jTHE BIG ONE: MYSTERYLAND, AMSTERDAM
WHEN: 25th-27th August
WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT IT? 250 DJs and acts – everything from
dubstep, hip-hop and disco to house, techno and electro – 16 stages,
on-site camping and the world’s most liberal city on your doorstep.
WHO’S HEADLINING? Acts confirmed include DeadMau5, Craig
David presents TS5, Gorgon City and Sigma.
WHAT TO PACK? No
much if you book a t
or safari tent – they
have beds and towel.
WHO GOES?
Everyone –
60 countries
represented
last year.
HOW
MUCH?
Two-day
pass, £121;
Mystery-
land.nlgy g
ot
tipils.160WORDS AMANDA STATHAM, FARRAH STORR. PHOTOGRAPHS JANA CRUDER/THELICENSINGPROJECT.COM. GRACE JONES, EDWARD QUINN, 1977-78. GETTY IMAGES. SANDOR CSUDAI. LUKE DYSON. VICTOR STAWICKIiTHE ALTERNATIVE ONE:
OBONJAN ISLAND,
CROATIA
WHEN: 23rd
June-3rd September
WHAT’S SO GREAT
ABOUT IT? Well, it’s
a summer-long festiva
on a private island. It
a mix of art, music and
wellbeing (yoga at
sunrise, dancing to DJ jTHE MUSO’S ONE: DISTORTION, COPENHAGEN
WHEN: 31st May-4th June
WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT IT? A week of ‘orchestrated
chaos’ is the tagline, which pretty well sums up this eclectic
festival of emerging dance music that takes over the entire
city centre for five days. DJs fly in from all over the world
to play at street parties and clubs, and it all ends with a
two-day finale at Refshaleøen and Copenhagen harbour.
You can even buy a bracelet for the week, which helps fund
the clean-up operation afterwards – how very Scandinavian.
WHO’S HEADLINING? Mike Skinner, Riff Raff, DJ
Afterthought, and dozens more DJs, so check the website.
WHAT TO PACK: Your bikini
(the best hangover cure is
jumping in the cool water at
Islands Brygge). Anything
that glows in the dark.
WHO GOES? In-the-know
club kids, locals, lots of
music-industry types.
HOW MUCH? Distortion
Week Pass and camping
from around £98 per person;
Cphdistortion.dk ◆The best
festivals abroad
iTHE ALL-WEEK ONE:
SZIGET, BUDAPEST
WHEN: 9th-16th August
WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT
IT? This huge week-long
festival has sprinklers to
cool the crowd and bikes
for city exploring.
WHO’S HEADLINING:
Kasabian, Tom Odell (left),
PJ Harvey, The Kills and
Major Lazer.
WHAT TO PACK: Trainers for
sightseeing, insect repellent,
and a torch to find your tent.
WHO GOES? Snoop Dogg,
and Lily Allen.
HOW MUCH? Five-day ticket
with camping from £237.51;
Szigetfestival.comGilles Peterson at sunset), plus
seriously good restaurants
serving seafood and organic
pizza. Oh, and there’s also self-
improvement workshops, luxury
safari-style tents, and... well, you
get the idea. There’s nothing
else quite like it in the world.
WHO’S HEADLINING? Line-up
to be confirmed, but last year it
featured Gilles Peterson, Kate
Tempest and Four Tet.
WHAT TO PACK: Kaftans, yoga
gear, PG Tips tea bags (it’s hard
to get a decent brew and if you
stay for a month you’ll miss it).
O OES? Multi-tasking
e nials who want
editation sessions
nd green juice, along
with live gigs and
unrise raves.
HOW MUCH? One night
in a tent from £91.90,
including transfer from
plit Airport or Sibenik
rt; Festicket.comD,
al
has
dJWHO GO
millen
me
an
w
su
H
i
i
S
Po