The Best International Festivals of 2016
14 April, 2016
- Words by
- Charlotte Peet
Summer
Summer
is coming. And to prepare you for the five-month festival
season, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide that is your one-way
ticket out of the real world. We’re here to take you on a journey
through mystical wonderlands, sun-soaked desert islands and Arctic
mountains.
Mañana Cuba
Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
When
4 to 6 May
Why go
Located in the musical heart of the Caribbean in the incredible
Heredia Complex, Mañana Cuba assembles some of the most respected
Afro-Cuban artists in the country, as well as a strong contingent
of international electronic acts. The festival will take place
across a handful of selected stages and cultural institutions that
perfectly reflect Santiago de Cuba’s glittering charm. Only a
two-day festival, it leaves time for you to explore the island and
the surrounding cities of Baracoa, Guantanamo and Holguín where you
can meander through rustic, historical town centres, parks and
cafés.
Lineup
Nicolas Jaar / Phrased / Plaid / Quantic / Jesse Royal / Jose
Marquez / Soundwave Records / Gappy Ranks/ Jeremy Sole
Sasquatch!
Gorge Amphitheatre, George, Washington
When
27 to 30 May
Why go
Taking place annually on Memorial Day weekend, this is a
festival you won’t forget. Sasquatch! showcases an impressive
compilation of alternative musical gurus. The festival is set
against the backdrop of Washington’s mountainous landscape and most
attendees camp in the fields nearby.The emphasis is on indie rock
bands and singer-songwriters but also includes alternative rock,
hip hop, EDM and comedy acts. Feast your eyes on the line-up.
Lineup
Florence and the Machine / The Cure / Disclosure / Major Lazer/
Alabama Shakes/ ASAP Rocky / Sufjan Stevens / M83 / Grimes / Jamie
XX / Tycho / Four Tet / Savages / Matt Corby
Bonnaroo
Manchester, Tennessee
When
9 to 12 June
Why go
A music and arts festival in Manchester, Tennessee attracting
80,000 devoted fans every year. Venues include the Kalliope, 70,000
watts of ecstatic light show; The Foundation; a colourful cool-off
and meeting point and The Groove, a natural oasis and refuge from
the whirlwind of Bonnaroo. There are a range of camping options
including a VIP campground. Not only does it have more than 150
musical performances, there are also tonnes of other ways to get
involved, including comedy, cinema and sustainability
workshops.
Lineup
J. Cole / Ellie Goulding / Death Cab for Cutie / Macklemore
& Ryan Lewis / Tame Impala / Bryson Tiller / Band of Horses /
Two door cinema club / Sam Hunt / Lucius/ Hermitude / Twin
Peaks
Meadows in the Mountains
Polkovnik Serafimovo, Smolyan, Bulgaria
When
10 to 13 June
Why go
Featuring three days of live acts and DJs across the musical
spectrum, this festival is set in the jaw-dropping vistas of
Bulgaria’s Rhodopes Mountains. Taking place in the small village of
Polkovnik Serafimovo, this festival has been going for six years
yet still maintains a sense of magic, mystery and community. It’s
an adventure to get there (which might include donkey carts) and an
adventure when you’ve arrived (which might involve staying with a
local family).
Lineup
Chelou/ Henry Wu (Rhythm Section)/ Jake the Ripper / Last Japan/
Bruno Schmidt / Saoirse/ Zulu / Lucas Crowe / Lion Club /
Subculture Sage (Twisted Hearts)
Worldwide Festival
Théâtre de la Mer, Sète, France
When
4 to 10 July
Why go
Worldwide Festival in Sète is an unmissable event for fans of
electronic music.The magical Théâtre de la Mer will be the heart of
the festival, offering a unique vantage point for a week of sunsets
and open-air concerts. After the beach, live acts will kick off the
evening before handing over to the dancefloor. Enjoy the celebrated
South of France art de vivre while basking in the festival’s
music, sunshine and delicious cuisine.
