This #festivalfriday is all about #citybreaks and how you can mix your festival experience with a city break to get the best of both worlds. Love music and festivals? Love travel and exploring new places? Why not take an extended trip and get your fix of culture, gastronomy, sightseeing, art and music.
BELGRADE & EXIT FESTIVAL | SERBIA
Belgrade has a reputation as an all-year party city, with a vibrant and diverse party scene with everything from jazz to Gypsy folk and techno, which has its roots in the 1990s where underground club culture provided a refuge from Milosevic’s regime. Local favourites include Underground Club and Drugstore and in the summer months, the parties move to the city’s waterways – the Danube and Sava rivers – where river boats provide the venues to dance the night away. As well as music the city also has a wealth of culture and mismatch of architecture. It still has many communist tower blocks but is also home to the world’s largest Eastern Orthodox church and the Wander Kalemegdan, which are ruins of a fortress built to defend the city from the Ottomans.
Just a short ride away from the Serbian capital Belgrade, the magical Petrovaradin Fortress set high on the banks of the river Danube in Novi Sad provides the perfect setting for the EXIT Festival. Started as a student protest in 2000 fighting for political change and freedom, EXIT continues to spread positive vibes, promoting change and positive education, supporting many community and humanitarian missions, while throwing a damn good party. The award winning festival has something for music lovers of all genres with a diverse mix of artists performing on numerous stages connected by cobbled streets, ramparts and tunnels. Also renowned for it’s amazing atmosphere and energy the Dance Arena champions the who’s who in the electronic music world set in the awe inspiring moat of the fortress, it’s that special moment when the sun’s rays shine over the fortress walls and your favourite tune is belting through the soundsystem and into your soul! EXIT continues to deliver the most adventurous and value for money festival experiences in Europe so keep your eyes peeled for the first acts to be announced soon. EXIT. Where hedonism meets activism.
Line Up: The Killers, Years & Years, Alan Walker, Hardwell, Jason Derulo, Jeff Mills, Liam Gallagher, Nina Kraviz, Paul Kalkbrenner, Rag’n’Bone Man, Roisin Murphy, Solomun b2b Dixon, Jesus And Mary Chain, Black Coffee, Duke Dumont, Ellen Allien, Faithless Dj Set, Hot Since 82, Jake Bugg, Jamie Jones, Lost Frequencies, Nicole Moudaber, Noisia “OUTER EDGES”, Paula Tample B2B Rebekah, Recondite, Robin Schulz, RÜFÜS, Rodhad, Antigone B2B Francois X, Arkona, Bjarki, Charlotte de Witte, Dax J, Dejan Milicevic B@B Marko Milosavijevic, Destruction, Discharge, Egypt, Elemental, Foreign Beggars, Function, Godsleep, Kungs, Lag B@B UVB, Massimo Savic, Princess Nokia, Samuel, The Damned, Tijana T, Van Gogh, Vatican Shadow + many more!
Exit Festival takes place from 6-9 July 2017. 4-day tickets from £79 available at exitfest.org
EXIT Aftermovie: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF1cD03iKVk
RIGA & POSITIVUS FESTIVAL | LATVIA
The Latvian capital is a hotspot of hip, bursting with alluring architecture and compelling culture. Riga has a well-nourished art scene attracts creatives to it’s numerous galleries with Agija Sūna being the best for Latvian contemporary art. The city is also home to many Art Nouveau buildings, many of which can be seen while taking a leisurely stroll down Alberta Street, where the Riga Art Nouveau Museum epitomises the style. There is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Riga with buildings dating back to the 1400s and the old town is full of quaint cobbled streets filled with beer gardens and street cafes.
Taking place in the picturesque coastal town of Salacgriva in Latvia, Positivus is the largest music and arts festival in the Baltic States, transporting chart-topping headliners, underground emerging talent and exciting art and dance stages to their unspoiled atmospheric coastal setting amid stunning woodland. Festival goers can dip their toes in the baltic sea or take in the atmosphere in a hammock beneath the trees while enjoying a rich diversity of international chart toppers and underground emerging talent in this idyllic holiday location. Positivus also offers art and dance stages giving festival goers a variety of activities and stalls selling locally made designer clothing and accessories, giving festival goers plenty to see and do during the 3 day event. Positivus was also recognised in the 2013, 2015 and 2016 European Festival Awards being a finalist in the ‘Best Medium Sized Festival’ category and also for ‘Best Festival Line Up’ in 2013. First acts for 2017 will be announced soon.
