Stellar line-ups in exotic locations make the case for a rockin’ good time at one of these top 10 music festivals for 2013.
Coachella
Where: Indio, Calif.
When: April 12-14 / 19-21, 2013
More than likely, you’ll spot a celebrity or two at this epic music festival What started in 1999 as a series of pop concerts has quickly transformed into a multi-day event featuring 176 acts, art installations, and star-studded pool parties. Standout headliners set to take the stage in 2013 include The Stone Roses, Blur, Phoenix, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Primavera Sound
Where: Barcelona, Spain
When: May 22-26, 2013
Situated on the banks of the Balearic Sea in Barcelona’s Parc Del Fòrum, this festival has expanded from pop and dance artists in 2001 to showcasing a wide array of musical tastes, from hip-hop to alternative rock. The 2013 festival will feature the Wu-Tang Clan, Phoenix, Fiona Apple, and My Bloody Valentine, among others.
Glastonbury Festival
Where: Glastonbury, England
When: June 26-June 30, 2013
Sprawling across 900 acres on Worthy Farm in Somerset’s Pilton Village, Glastonbury stands as the largest green field music and performing arts festival in the world. It kicked off on September 19, 1970–one day after Jimi Hendrix’s death–with 1,500 attendees paying just £1 GBP (about $1.50 USD) to enjoy the festivities. Occurring off and on ever since, attendance has ballooned significantly. The festival also boasts a variety of theater and circus performers, a “Dance Village,” and even Britain’s largest free children’s festival.
Sónar
Where: Barcelona, Spain
When: June 13-15, 2013
Sónar spotlights emerging artists in music, art, and technology, and is broken up into two programs: Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night. During the day, you can catch concerts and exhibitions from emerging artists at the massive Fira Montjuïc area in Plaça d’Espanya. Come nightfall, you can take a quick 10-minute shuttle bus to Fira Gran Via area in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat to behold international headliners, like Pet Shop Boys, Skrillex, and Two Door Cinema Club.
INmusic
Where: Zagreb, Croatia
When: June 24-26, 2013
Don’t worry about having to camp out and forego showers at this festival. Located in the heart of the Croatian capital, its campgrounds boast hot showers, free WiFi, and gadget charging areas. Meanwhile, enjoy stellar rock performances by the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, Iggy and the Stooges, and NoFX.
Bonnaroo
Where: Manchester, Tenn.
When: June 13-16, 2013
Each year, Bonnaroo invites nearly 80,000 spectators to spread out across 700 acres of Tennessee farmland for 150 performances spread across four days. This year’s acts include industry idols like Paul McCartney, Mumford & Sons, and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, among others. Although you’re camping, on-site food vendors provide vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free eats, while the Broo’ers Festival showcases more than 20 breweries.
Splendour in the Grass
Where: North Byron Parklands, Australia
When: TBD
This festival traditionally takes place in the southern hemisphere’s winter season in the North Byron Parklands. Along with world-class performances, you can expect an art program featuring street art and large-scale installations showcasing artists from Australia and beyond. 2013’s lineup is still to be announced.
Rock Werchter
Where: Werchter, Belgium
When: July 4-7, 2013
For a more small town feel, this four-day event place in a small village. Hordes of music aficionados descend on three stages at Werchter, a tiny music mecca just nine miles north of Leuven, just three Its emphasis on showcasing top music talent also caught the attention of Festival Awards Europe, which recognized Rock Werchter as having the Best European Festival Line-Up in 2011. This year’s line-up includes performances by Green Day, Kings of Leon, and Of Monsters and Men, among others.
Fuji Rock Festival
Where: Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata, Japan
When: July 26-28, 2013
Tucked away on the eastern slope of Mount Takenoko at the Naeba Ski Resort, this event draws die-hard music fans willing to travel far and wide to get there. To accommodate the throngs of attendees from across the globe, festival organizers created the Oasis, largest large hospitality area offering international cuisine from Africa to Hawaii. While the 2013 lineup is still under wraps, 2012 featured internationally acclaimed artists like Radiohead, Jack White, and The Shins, to name a few.
Sziget
Where: Óbudai-island in Budapest
When: August 5-12, 2013
This Budapest festival coins itself as “7 days of non-stop partying,” welcoming fans from more than 70 countries to the Óbuda Island. Overall, 200 daily programs (including musical acts and other performance art spectacles) take place at 60 venues. This year’s lineup features Blur, Azealia Banks, and Hadouken!.
