Come for the bands, stay for the views – at these scenic music festivals, headlining acts play second fiddle to the spectacular venues hosting them.
Snowbombing, Mayrhofen (Austria), April – Carve up the Austrian Alps (or just soak in a spa) by day, then party in an igloo or snow-carpeted forest by night; this mountaintop blowout combines winter sports with EDM raves, bonfires, underground tennis, fancy dress gatherings and parties at 1,800m above sea level – all in one of Europe’s most breathtaking ski resorts. snowbombing.com
Wide Open Space, Ross River Resort (Central Australia), Late April/Early May – “Middle of nowhere” is putting it mildly; this boutique festival takes place an hour from Alice Springs, a town that is itself 1,500km from the nearest major city. Make the journey, though, and you’ll be rewarded with nature unadulterated: the rocky East MacDonnell ranges, the dramatic N’dhala Gorge and a night sky so brilliant you’ll forget you’re on planet Earth. Oh yeah, and then there’s the lineup of musical acts and performance artists. wideopenspace.net.au
St Lucia Jazz And Arts Festival, St Lucia, Late April/Early May – It might be billed as a jazz festival, but the perennially star-studded lineup includes artists from many different genres, most notably Caribbean musicians playing everything from zouk to reggae. Various landmarks across the island serve as concert venues, including sugarcane plantations, turquoise bays, ruins in the jungle, and the French colonial town of Soufrière. stluciajazz.org
Joshua Tree Music Festival, Joshua Tree (CA, USA), May and October – Home to the peculiar tree that lends it its name, Joshua Tree National Park is also the location of California’s most down-to-earth desert festival. The event focuses on building a community atmosphere and introducing lesser-known local artists, and its breezy come-and-go policy allows visitors explore the park’s spectacular landscapes. joshuatreemusicfestival.com [Photo: NPS/Brad Sutton]
Sasquatch!, Quincy (WA, USA), May – Tens of thousands of music lovers flock to the Pacific Northwest’s most scenic venue, The Gorge, to take in big-name bands and far-reaching views over the Columbia River – even from the campgrounds. The combination is enough to make you want to start your own dance party, like this guy inadvertently did. sasquatchfestival.com [Photo: Alex Quistberg/Flickr]
Meadows in the Mountains, Rhodopes Mountains (Bulgaria), June – Don’t expect more than 1,000 fellow festies at this rural mountain party. The 5-hour bus ride from Sofia to the Rhodopes range can be off-putting, as can the hike (or horse-and-cart ride) up an 850m mountain to reach the actual event. But that just means you’ll have more of the spectacular views and attractions (zip lines, thermal springs, grass bobsleds and, of course, music) all to yourself. meadowsinthemountains.com
Eurockéennes Festival, Belfort (France), July – More than 100,000 festival-goers head to eastern France for this unique party on a peninsula. The non-profit, eco-friendly event features everything from a water sports centre to a beach and an environmental centre, plus enough head-banging beats emanating from the festival’s 4 stage areas to ripple the calm waters of Lac de Malsaucy. eurockeennes.fr [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]
Calvi on the Rocks, Corsica (France), July – Calvi’s medieval citadel was once an effective defence against invading militaries, but today it’s powerless against the hordes of fun- and sun-seeking partiers who arrive on its shores for 6 days of concerts by the Mediterranean Sea. Talents span the genres of pop, house, techno and indie, playing day and night in venues around town and on the beach. calviontherocks.com [Photo: d.fabre/Flickr]
Trænafestivalen, Træna (Norway), July – Trænafestivalen has something for everyone; everyone who doesn’t mind taking a 5-hour ferry to reach it, that is. Once there, they’ll find a diverse musical lineup, inventive venues (in caves, churches, the great outdoors) and a sun that never sets. The festival is never truly crowded, but should you seek solitude, there are plenty of quiet beaches to stroll and hills to roam here in Norway’s far north. trena.net
Sunscape Festival, Gozo (Malta), July – Malta isn’t quite a mainstay on the Mediterranean holiday circuit just yet, but it should be. Take, for instance, the tiny island of Gozo with its golden beaches, rugged coastline, historical landmarks …and this annual free-spirited art and music festival. In between concert sets, check out meditation sessions, empowering workshops, art installations, water sports and more. sunscapefestival.eu
Pemberton Music Festival, Pemberton (BC, Canada), July – Canada’s not short on scenery, and this popular festival makes the best of what nature has already provided. More than 90 musical acts – past headliners include Outkast, Modest Mouse and The Black Keys – perform against the backdrop of 2,590m Mount Currie. A ban on driving into the campground means lugging your gear to the campsite, but it also means feeling like you’re actually out in nature. pembertonmusicfestival.com [Photo: Province of British Columbia/Flickr]