Lineup
Four Tet / Ben UFO / Mala in Cuba / Anderson .Paak / Kamasi
Washington / Dynamite MC / Motor City Drum Ensemble / Yousef Kamall
Trio live
Obonjan
Obonjan, Croatia.
When
18 July to 10 September
Why go
Croatia is a sun-soaked festival
hotspot. And this summer the co-founders of Hideout and Unknown
have taken the scene to the next level. Deserted for a decade,
Obonjan (pronounced O-bon-yan) is a “curated island destination”
that brings together everything you love in one beautiful natural
setting. It’s not strictly a festival, rather a destination party
island where you can sleep under the stars and wake up to the sound
of waves. There are only 800 guests at a time so get in there
early.
Who is Playing
Roy Ayers / DJ Shadow / Dilated Peoples / Matthew Herbert / Saul
Williams / Policia
Splendour in the Grass
Byron Bay, Australia
When
22 to 24 July
Why go
Offering a mini-holiday smack-bang in the middle of Australian
winter, Splendour in the Grass is a music festival in North Byron
Parklands. Strong believers that a little bit of everything make a
good festival, it offers a collaboration of some of the most
brilliant minds from around the world with comedy sketches and
debates. Great for getting your brain massaged and intellectually
stimulated.
Lineup
The 1975 / At the Drive-In / Sigur Rós / Lana Del Rey / Leon
Bridges / James Blake / Santigold / Jake Bugg / Flume / The
Cure
Into the Valley
Rättvik, Sweden
When
29 July to 31 July
Why go
House and electronic music festival Into The Valley lies 280km
northwest of Stockholm. The festival takes place in a dramatic
limestone quarry (the result of a gigantic meteor collision) and is
nestled in a forest surrounded by a turquoise lake. Complete with
the finest DJs, exhilarating sound systems, lights and visuals,
this is an out-of-this-world experience.
Lineup
Ben UFO / Four Tet / La Fleur / Nina Kraviz / John Talabot /
Fred P / George Fitzgerald/ Hunee / Omar S/ Dixon / Paranoid
London
Soundwave
Tisno, Croatia
When
4 to 8 August
Why go
Set in the enchanting Garden Tisno, Soundwave is revered for its
eclectic range of headline acts and laidback attitude. Festival
goers spend their days relaxing by the Adriatic Sea to some of the
world’s best broken beat, reggae, afro, acid jazz, hip-hop and
soul. We like to think of it as a sublime holiday that seamlessly
merges with a musical escape.
Lineup
Pharoahe Monch / Calibre / Mala / Gentleman’s Dub Club / Channel
One Sound System / Riot Jazz / Romare / Clap Clap / Rogan / Shanty
/ Henry Wu
The SoundYouNeedFestival
Malta
When
26 to 29 August
Why go
TheSoundYouNeedFestival in Malta is a music festival that breaks
away from the standard electronic format to deliver one of the most
carefully curated line-ups of the season. Set in one of Europe’s
most idyllic settings, this open-air festival is set between
clifftop pre-historic sites and a glinting seaside. With music
venues scattered across the island, the festival will bring you
three days of island sun, pool parties, boat parties and the best
new music.
Lineup
Flight Facilities / Bondax / Hermitude / Jungle / Karma Kid /
Kidnap Kid
Odyssia Festival
Cariocas Beach, Alkionas, Greece
When
31 August to 4 September
Why go
The picturesque cove of Cariocas Beach is the perfect setting
for this new music festival welcoming a collection of house and
disco DJs to Greece. With a secluded bar and shore-sided stage in a
bay which has remained a secret until now, this hidden gem of a
festival is paradise for those wishing to escape. Attendees are
advised to stay in the nearby Loutraki resort.
Lineup
DJ Harvey / Body & Soul / Gilles Peterson / Benji B, Boo
Williams / Maurice Fulton / Midland / Kyle Hall / Delano Smith /
Detroit Swindle / Jeremy Underground / Josey Rebelle