June is not just the first month of summer in the Northern hemisphere, but also the month when many places officially start their tourist season. What better time to leave the suffocating heat of cities and spend some time on a beach, sipping cocktails in the shade and taking the time to finally sign up at europalace.com. Or, for the younger at heart, to pack a bag and visit one of the several music festivals that happen in the first official summer month all over the world. Here is a short selection of what you should visit this year.
1. Montreal Jazz Festival 2015, Montreal, Canada
Starting at June 26th, the nine day event is a must attend for jazz enthusiasts from all over the world. This year will be special, as it marks the 35th edition of the festival, a surprising longevity for a modern music festival. The Montreal Jazz Festival represents a great opportunity for locals to relax and release the tension, and celebrate summer. Don’t expect to hear only jazz, though – the festival has a bit of everything from world music to rock, from roots to R&B. The festival will be headlined by names like Al di Meola, Huey Lewis and the News, Oliver Jones, Steve Miller and many more.
2. Download Festival, Derby, England
If you prefer something harder, tougher and filled with guitars, drums and screaming crowds, Download Festival is the destination for you. Although it only lasts for three days, the Download Festival packs a serious punch. This year it is headlined by big names like Slipknot, Muse, Kiss, Judas Priest, Slash, Billy Idol and Marilyn Manson, to mention just a few – all this against the pastoral background of the UK midlands!
3. Donauinselfest, Vienna, Austria
Donauinselfest does not takes place in Vienna itself, although it is inside its city limits – the festival takes place on a man-made island in the middle of the Danube, completely surrounded by water. It is a music festival with a little bit of everything – the stages of the three day event will be taken by local and international acts of the biggest diversity, like Anastacia and Middle of the Road, Opus and Nazar, and the list could go on. Note it down: June 26-28.
4. Chicago Blues Festival, Chicago IL, USA
Organized since 1984, the Chicago Blues Festival has grown into one of the world’s biggest blues events. Four smaller stages and a large one for the headliners, the festival’s events are scattered throughout a park for people to be able to comfortably enjoy the music. The festival starts on the 14th of June and lasts for three days. What’s best about the festival is that admission is free. This year’s festival is headlined by blues legend Buddy Guy.
5. Glastonbury Festival, Pilton, England
Sometimes called the “granddaddy of all music festivals”, the Glastonbury is organized since the 1970s. From hippies to hipsters, from wannabes to superstars, you will find a bit of everything on the stages and in the attendance of the three day event. The lineup is impressive – you will find everything here, from Foo Fighters and Kanye to The Chemical Brothers or Motörhead. Prepare – it starts on June 24th.