We’re only nine days into this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look forward to what’s set to be an extremely exciting festival season! As per usual, the festival season starts as early as April when the legendary Coachella Festival kicks off proceedings. It ends as late as September, which means that we have a LOT to look forward to. Read on to find out which five festivals we’re looking forward to the most.
PINKPOP FESTIVAL (LANDGRAAF, NL) – 12-14 JUNE
Holland’s longest running music festival, Pinkpop, pulled a fantastic line-up out of the bag in 2014 as over 120,000 people flocked to Landgraaf’s Megaland venue over three days for show-stopping sets by the likes of The Rolling Stones, Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys and Metallica. This year (for which tickets go on sale 25 February) sees Muse, Robbie Williams and Foo Fighters top the bill each day. A lot of speculation as to who the headliner would be ended when Robbie Williams eventually turned up instead of the hoped-for likes of AC/DC and U2. So far, these three acts are being joined by Slash ft. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Rise Against and Dotan with a whole host of 40+ names set to be announced in the coming weeks. Whether it will top 2014’s stellar line-up remains to be seen, but we’re sure it’ll still be a great one.
GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL (SOMERSET, UK) – 24-28 JUNE
Even though we know nothing whatsoever about who’s headlining Glastonbury this year, there is one thing that we do always know for sure – it’s going to be fantastic. Whether you want to spend the weekend worshipping the stone circle or camping out in front of the Pyramid Stage, you’re bound to enjoy the experience. Glastonbury is a whole other world away from your usual music festival. Don’t agree? Then tell us where else you can catch the Dalai Lama and Lionel Richie on the same stage in one day. See you in Pilton.
COACHELLA (INDIO, USA) – 10-12 & 17-19 APRIL
Coachella is slowly building a reputation for itself as an anti-festival. Its massive festival site either tends to be frequented by A-List celebrities looking for some fun (and cameras), celebrity spotters or teenagers going to their first festival. Having said that, it still does have a large following from proper music fans that get down to Indio every year for some great music in the sweltering, dry Californian heat. This year, Coachella did the unthinkable and secured the legendary AC/DC to headline its opening day, with Jack White and Drake joining him the following days. Drake may be a disappointing choice of headliner, but what he lacks is made up for in the rest of the line-up. Bring on April.
READING AND LEEDS FESTIVALS (READING & LEEDS, UK) – 28-30 AUGUST
Sister festivals Reading and Leeds are always considered as the festival season curtain call, even if its demographic has changed over the last years with a choice to focus on all genres as opposed to just the rock it was famous for. Hard rock tends to either be reserved for one day on the main stage or in the Lock Up tent. Not that it’s a problem, as we’re already set to have a rather heavy line-up in 2015. Festival sluts Metallica (coming to a festival near you…) are the only headliner confirmed so far, alongside the likes of Pierce the Veil and Jamie T lower down the bill. Don’t worry about missing out on tickets though, as the BBC always has a healthy dose of coverage on demand!
Of course there are tons and tons of other festivals to look forward to this summer, amongst them the likes of Rock am Ring/Rock im Park (headed up by, amongst others, Slipknot), Jera on Air (headlined by A Day to Remember and All Time Low), Pukkelpop, Lowlands, Best Kept Secret and the legendary Sziget. All Things Loud will be bringing you tons of festival coverage this summer, so stay tuned for more updates over the next months.