Line up: Pixies, Ellie Goulding, Alt-J, The Lumineers, Rae Sremmurd, Maxïmo Park, Mew, José González, Grandmaster Flash, Jp Cooper, Kamasi Washington, Cigarettes After Sex, Nothing But Thieves, Austra, Rhye, Aeroplane, Crookers, Ray Blk, L.A. Salami, Margaret Glaspy, Julia Jacklin, Trad.Attack, Araabmuzik, Kingdom, Raimons Tiguls & Moonlight Sound Design, Dzelzs Vilks, Dagamba, Pienvedēja, Piedzīvojumi, Satellites Lv, Bandmaster, Mesa, Fakts, Singapūras Satīns, Makree, Edavārdi, Chris Noah, Daddy Was A Milkman, Get Your Gun, Bucharest, Teachers, Eska + many more!
Positivus takes place from 14th to 16th July. 3 day festival passes from £67 positivusfestival.com
Positivus Aftermovie: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdx0vX0bObY
KATOWICE & OFF FESTIVAL | POLAND
Katowice, is the capital of the Silesian province of Poland, is famous for its industrial past and excellent art scene. It may not be the obvious tourist destination with no castles, ancient ruins or hip bohemian districts, but what you will find is a stack of Industrial Tourism that will take you underground and through the abandoned factory floors that were once the booming heart of Poland’s Industrial Revolution. The Nikiszowiec quarter offers you the best insight into this kind of architecture and history; it is listed on several heritage registers and there is a big chance it is going to join UNESCO’s World Heritage List in the future. There is a big street art movement in the city thanks to the Streets Art festival with dozens of large-scale murals, which have been created not only by local artists, but also by well-known street artists, such as American Axel Void, Australian Ian Strange (Kid Zoom), Spanish Escifa or SpY. A trip on the trail of Katowice murals is a great alternative way to see the city and its hidden treasure
OFF is a festival for the discerning music fan and the place to discover the best alternative acts from around the world. A truly unique boutique music festival, OFF Festival takes place in ‘Three Lake Valley’, Katowice – a beautiful green oasis in the heart of industrial Silesia. OFF is a way of life, one that flies in the face of current trends and stays true to itself, and the ethos of organiser Artur Rojek is firmly aimed at supporting art and music with the festival bringing many acts to Poland for the first time. OFF Festival’s reputation is growing year on year driven by the festivals forward–thinking, eclectic music policy and it’s bold and eclectic lineups. From the greatest alternative music stars from around the world to the increasingly strong Polish scene, OFF festival has inspiring music in abundance and the organisers and crowd have one serious finger on the pulse when it comes to music.
Line Up: Anna Meredith, Anna Von Hausswolff, Arab Strap, Batushka, BEAK>, Boris Graja “Pink”, Carla Bozulich, Circuit des Yeux, Conor Oberst with Band, Daniel Johnston, Duzy Jack, Feist, Group A, Helando Negro, Jessy Lanza, Kikagaku Moyo, Kwadrofonik I Artur Rojek, Lvl Up, Made in Poland “Martwy Kabaret”, Michael Gira, Moor Mother, PJ Harvey, Preoccupations, PRO8L3M, Royal Trux, Shame, Sheer Mag, Shellac, SIKSA, Silver Apples, Spoiwo, Swans, Taleb Kweli Live, The Black Madonna, The Oh Sees, Ulrika Spacek, Wolves in the Throne Room, Wrekmeister Harmonies + many more!
OFF Festival takes place from 4-6 August 2017. 3-day tickets from £52 available at off-festival.pl.
OFF Aftermovie: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg18ZbHtufY
BUDAPEST & SZIGET FESTIVAL | HUNGARY
Budapest is packed with cool cafes, hipster hotels grand architecture and historic buildings. Split by the River Danube, its 19th-century Chain Bridge connects the hilly Buda district with flat Pest. A funicular runs up Castle Hill to Buda’s Old Town, where the Budapest History Museum traces city life from Roman times onward. Trinity Square is home to 13th-century Matthias Church and the turrets of the Fishermen’s Bastion, which offer amazing views of the city. Budapest also has the oldest underground in Europe and you also navigate the city by the quaint trams. There is so much to see and do from taking a dip in the mineral-rich thermal spas, to a boat trip along the river or drinking beer in the old ruin pubs. Budapest, it is the perfect city to combine a festival holiday and citybreak.
