Amsterdam Weekly: Vol 4 issue 22, 31 May

31 May-6 June 2007

Festival Pull-Out

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Pull out and plan your summer!

Your guide to

festival chaos

Everything you need to know about the green, green grass of the summer festival circuit.Which bands are gonna blow your mind.Which DJs are gonna blow a woofer.Whose toilets are gonna clog first.And where to find the best eats in the middle of a muddy field. For those bold and beautiful music lovers not willing to be contained by mere national borders, we’ll even let you in on the secrets of the hippest haunts around Europe.And rest assured, it’s not all throbbing masses and beer pychosis, there’s actually some more refined culture going down as well—occasionally. What are you waiting for? It’s time to air the tent before making it stinky again.

EDITED BY STEVEN MCCARRON. PHOTOS BY SIMON WALD-LASOWSKI

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Amsterdam Weekly

31 May-6 June 2007

Festival Pull-Out

31 May-6 June 2007

dreds of thousands, the festival is always gezellig, and, as a bonus, it gives you a chance to brush up on your Den Haag vernacular. Peculiar thing: the Hells Angels can park their motorcycles in a fenced area, where the general public can gape at them in admiration. From the outside, that is. Oh, and there’s music, too. This year’s programme features the latino hiphop of Delinquent Habits, the ’80s pop of a resuscitated Wilde and the upcoming British indie rock of Air Traffic.

And with Jamaican force Israel Vibration on hand, you can’t go wrong: their roots reggae is the perfect soundtrack to a sunny day. And if it rains they’ll still cheer up your mood.

Confirmed: The Family Stand, Kim Wilde, Israel Vibration, Beef, Johan, Air Traffic.

Where: Zuiderpark, Den Haag Cost: free www.parkpop.nl

KLANKKLEURFESTIVAL 1-3 June Multidisciplinary fun with a surprisingly surreal approach to the classical music scene. Classics and modern chamber music form the core of the three-day gathering, but it goes further than that, attacking all the senses with colours, sounds and flavours.

Confirmed: Works by Stravinsky, Brahms, Glass, Beethoven.

Where: Uilenburger Synagogue, Amsterdam Cost: €12 per concert, €18 per day pass www.klankkleurfestival.nl

FREE YOUR MIND 2 June One of the fastest-growing daytime dance events in the country. Everyone’s invited to head east to catch much of Holland’s top DJ talent alongside big international names. Get fit for the summer, and turn Arnhem into a dance dust bowl in the process.

Confirmed: Audio Bullys, Tony Rohr, M.A.N.D.Y, Joost van Bellen.

Where: Stadsblokken, Arnhem Cost: €40.75 www.freeyourmindfestival.nl

by Floris Dogterom

REURING 26 June-1 July With more than 100 colourful performances in just a week, the streets of Purmerend will be buzzing with dance, theatre, music, cabaret and circus acts— many of which pop up in weird locations, for free.

Confirmed: Dansgroep Krisztina de Châtel, Nanna Tieman, Jan Langedijk.

Where: Various locations, Purmerend Cost: Various prices www.reuring.com

VIRUS FESTIVAL 3 June Last year was skipped, but this multidisciplinary event is always an enjoyable arty feast. With a keen eye on what’s happening in the left-field scene at home and abroad, there’s usually loads of interesting music, theatre, film and art to embrace.

Confirmed: GusGus, Jason Forrest Band, Aux Raus, c64 Orchestra.

Where: University buildings, Eindhoven Cost: €15/€20 www.virusfestival.nl

THE MUSIC IN MY HEAD 8-9 June Whether it’s pissing down or the sun is blazing, it really doesn’t matter, as your body will be encased in indoor darkness anyway. Not a bad thing by any means, and Paard van Troje has adapted well to these multi-room parties over the last couple of years. So it really is all about the music—especially of the guitar persuasion.

Confirmed: Badly Drawn Boy, Starsailor, Sparklehorse, Mando Diao.

