Best European Festivals pt I

Dissonanze
Palazzo Dei Congressi, Italy
Fri 9th- Sat 8th May
1 Day- 35€/ 2 day pass – 50 € At the unusually smart festival setting of the Palazzo Dei Congressi in Rome, Dissonanze is a fusion of techno, house, experimental music and art. Held over two nights in four areas, dance acts play in the Hall of Culture (Booka Shade, Carl Craig, Loco Dice and Erol Alkan), the smaller Aula Magna hosts experimental stuff (Ryoji Ikeda, Charlemagne Palestine), upstairs on the roof terrace you can catch Italodisco mixed with multimedia Brazilian hip-hop and for the art crowd – performance dance in the Teatro Studio.
Headliners: Carl Craig, Erol Alkan, Booka Shade
Spooonfed recommends: Carl Craig, Loco Dice, Model 500, Alexander Robotnick, Daniele Baldelli, Francisco, Rodion, Booka Shade
Best For: Chin strokers and navel gazers

Primavera Sound
Outside Barcelona, Spain
29th -31st May
Tickets £113
Primavera 2008 has one of the most exciting billings of the year! Curated by the unholy alliance of ATP and Vice, this is a three day party involving sun, sea, sand and bands like Dinosaur Jr, Mission of Burma, Explosions in the Sky, Pissed Jeans and Holy Fuck. This is the best live line up in Europe.
Headliners: Boris, Portishead, Vampire Weekend, Devo, Mission of Burma
Spoonfed recommends: No Age, The Wave Pictures, Pissed Jeans, Deer Hunter, Fuck Buttons

Best For: Pasty white indie kids in the mid-day sun

Sónar 2008
Barcelona, Spain
Thursday 19 June – Saturday 21 June
Inclusive passes €140–€170; daily €30; nightly €40–€48
Focusing on adventurous electronic acts, Barcelona’s Sónar festival has the advantage of guaranteed sunshine and a continental attitude: no fear of pretension has so far prevented the programming of grimacing experimentation alongside left-field pop and techno. Various advice will suggest forgetting the days in favour of time in bed, or seeking out fringe parties instead of the main, out-of-town shows at night. The canny Sonar-goer however, aims for a mix of mildly cerebral afternoons in the sun, giant-scale warehouse raving and casual enjoyment of one of the best city destinations in Europe.
Headliners: Goldfrapp, Diplo, Erol Alkan, Justice, Madness, M.I.A, Ricardo Villalobos, DJ Mehdi vs A-Trak feat. Kid Sister, Soulwax, Richie Hawtin
Spoonfed recommends: Hercules and Love Affair, Flying Lotus, Buraka Som Sistema, Theo Parrish, SebastiAn, Matmos, Pan Sonic, Flogsta Danshall & Harmönia presents Skweee, Quiet Village, Efdemin
Best for: Those who don’t think mud and glamour mix

Roskilde Festival
Denmark
Sunday 29 June – Sunday 6 July
£155
Roskilde is one of Europe’s three biggest festivals, ranking alongside the likes of Glastonbury and attracting visitors from across the continent. As with its English cousin, there are plenty of diversions aside from the music, with a rather Danish emphasis on sport, skating, construction and design activities. Huge line-ups offer genuinely broad appeal, with neither independently-minded music fans nor those with populist tastes likely to be unmoved. Camping areas impress too, equipped as they are with communal barbecues, phone-charging points and luggage storage.
Headliners: The Chemical Brothers, Grinderman, Jay-Z, Judas Priest, My Bloody Valentine, Radiohead, Slayer, Neil Young
Spoonfed recommends: Battles, Dan Deacon, Digitalism, Efterklang, Hot Chip, Lady Saw, No Age, Shackleton, Slagsmålsklubben, Sunburned Hand of the Man
Best for: Those who like their festivals the old way – big and breathtaking

Rototom Sunsplash
Osoppo, Italy
Thursday 3 July – Saturday 12 July
Ten-days including camping €130; festival only €120; daily €22
For ten days this 150,000-strong reggae festival turns north-eastern Italy's beautiful Rivellino park into an encampment of reggae enthusiasts and hippy-ish types. The main stage hosts live shows from top-drawer artists, and smaller soundsystems play throughout the night. There’s a full programme of worthy activities during the day, like debates, percussion workshops and meditation, but many choose just to sunbathe, play Frisbee and relax. With bars and restaurants on site, and the option of staying in local accommodation, it’s possible to make the experience something of a holiday.
Headliners: Collie Buddz, Youssou N’Dour, Junior Kelly, Mr. Vegas, Sugar Minott, Heptones, African Head Charge, Luciano, Gregory Isaacs, Alpha Blondy
Spoonfed recommends: Ken Boothe, Africa Unite, Jah Cure, Ce’Cile, Cocoa Tea, Wayne Marshall, Lady Saw
Best for: People with children (kids love bass); those in need of an easy-going break

Click for Best European Festivals pt II