The Eurockéenes festival, now in its 19th edition, is one of the more prestigious summer music events on the continent. It takes place on the weekend of 29 June - 1 July in Belfort, in the east of France.
Given that Belfort is virtually the geographical centre of continental western Europe and close to the Swiss and German borders, the festival traditionally attracts a wide geographical spead of punters, especially people travelling around on Eurorail passes. Its central location allows for (relatively ) cheap and easy access - for instance, EasyJet fly to nearby Mulhouse (that is, Basel-Mulhouse EuroAirport).
As for the festival itself, there are two stages, two marquees and a plethora of big names. Marilyn Manson headlines the first day, which also features Amy Winehouse and the Wu-Tang Clan (backstage that day should be interesting).
The Saturday has a more indie-rock flavour, with The Hives, QOTSA, Editors, Maximo Park, Cold War Kids, I'm From Barcelona and Phoenix (France's best band and long-time favourites of your correspondent). Then after Sunday mass you can see Arcade Fire (playing every festival in France, it really seems), The Good The Bad And the Queen (playing songs from their album The Boring The Boring and The Boring), Antony and the Johnsons, Air, TV On The Radio, Laurent Garnier, Klaxons and more.
A 3-day pass (available online) costs €100, with a 1-day ticket available for a ridiculously cheap €37 (but add on a couple of euro for booking fees, okay?). There's also free camping and shuttle buses as well as luggage storage for the aforementioned Eurorailers.
More details (in English) available on the English page of the festival's website www.eurockeennes.fr
The full festival line-up is:
Friday 29 June : Marilyn Manson, Juliette and the Licks, Wu-Tang Clan, Les Rita Mitsouko, Amy Winehouse, Kaolin, Justice, Gogol Bordello, Griots and Gods, Clipse, Converge, Peter Von Poehl, Archie Bronson Outfit, Punish Yourself, Hellbats, Iltika, Hollow Corp.
Saturday 30 June : The Hives, Queens Of The Stone Age, Phoenix, JoeyStarr, Olivia Ruiz, Editors, Abd Al Malik, Digitalism, Maxïmo Park, Cold War Kids, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, I'm From Barcelona, Bassékou Kouyaté, Tumi And The Volume, Stones Throw, Scanners, Blanche, Deerhoof, Shitdisco, Heavyweight Dub Champion, Stellardrive, For My Hybrid, Navel.
Sunday 1 July : Arcade Fire, Tryo, Air, The Good, the Bad and the Queen, TV on the Radio, Antony & the Johnsons, Laurent Garnier, Bikini Machine, Sick of It All, Bitty McLean, Klaxons, Hatebreed, Loney, dear, Goose, Pelican, 65 days of static, Stuck in the Sound, The Audience, Cocoon.
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