Where: Paard van Troje, Den Haag Cost: €22.50 per day, €40 pass www.themusicinmyhead.nl

BEECKESTIJN POP 9 June One of the smallest and friendliest summer festivals, where music nuts can mingle peacefully with picnicking families. Back in ’93 it even featured Radiohead before they made it big, and it’s still a regular breeding ground for new talents amidst established entertainers. If you go, don’t forget to check out Irrational Library’s Kabouterpodium.

Confirmed: Little Barrie, Relax, 65daysofstatic, Johan, The Moi Non Plus.

Where: Velsen-Zuid Cost: free www.beeckestijnpop.nl

FESTIVAL CLASSIQUE 15-17 June Sometimes summer needs a little injection of class. Of course, this comes at a price. More than 650 talented musicians are converging in Den Haag for this threeday event, with numerous indoor and outdoor concerts planned right across the old centre.

Confirmed: Brodsky Quartet, Residentie Orkest, Charlotte Margiono, Jessye Norman.

Where: Various locations, Den Haag Cost: €69 one day, €129 two days, €189 three days www.festivalclassique.nl

OEROL FESTIVAL 15-24 June Get your groove on, as those in the know get island hopping for some multidisciplinary cross-cultural fun.

Attracting more than 50,000 visitors, expect performances and shows—in the open air and exotic locations—to pop up all over the island of Terschelling, and head back to the mainland with treasured memories you’d never even dreamed of.

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LIVE AT WESTERPARK 27 June-8 July

Confirmed: Amsterdam Klezmer Band, Coparck, De Kift, PIPS:lab.

Where: Terschelling Cost: Various prices, €10/€15 passes www.oerol.nl

AMSTERDAM ROOTS FESTIVAL 16-23 June What do Youssou N’Dour, Skatalites, Natacha Atlas, Gilberto Gil, Goran Bregovic, Sergent Garcia, Trilok Gurto, Souad Massi, Khaled, Gipsy Kings, Amadou & Miriam, Aster Aweke, Boban Markovic, Ozomatli, Ravi Shankar, Femi Kuti & the Positive Force and the Afro Cuban All Stars have in common? They are all world music stars and they have all played Amsterdam Roots.

This annual festival—this year’s the tenth—is a celebration of world musical culture and features more than 50 concerts. The highpoint is the Roots Open Air on 17 June when Oosterpark is transformed into a collection of ‘villages’ for free performances. Six stages and around 55,000 Amsterdammers from all walks of life come together to groove and eat. It can be regarded as a refresher course in all that is good in the world. While festivals like these can easily make one angry that such a broad term like ‘crossover’ got appropriated to narrowly describe dreadlocked white kids jumping up and down, volunteer-driven festivals like these serve to remind that when one puts different good things together one can often get, um, gooder things... Regardless, the term ‘globalisation’ may slowly become less about economic and political irregularities and more about embracing all its potential positives.

Confirmed: Zuco 103, Batuque Batucada, Manu Dibango, Besh o droM, La Symphonie de la Kora with Toumani Diabate.

Where: Concertgebouw, Melkweg, Paradiso and Tropentheater Cost: Various prices www.amsterdamroots.nl

by Steve Korver

FIELDS OF ROCK 16-17 June Adopt a Beavis and Butt-Head stance and be prepared to flail your hair and snap your neck, as old meets new at this heavy metal fest. Setting up on the Lowlands site for the first time following a move from Nijmegen, it’ll be loud, obnoxious and just a little bit nostalgic.

Confirmed: Ozzy Osbourne, Korn, Slayer, Iron Maiden.

Where: Biddinghuizen Cost: €69 per day, €119 pass www.fields-of-rock.nl

FESTIVAL MUNDIAL 16-17 June Maybe white men can’t dance, but plenty will be trying at this colourful celebration of world music. Marking its 20th birthday, the programme carries the slogan ‘Music Beats Poverty.’ Important stuff, yes, but the real headline grabber is a fantastic line-up of roots, rock, funk, reggae, salsa and hiphop acts from across the planet.

Confirmed: Toumani Diabate Symmetric Orchestra, Amsterdam Klezmer Band, La Symphonie de la Kora, Burning Spear.

