From Glastonbury via Barcelona and Chicago to Ireland's leading festivals, it's going to be a busy few months for music fans. TONY CLAYTON-LEAhas the low-down
- May
ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES
Minehead, England
May 7th-9th
What it's all aboutMost of All Tomorrow's Parties consciously fan-friendly events are curated by a pop-cultural figure or influential band or musician. The Simpsonscreator Matt Groening is curating this event. On a different cultural note altogether, the organisers seem to like holding the events at Pontin's or Butlins holiday camps. Most peculiar.
Who's playingIggy the Stooges, Spiritualized, Joanna Newsom, Panda Bear, The XX, She Him, Hope Sandoval Warm Inventions, Liars.
Who goesEclectically- minded lovers of experimental but not necessarily inaccessible bands and musicians.
Comfort factorAccommodation is limited to small camping pitches and chalets of the Hi-de-Hi!variety.
How to get thereMinehead, on England's southwest coast, is easily accessible from Bristol and Exeter. Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies to Bristol from Dublin, Belfast, Knock and Shannon. Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) flies from Cork. Flybe (flybe.com) flies to Exeter from Dublin and Belfast.
TicketsA two-berth twin-room chalet, plus admission to the festival, costs £342 (€385) plus booking fee.
Webatpfestival.com.
PRIMAVERA SOUND
Barcelona, Spain
May 27th-29th
What it's all aboutPrimavera Sound, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, has even more of a party mood than most festivals because of all the events in the city for the week surrounding the bash. It also has another advantage: it takes place right on the beach. Dig the sun, feel the sand.
Who's playingPet Shop Boys, Van Dyke Parks, Chrome Hoof, Atlas Sound, Beach House, The Fall, Wilco, The Slits, Pixies, Grizzly Bear, Panda Bear, Wire, The Charlatans, The XX, Marc Almond.
Who goesThis smart festival mixes the relatively esoteric with the reasonably accessible.
Comfort factorAs this is a city-based festival, choose from top-notch hotels, aparthotels, hostels or camping. The festival website has a list of each.
How to get thereAer Lingus flies to Barcelona from Dublin, Cork and Belfast. Ryanair flies from Dublin, Cork and Knock.
TicketsFull tickets from €170 plus booking fee; day tickets from €70 plus booking fee. There are no age restrictions for this festival.
Webprimaverasound.com.
- June
ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL
Newport, England
June 11th-13th
What it's all aboutIt has been described as the first great UK rock festival, and from 1968 to 1970 it was just that: Marc Bolan played at the first event, and Bob Dylan performed at the second. In 1970 Jimi Hendrix played his final big gig there. After a 32-year gap, the festival returned in 2002.
Who's playingPaul McCartney, Editors, The Courteeners, Blondie, Doves, Pink, Spandau Ballet, Calvin Harris, The Hold Steady, The Coronas, Jay-Z, Crowded House, Orbital, Suzanne Vega, Marina the Diamonds, The Strokes.
Who goesThis is a crossover festival that delivers most styles of pop.
Comfort factorIf you're not into camping, towns close to the site provide decent alternatives to sleeping bags and tents.
How to get thereAer Lingus and Ryanair fly to London from numerous Irish airports. Take a train from Waterloo Station to Portsmouth, then a 25-minute catamaran ferry to the Isle of Wight. Shuttle buses take you on to the festival site.
TicketsAdult camping £150 (€170), adult non-camping £130 (€147), children camping £75 (€85), children non-camping £65 (€74), under-sevens free.
Webisleofwightfestival.com.
ROCKNESS
Inverness, Scotland
June 11th-13th
What it's all aboutOne of the newer open-air rock festivals, RockNess takes place beside Loch Ness. Not for nothing is it known as the world's most beautifully situated festival.
Who's playingThe Strokes, Fatboy Slim, Doves, Enter Shikari, Vampire Weekend, Friendly Fires, Leftfield, Pendulum, Soulwax, Plan B, Vitalic, Zane Lowe, Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip, Annie Mac.
Who goesThe line-up veers towards discerning clubbers.
Comfort factorThe word is chilled: even the ordinary campsite is comfy, and for more cosiness there's the option of a VIP campsite.
How to get thereAer Lingus and Ryanair fly from Ireland to Glasgow and Edinburgh. You can travel on to Inverness by train.
TicketsThree-day weekend camping ticket from £149 (€169).
Webrockness.co.uk.
GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL
Pilton, England
June 23rd-27th
What it's all aboutGlastonbury is the king of open-air summer festivals, with more than 350 hectares of Somerset farmland open to more than 100,000 concertgoers. For many it is a pilgrimage, and the entertainment value can have little to do with the music. Go once, some say, and you'll go forever. In spirit, at least.
