Summer Festivals: Madrid has a large variety of festivals, concerts and events going on for summer 2010, check out this round up and be sure to start planning your trip today.
Nearby the City
Rock in Rio - June 4-6, 11& 14
About:Born in the 80s, Rock in Rio is a rock festival that originated in Rio de Janiero, but has since take place all over the world. The “City of Rock” is being constructed in Arganda del Rey, just outside of Madrid. You can get there using metro line 9. A wide variety of performers in an array of genres will be taking the stage. John Mayer, Rihanna, Cypress Hill, Shakira, Miley Cyrus, Bon Jovi as well as dance music icons Tiësto and Paul Van Dyk. Metal-music lovers will be happy to see Rage Against the Machine, Metallica, Motörhead and Jane’s Addiction.
Tickets: €69 each, available at elcorteingles.es
Sonisphere - July 9-10
If you are a rock music-lover this festival is for you. Taking place just outside of Madrid at the Getafe Open Air Stadium, the line-up inlcudes Rammstein, Iron Maiden, Alice in Chains, Placebo, Papa Roach, Motley Crue, Slayer, Anthrax and more.
Tickets: €85 plus booking fee, includes camping. Available from Ticketmaster.
On the Water
FIB Heineken 2010 - July 15-18
More commonly known as Benicàssim, this festival actually lasts for nine days. FIB Heineken features four intense days of concerts, an entire week of extra-musical activities, and one of the nicest beaches in Europe where you can relax, sunbathe and swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. The lin-up includes over 100 artists including Lily Allen, Gorillaz, DJ Pierr, The Prodigy, Ian Brown, Kasabian, Mumford and Sons, Echo and the Bunnymen, PiL, Vampire Weekend, Dizzee Rascal, Hot Chip, Foals, The Specials.
Tickets: €180 for a full four-day pass or €155 for a three-day pass. Available from tickets.fiberfib.com
Creamfields 2010 - August 14
Creamfields is a mega international music festival that has taken place anywhere from Abu Dhabi to Australia or Chile. This August, Creamfields will be taking place in Andalucia on Playa de Guardia Viejas.
Tickets: €40 for the day.
Roadtrip Worthy
Sónar 2010 - June 17-19
The International Festival of Advanced Music & Multimedia art is going on in conjunction with a smaller festival nearby, A Coruna. Both festivals will be showcasing some of the same performers. Sonar 2010 will include electronic music artists Air, Chemical Brothers, 2manyDjs, Roxy Music, Hot Chip and Dizzee Rascal.
Tickets: Barcelona: Three-day pass €155, two nights €100, one day €39, one night €60. A Coruña: Three-day pass €50, one-day pass €15-€25. Availble from Ticketmaster.
País Vasco - June 24-26
This 10-year running rockfest has hosted a whole slew of performers in the past, and this year is no different. 2010's line up includes KISS, Bob Dylan, Chris Isaak, Gov't Mule, Airbourne, The Hives, The Damned as well as up-and-coming artists like London's Kitty, Daisy & Lewis. The festival will take place in an open-air space in Vitoria-Gasteiz, second largest city in the Basque Country.
Tickets: €94.40 for the whole three days, while day tickets are available from €35 to €48.
Bilbao BBK Live - July 8-10
Taking place at the Kobetamendi festival site, just outside Bilbao, this festival features intense rock from Rammstein, Pearl Jam, Skunk Anansie, Slayer, Faith No More, Jet, Manic Street Preachers andGogol Bordello. The location of the festival is great, just walking distance from the main area of the city offering luxury hotels, extra entertainment and fine dining.
Tickets: €110 for a three-day pass or €50 for a day ticket.
Heineken Jazzaldia - July 21-25
San Sebastiá plays host to an array of Jazz musicians in a variety of venues across the city. Patti Smith, Kris Kristofferson, noneother than George Benson, Elvis Costello & The Sugarcanes will all be performing. Also on the roster are younger bands, Mercury Music Award-winners Portico Quartet are said to be the next generation of jazz.
Tickets: from €45 to €105, depending on the venue. Find tickets at from kutxa.net.