Fuji Rock Festival, Mount Naeba (Japan), July – This event has its lush mountain locale to thank for some of its sideline diversions, including natural hot springs, a forest boardwalk and a scenic gondola lift. Considering Japan’s reputation for keeping streets litter-free, it’s not surprising that Fuji Rock has been hailed as the cleanest, ‘greenest’ festival in the world. fujirockfestival.com [Photo: Ian Newcomb/Flickr]
Cavendish Beach Music Festival, Prince Edward Island (Canada), July – At the peak of the summer season, the coastal town of Cavendish becomes a somewhat unlikely host to tens of thousands of country music fans. Though they might make the trip just see some of Nashville’s top crooners take the stage, they’ll also enjoy the picturesque beaches and nature parks of Prince Edward Island. cavendishbeachmusic.com
G! Festival, Gøta (Faroe Islands), July – The Faroe Islands are currently having a moment as one of the world’s top trend destinations, so how about experiencing the country’s fabled landscapes through one of its most famous events? Stages set between towering cliffs and serene bays will host performers from home and abroad, while Finnish tubs and saunas set up along the beach offer warmth for festival-goers after a dip in the chilly North Atlantic. gfestival.fo
Dalhalla Opera Festival, Dalhalla (Sweden), August – This former quarry in the forest of central Sweden once exported limestone; now it imports world-class musical acts, who take to the outdoor stage for performances throughout the summer. Most notable is the annual opera festival, which in 2016 will see an original production of Georges Bizet’s Carmen. dalhallaopera.se [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]
Wilderness Festival, Cornbury Park (England), August – Summertime in the UK sees a host of festivals in fairytale settings, but for high-minded nature lovers, this is the one you don’t want to miss. Think: outdoor banquets, an open-air spa, foraging walks, morning guided runs, boating and swimming in the on-site lake, not to mention theatre performances, debates, dance workshops and croquet. And, of course, musical acts (the Wilderness Orchestra will be paying tribute to David Bowie this year). wildernessfestival.com
Dimensions Festival, Pula (Croatia), August – Croatia’s spectacular beach festivals are old news; revellers looking for something even more unique might try this one on for size, held in a Roman fort on the Adriatic coast. Turning just 5 years old in 2016, Dimensions attracts primarily house, techno and dubstep acts, who set up stage in the fort’s moats, pits and amphitheatres. dimensionsfestival.com [Photo: Ross Silcocks]
Festival N°6, Portmeirion (Wales), September – Is this Wales, or the Italian riviera? …is what you might ask yourself upon arrival in Portmeirion, a Welsh resort town built like a Mediterranean village, with hints of the Victorian era and Munchkin Land. Portmeirion’s whimsical architecture and abundance of nature (the River Dwyryd, Snowdonia mountains and miles of virgin forest) blend with this event’s eclectic art and music programme – and the quirky festival-goers themselves – for one of the most surreal festival experiences around. festivalnumber6.com
Lake of Stars Music + Arts Project, Lake Malawi (Malawi), Late Sept/Early Oct – The palm-lined shores of Lake Malawi form the setting for this celebration of music from far and wide, showcasing Malawian talent alongside international acts while contributing to local flood relief efforts. Attend poetry readings, watch film screenings, take beach naps, go for a swim, then dance all night and watch the sun rise over the lake. lakeofstars.org
Quest Music Festival, Ba Vì National Park (Vietnam), November – Set in a nature reserve about 40 minutes from Hanoi, Quest attracts international DJs alongside traditional Vietnamese musicians, then sets up camp on the shores of a lake amid a lush tropical environment, complete with rare flying squirrels. A programme of workshops, theatre, art installations, pop-up cafés and more rounds out the experience. questfestival.net [Photo: Viet Le Hoang]
Envision Festival, Rancho La Merced (Costa Rica), February – Rainforest? Check. Warm Pacific waters? Check. Eco-friendly and sustainable? Check and check. Though there’s a strong musical element, this transformative festival in the remote jungles of southern Costa Rica is also about unplugging from everyday life and finding yourself – whether it’s at a drum circle, yoga session, nature excursion, or simply under a palm tree on the beach. envisionfestival.com [Photo: mickeccross/Flickr]
Festival Cruises, Various Locations, Various Dates – Sail the Caribbean with your favourite bands, or take to the Andaman Sea on a Tomorrowland-themed ship; the newest festival craze combines the best parts of a music festival (read: bands, activities and a community atmosphere) with open seas and exotic ports of call. We doubt anyone would complain about trading their muddy tent for a deck chair and the chance to explore a new island every couple of days. shipsomnia.com, jamcruise.com, itstheship.com [Photo: Shipsomnia]
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