Where: Leijpark, Tilburg Cost: €12 per day, €20 pass www.festivalmundial.nl

OPERA AAN HET IJ 19 June-7 July Stepping out of the stuffy theatres, opera heads to the waterfront for the summer.

Confirmed: Comic opera Don Chisciotte in Sierra Morena.

Where: Scheepvaartmuseum, Amsterdam Cost: €45/€60 www.opera-aanhetij.nl

INDIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL 23 June A pretty commercial affair with a pretty raar name, considering it’s so close to the summer solstice. Not known for daring programming, this collection of pop, dance and rock acts leads to a suitably mixed and casual audience.

Confirmed: Within Temptation, Ilse DeLange, Audio Bullys, Fedde le Grand.

Where: Broek op Langedijk Cost: €39 www.indiansummerfestival.nl

PARKPOP 24 June Established in 1981, Parkpop claims to be the biggest open-air festival in Europe—though that remains open to debate. It’s a family affair, so don’t expect too many cutting-edge bands here. Now and again, though, it does attract some pretty cool acts—even if it’s usually a big name from the past. Kim Wilde, anyone? One of the key attractions is the Parkpopmarkt, where you can buy anything from collector’s items to umbrellas. Despite the claimed capacities of hun-

Six big-name concerts should range from exotic spectacles to utter tripe—possibly depending on how old you are—so expect a very different audience each day.

Confirmed: James Morrison, Scissor Sisters, Peter Gabriel, John Legend, Keane and Björk.

Where: Westerpark, Amsterdam Cost: Various prices www.westergasfabriek.nl

ROCK WERCHTER 28 June-1 July Big and brutish, this Belgian monster is now owned by Clear Channel, so it has plenty of resources to attract the biggest names on the summer circuit. Pricey, but it will undoubtedly be popular.

Confirmed: Muse, Metallica, Interpol, Bjork.

Where: Werchter, Belgium Cost: €75 per day, weekend passes sold out www.rockwerchter.be

PEARL JAM IN THE PARK 28 June As part of their summer European tour, Pearl Jam are throwing a party in Nijmegen, and they’ve invited Incubus, Kings Of Leon and Perry Farrell’s Satellite Party to join in the all-dayer. Different from typical festivals, this is more of a recurring series of huge headline events (other big gigs taking place at Goffertpark this summer include The Rolling Stones and Red Hot Chili Peppers) with each support band getting to play for about an hour. The show kicks off at 5pm, and will feature the usual festival mainstays: food stalls, displays and plenty of open space, although all heads will be pointed towards the main stage. If in doubt about travelling down, bear in mind that it’s Pearl Jam’s only date in the Netherlands for the summer, and offers far and away the best support act, The Kings of Leon. Their new album Because of the Times is simply one of the best things this year. And then there’s the eagerly anticipated Satellite Party, the latest evolution of Perry Farrell and Jane’s Addiction—ideal if you missed them at Melkweg the week before. Overall, it’s undeniably commercial, but given the stature of the bands on the bill, it’s not bad value at all.

Confirmed: Pearl Jam, Incubus, Kings of Leon, Satellite Party.

Where: Goffertpark, Nijmegen Cost: €49 www.goffertpark-nijmegen.nl

by Shain Shapiro

AQUA MUSICA 29 June-1 July The fifth outing of this festival brings together the worlds of very old and very new music with water and historic boats. There’ll be over 50 concerts taking place, as well as markets, events for kids and opportu-

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Amsterdam Weekly

31 May-6 June 2007

Festival Pull-Out

31 May-6 June 2007

year since its inception in 1976, established legends and new luminaries alike have gathered to play to a cosmopolitan congregation of jazz enthusiasts. It’s this ability to view all parts of the musical spectrum through the eyes of so many different performers, young and old, that truly gives the festival its international prestige. Last year, the entire gathering moved from its traditional home in Den Haag to Rotterdam, and the Ahoy arena complex in southern Rotterdam is host again this year. Admittedly it’s generous in size, catering to even more jazz enthusiasts, but it does recall an impersonal stadium all too easily.

However, that’s just a quibble, as the worst part of the whole festival will be trying to decide who exactly to see and then carefully crafting an itinerary to try and minimise the overlaps in scheduling that inevitably occur. There are just too many great artists in attendance, and not enough time for one person to see them all.