Who's playingWillie Nelson, U2, Andy Williams, Christy Moore, Corinne Bailey Rae, Stevie Wonder, Hot Chip, Editors, Muse, Squeeze, The Chemical Brothers, The Saw Doctors and Vampire Weekend.
Who goesDyed-in-the-wool festival music fans and those who just want to say they've been there.
Comfort factorFor the authentic experience you can rough it at the festival campsite. If you're not into sleeping under the stars, Bristol and Bath are within easy reach.
How to get thereRyanair (ryanair.com) flies to Bristol from Dublin, Belfast, Knock and Shannon. Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) flies from Cork. Buses and coaches go on to the site.
TicketsStandard tickets cost £185 (€210) plus booking fee – but the event is sold out, so register for the April 11th resale of cancelled tickets.
Webglastonburyfestivals.co.uk.
- July
ROSKILDE FESTIVAL
Roskilde, Denmark
July 1st-4th
What it's all aboutFounded in 1971, Roskilde is one of the oldest and largest rock festivals in northern Europe. Profits go to cultural and humanitarian work. Its volunteer workforce runs into thousands.
Who's playingAlice in Chains, Beach House, Efterklang, Muse, Motörhead, Temper Trap, Dirty Projectors, Florence + the Machine, Casiokids, Pavement, Them Crooked Vultures.
Who goesDiehard rock fans. Any festival with the likes of Alice in Chains, Motörhead and Them Crooked Vultures has little time for X Factor nonsense.
Comfort factorThe campsite facilities are superb, but if you'd rather have four solid walls and a ceiling there are plenty of options in Copenhagen, about 30 minutes away by train.
How to get thereScandinavian Airlines (flysas.ie) flies to Copenhagen from Dublin.
TicketsOne-day tickets 850 kroner (€115) plus booking fee; full tickets from 1,675 kroner (€230).
Webroskilde-festival.dk.
PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL
Chicago, US
July 16th-18th
What it's all aboutFirmly established as one of the web's most credible tastemaker music sites, Pitchfork followed its showcase section at the SXSW festival several years ago by mounting its very own event. Result? One of the most highly regarded new festivals around.
Who's playingBroken Social Scene, Modest Mouse, Panda Bear, Pavement, St Vincent, Girls, Cass McCombs, LCD Soundsystem, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
Who goesThose who love and know their music – and like it to be a teensy bit obscure yet name-droppingly trendy.
Comfort factorBased in Chicago's Union Park, so there's no shortage of hotels and other accommodation to choose from.
How to get thereAer Lingus flies to Chicago from Dublin, Cork and Shannon.
TicketsThree-day passes have sold out. Single-day tickets from $40 (€10). Under-10s free when accompanied by an adult.
Webpitchforkmusicfestival.com.
IRELAND'S LEADING FESTIVALS, TONY CLAYTON-LEA
has the low down...
ELECTRIC PICNIC
Stradbally, Co Laois
September 3rd-5th
What it's all aboutThis has to be one of the most relaxing open-air festival experiences on the circuit, as it concentrates largely on popular culture as a living, breathing entity rather than as a cultural sound bite. Its side events of theatre, literature, visual art, poetry and debate are just as good as the music on stage.
Who's playingGil Scott-Heron, The Frames, Roxy Music, PiL, Leftfield, Massive Attack, The Frames, LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip, Paul Brady, Afro Celt Sound System.
Who goesAnyone who is into experiencing popular culture in an undemanding and benign environment.
Comfort factorDepending on your budget, you can choose from a range of comfortable campsite options. For those who like more solid comforts, the satellite towns of Athy, in Co Kildare, and Portlaoise are nearby.
How to get thereStradbally is easy to get to via Kildare and Portlaoise, and Athy is but a taxi ride away.
TicketsSingle-day tickets are not for sale. Full festival tickets from €199. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
Webelectricpicnic.ie.
OXEGEN
Punchestown, Co Kildare
July 9th-11th
What it's all aboutWith Electric Picnic, Oxegen is Ireland's go-to open-air music festival. Facilities improve each year, and the line-up, if not always impressive, is certainly comprehensive. A rite of passage.
Who's playingEminem, Jay-Z, Kasabian, Florence + the Machine, Muse, The Black Eyed Peas, Arcade Fire, The Prodigy, Paolo Nutini, Stereophonics, Vampire Weekend, La Roux, Ellie Goulding, Temper Trap.
Who goesThousands of teenagers and people in their early to mid 20s. Anyone over the age of 40 is either a security bod, a music-industry or media person, a nominal VIP or a head-shaking parent.
Comfort factorSome of the site's camping areas are straight out of a George Romero zombie movie; others are fine. If you want total comfort, you can get it by booking into one of the many local hotels and BBs.
How to get thereBuses, coaches and taxis to the site are never in short supply.
TicketsA three-day camping ticket costs €224.50 plus booking fee.
Weboxegen.ie.
