With free live music in the city, several dedicated music venues and a huge arena that regularly hosts the big names constantly feeding your hunger, we’re blessed to live in such a passionate, music-loving city. We’re also home to one of the biggest festivals in Europe: Leeds Festival!
However, if you’re wanting to travel to further afield, or perhaps go abroad, we’ve done the hardwork for you. We’ve rounded up the most exciting; the most unique; the most extravagant festivals in Europe and picked our favourites. From dance festivals to popular music, tribute acts to charity gigs, there’s something for everyone!
So, let’s get thinking about summer – when you’ll have your exams out the way, money to burn, drinks to get drunk and festivals to attend!
Festivals Close to Home
If you live in or around Leeds and you haven’t been to Leeds Festival then serious questions have to be asked. Have you any idea what you’re missing out on? The festival, which runs from the 28th to the 30th August, always delivers a great weekend. From the 28th-30th August, With huge names, fantastic music and over 75,000 people in attendance, it’s an unmissable experience. Mumford and Sons and Metallica have already been announced as headliners and, as previous headliners have included Eminem, Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys and Blink 182, we’re expecting the third one to be another big name.
On the 7th of July, It’s the 7th year of Cocoon in the Park and if you’re looking for a unique, one-of-a-kind dance event then you should check it out. Housed in the picturesque estate of Temple Newsam in Leeds, Cocoon in the Park brings you a world class line up of artists all on one stage. If you love dance, techno, electro or house music and you’re after a more intimate festival then this is the one for you. Sven Vath, Ricardo Villalobos and Carl Cox have all been announced for this year and it’s guaranteed to be a big event.
Another great festival held in the Yorkshire area is Bingley Music Live. It’s an annual festival, held from the 4th to the 6th of September, that features a range of musical genres including rock, indie and pop. The ethos of the event is to present high quality music at an affordable price while giving a great platform for local, Yorkshire bands. Previous headliners have included The Human League, Calvin Harris and The Editors – this year is guaranteed to have more big names. With a different vibe to the traditional festivals, it’s a unique way to see the big artists.
Let’s be honest though, not everyone wants a wild weekend full of booze. If you’re looking for an excellent day out with a worthy cause behind it then we’ve got you sorted too. Disability Rocks 2015 is a disability-friendly festival that aims to provide support for disabled people. With a relaxed, cheerful atmosphere and pleasant surroundings, the festivals are always a great day out. The event is held in Nell Bank in Ilkley on the 30th May and is set up by the non-profit organization Disability Rocks who aim to create new opportunities for people living with disabilities. You can read more on their website at disabilityrocks.org
The Leeds Pride is another exciting festival in the city, it’s a fantastic day celebrating LGBT culture and pride. The fun starts at 12 in Millennium Square and then a parade goes through Headrow down to lower Briggate where the party really starts! Live music combined with a variety of different stalls and unique entertainment builds a great party atmosphere. Save the date – Sunday 2nd August.
Elsewhere in the UK
Looking a bit away from home, the famous Glastonbury Festival is the stand-out festival in the UK. Running from the 24th to the 28th of June this year, It’s the biggest greenfield festival in the world and is attended by around 135,000 people every year! The festival hosts everything from pop music to dance music, comedy acts to theatre displays and has boasted headlining acts such as Oasis, Metallica, The Rolling Stones and Jay Z in the past. Lionel Richie has already been announced to play on the Sunday this year.
If you’re after a top day out mixed with a good laugh then look no further than the Fake Festivals. It’s a great opportunity to listen to some diverse tribute bands and whether you’re in Harrogate or Essex, the festivals are held up and down the country from the start of May all the way through to September. Performers this year include Coldplace, Antarctic Monkeys and Kings of Lyon – no prizes for guessing the names of the real bands!
Further Afield
Some of the most exciting festivals in the world don’t get mainstream publicity. A perfect example of this is DGTL Festival which kicks off the Dutch Festival Season during Easter weekend with 12 stages of deep, dirty and beautiful music. With some fantastic dance sounds and unique light shows, the festival has an additional dimension to its competitors. If you happen to be in Amsterdam during Easter then do not miss out on this extravaganza!
If you’re in Germany at the start of June then check out the World Club Dome Festival in Frankfurt. Space Ibiza, the most awarded club in the world and the clubbing mecca, hosts the show with a line-up of artists performing in Germany for the first time. It’s a weekend of huge dance music, incredible beats and everything else a dance-lover could ask for!
