Gareth Scurlock
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Just as the British music festival scene bulges and threatens to burst at the seams with phenomenal demand and increasing supply, so European events become ever more accessible with cheap flights to just about anywhere.
Increasing numbers of Brits are looking to new or exotic locations to combine their festival-going with a holiday.
Repeated muddy Glastonbury experiences and a dreadful British summer in 2007 has left music fans gagging for better weather and different cultures.
The lure of the Spanish coast and the Med, reports of hard partying and cheaper everything in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, the viking madness of Scandinavia - not to mention the plethora of events in Germany and France - make it all too tempting to jet off to experience similar lineups of bands in new surroundings.
Despite the pound being in trouble against the euro, many places are still cheaper to have fun, and ticket prices are generally lower for festivals across the Continent. And real bargains can be had where the euro has not yet been implemented - Poland's Open'er festival will set you back just £66 for 3 days of the very best bands. Less than half the price of UK equivalents.
What's more there's tickets available for most of the big festivals across Europe, unlike many in the UK.
Tempted yet? If you are make a beeline to one of these excellent destinations...
See the festival websites for ticket details
Primavera Sound, Barcelona, Spain - May 29-31
Where better to enjoy an urban event than in buzzy Barcelona. Primavera Sound is first of four fine festivals to be held in the Parc del Forum convention space this summer. There's space for a few differnet venues and fine views to the stage and out to sea in the main amphitheatre arena.
Portishead play twice, there's hip-hop and rap from legends De La Soul and Public Enemy, and a host of the best indie, dance and rock bands including British Sea Power, Cat Power, Vampire Weekend, Simian Mobile Disco, The Go! Team and Tindersticks.
Sonar is a legendary electronically-inclined event that has large all-night parties at Parc del Forum as well as live acts and DJs in more intimate venues across the city from June 19-21. Performers include Goldfrapp, Bestival and Radio 1's Rob da Bank, Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animal's 80s retro project Neon Neon and dancefloor luminaries Miss Kittin, Ricardo Villalobos and Frankie Knuckles.
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