With hip celebs like Kate Moss and Sienna Miller now frequenting events like Glastonbury, T in the Park and Oxegen, European music festivals are no longer the exclusive domain of scruffy tie-dyed students. Whether you're into head-banging rock in Belgium or foot-tapping jazz in Switzerland, our Glam Girl's Guide to European music festivals covers the best events the continent has to offer. —Catherine Parker


Sónar
A mashup of progressive music and multimedia, Sónar celebrates the best of creative Barcelona in a two part festival. Sonar by Day features live music performances, DJ sets, art installations, film screenings, and cutting-edge technology fairs in historic city center buildings. Sónar by Night features DJs and live acts showcasing the best in electronic and avante garde music on a cluster of open air and covered stages. Barcelona is a must-see at any time of year, but Sónar brings out the best of this city's cosmopolitan, creative spirit.
When: June 19-21st, 2008
Where: Barcelona, Spain
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Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts


The "big daddy" of outdoor festivals, Glastonbury is the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world. Run by farmer Michael Eavis on his 900 acre farm outside the town of Pilton, festival week transforms the rolling green Somerset hills to a huge tented city of free spirits enjoying acts like Kings of Leon, the Verve, Leonard Cohen, and Neil Diamond. Although tramping through mud is often part of the "Glasto" experience, the mellow and friendly vibes more than make up for any bad weather.
When: June 27-29th,2008
Where: Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, England
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Roskilde Festival


As one of the oldest rock festivals in the world, Roskilde has consistently attracted big names to perform on its seven stages each year. The event is known as much for its established names as it is for featuring new musical talent, and in recent years artists like Bob Dylan, Nirvana, and U2 have played alongside newcomers such as Muse, Interpol, and Coldplay. The town of Roskilde is situated just 20 miles west of Copenhagen, Denmark's cosmopolitan capital, and is a worthy travel destination in its own right.
When: July 3-6th, 2008
Where: Roskilde, Denmark
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Garden Festival


With Eastern Europe's new reputation as the low-key alternative to more commercial Western Europe, Croatia is fast becoming a favorite destination among the young and hip. The Garden Festival is a small and intimate electronic dance party held in the 900 year old Petrcane village on the Northern Croatian coast. The venue is a retro '70s beach club overlooking the glistening Adriatic and nearby boats that cruise the bay several times daily. As far as festivals go, you can't get more glam than this.
When: July 4-6th, 2008
Where: Petrcane, Croatia
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Montreux Jass Festival


The epitome of European sophistication, The Montreux Jazz Festival is one of the best-known events on the jazz calendar. Although its roots are in jazz, with greats like Miles Davis and Ray Charles taking the stage since 1967, the festival today also features contemporary artists such as David Bowie and Massive Attack. The town of Montreux is known as much for its music as it is for its natural beauty: its dramatic setting is at the foot of the Alps on pristine Lake Geneva.
When: July 4-19th, 2008
Where: Geneva, Switzerland
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Oxegen Festival


Oxegen draws big names and a relatively large crowd considering it has only been around for four years. The impressive 2008 lineup features big names like Kings of Leon, REM, and Rage Against the Machine, as well as U.K. indie success stories such as Kaiser Chiefs, the Kooks, and the Fratellis. The venue is the Punchestown racecourse in the small town of Naas, an easy 30 minute drive from Dublin. As Ireland's fast-growing and artsy capital, Dublin is the perfect base for getting to the festival - as well as for enjoying creature comforts after three days of camping!
When: July 11-13th, 2008
Where: Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Ireland
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T in the Park
T in the Park, Scotland's biggest annual music festival, draws crowds from all over Great Britain and beyond. The venue is a disused airfield outside the town of Balado in northern Scotland, with the surrounding Scottish countryside making for a dramatic natural backdrop. Over 150 acts including Rage Against the Machine, The Verve, REM, the Who, and Red Hot Chili Peppers wow crowds on multiple outdoor stages over three days.
When: July 11-13th, 2008
Where: Balado, Kinross-shire, Scotland
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Benicàssim International Festival


Located on the coast between Valencia and Barcelona, the small beach town of Benicàssim each year hosts this sundrenched, laid-back outdoor music festival. With a pristine beach as your backdrop, Benicàssim is known for its eclectic mix of indie, rock, and pop bands as well as electronica and experimental dance DJs that will have you dancing way past dawn. For a change of pace, get lost in the explosion of Spanish arts, dance, theater and fashion shows, as well as the renowned Valencia cuisine in the festival markets and food outlets.
When: July 17-20th, 2008
Where: Benicàssim, Spain
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Pukkelpop
From humble beginnings in 1985, Pukkelpop is now one of the biggest alternative open-air festivals in Europe. Over 150 live acts are expected to perform in 2008, with Metallica as the confirmed headliner along with bands such as Tool, Arcade Fire, Smashing Pumpkins, and Nine Inch Nails. Even if you're not a die-hard alternative music fan, the festival's outdoor setting near the town of Hasselt on the German border makes this festival a unique experience in a beautiful setting.
When: August 14-16th, 2008
Where: Hasselt, Belgium
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