Confirmed: The Roots, Al Green, Amy Winehouse, Buena Vista Social Club, Sly and the Family Stone, Where: Ahoy and various locations, Rotterdam Cost: €70 per day, €170 3-day pass, €320 all-in ticket www.northseajazz.nl

nities to enjoy music in some pretty special ships.

Confirmed: Holland Baroque Society, Min Tanaka, Musica Temprana.

Where: Muziekgebouw and around the Oosterdok.

Cost: €10-€25 www.aqua-musica.nl

ARROW ROCK FESTIVAL 30 June One for the baldies with pony tails, this is more like a classic riff meet than modern festival, especially with some bands—INXS and Thin Lizzy—missing key personnel and others being glorified cover acts. That said, you can’t beat a bit of ‘Toys in the Attic’.

Confirmed: Aerosmith, Toto, The Australian Pink Floyd Show.

Where: Biddinghuizen Cost: €69 www.arrowrockfestival.nl

AWAKENINGS 30 June

by Stephanie Shewchuk

A regular on the dance calendar all year round, summer is when this outdoor techno party ups the stakes.

Running from early morning till midnight, there’ll be four areas pumping out a diverse array of techno and electro.

Confirmed: Richie Hawtin, Joey Beltram, Dave Clarke, Joris Voorn.

Where: Festivalterrein Spaarnwoude Cost: €38.25 www.awakenings.nl

MELT! FESTIVAL 13-15 July A small festival with big ideas. Just a short trip out of Berlin, Melt! invites you to Ferropolis, an open-air museum flooded with towering industrial machinery from the 20th century. If the location wasn’t weird enough, it’s one of the few festivals where dance and rock acts stand side by side, often cross-pollinating.

Confirmed: Alec Empire & The Hellish, Autechre, The Thermals, Kelis.

Where: Grafenhainichen, Germany Cost: €60 www.meltfestival.de

KWAKOE 30 June-5 August The biggest multicultural festival in the Netherlands (with the emphasis on Suriname) is held every Saturday and Sunday in Bijlmerpark in Zuidoost. Look out for music, movies, sports, food, dancing, information and lectures.

Confirmed: Too soon to say, but the atmosphere and food seal the deal.

Where: Bijlmerpark, Amsterdam Cost: free www.kwakoe.nl

METROPOLIS 1 July This free festival in Rotterdam-Zuid has been running since 1988, and has certainly had its ups and downs over the years. Sticking with the motto ‘The best you’ve never heard of’, programmers from some of the country’s best venues help attract a batch of unknown bands who’ve been tipped for great things.

Not everyone goes on to be successful, but the organisers have been shown to have pretty good instincts over the years. The fact that past unknown includes The Smashing Pumpkins, The Prodigy, Interpol and The Strokes speaks for itself, and when a swimming-costume-clad Beth Ditto of garage rockers The Gossip took to the stage last year, it didn’t take long for the then relatively unknown trio to end up in the local press. On the bill this year are English bluesrockers The Archie Bronson Outfit, salsa-keyboard cover madman Señor Coconut, the glamorously titled Tokyo Sex Destruction, and the absolutely adorable experimental indie-rockers Menomena—one that everyone should have their eye on this year. Even if you’re too paralysed by the heat—like many were last year—to bother standing in front of the main stage, there are loads of tents to escape to. And if you don’t take home a new favourite band, the exploration and time spent soaking up the chilled-out atmosphere is worth the trip alone.

Confirmed: Menomena, The Noisettes, Duvel Duvel, 1990s, Archie Bronson Outfit.

