Summer Music Festivals: Our Pick from the UK and Europe

If you’re anything like us, you’ll already be packing away those winter clothes and planning a summer of escapades.

Our secret recipe for a stonking good time in the sunshine? Well, we recommend some good music, a few beers, some friends, a tent or two, and hey presto – you’ve got yourself a brilliant holiday at one of Europe’s best music festivals.

Fancy that? Here are our pick of this year’s events in the UK and abroad.

Sónar – Spain

When: 12-14 June

Where: Barcelona, Spain

More than 70% of the acts at this two day event are electro and dance – expect big basslines and massive light shows in incredible surroundings. Some of this year’s highlights include Lykke Li, Royksopp, Pretty Lights, Massive Attack and Robyn.

Price: From 48€ (around £40). Tickets available now.

Website: http://sonar.es/en/2014/

Graspop Metal Meeting – Belgium

When: 27-29 June

Where: Dessel, Belgium

If you’re partial to a bit of heavy metal then this is the festival for you. This year’s headliners include Black Sabbath, Alice in Chains and Slayer. It’s not all metal though, as 42 of the 200 acts fall into the rock/pop genre, like Soundgarden and Buck Cherry.

Price: From 85€ (around £70) – Tickets available now.

Website: https://www.graspop.be/en/info/festival-site

Roskilde 2014

When: 29 June-6 July

Where: Roskilde, Denmark

This Scandinavian festival is mostly made up of rock, pop and dance music with this year’s line-up featuring Haim, Interpol, Arctic Monkeys and Kavinsky.

Price: From 191DKK (around £21) to 1,910 DKK (£215) for a full 8-day pass. Tickets available now.

Website: http://roskilde-festival.dk/

Hop Farm – England

When: 4-6 July

Where: Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent

If it’s a family-friendly festival you’re after, look no further than this one. While the line-up has not yet been released, you can expect mostly jazz and blues with a side of comedy shows and a silent disco. There’s even a kids zone so the little ones can have their fun, too.

Price: From £31.50-£148.50. Tickets available now.

Website: http://www.thehopfarmmusicfestival.com/info.html

The Garden Festival, Croatia

When: 2-9 July

Where: Petrcane, Croatia

For a wild experience filled with house music, you’ll love this week long rave at the foot of the Adriatic Coast. That’s right, it takes place on a private beach, so there are no muddy fields in sight! This year’s headlining live acts include Bicep, Crazy P Soundsystem, Andre Bratten and KiNK to name just a few. DJ sets to look out for include Craig Richards, Sebastian Spring, Hackman and Jamie Russell.

Price: From £15-£120. Tickets available now.

Website: http://www.thegardenfestival.eu/

V Festival, UK

When: August 16-18

Where: Chelmsford, Essex

Taking place in Hylands Park in the heart of Essex, if you’re looking for an August festival, this is a good option. This year’s faves include Bastille, Lily Allen, Blondie and Kodaline.

Price: From £99-£200. Tickets available now.

Website: http://www.vfestival.com/