VIP DESTINATION: NORTHERN EUROPEAN FESTIVALS

Now the volcano has stopped erupting, this is your chance to get over into Northern Europe for a summer lineup of fabulous music festivals. From opera to jazz, rock, metal and hip hop, there's something on for everyone to enjoy. Here's a list of some of the hottest festivals you should try to attend in Northern Europe this year.

Finland

Wappulounas, Finland's naked snowboarding festival, April 2010
This festival doesn't have a lot to do with music but we just had to list it. And yes you've missed it for 2010, but keep it on the list for next year! It's fairly self explanatory, has been going for about 10 years and is all about fun and creative obstacles which means a bit of local plonk, saunas, stripping to the buff and the occasional bout of snowboarding. See Lonely Planet's video here.

Provinssirock Festival, Finland (18-20 June)
Three days of hot acts will bring Seinajoki alive to the sounds of bands like Wolfmouther, Rammstein and A Day to Remember. There are bars on site and you can get a single or weekend pass.

Savonlinna Opera Festival, St Olaf's Castle, Finland (2-31 July)
An international song contest in the Finnish lake district, set in the 15th Century St Olaf's Castle. Over 100 international sopranos, tenors, bass and baritone singers from around the world will make their way here in July.

_{Back to top}

Sweden

Hultsfredsfestivalen, Hultsfred (7-9 July)
The Hultsfred Festival is a huge annual music festival with five different stages featuring up to 42 bands in the lineup with Scandinavian and world music. It's been going for about 25 years. It's basically a huge party with 23,000 others by lake Hulingen.

Way out West in Gothenburg (12-14 August), Slottsskogen city park
It's only four years old but this festival in Gothenburg is considered one of the best in Europe with excellent national and international music. Last year it sold out so get your tickets early! This year's lineup features the Pavement, Girls and La Roux.

Peace & Love in Borlange (28 June - 3 July)
This is the biggest rock music festival in Sweden and in 2009 41,000 plus tickets sold. As the title suggests it has a message of solidarity, freedom and understanding and past themes have included democracy, revolution and freedom of speech. This year Jay-Z will perform.

Sweden Rock Festival, Norje, Sölvesborg (9-12 June)
If you like a bit of heavy rock or metal then head to the northern town of Sölvesborg for all the action. This year some of the legends of the business will be in action including Guns n' Roses, Aerosmith, Billy Idol and Gary Moore.

_{Back to top}

Denmark

Roskilde Festival, Roskilde (1-4 July)
This has to be one of the top music acts in Europe with partiers exceeding 90,000 in number enjoying up to 160 acts. Camp, day trip or whatever, just get here. This four day party features music, cinema, skate and art and features Alice in Chains, The Crooked Vultures and Killswitch Engage. Warm-ups start from June 27.

Copenhagen Jazz Festival (2-11 July)
This annual jazz event in the Danish capital features packed concert halls and overwhelming crowds enjoying fine summer weather and fantastic music. Caetano Veloso, Herbie Hancock and Joshua Redman are just some of the more than 1000 fabulous performers to feature this year.

Copenhagen Summer Festival (25 July - 5 August)
Classical chamber music and young talent are features in these 12 concerts held over 12 days. The concerts are every afternoon in Charlottenborgs Festsal on Kongens Nytorv.

_{Back to top}

Iceland

Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavik (October 13-17)
Rolling Stone once called this "the hippest long weekend on the annual music-festival calendar". If you want to check out what all the fuss is about head over to Iceland in October for bands from the UK, USA and Finland. More than 170 performers are expected in the downtown area of Reykjavik.

Reykjavik International Film Festival (Sept 23 - Oct 3)
With 22,000 admissions in 2009, this year's film festival is expected to be even better with over 100 films to be shown. One of the beauties of the festival is that it launches new directors with categories for those that have only directed one or two feature length films. It only started in 2004 but has grown rapidly in a short time.

Reykjavik Jazz Festival (Aug 13 - Sept 1)
Iceland's premier jazz event takes place in locations across the capital. And this year it's the 20th anniversary of the festival which means 50 hot acts in the line up from solo recitals to big bands. If you like jazz, this is where you'll want to be.

Reykjavik Cultural Night, Reykjavik (August 21)
This annual event is the country's biggest cultural event. On August 21 hundreds of thousands of people will head out onto the streets to enjoy shows and exhibitions with galleries, cultural institutes, churches, restaurants and bars staying open until late. The Reykjavik Marathon also takes place the same day.
 

Norway

Øya Festival, Medieval Park, Oslo
(August 10-14)
This is the biggest rock festival of the year in Oslo and attracts 60,000 revellers over the four days. This year they're expecting 200 bands and concerts featuring old and new stars. Performances will be held in 30 clubs and on four outdoor stages. The festival promotes itself as "green n' clean" meaning there's ecologically sound food to eat and green surrounds.

Oslo Jazz Festival (August 16-21)
Jazz, blues, soul, rag and electronica fill the Norwegian capital every year for the premier jazz festival of the year. This one's been going more than 20 years and has hosted major acts such as the Count Basie Orchestra. Events take place in varied locales from the Oslo Concert Hall to subway stations.

Norwegian Wood Rock Festival, Oslo (June 10-13)
This festival takes place in an open-air public bath! Perfect on a hot summers day in Oslo and a good warmup for Øya in August. Sting, Dylan, Van Morrison and Lou Reed have all sung on the main stage here.  Every year there are international acts and unknown Norwegian bands to enjoy.

_{Back to top}