Where: Zuiderpark, Rotterdam Cost: free www.metropolisfestival.nl

by Sarah Gehrke

5 DAYS OFF 4-8 July It seems ironic that there’s a festival inspired by the notion of taking a day off, when, judging by its line-up, we’re going to be working overtime just to keep up with the scheduled shows. Located in various venues throughout Amsterdam—although most activity will be at Melkweg and Paradiso—its beats-friendly focus falls on live bands, DJs, club culture, art exhibitions and media installations. This year’s headliners include Daft Punk—who’ll play a special show at the Heineken Music Hall—Dizzee Rascal, !!!, Richie Haw-

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DANCE VALLEY 14 July ton, Adult, Diplo, Cut Chemist and many others. Then there’s the fact that all the major players in Amsterdam, including London Calling and Sonic Warfare, are planning their own special evenings to tie in with the festival. Overall, it should be one of the best gatherings on home turf this summer, and while it’ll mean anything but taking days off, ultimately it’s worth the long hours spent dancing and forgetting the daily grind.

Confirmed: DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Tiga, Trentemoller, Goose.

Where: Various locations, Amsterdam Cost: Various prices, €50 pass (not valid for Daft Punk) www.5daysoff.nl

by Shain Shapiro

OVER HET IJ FESTIVAL 5-15 July Local and international groups offer circus operas, guerrilla street theatre and music in weird and wonderful locations. This year also brings a special arts programme featuring exclusive works from international artists.

Confirmed: De Vogelfabriek, Orkater, ’t Woud Ensemble.

Where:NDSM-werf Cost: Various prices www.overhetij.nl

BOSPOP 7-8 July Feeling older and wiser? Maybe you genuinely enjoyed Sting’s recent lute album? Definitely don’t want to be stuck in a field with trendy teens drunkenly singing Kaiser Chiefs songs? Off to Bospop with you then.

Confirmed: The Waterboys, Joe Cocker, Venice.

Where: Sportpark Boshaven, Weert Cost: €55-€60 for Sat, €59-€64 for Sun, €100 for pass www.bospop.nl

TWO 7’S SPLASH 8 July Mainstream reggae gathering in Zuidoost.

Confirmed: Stephen Marley, Tanya Stephens, Beenie Man, Steel Pulse.

Where: Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam (plus outdoor market) Cost: €47.50 www.two77splash.nl

EXIT 12-16 July So many new festivals pop up each year, mostly as corporate money-making schemes. But even in modern times, events still appear for noble reasons, like this summer gathering in Serbia. Back in 2000 it was as much a political statement as form of entertainment, organised by two students. Now it’s a player in the Euro scene, attracting big name bands and guests from near and far. It hasn’t forgotten its roots though, and set in a picturesque fortress by the Danube, it’s certainly not average.

Confirmed: Robert Plant, CSS, Wu-Tang Clan, Beastie Boys.

Where: Novi Sad, Serbia Cost: €78.50 www.exitfest.org

DOUR FESTIVAL July 12-15 Despite the name, it’s a far from dour affair, and the thing that makes this extended party so special is that it has a pretty wild mixture of styles, with a line-up combining rock, hiphop, electronica and drum & bass—yet they always manage to make the best bookings from the current crop on tour. During the day you can see bands, and see more bands, and then see some bands again. Once darkness falls there are the excellent DJ sets to go crazy to. Of course, the question remains when to sleep, but hey, I’m not the one to answer that for you. Thanks to the diverse programming, the audience is pretty varied, too, made up of weirdos, freaks, geeks and music lovers from all walks of life, but it all adds to a fantastically relaxed and fun atmosphere. And considering the massive line-up and the fact that it’s four days of fun, the tickets are cheap as chips, too, so the only reason not to go would stupid laziness. What are you waiting for?

Confirmed: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Bright Eyes, The Cinematic Orchestra, Coldcut, Gabriel Rios, Goldie, KRS-One, Motorpsycho, The Notwist, RJD2.

Where: Dour, Belgium Cost: €35 per day, €75 pass www.dourfestival.be

by Sarah Gehrke

NORTH SEA JAZZ 13-15 July The largest jazz festival in the world, North Sea Jazz covers every aspect of the genre—as well as many others, like hiphop, soul, R&B and funk—and attracts fantastic acts from all over the globe. Every

Always one of the big players on the dance music calendar, every form of electronica is represented in numerous tents and on outdoor stages, right from the clubbing underground to the stadium-filling trance and house stars. Despite the dancing-by-daylight approach, glow sticks are standard fare, as are the underwear clubbers—rain or shine.

