Gary Flockhart: Stay home and enjoy summer of music fests

By GARY FLOCKHART
Published on 31/05/2012 15:07

JUST don’t mention the F-word. Festival season is almost upon us and I’m seriously regretting not booking tickets for Barcelona’s Primavera Sound festival.

As ever, the line-up is mouth-watering, with some of my favourite acts - The Cure, The xx and Laura Marling - appearing.

Me and my mate usually attend Primavera Sound but, this year, for the first time in long enough, I’ll be staying at home. Good old Sibo, on the other hand, is off to Porto for the inaugural Portuguese version of it, Optimus Primavera. Not that he’s rubbing it in.

As far as the UK goes, Glastonbury might not be happening this year but, as ever, there are plenty big fests to be had.

The first is Download, which celebrates its tenth anniversary at the spiritual home of British hard rock, Donington Park, on June 8-10. The organisers have put together a tasty bill that includes Prodigy, Metallica, Black Sabbath and Scotland’s band of the moment, Biffy Clyro.

On June 9 and 10 is Rockness, where Kasabian and Edinburgh’s very own pop princess, Nina Nesbitt, are among the acts.

With Glasto having a year off so Michael Eavis can let his farmland grass grow, the Isle of White Festival looks like ‘the biggie’, with Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and, playing his first major UK show in 20 years, Tom Petty.

Into July (8-10) and it’s T In The Park. The Stone Roses’ reunion will be the story of the summer, and they headline, sandwiched between Snow Patrol on the Friday and Kasabian on the Sunday.

The rest of the line-up is none too shabby, either, and it includes Calvin Harris, Jessie J, Elbow and, if he can stay out of jail long enough, Pete Doherty.

Enjoy the festivals all who are going.