Music festivals for bargain hunters
With the music festival scene abuzz with the latest acts and firm-placed favourites for the summer, why not ditch the wellies this year and try some of ebookers.com’s deals to the quirkier circuits on the continent and across the Atlantic?
From head banging to Pearl Jam at the Heineken Open’er Festival in Poland from £162 pp return to dancing along to Chemical Brothers at Sonar in Barcelona from £124 pp return, ebookers offers a great selection of bargain breaks to a wide range of festival destinations.
So, if you’re thinking of replacing Glastonbury for Sonar then take a look at the special offers available and avoid trenching through England’s summer mud!
All below flights are subject to availability and standard booking terms and conditions apply.
Rockness Festival, Inverness - 11th to 13th June 2010
Flights from London Luton from £115 pp return
Departing on Thursday, 10th June 2010
Line-up includes Fatboy Slim, Friendly Fires, The Strokes
Building in popularity each year, Rockness is known as ‘the only festival with its own monster’ due to its location at Loch Ness, the alleged home of the Loch Ness Monster.
After dancing to Fatboy Slim, revellers can chill out in the hub of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness where vistors can go monster hunting at nearby Loch Ness or take a stroll along the beautiful River Ness. People are also encouraged to take a cruise on the Moray Firth and keep their eyes peeled for the playful bottlenose dolphins.
Sonar Festival, Barcelona - 17th to 19th June 2010
Flights from London Heathrow from £124 pp return
Departing on Wednesday, 16th June 2010
Line-up includes The Chemical Brothers, Dizzee Rascal, Hot Chip, Pete Tong
Sonar is a popular annual event that is described as a festival of ‘Advanced Music and Multimedia Art’.
Prior to the 1992 Olympic games Barcelona was a hidden gem of Europe, however since that flaming arrow famously missed its target this city has been transformed into a gleaming diamond which everyone is lining up to see. There are many things to do and see here, Gaudi’s Segrada Famalia stands at its centre as one of the main tourist attractions, La Ramblas is an alive and bustling shopping and cultural hub and love it or hate it bullfighting whilst met with a lot of controversy is considered an art form with many locals. If this all sounds a bit too overwhelming just pull up at a cafe, sit down, sip on some sangria and just take in the amazing vibe of this bustling city.
Summerfest, Milwaukee - 24th to 4th July 2010
Flights from London Heathrow from £465 pp return
Departing on Wednesday, 23rd June 2010
Line-up includes Sheryl Crow, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Santana, The Offspring
This is the world’s largest music festival and runs for 11 days along the Milwaukee lakefront.
Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin, Wilkwaulkee is best known as the state’s brewing and manufacturing metropolis as well as the birthplace of Harley Davidson. Here visitors can check out one of many brewery tours, the Harley Davidson Museum or for a more cultural take see the Milwaukee Art Museum which represents work from Picasso through to Andy Warhol. For those who like some a little ‘classical’, the city even has a nationally-regarded symphony. However, if you’re more of a sports fan, festival goers can even check out Milwaukee’s major baseball team, ’The Brewers’ or for basketball the ‘Milwaukee Bucks.’
Heineken Open’er Festival, Gdansk - 1st to 4th July 2010
Flights from London Heathrow from £162 pp return
Departing on Wednesday, 30th June 2010
Line-up includes Pearl Jam, Kasabian, Groove Armada, Massive Attack, Nas & Damian Marley
Located on the north coast of Poland, Open’er Festival was given the Best Major Festival prize at this year’s European Festival Awards and has been running since 2002.
Having been rebuilt after its devastating destruction during WWII, travellers to Gdansk are today greeted with grand buildings of the Main Town where they can meander through the narrow side streets filled with cafes and shops. A popular maritime city, Gdansk is vibrant and growing in popularity and offers a good base for setting out day trips to the Malbork Castle, the hot sands of Hel or the dunes of Leba which are not to be missed!
Oya Festival, Oslo - 10th to 14th August 2010
Flights from London Gatwick from £99 pp return
Departing on Monday, 9th Aug 2010
Line Up includes Iggy & The Stooges, La Roux, MIA, Marina & the Diamonds
Oya festival is the largest outdoor music festival in Oslo. Returning for its 8th year, Oya Festival takes place in the Medieval Park, which is located in Gamlebyen, the oldest part of Oslo and showcases a diverse mix of acts.
The Norwegian capital of Oslo is the cosmopolitan heart of the country and its combination of city life and easy access to outdoor activities for the energetic ensures it’s a European city like no other.
When out in Oslo, visitors will be faced with an abundance of museums where they can see Edvard Munch’s The Scream at the National Gallery to stepping into history at the Fran Museum to see the Viking Ship-The Polar Ship Fram. Boasting a growing bar, cafe and nightlife culture, travellers can also escape the city to hike, sail or kayak - all just a short train journey away.
For more information and bookings, log on to ebookers.com.