Proud winner of the ‘Best Major European Festival’ award in 2015 and 2011, and ‘Best Festival Line Up’ in 2016, Sziget Festival is one of the biggest multicultural events of Europe. Taking place on the picturesque Óbuda Island in Budapest, Sziget welcomes over 490,000 visitors from over 100 countries to express themselves on their self-proclaimed Island of Freedom. Sziget is not just about music, with more than 50 program venues offering festival goers the chance to experience many different things including; circus, theatre and dance, art and installations, yoga and sports and a huge variety of food. There is also has a beach area where fans can truly enjoy the summer and the Danube. With so much on offer in the heart of Budapest, Sziget provides a complete festival-holiday experience with a week long party, great live concerts and all the attractions the city has to offer.
Line up: Alex Clare, Allah-Las, Alt-J, Andy C, Anne-Marie, Bad Religion, Bakermat, Bassjackers, Bear’s Den, Biffy Clyro, Billy Talent, Birdy, Breaking Benjamin, Cashmere Cat, Charli XCX, Chef’Special, Clean Bandit, Crystal Fighters, Danny Brown, De Staat, Dimenson, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, DJ Shadow, Don Diablo, Dubioza Kollektiv, Flume, Fritz Kalkbrenner, George Ezra, GTA, GusGus, HVOB, Interpol, Jagwar Ma, Jamie Cullum, Kasabian, Kensington, Leningrad, Leon, Mac Demarco, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Major Lazer, Mando Diao, Materia, Maurice West, Metronomy, Nervo, Nothing but Thieves, OH Wonder, Oliver Heldens, P!NK, Paul Van Dyk, PJ Harvey, Rita Ora, Rone, Rudimental live, Steve Aoki, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, The Courteeners, The Kills, The Naked and Famous, The Pretty Reckless, The Strypes, The Vaccines, Tom Odell, Two Door Cinema Club, Tycho, Valentino Khan, Vince Staples, W&W, Watsky, Weval, White Lies, Wiz Khalifa + many more!
Sziget takes place from 9-16 August 2017. 7-day tickets from £175 available at szigetfestival.com.
Sziget Aftermovie: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-6NB2SEgLk
AMSTERDAM & LOWLANDS | THE NETHERLANDS
Get ready for A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise 2017, as they festival prepares to celebrate it’s 25th anniversary edition. Taking place next to the Walib Fairgrounds, Biddinghuizen Lowlands is the Dutch answer to Reading & Leeds, but with impressive installations including the renowned red and white chimney stacks, plus unique covers for all stages so you can enjoy all the music rain or shine. Just over an hours drive from Amsterdam you can easily mix your festival trip with a few days city break in Amsterdam. Tickets are available from ticketmaster.co.uk and include festival entry, camping + shuttle bus from / to railway station or Dronten Lelystad. More acts will be announced soon with over 250 acts in total performing at this years event.
Line Up: Mumford & Sons, The xx, Editors, alt-J, Bastille, Chef’Special, Cypress Hill, Elbow, Flume, Halsey, Iggy Pop, Kovacs, London Grammar, Michael Kiwanuka, Migos, Moderat, Skepta, Solange, Architects, At The Drive In, Ben Klock, Billy Talent, Black Sun Empire, Car Seat Headrest, Carl Craig Presents Synthesizer Ensemble, Cashmere Cat, CLARK – Death Peak Live, Death Grips, Dixon, Feist, First Aid Kit, Future Islands, Glass Animals, Job Jobse, Jonna Fraser, Konstantin, LÉON, Mac DeMarco, MHD, Midland, Mura Masa, Nina Kraviz, Noord Nederlands Orkest, Nothing But Thieves, PVRIS, Robert Hood (DJ-set), Ronnie Flex & Deuxperience Band, Sampha, Talaboman, Tash Sultana, The Bloody Beetroots Live, The Pretty Reckless, The Shins, Tove Lo, Ty Segall, Abra, Altin Gün, Aurora Halal, Bonzai, Black Foxxes, Colin Benders, Cubicolor Live, Culture Abuse, Baloji, Canshaker Pi, Deniro, Denzel Curry, D.D Dumbo, Dj Deeon, Dj Firmeza, Eden, Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes, Giegling Showcase: Ateq Live, Dustin, edward.live, Map.ache, HAUS, Hauschka, HMLTD, Husky Loops, Iguana Death Cult, Jeangu Macrooy, John Moreland, Kim Janssen, Marie Davidson Live, Methyl Ethel, MICH, Naâman, Palace, Parcels, Romare Full Live Band, Shame, Shovels and Rope, Skott, SMIB, Songhoy Blues, Spin Te Kú, The Ufoslavians, Vince Staples, Yungblud + many more!
Lowlands takes place from 18th – 20th August. 3 days tickets from £150 available at lowlands.nl
Lowlands Aftermovie: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwDa20Z0euQ
CONTACT
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity