
Some of the best music festivals worth travelling for this summer
SZA, PJ Harvey, Mitski, Lana Del Rey, Pulp
A slimmer version of its parent festival a week earlier in Barcelona, Primavera Porto would still be the envy of most other festivals. Primavera is all about the music, with critically acclaimed bands like Choice Prize winners Lankum next to the aficionados' favourite Water from your Eyes, pop acts like Ethel Cain alongside Bjork collaborator Arca, and rapper du jour Billy Woods beside cult favourite Shellac. Porto, hillier than Barcelona, is easier to explore during the day, too, before the music gets going.
- Full festival passes from €175
- Direct flights from Dublin Airport to Porto with Ryanair.
Avenged Sevenfold, Green Day, Maneskin, Corey Taylor
Keanu Reeves’ band Dogstar are touring around Europe in June and will be among the star attractions at the starried Rock Am Ring, which holds a special place in music fans’ hearts - as well as motorsports heads, Nurburgring having played host to Formula One over the decades. It’s heavy on the metal, of course, with Slayer’s Kerry King also appearing over the weekend. Ireland trad-metal four-piece the Scratch should feel right at home at Rock Am Ring, too.
- Weekend passes from €249.
- Direct flights from Dublin Airport to Frankfurt, about 80km from Nurburgring.
Peggy Gou, Jungle, Bat for Lashes
Offering house parties, Japanese arcade games, karaoke, arts and crafts, and quizzes, as the name suggests, Sideways has a quirky side that kicks off the Helsinki festival summer. Set at the Helsinki Ice Hall Nordis (it used to be at the city’s old slaughterhouse, it also plays host to 00100ENSEMBLE, a Helsinki collective inspired by high school daydreams, diaries, andes, it will crown a prom king and queen.
- Day tickets from €109, three days from €189.
- Direct flights from Dublin Airport with Finnair.
Peggy Gou, Paolo Nutini, Dinosaur Jr, Kasabian, Jane’s Addiction
“More than a music festival. A holiday experience.” La Prima Estate is not quite a festival either, more a series of gigs set right by a beach on the Mediterranean, in BussolaDomani park, which played host to the likes of Frank Zappa and Miles Davis in the 1970s and 1980s. More than 20,000 people attended the inaugural festival in 2022, and it sounds quite dreamy: As well as the music in the evenings, you can bike or surf, practise yoga on the beach, cooking classes next to the sea, trekking in the hills - or just stay on the beach all day.
- From €52
- Direct flights from Dublin Airport to Pisa, 30km from Lucca.
Ed Sheeran, The National, Offspring, Avril Lavigne, Bring Me the Horizon
Dating back to the mid-1970s, Hurricane Festival, set on a racetrack near Hamburg, and its sister festival Southside, close to Zurich, are some of the biggest festivals on offer in Germany, with more than 80,000 passing through the turnstiles in recent years. It’s an eclectic lineup, with local acts dotted among the usual international names, and pop acts standing right next to heavy metal bands.
- Tickets: From €259.
- Direct flights from Dublin Airport to Hamburg, 100km from Eichenring; and Zurich Airport, 100km from Neuhausen ob Eck.
Dua Lipa, SZA, Coldplay, Shania Twain
Perhaps best enjoyed from the comfort of your living room and the BBC coverage of the festival, Glastonbury has, well, everything for every type of music fan. It’s 20 years since it basically made Snow Patrol, their version of ‘Run’ instantly going down as a Glasto classic. Who is most likely to get the boost this year? Michael Kiwanuka, Confidence Man, and the Last Dinner Party should all shine, as should Irish acts like Fontaines DC, who played at least three sets over the weekend in June 2022, and the irresistible Mary Wallopers. There are throwbacks like Avril Lavigne and the Streets (22 years since Original Pirate Material), while Shania Twain, who is also coming to Dublin and Cork, is taking the 5pm Sunday legends spot. Let’s go, girls!
- £355 + £5 booking fee.
- Fly from Cork and Dublin airports to Bristol, 30km away.
Girl in Red, Idles, Andre 3000: New Blue Sun Live, Killer Mike
Running for over three decades, Paredes de Coura takes place next to the fluvial beach of Taboão, where you can take a dip the morning after the festivities of the previous night, relax in hammocks over the lapping rivers, and take in some glorious Portuguese sun. Heavy on the guitars - Dublin four-piece Sprints can expect a raucous reception - the water might be needed to help you recover.
- Day tickets from €60, weekend tickets from €120.
- Direct flights from Dublin Airport to Porto, about 100km away, with Ryanair.
André 3000, Kae Tempest, Sampha, Floating Points, Moodyman
Curated by Gilles Peterson, this event will attract a slightly older demographic for the type of soul, jazz hip hop and house-orientated sounds the great DJ plays on his BBC 6 show.
- Weekend tickets are currently £240.
- Nearby town Salisbury is about 80 minutes by train from London, or a two-hour drive from Gatwick Airport.
Queens of the Stone Age, 21 Savage, Justice, Korn
Running since 2005, Cabaret Vert places a focus on eco-responsibitiy, detailing a dozen actions and obecjtives, from controlling energy consumption to supporting cultural diversity, promoting the circular economy. But don’t think that detracts from having fun in the Ardennes. The lineup is brilliant, split across four days, with One Direction alumnus Louis Tomlinson rubbing shoulders with the likes of Macklemore, and Flogging Molly and PJ Harvey showing the eclectic offering for the more than 120,000 who will attend Cabaret Vert.
- Day tickets from #49, four-day pass €219.
- Direct flights from Cork Airport to Paris, about 200km away; direct flights from Dublin Airport to Brussels, 100km away.
Idles, Slowdive, Fever Ray, Bonnie Prince Billy
End of the Road marks the end of festival season - and it also marks an increasingly rare occurrence: Next to no advertising on its site. It’s a treat for the senses, exploring the green site and not being inundated with vape and drinks sponsorship. Taking place since 2006, EotR has grown steadily over the years but retains an intimate feeling, helped by stellar curation. It also attracts a heavy Irish travelling contingent, both fans and artists alike - CMAT, Lisa O’Neill, Sprints, and Gurriers all play this year.
- Tier 4 from £255.
- Direct flights from Cork to Bristol, 100km away; direct flights from Dublin to Southampton, 60km away.
SZA, Kraftwerk, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Tyler, the Creator, Hozier, SZA, The Killers, Blink-182
Kaytranada, Loyle Carner, LCD Soundsystem, Justice, Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service
Travis Scott, Imagine Dragons, Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Shawn Mendes
Headliners TBC (one for experimental music fans)
