Big European summer festivals like Sziget, Primavera, Rock am Ring & Rock are well-known among festival goers, so it is no longer a recommendation if you want to come up with something unique. To help you, the Guardian picked twenty small, but “mighty” events among others Colorado festival. So if you are searching something out of the mainstream, that’s what you need. Here are a few tips from the list.
MEADOWS IN THE MOUNTAINS (BULGARIA)
According to index.hu, tt takes place on four stages in the mountains next to the Greek border, with a line-up of mainly underground electro bands. Among additional activities you can find yoga classes, wellness, forest walks, sunbathing etc.
6-9 June, €150,50 (plus camping €6,50 per day), meadowsinthemountains.com
SACRED GROUND (GERMANY)
Held in a village called Trampe north of Berlin similar to Hungarian Arts of Valley Festival (Művészetek Völgye). It celebrates its 5th anniversary this year. The musical offering includes electro, experimental music and mostly small bands. There is a main stage daytime, and a tent to dance for the night. 99 per cent of extra activities are art-related.
12-14 July, €139, sacredground.de
SECRET SOLSTICE (ICELAND)
The festival takes place during the celebration of the summer solstice in Iceland, so during three days in daylight. The headliners already announced; you will certainly see Rita Ora, Morcheeba and Patti Smith in Reykjavík. There are also add-on parties, and there will be a child zone where kids can learn to beatbox.
21-23 June, adult £127, 13-17 years £70, free under that, secretsolstice.is
YPSIGROCK (SICILY)
The four-day-long festival is primarily centred around guitar music, hosting performers like National, Spiritualized and David August. It is located in Castelbuono, 1.5 hours from Palermo. It takes place for the 22nd time. The concerts are held around a castle, while the add-on events take place all around the town.
8-11 August, €99, plus camping fee €39, ypsigrock.it
PARALLEL (SPAIN)
Festival in the Pyrenees, only 90 minutes away from Barcelona. There is only one stage where you can enjoy a mixed line-up of experimental, ambient and techno music for three days. Unfortunately, tickets are probably already taken, as the festival can only host 1,000 people. The extras are also remarkable, for example, a solar-power synthesiser is displayed.
30 August – 1 September, €82, free camping, parallelfestival.com
KOLORÁDÓ (HUNGARY)
To recall the Guardian’s highlights, held on the edge of Budapest, in the hills of Buda.
Kolorádó is an eco-and nature-friendly festival full of hippies and folk dancers, but hosting also shoegazing guitar bands, and techno parties at night.
The headliners include Kurt Vile and the Violators, Femi Kuti and the Positive Force and Ben UFO.
19-22 June, £58, plus camping £9.50 per day. kolorado.hu
Here is the full list
Source: by Hajnalka Szalmasi
