Ten best festivals on the planet
Got a plane on standby and a hankering for some live music? Jonathon Valenzuela points you at the best music festivals around the globe
COACHELLA
Where: California
When: Last weekend of April
Why: This is one of the heavy hitters on the festival scene. Spanning three days, the lineup features enough acts to satisfy the pickiest of music fans. Plus, Coachella has been the event for band reunions, with Rage Against The Machine, The Stooges, Pixies, Happy Mondays and many more getting back together to hit the stage.
FUJIROCK
Where: Japan
When: Last weekend of July
Why: You wouldn't expect to go to a festival for the scenery, but as well as attracting the cream of international acts, this three-day event is held in Naeba, a ski resort that is surrounded by mountains and forested hills. 2009 acts include Animal Collective, Crookers, Diplo and Bad Brains.
GLASTONBURY
Where: Somerset, UK
When: Last weekend of June
Why: It's one of the biggest music festivals in the world, with crowd numbers recently approaching the 180,000 mark. 2009 sold out before the lineup was announced, but recently confirmed acts include Lily Allen, Bruce Springsteen, Blur and Franz Ferdinand.
BIG DAY OUT
Where: All around Australia
When: Last two weeks of January
Why: It's Australia's flagship festival. The 2009 BDO sold out in minutes, and featured acts like Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Arctic Monkeys, The Prodigy, My Morning Jacket, The Living End and many more.
LOLLAPALOOZA
Where: Chicago
When: Early August
Why: One of America’s more iconic festivals (and the only one to get its own episode of The Simpsons), Lollapalooza survived a tumultuous past to become a solid three-day event. Acts for 2009 include Tool, Beastie Boys, Vampire Weekend, Snoop Dogg and Depeche Mode.
ROSKILDE
Where: Denmark
When: Four days following the first Thursday in July
Why: One of the biggest festivals in Europe, the lineup always includes the biggest bands in the world, with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Coldplay, Pet Shop Boys and Kanye West signed on for 2009, along with a huge amount of acts from Europe.
SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST
Where: Texas
When: March
Why: Technically this is a music conference, but when you get that many bands in one place a festival is the only result. Hundreds of different events take place over the four days, with the best and brightest from around the world coming to perform.
READING & LEEDS
Where: Reading and Leeds, UK
When: August bank holiday
Why: The granddaddy of all festivals, Reading & Leeds is the longest continually running musical event. Massive international acts are always guaranteed, but if the fans don't like what they hear the long-standing tradition of 'bottling' – hurling bottles and cans until acts leave the stage – is always an option. 2009 headliners are Kings Of Leon, Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys.
LANEWAY FESTIVAL
Where: Australia
When: Late January/Early February
Why: A change from the usual mud soaked or dust blown field, Laneway takes place at the centre of city, fencing off a network of alleys for a day of great music in the shadow of skyscrapers. Focussing more on the underground side of music, 2009 saw acts like Girl Talk, Architecture In Helsinki, The Hold Steady and Daedelus take to the stage.
ALL TOMORROW'S PARTIES
Where: UK, USA and Australia
When: January
Why: Described as the ultimate mix tape, ATP allows artists to curate their own festival. The first ever Australian one features artists chosen by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, including the original line-up of The Saints, Spiritualized, The Necks, Laughing Clowns, Bridezilla and others.
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