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TRAVELLER
THE BUZZ
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SUMMER FESTIVALS
Worldwide Festival
MONTPELLIER
Who knows the festival
world like one of its top DJs? Gilles Peterson’s
ownWorldwide Festival, which celebrates its
seventh outing this year, answers that question
decisively. Set against the backdrop of Sete,
a beautiful, Mediterranean fishing village and
artists’ retreat, headliners include Tinariwen and
Scuba. From the first beat heard from a sunset-
beach bar to the last of a sunrise session, this is
a festival executed in almost clichéd perfection.
Tickets, €69-€179; worldwidefestival.com
Sonar
BARCELONA
Looking to make your name as
a DJ? Go schmooze with industry professionals
at this leading music and multimedia festival.
It’s been described as “
the
festival for the very
best in music and electronic arts”by industry
veteran Trevor Jackson, and acts confirmed for
this year include Metronomy, deadmau5 and
Hot Chip. It’s also home to SonarPro, a network-
ing hub for those in – or who want to be in – the
electro-music biz.
Sonar Pass, €155, SonarPro, €175; sonar.es
Rock in Rio
LISBON
If you’ve got the moves like Jagger,
then you’ll want to hit Portugal’s capital, where
Maroon 5, Metallica and Bruce Springsteen will
be rocking out to huge crowds. This rock-heavy
mega-gig was first held in Rio (hence the name)
in 1985, when 1.4 million people heard Queen
andWhitesnake. Although this year’s outing
– held in Lisbon’s Parque da Bela Vista on two
separate weekends – will be smaller, it’s still
certain to have you reaching for that air guitar.
Tickets, €61 per day; rockinriolisboa.sapo.pt
2-8 JULY
14-16 JUNE
25-26 MAYAND 1-3 JUNE
12-21 AUGUST
22-26 JUNE
Hop aboard for our pick of this summer’s hottest festivals,
from dancing to beats on boats in the Adriatic to rocking
out in a disused German iron mine
Roots Festival
AMSTERDAM
World music isn’t for everyone,
but if it is your particular bag – a hemp eco-tote,
perhaps – you’ll want to make a beeline for
this peaceful affair. Known for offering food as
international as its music, five days of festivities
culminate in a free, open-air event in Oosterpark.
It says a lot that performers are as keen on this
green scene as the ticket holders. Brazilian
funk band La Mákina del Karibe says that
“performing in front of 2011’s amazing crowd
was the best thing we’ve ever done”.
Tickets, €20-€40; amsterdamroots.nl
Summer Festival
BRUSSELS
One for Francophiles, the
Brussels Summer Festival predominantly
focuses on home-grown French and Belgian
artists, although international names like Jamie
Cullum and De La Soul have also rocked up in
the past. This year, musos can roam to various
locations in Brussels’ city centre, trying a bit of
everything from indie and electronic to hip hop,
Afrobeat and funk. There’s also a classical music
off-shoot called Classissimo. Bravo.
Tickets, €10-€45; bsf-brusselssummerfestival.be
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WORDS EMMAJO READ | ILLUSTRATION © STEVENWILSON @ BREED
Magical
Musical Tour