The summer festival season is over, and many events that survived the credit crunch avoided the washouts of 2008.

Bestival and End of the Road benefited from a late summer surge of sun, with mid-September temperatures in the mid-twenties.

So now what? The rain is coming, the thermometer is coming down and we are ploughing headlong into grey autumn, with nigh on nine months to wait until Rock Ness and Isle of Wight herald summer 2010.

Do not despair - those with the means and the motivation can get their fix in exotic locations with virtually guaranteed sunshine during our winter months.

The world's 10 best winter parties

So long, summer festivals: hello, winter party season. We reveal the 10 best bashes around the world

• A vicar at America's Burning Man festival

Ten winter world music escapes

The best world music festivals and destinations, selected by the editor of Songlines magazine

• Sahara blues in Mali with Robert Plant

• The 10 best winter sun music festivals 2008

Related Internet Links

• Music festivals section

Related Links

• Far East offers best bargains for wintersun

While none of the events down south have such large lineups as your Glastonburys or Readings, there's penty of big names and outstanding indie and dance acts traipsing around the globe to entertain you.

Whereas websites like eFestivals and Virtual Festivals provide comprehensive listings for British and European festivals there's not many online resources for the rest of the world (if you know of any let us know on the somment form below).

So to give you a headstart here's our pick of the ten best festivals from the USA, Dubai and the southern hemisphere.

Check the festival websites for full ticket, location and lineup details

vinspired Lake of Stars, Malawi

Sunbird Nkopola Lodge, Lake Malawi, October 15-18

This has to be one of the most idyllic locations of any festival anywhere in the world. Held on the banks of Lake Malawi, it's not only African stars at this exotic bash, with British artists cottoning on and heading out to celebrate in the sun.

The largest British band are indie stalwarts The Maccabees and there's a good representation from the dance music scene, including Radio 1's DJ Nihal along with breaks DJ and producer Tayo, Joe Goddard from Hot Chip and Ross Allen.

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