The following article is from Rough Guides (www.roughguides.com) who have also given me a copy of their The Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget to give away.  If you would like to win a copy, just comment on this article . The best comment chosen, by me, will be sent the book!

SONAR: Barcelona, Spain

Checking out the options for summer music festivals in Europe, but don’t fancy the inevitable rain and mud? Then SONAR, which unfolds in the heart of Barcelona, is probably the one for you.

As is the case every year, you can barely move without seeing some sort of avant-garde art installation or other. And the mixed musical bag has seen the likes of Fever Ray, Orbital and eccentric/aesthete Grace Jones topping the bill.

Essaouira Gnaoua Music Festival: Essaouira, Morocco

Ok, so Morocco isn’t exactly ‘Europe’ in the strictest sense of the word, but it is a (fairly) manageable journey all the same – and the Essaouira Gnaoua Music festival is certainly worth the trip. If the festival has a laidback, alternative vibe, then the music (which brings together a wide range of predominantly folk, jazz and World Music greats) is deadly serious.

Roskilde: Copenhagen, Denmark

With its roots lost in the mists of time (aka 1971), Roskilde’s one of the old hands on the European summer music festival scene. Music-wise, its headliners bring a heavier edge than tends to be the case elsewhere: rap metal behemoths Faith No More and similarly cheery types Nine Inch Nails and Slipknot have graced the stages.
Elsewhere, the likes of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Mars Volta and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have been charged with lightening the mood(!) alongside a number of high-profile Scandinavian acts like Skambankt and Dungen.

Benicassim: Benicassim, Spain

July on the Costa de Azahar can be steaming. And the searing heat only adds to the slightly delirious atmosphere of Benicassim, as thousands descend on the small town, pitch their tents and get on with the serious business of four days of non-stop partying.
Headliners like Oasis, Kings of Leon, Franz Ferdinand and The Killers, plus up-and-comers including The Walkmen, Lykke Li and The Mighty Stef, have appeared in previous years, meaning Benicassim can boast an amazing pedigree.

The Big Chill: Eastnor, England

The Big Chill isn’t just one of the best European summer music festivals to wash up on British shores; it’s also one of the most child-friendly, with a family Camping area, a story-telling zone and even a playground. But there’s also the small matter of a major music event to take care of – and take care of it The Big Chill certainly does.

Sziget Festival: Budapest, Hungary

The thing that makes Sziget Festival stand out is its setting: stranded on an island in the middle of the Danube as it slowly loops around Budapest, it’s another impressively located Eastern European summer music festival.
The acts are a ragtag bunch, from mainstream festival mainstays (Lily Allen and The Ting Tings) and old-timers (Pete Tong, Norman Cook and Paul Oakenfold) to potential show-stoppers (Squarepusher, Tricky and Spanish fusionists Muchachito Bombo Infierno). All of which – along with a pretty reasonable admission fee – just adds to the appeal.

Petrcane: Petrcane, Croatia

Perhaps the coolest of all European summer music festivals descend on the Adriatic village of Petrcane – one after another. The actions kicks off in early July with The Garden Festival and lurches its way through various other cutting-edge musical gatherings until the curtain falls (with an exhausted sigh of relief) with Exodus in mid-September.

Bonnaroo: Manchester, Tennessee

Bonnaroo is a four-day, multi-stage Camping festival held on 700 acres of lush farmland in Manchester, Tennessee. Bonnaroo brings together top-notch talent from all genres of music, but the line-up has a definite rock flavor. However, touches of rap, jazz and R&B ensure there’s something for everyone. Bonnaroo’s previous performers span the gamut from Nine Inch Nails to Phish, Bruce Springsteen to Neko Case, and Wilco to Snoop Dogg, with many, many more in between.

Pitchfork Music Festival: Chicago, Illinois

Alt-rock — in all its many permutations — is the name of the game at the Pitchfork Music Festival. This three-day event is sponsored and operated by the popular music site Pitchfork.com and prides itself on being one of the last truly affordable summer music festivals (three day passes are a mere $75).

All Points West Music & Arts Festival: Liberty State Park, New Jersey

A veritable newbie on the summer music festival scene, All Points West Music & Arts Festival returns to Liberty State Park (a quick ferry-ride from Manhattan) for three days of aural fun. However, be warned, performances by more than 65 artists amid panoramic views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Manhattan skyline come at a price — three-day passes start at $199 (130 GBP).

Lollapalooza: Chicago, Illinois

Originally conceived by Perry Farrell (of Jane’s Addiction), the festival has had a bit of a nip/tuck over the last few years: shedding much of its original innovative, eclectic vibe and firmly planting itself in Chicago’s Grant Park. After several trysts with cancellation, Lollapalooza has staged a Neil Patrick Harris-sized comeback, drawing more than 225,000 fans in 2009.

Bumbershoot: Seattle, Washington

Sprawled over 74 acres under Seattle’s iconic Space Needle, this three-day event boasts live music, comedy, theatre, dance, film and literary and visual arts. For one of the longest-running music and arts festivals around (Bumbershoot began in 1971) ticket prices remain on this side of reasonable, starting at $80 (53 GBP) for a three-day pass.

This information was supplied by the editor of www.roughguides.com

Related posts:

1. Quick Guide to Edinburgh Fringe Festival From the early days of summer, there is a shift...
2. Festivals with National Express Music and magic at ‘The Big Chill’ The Big Chill...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.