From Caribbean360

LONDON, England, Thursday April 24, 2014 – Whatever your musical preference, there’s a festival to match, and this year’s line-up promises to be the best ever, according to MailOnline Travel.

The website went on to pick its top 10 music festivals from around the world, with Spain emerging as one of two host countries nabbing two spots on the list and hitting a high note by bagging first and third places.

In a global line-up that includes countries as diverse as Australia and Serbia, the Caribbean snagged one spot, coming in at 10th place with the Dominican Republic’s Groove Fest on the popular Puerto Plata tourist belt.

Further Caribbean influence comes with a number of the region’s leading performers in countries as far away as Croatia.

Here’s what MailOnline Travel had to say about its favourite festivals for 2014.

 

1) Primavera Sound, Barcelona, Spain (28-31 May)

This four-day music festival in Barcelona’s Parc Del Forum by the Mediterranean Sea is perfect for city slickers who want some sunshine, but without the mud. No camping at this one so you can retreat to one of the many local hotels for a shower after a day of drinking and dancing under the hot sun. Big names including Queens Of The Stone Age, Pixies, Arcade Fire, Sky Ferreira, Hot Chip, Chromeo, Disclosure and Nine Inch Nails so an eclectic mix. No wellies [boots] needed at this festival!

 

2) Amsterdam Open Air Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands (7-8 June)

Two-day dance festival in the Gassperpark in south east Amsterdam, featuring more than 130 artists across nine stages. Representing all areas of the Dutch capital’s nightlife, including house, dubstep, electro, tech-house and techno. Big names include Tensnake, DJ Sneak, DJ Tennis, KiNK, Maribou State, Hudson Mohawke, Tom Trago, Bonobo and Four Tet. Amsterdam’s climate can be similar to London so if you don’t fancy camping on-site, the music ends at 11pm each night so you can hop on the Metro back to the city to sleep in a hotel.

 

3) Free Live Festival, A Coruña, Spain (4-5 July)

Forget your tent and bring your swimming costume. Free Live Festival is set in quite a unique location in comparison to other festivals as it takes place in a water park in the Galicia province in north west Spain. A new addition to the European festival circuit, Free Live is only in its second year so is still one of those ‘secret‘ festivals appealing to those looking for something off the beaten track. It’s also incredibly good value compared to similar festivals. Attendees can cool off in the pools and water slides as well as listen and dance to some of Europe’s popular DJs. Artists include Marco Carola, Ben Klock, Davide Squillace, B2B, Matthias Tanzmann, UNER and Uto Karem.

 

4) Exit Festival, Novi Sad, Serbia (10-13 July)

One of the biggest music festivals in Europe features a range of genres from rock to dance. It has won awards and polls as one of the best festivals in the world and is actually one of the cheapest. Big names this year include Damon Albarn, Disclosure, Rudimental, Skrillex, Andy C, Asian Dub Foundation, Danny Tenaglia and Carl Cox. Exit is renowned for its amazing acoustics, due to its location at the Petrovaradin Fortress, on the right bank of the River Danube. If anyone has the energy for more, the action hops over the border to Jaz Beach in Budva-Montenegro from 15-17 July for the spin-off Sea Dance Festival.

 

5) Splendour In The Grass, Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia (25-27 July)

Definitely the furthest you could travel for a festival! Taking place in the middle of Australia’s winter, the weather will be comfortable for this three-day outdoor festival with temperatures averaging around 19-20C. At time of publication, the top secret line-up isn’t due to be released until late April, although London Grammar, Sky Ferreira and Metronomy are said to be on the bill. Taking place at North Byron Parklands near the hippy-eque beachside town of Byron Bay, it is easily one of the biggest festivals on the Aussie calendar.

 

6) Wilderness Festival, Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, England (7-10 August)

While music and drinking is always high on the agenda for festival-goers, the questionable food, smelly toilets and lack of sleep isn’t so appealing. This is where Wilderness comes in – an alternative to the usual British festival. Situated in the idyllic surrounds of Cornbury Park, Wilderness offers gastronomical feasts, massages, processions, debates, theatre and much more than your usual festival line-up. Music acts performing include London Grammar, Burt Bacharach, Jessie Ware, Sam Smith and Metronomy.

 

7) Highfield Festival, Leipzig, Germany (15-17 August)

A 35,000-strong crowd is expected to descend on Störmthaler See, a stunning lake a few kilometres from Leipzig, for this big indie rock festival. Headliners include Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Placebo, Queens Of The Stone Age, Jimmy Eat World and Blink-182. Most revellers will be camping, but there’s lots of hotels nearby if you don’t want to rough it. Leipzig has a wealth of museums, churches and other historic sights if you want a break from the rocking.

 

8) Outlook Festival, Pula, Croatia (3-7 September)

With Croatia booming as a summer holiday destination, it’s no wonder the music festival scene is also hitting the headlines. For those looking to squeeze in a last bit of music and sunshine before the autumn descends, the Outlook Festival is the perfect opportunity. Celebrating sound system culture, genres include hip-hop, reggae, R&B, drum ‘n’ bass, house and garage. Acts include Lauryn Hill, Busta Rhymes, Barrington Levy, Goldie, DJ EZ, MJ Cole, Grooverider, Wookie and many more. Located in the city of Pula in the north coast region of Istria – known as the Tuscany of Croatia for its hilltop towns and gastronomy – the festival includes concerts and boat parties. Former Fugee Lauryn Hill is making a rare performance as the headline act of the opening ceremony in Pula’s 2,000 year old Roman Amphitheatre.

 

9) Bestival, Isle Of Wight (4-7 September)

Easily one of the UK’s quirkiest festivals. Every year has a different theme, with 2014′s being “Desert Island Disco.” Providing their own different takes on disco (or not) include Outkast, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, Beck, Disclosure, Major Lazer, Busta Rhymes, Paloma Faith, Basement Jaxx and many more big names. As well as musical acts, there are also performers such as The Brass Funkeys monkey troupe, Bourgeois & Maurice musical comedy act and Joga beats yoga workshops. There is even different themed campsites such as ‘The Wild Copse’ woodland camp. There’s also open-air hot-tubs in the “Bathing Underneath The Sky” so you can actually get clean – a novelty for festivalgoers.

 

10) Groove Fest, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (9-12 September)

Combing a Caribbean sunshine break and festival, Groovefest is the five-star festival experience. Only 2,500 will attend this boutique festival at the Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Club in Puerto Plata. The tickets are all-inclusive. No greasy food trucks here, this will be a culinary feast with even champagne, oysters and butlers serving your food. Gigs will take place across clubs, beaches, pools and boats. Line-up includes Kenny Dope, Horsemeat Disco, Bobby & Steve, Sam Divine and Rhemi Music.

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/dominican_republic_news/caribbean-music-festival-listed-in-worlds-top-10#ixzz2zp1ULRQL