You’ve not seen your tent in weeks, your wellies are flung safely in the back of a cupboard somewhere (you think), and you’re no longer struggling to get to sleep before 3am. It might feel like you’ve only just started to recover from this summer’s festival season, but the line-ups and teasers for 2020 are already creeping out ready for tickets to make their way onto birthday and Christmas lists, alongside the usual scrawled instructions for your mum and mates to hunt down the latest tech, buy effects pedals and pedalboards, and seek out whatever super-limited vinyl or merch you currently have your eye on.
So, after you’ve had your fill of guitar products, where to, then? UK events are currently on great form, with the likes of Download hosting some of rock’s most legendary mainstays, Slam Dunk revelling in pop-punk faves, The Great Escape and Live At Leeds throwing a light on some of the genre’s best up-and-comers, and Reading & Leeds reliably attracting some of the most exciting acts around. But they’re not the only options, with festivals in Europe bashing out top line-ups in exciting locations like no one’s business. Here are some of the best picks to keep an eye on.
Download Paris
Where? France
When? 29th-31st May
An offshoot of our very own Download in Donington, no names are out just yet for Download Paris, but watch this space; the event wasn’t held in 2019, so it’s sure to come back with a bang.
Rock am Ring and Rock I’m Park
Where? Germany
When? 5th-7th June
Getting in there early, well-regarded two-part festival Rock am Ring and Rock I’m Park has just confirmed System Of A Down, Green Day, Volbeat, Billy Talent, Broilers, Korn, Disturbed, Deftones, The Offspring, Trailerpark, Bilderbuch, Weezer, Wanda, Alan Walker, Trettmann, Yungblud, Heaven Shall Burn, Powerwolf, Bosse, Of Mice & Men, Motionless In White, and August Burns Red. There’s loads more still to come, too.
Rock Werchter
Where? Belgium
When? TBC, but it’s usually June
You can expect loads of huge names are ‘on the way’ for Belgium’s biggest festival – last year’s eclectic bill hosted Bring Me The Horizon, Weezer and Muse alongside the likes of The 1975, Lizzo and Kylie.
Sziget
Where? Hungary
When? TBC, but it’s usually August
Obviously, it’s way too early for Sziget names, but it’s renowned for booking huge acts, and picked up ‘Best Overseas Festival’ at UK Festival Awards 2018 owing to its programme of music, theatre, cabaret, installations, performances and art from across the world.
Lowlands
Where? Netherlands
When? TBC, but it’s usually August
There’s a LOT going on at Lowlands – not only do they attract names like Twenty One Pilots (who played in 2019), they have a wellness village with saunas, hot tubs and sports facilities, dozens of restaurants, food and drink stalls, a market with everything from clothes and vinyl stores to a barber’s shop, its own currency, a local radio station, a daily newspaper and, last but not least: seven luxury campsites with flushable toilets, hot showers and dressing tables. Phew.
For up-to-date festival news, keep an eye on upsetmagazine.com/news.