Confirmed: Carl Cox, Benny Rodrigues, Ferry Corsten.

Where: Recreatiegebied Spaarnwoude Cost: €62.50 www.dancevalley.com

DE-AFFAIRE 14-20 July Tying in with Nijmegen’s famous 4Daagse festival, where everyone proves they can walk really far—apart from those keeling over in extreme heat—tons of great international bands get drawn out east each year. The only frustration is that the best bits get spread across the numerous days, so it’s ideal if you’re a local, but...

Confirmed: Animal Collective, Erase Errata, Two Gallants, The Rapture.

Where: Various locations, Nijmegen Cost: free www.de-affaire.nl

FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE BENICASSIM 19-22 July Sunshine, sand and Spanish passion are just three of the factors drawing festival-goers to a coastal town north of Valencia.

Confirmed: Muse, Arctic Monkeys, Bright Eyes, Wilco.

Where: Benicassim, Spain Cost: €70 per day (€50 for Thur), €170 pass www.fiberfib.com

EXTREMA OUTDOOR 21 July Just a week after Dance Valley, and the vibe and sounds are remarkably similar, with eight areas catering to every electronic whim. That said, sometimes the further you travel from Amsterdam, the greater the effort from everyone to make it a special day.

Confirmed: Pete Tong, Junkie XL, Erick Morillo, Jeff Mills.

Where: Aquabest, Eindhoven Cost: €52.50 www.extrema-outdoor.nl

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Amsterdam Weekly

31 May-6 June 2007

Festival Pull-Out

31 May-6 June 2007

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ZOMERCARNAVAL

PINKPOP CLASSIC

26-28 July

11 August

Parades, drums, colourful costumes, blaring music... the Caribbean-inspired Zomercarnaval attracts as many as 900,000 visitors to the streets of Rotterdam, making it one of the biggest events in the country, and a close-runner to London’s Notting Hill on the carnival calendar. No need to fear the scale of the party, however, as there’s big and small entertainment to be found in nooks and crannies throughout the centre.

Confirmed: An explosion of colour and noise.

Where: Various locations, Rotterdam Centrum Cost: free www.zomercarnaval.nl

‘So guys, do you think we can squeeze more money out of the Pinkpop concept without making ourselves look even less cool?’ asks Jan Smeets to his room of bookers. A resounding chorus of ‘No!’ echoes off the walls. ‘Okay, well let’s do it anyway,’ he replies, ‘and we’ll target the ageing rockers, teasing them with the word “classic”.’

Confirmed: Status Quo, Marillion, Wishbone Ash. Where: Megaland, Landgraaf Cost: €49/€60 www.pinkpop.nl

GRACHTENFESTIVAL

LANDJUWEEL

11-19 August

26-29 July

Classical music performed amid the glorious setting of Amsterdam’s canals at the tail end of summer. What more can you ask for?

Confirmed: Too soon to say, but it gets bigger and better each year.

Where: Various locations, Amsterdam Cost: Various prices www.grachtenfestival.nl

Change the world. Alter your perceptions. Running since 1985, this global gathering, with its friendly and unique blend of art, culture, poetry, theatre, performance and pyrotechnics, promotes active participation.

So there’s no need to sit back and accept what’s given.

Mingle, discuss and throw yourself into the melting pot.

Confirmed: Another eco gathering with entertainment for all.

Where: Ruigoord, Amsterdam Cost: To be confirmed www.landjuweelfestival.nl

A CAMPINGFLIGHT TO LOWLANDS PARADISE 17-19 August

STREETLAB FESTIVAL 27-29 July A new international gathering for ‘street fashion’ and ‘street art’. Tied in with Amsterdam Fashion Week, more than a hundred young designers will be showing off, but it doesn’t stop at clothing. There’s music, workshops, master classes, exhibitions, films, skate demos and all the food and drink you could want.

Confirmed: Designers from home and abroad, a top batch of DJs and guests like style commentator Ted Polhemus.

