Even though we’re only at the beginning of June, we’re already halfway through 2012’s festival season. Weekends as good as Brighton’s The Great Escape and Liverpool’s Sound City have set the bar high for those that are still to come. So here’s a little run down of the festivals that are left which I think are most deserving of your hard-earned student overdrafts.
Sonar, 14-16 June
Barcelona, Spain
Why spend a weekend in some field in Derby for your festival hit when you can spend it in Barcelona? James Blake, Deadmau5 and Lana Del Ray are all on the bill and cost of a ticket is only €39. Get cheap flights out, sleep on a bench, don’t eat, and it’ll probably work out as the same price as Leeds Festival!
Lovebox, 15-17 June
Victoria Park, London
If you don’t fancy a weekend in Catalonia, but still want a dirt-cheap few days of live music, Lovebox is for you. Hot Chip, Friendly Fires, Little Dragon, 2 Bears and Magnetic Man are all scheduled to be playing at some point over the weekend and a ticket is only £29. You’ll still have to sleep on a bench though, as accommodation isn’t included.
Benicassim, 12-15 July
Benicassim, Spain
Expect one of your gang to be a lobster-red mess, another to pass out because of sunstroke, and someone nicking a pedalo and trying to get to Portsmouth. Benicassim is here again. Stone Roses, Bob Dylan, Florence + The Machine, New Order, Ed Sheeran, David Guetta, Noel Gallagher and Bombay Bicycle Club are the big names on the bill and you’ve also got a million other acts playing on until 6am. This is gonna be a good’un. £155 for a four day ticket and all camping is included.
Flow, 8-12 August
Helsinki, Finland
Taking place in an old power station a few minutes out of town, Flow is looking like the big, European hit of the summer. Bjork, A$AP Rocky, The Black Keys and Bobby Womack are just a few of the names on the bill, and tickets are only €70. As well as this, you get to see one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, so you can justify extending that overdraft on the grounds of being cultural.
Beacons Festival, 17-19 August
Funkirk Estate, Skipton, Yorkshire
A new three-day festival, Beacons is looking like it’ll be well worth checking out, especially with tickets costing only £34.50. Patrick Wolf, Roots Manuva and Jessie Ware are just some of the more recognisable names on the bill, but if you do go, check out Willis Earl Beal on the Noisey Stage too.