It’s almost June, the weather is getting better and every one is preparing for the upcoming festival season. If you haven’t decided yet where to spend your summer, have a look at our list of the most famous music festivals in Spain for summer 2012! You just have to book tickets and get ready with your friends for a summer full of sun, music and people that all want the same thing: great concerts in an even greater surrounding!

Primavera Sound

Held for the first time in 2001, the Primavera Sound Festival quickly became one of the largest and most popular annual music events in Spain. It is known for offering one of the most innovative and forward-thinking line-ups in Europe with the main focus on alternative, indie and electro music. Big bands like Smashing Pumkins, Pet Shop Boys and the White Stripes have already played at the Primavera in the past few years next to hundreds of lesser known artists that are part of the festival’s philosophy to support new and experimental sounds far away from the mainstream. If you love to discover new bands and Justice, The Cure, Franz Ferdinand or the Kings of Convenience are amongst your favourite artists, then you should join the 20.000 confirmed visitors for this year. The festival takes place at the Fòrum area nearby the beach in Barcelona, and offers the perfect surrounding for hosting a great party under the sun. You can easily reach the festival site by metro (L 4, yellow line), when you study at our language school in Barcelona.
When? 30.5. – 3.6. 2012
Where? Barcelona
Who’s playing? http://sanmiguelprimaverasound.es/

 

Sónar

The Sónar festival is the get-together for everyone who’s interested in advanced music and new media art. Over the course of its 18 year history the Sónar grew its reputation to be the ultimate venue for experimental music and the newest trends in the contemporary media art scene. Over 80,000 tickets are sold each year for the event! Unlike most other summer festivals, Sónar is a city festival, so no camping is allowed. The festival is divided into two separate events that take place in two different sites in Barcelona: Sónar by Day is held in the city centre where you can see exhibitions, enjoy concerts and discover new talents in the professional zone. Sónar by Night is further out of town and is the main show where the most famous bands of the international music scene rock the stage and make you dance the night away. When you’re at Babylon Idiomas in Barcelona both sites are easy to get to as there are bus services provided.
When? 14. – 16.6. 2012
Where? Barcelona
Who’s playing? http://www.sonar.es/es/2012/

 

Festival de la Guitarra

In the last 32 years the Guitar Festival in Córdoba welcomed some of the best guitarists, instructors and composers in the world. The line-up usually includes performances by some of the most talented flamenco performers as well as artists from other genres such as classical, rock and blues. Exhibitions, video screenings and workshops complete the diverse programme for the festival. If you play the guitar or you’ve always wanted to learn it, you can sign up for classes of all kinds of classical, contemporary, flamenco and modern guitar styles and you’ll have the possiblity to learn with the best teachers from all over the world. The event takes place in the city of Córdoba. When you study Spanish at our language school in Seville you can easily get to Córdoba by train. The journey takes about an hour and costs 10 Euro one way.
When? 3. – 14.7. 2012
Where? Córdoba
Who’s playing? http://www.guitarracordoba.org/

 

Festival Internacional de Benicàssim

Known to many as Glastonbury-on-Sea, or Glasto del Sol to its native residents, the Benicàssim festival is situated in a small resort town between Barcelona and Valencia on the eastern coast. Now in its 18th year, the event is becoming increasingly popular with music fans from all parts of Europe. The beach setting turns this festival into the perfect combination of a holiday paired with a wide range of music concerts of some of the best artists of the international electro, pop, indie and rock scene. Previous performers include: The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys and Arcade Fire. For this year you can get ready to see The Stone Roses, David Guetta, De La Soul, Bob Dylan, Dizzee Rascal, Florence + the Machine and many other bands. The best way to get to Benicàssim is to fly into Valencia and take a bus shuttle from there. If you’re already in town whilst taking Spanish classes at Babylon Idiomas in Valencia, you can take the weekend and get to the festival by bus as it is just 80 kilometers from the city centre.
When? 12. – 15.7. 2012
Where? Benicàssim (close to Valencia)
Who’s playing? http://www.fiberfib.com/

 

Jazz Festival

San Sebastián’s Jazz Festival, called Jazzaldia, is the longest, continuously running Jazz Festival in Europe. It has become the most notable and historic event of its kind, with a wide range of concerts at various spots around the city, both indoor and outdoor. Most of the gigs are staged around the Plaza de la Trinidad in the historic city centre of San Sebastían to entertain the more than 35,000 people that regularly attend the event. Some concerts have free admission, so make sure to check out the line-up and don’t miss out on those!
When? 19. – 23.7. 2012
Where? San Sebastián
Who’s playing? http://www.heinekenjazzaldia.com/en/

 

Creamfields Andalucía

The Creamfields festival is a dance music DJ festival, which takes place all over the world in places such as Argentina, Ireland, Turkey, Mexico, Russia, Brazil, Portugal and Poland. It is organized by the Cream club, based in Liverpool, and this year it will be held for the third time in Andalucia, Southern Spain. During its short history the festival, located close to Cadiz, has already hosted some of the world’s most famous DJ’s and this year’s line-up seems to be even better. Tiësto, Steve Aoki, Anton Pieete, Dirtyphonics and Fritz Kalkbrenner have already confirmed their shows and this year the music will play for 24 hours (12hours a day) throughout the weekend. If you study with Babylon Idiomas in Seville, you can reach Jerez de la Frontera by bus or by train from Seville main central station.
When? 10. – 11.8. 2012
Where? Jerez de la Frontera (close to Seville)
Who’s playing? http://www.creamfields-andalucia.com

Are you planning on going to one of the festivals? If you have any more questions regarding the sites or how to get there, don’t hesitate to ask!

Have a great summer!

spain, music festivals, travel, tourism

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