Festival Guide - European Festivals 2010

More and more festival goers are looking beyond our shores for more varied festival experiences. Jasmine Phull rounds up the very best Summer festivals our little continent has to offer.

Electric Elephant 
27-29 August 2010

The team behind Manchester’s Electric Chair club have decided to uproot to Southeastern Europe and throw a little party. Nestled on the coast of Croatia is Petrcane - a sandy oasis that will host boat parties and a plethora of local and global mixmasters including Fuck Buttons, PLUGS, DFA’s Juan Maclean and NY DJ Francois K, both on and off-land. When you’re taking a rest from the festival’s beat-mongers the 900-year-old fishing town situated along the Adriatic Sea offers pebble beaches, sail boats, and a bevy of enticing seaside restaurants. The festival is even kid-friendly, boasting volleyball and tennis courts. Don’t let travelling there put you off, there are three airports within close distance!
A three day ticket costs £80. Get your Electric Elephant ticket from Skiddle.com.

• Date: Friday 27th August 2010
• Event: Electric Chair Presents... Electric Elephant at The Garden
• Venue: The Garden

Nuits Sonores
12- 16 May 2010

In a city once known for mass silk production comes Nuits Sonores  - a three-day electronic festival situated in South West France. Lyon, the country’s second largest city after Gay Paris, will transform into one big dancefloor and magical playground with venues, bars and even the famous Piscine du Rhône (pool by the river Rhone) included on the locations list. The 8th year of this beat banging event brings more than 50 acts together, with Laurent Garnier joined by Hot Chip, UNKLE, Vitalic, Bookashade, Jesse Rose, Mathew Herbert and many more. It’s all about electronic and independent music culture and this Summer it’s out to educate you!
A three- night ticket costs £70.50

Melt Festival
16-18 July 2010

It wouldn’t surprise me if there was a sign at the entrance of this German festival that read: ‘Do not operate heavy machinery whilst under the influence’. Surrounded by Lake Ferropolis, this three-day festival literally takes place in an iron museum; its stages are surrounded by large coal mining machinery that has fortunately been dormant for as long as the 13-year festival has been running. Its organisers describe it as electronic meets rock. This year, marvel at the likes of: Hercules and Love Affair, Miike Snow, Friendly Fires, Delphic and Tiga!
A three day ticket costs £87

Oya Festival
10-14 August 2010

The great thing about European festivals is that most of the time it’s not just the music that blows you away, it’s also the setting. With so many historically beautiful locations you really never know what to expect, and the same goes with Oslo’s The Øya Festival. For four days a medieval park is transformed into an open-air space celebrating music, image and cross cultural performances. Only a short walk to the centre, the park is surrounded by beaches and this year the big Norwegian heart will pulsate to the beat of 200 bands including:  Pavement, M.I.A, Iggy & The Stooges, The XX, Local Natives and Q-TIP.
A four day ticket costs £214.

Written by Jasmine Phull
http://j-fool.blogspot.com

Tickets are no longer available for this event