Jun 22-26
Glastonbury FestivalWorthy Farm, Glastonbury, UK
The Pitch: It’s one of the most famous festivals, but if you haven’t got a ticket yet, you’re probably not getting in. For the record, confirmed acts include U2 (for the second year in a row), Beyonce, Coldplay, Primal Scream, the Chemical Brothers, BB King and the Fleet Foxes.
Info/Booking: www.glastonbury-festivals.co.uk
Tickets: …all have the buyer’s photo on them and sold out ages ago
Jun 30-Jul 3
RoskildeNear Copenhagen, Denmark
The Pitch: Denmark’s favourite summer hangout features 175 acts, including Iron Maiden, Kings of Leon, PJ Harvey, MIA and Big Boi.
Info/Booking: www.roskilde-festival.dk
Tickets: BD114 approx for three days, BD58.2 per day
Jul 1-18
International Jazz FestivalIstanbul, Turkey
The Pitch: Istanbul becomes a city dedicated to jazz every year. This year includes Tony Bennett on July 15, also Grace Jones and Seal.
Info/Booking: www.iksv.org
Tickets: BD9.5 (depends on concert and seating)
Jul 7-10
ExitNovi Sad, Serbia
The Pitch: Want a music festival a little bit different from the rest? How about in the middle of the beautiful Serbian countryside, housed in a 16th century fort? The line-up features Arcade Fire, Jamiroquai, Pulp,
Portishead and Underworld.
Info/Booking: www.exitfest.org
Tickets: From BD18.4 per day
Jul 14-17
FIBBenicassim, Valencia, Spain
The Pitch: Set a mile away from the Spanish coastline at the foot of a mountain range and with a 7pm-7am running time, Festival Internacional de Benicassim (FIB) boasts the likes of Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Mumford & Sons, Portishead, the Strokes and Paulo Nutini this year.
Info/Booking: www.fiberfib.com
Tickets: BD85.5 approx for the full four days
Jul 29-31
Fuji RockNaeba Ski Resort, Japan
The Pitch: Fuji by name, but not by nature, seeing as it got moved hundreds of miles away to Naeba Ski Resort. But it still gets the big bands – this year there’s Arctic Monkeys, Chemical Brothers, Queens of the Stone Age and Coldplay on the line-up.
Info/Booking: www.fujirockfestival.com
Tickets: BD150 approx for three days
Jul 29-31
Splendour in the GrassBelongil Fields, Byron Bay, Sydney, Australia
The Pitch: Tickets for this one tend to sell out pretty quickly, so don’t delay if you’re thinking of going. The line-up includes the Strokes, Pixies, Richard Ashcroft, Scissor Sisters, Empire of the Sun, Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling, the Temper Trap, Wolfmother and Goldfrapp, which means it’s definitely worth the effort.
Info/Booking: www.splendourinthegrass.com
Tickets: From BD137
Aug 26-28
Reading/Leeds FestivalLittle John’s Farm, Reading, and Bramham Park, Wetherby, Leeds, UK
The Pitch: Traditionally the heavier of the British indie festivals, this year’s dual-city extravaganza promises the Strokes, Muse, Pulp, Thirty Seconds to Mars, the Offspring, My Chemical Romance, Elbow and Interpol, among others.
Info/Booking: www.readingfestival.com
Tickets: BD113 for three days, BD48.5 per day
Sep 8-11
BestivalRobyn Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight, UK
The Pitch: If you want your festival with a side order of surreality, then Bestival is for you. Every year it has a fancy dress theme, while acts of utter randomness are actively encouraged. The line-up is also suitably eclectic, with the Cure rubbing shoulders with Brian Wilson, Fatboy Slim, PJ Harvey and Pendulum.
Info/Booking: www.bestival.net
Tickets: Around BD100 for an adult weekend ticket
Which bands are you going to see this summer and why? Let us know at www.timeoutbahrain.com