Where: Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam Cost: €3-€12.50 www.streetlab.nl

HALDERN POP 2-4 August Founded in 1981 as a field party by a bunch of former altar boys, Haldern Pop has grown up to be one of Germany’s most loved festivals and an absolute indie darling. The line-ups have always been of the highest quality, although sometimes they tended to veer too much in a whiney guitar pop direction. This year, however, there’s no danger of falling foul of melancholy, as British hiphop-rocker Jamie T and German reggae/hiphop/funk superstar Jan Delay are surely gonna get the party started. Because Haldern is so tiny—this year there’s only 7,000 tickets on sale—the atmosphere is relaxed and harmonious, the toilets never get too disgusting, and the beer queues never too long. Plus they’ve got an excellent breakfast tent where you can hang out on pink plastic easy chairs and eat scrambled eggs for next to nothing. What more could you want from a cheap weekend away, without even having to venture too far over the border?

Confirmed: Brakes, Editors, Jamie T, Jan Delay, The Magic Numbers, The View, Two Gallants.

Where: Alter Reitplatz, Rees-Haldern Cost: €50 pass www.haldern-pop.de

by Sarah Gehrke

PRIDE 3-5 August Amsterdam’s famous gay festival, with three days of art, film, sport, performance and topless boys in boats. Ah yes, the highlight is the canal parade when 250,000 revellers pack the Prinsengracht to watch the floats go by.

Confirmed: Utter pink chaos.

Where: Various locations, Amsterdam Cost: Various prices, many free www.amsterdamgaypride.nl

DE PARADE 3-19 August Travelling theatre festival with music, performances, fun fairs and food. Chill-out, relax and soak up the bizarre.

Confirmed: Ashton Brothers, Spinvis.

Where: Martin Luther Kingpark, Amsterdam Cost: Various prices www.deparade.nl

LOVELAND FESTIVAL

FOLKWOODS FESTIVAL

4 August

10-12 August

More commercial dance from home and abroad.

More than 60 acts, five dance areas and idyllic setting—assuming the weather holds.

Confirmed: Eric Prydz, Sebastien Lege, Joey Negro, Shapeshifters.

Where: Sloterpark, Amsterdam Cost: €48 www.lovelandfestival.nl

SUMMER DARKNESS

Begun in back in 2000, Folkwoods is one of the few Dutch festivals dedicated solely to folk music and its accompanying lore. But as folk encompasses many different styles, the organisers have decided to focus mainly on music with Celtic traits. Thus, it seems to cater to the converted, although there’s room for a few others as well. Among last year’s highlights were Slovenian virtuosos Terrafolk, mixing gypsy folk with Bach and Van Halen, and Frisian merrymakers Pigmeat, prominently featuring their self-invented percussion instrument, the kuttepiel. But, of course, the real discovery was finding out that in Brabant, folk dancing is alive and kicking. Unlike most other summer contenders, this festival boasts high-quality catering with a wide range of fine wines and beers on draught, served in the appropriate glasses. What’s more, food comes on real plates, although the menu doesn’t include haggis or Irish stew.

Most visitors stay on for the weekend, making use of the pleasant camping facilities and, as Folkwoods has returned to Eindhoven after a spell in the woods at the Landgoed Gulbergen near Nuenen, this year’s campers will even be temporary neighbours of the Philips family.

Confirmed: Flook, Besh o droM, Tjane, Chris Chameleon, Gerard van Maasakkers, Lucky Fonz III. Where: Philips de Jonghpark, Eindhoven Cost: €35 per day (€28 for Fri), €75/€85 pass www.folkwoods.nl

9-12 August

by Peter Bartlema

SZIGET 8-15 August One of the fastest-growing festivals in the world, it looks like the people in Eastern Europe are starting to remind the rest of us how the festival should be done.

Great bands (rock, jazz, dance and world), great prices, and great vibe—all valid reasons for music lovers to take to the road, as well as exploring Budapest.

Confirmed: Tool, Tinariwen, The Chemical Brothers, Sinead O’Connor, UNKLE. Where: Budapest, Hungary Cost: €120/€150 pass www.szigetfestival.nl

This fifth edition of the self-proclaimed largest underground festival in the Netherlands turns the centre of Utrecht into the biggest nursery for the children of the night you’re ever likely to come across.

All the arts of darkness are on display here, but the main attraction is the plethora of live bands that encompass the many different aspects of the gothic scene, from the pulsating cybergoth beats, to the sweeping lyricism of dark folk, right through to heavier guitar outfits. With the festival situated in the rather urbane environment of Utrecht, you can eat as much or as little as required to fit into your corset or tight leather pants in several of the cosy, cheap eateries littering the town. The setting also cunningly protects against mud or grass stains on black outfits, and against overcrowded, filthy toilets.

Though, I suppose, for environmentally inclined romantics, there’s always the possibility of pitching a tent on the nearby campsite and hunting for wildlife with your bare hands.

Confirmed: Front 242, Covenant, My Dying Bride, Epica, Zombie Girl.

Where: Various locations, Utrecht Cost: Various prices, €82.50 for 4-day pass www.summerdarkness.nl

by Luuk van Huët

REGGAE SUNDANCE 10-12 August The most laid-back festival around? Alongside reggae and dancehall tunes from some of Jamaica’s hottest stars, there’s tasty world cuisine and workshops to throw yourself into.

Confirmed: Jimmy Cliff, Beenie Man, Bunny Wailer, Richie Spice.

Where: E3-Strand, Eersel Cost: €35 per day, €60 pass www.reggaesundance.nl

SOLAR WEEKEND 10-12 August A two-day serving of multiculturalism with a camping pre-party. Now in its third year, the bookers aren’t afraid to venture into the realms of dance, hiphop, jazz, reggae, rock and world music, then mix it all up—bolder than many but maintaining broad appeal.

Confirmed: Too soon to say.

Where: Recreatieplas ‘De Weerd’, Roermond Cost: €39 per day, €49 pass www.solarweekend.com

While Pinkpop may boast the biggest names, Lowlands is traditionally the place for the biggest discoveries, and is the place to be if you don’t want to be seen dead in a pink hat. Besides the impressively full roster of live performances, there’s enough theatre (both the usual and street variety), comedy, films, literature and art to keep you entertained 24 hours a day, if you can handle the stimulus for that long. Or else you can just aim for three days of hanging out in (hopefully) sunny weather with a relaxed, mixed crowd. While the organisers try hard to keep festivities civilised and clean, the accumulated throngs of sweating, excreting bodies sometimes cause Eastern Bloc-type lines for the toilets and showers, so plan accordingly. A bevy of beverages and foodstuffs is available everywhere, but tasty nourishment doesn’t come cheap.

Confirmed: Ojos de Brujo, The Whitest Boy Alive, Enter Shikari, Arcade Fire, Lily Allen, LCD Soundsystem, M.I.A., Sonic Youth, CocoRosie, Eagles of Death Metal, Interpol,Kasabian, Kaiser Chiefs, Klaxons, Kings of Leon, Motörhead.

Where: Biddinghuizen Cost: €125 pass www.lowlands.nl

by Luuk van Huët

PUKKELPOP 16-18 August Grand in scale, this festival not only shares the weekend with Lowlands, but much of the same line-up too.

Confirmed: Smashing Pumpkins, Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Iggy & The Stooges.

Where: Hasselt, Belgium Cost: €69 per day, €130 pass www.pukkelpop.be

WATERVAL FESTIVAL 24 August-2 September Getting cultural in Nieuw West. Something of a continuation of De Parade but on a smaller scale, expect loads of music, theatre and carefree fun.

Confirmed: Het Rijpere Talent, Hakim ‘Kookt Theater’, Gipsy Roadshow.

Where: Various locations, Sloterplas and Nieuw West, Amsterdam Cost: Various prices www.watervalfestival.nl

FESTIVAL DEBESCHAVING 1 September The cream of the Dutch and Belgian musical crop alongside some token internationals. Falling at the end of the season, just when you think you can’t face the sight of more trampled grass, organisers will try to tempt you with the added bonus of theatrical performances, multimedia installations, dance, poetry, art and debates. Good stuff.

Confirmed: The Levellers, Yonderboi, T. Raumschmiere, Postman.

Where: Leidsche Rijn, Utrecht Cost: €25/€30 www.debeschaving.nl