Sign up for IQ Index
The latest industry news to your inbox.
The 2025 festival calendar is starting to take shape with a number of major events releasing their lineups.
Northern Europe’s largest festival, Denmark’s Roskilde, has unveiled the first wave of artists for its 53rd edition next summer, including headliner Stormzy.
Arca, Fontaines D.C., Magdalena Bay, Beth Gibbons, Electric Callboy, Jessica Pratt, Geordie Greep, Sanam, Esy Tadesse, MØ and Faye Webster are also among the first 28 acts to be confirmed for the 28 June to 5 July event.
“At Roskilde Festival, we aim to lay the groundwork for a brighter future by inspiring hope and action for new generations,” says CEO Signe Lopdrup. “We combine big utopian visions with tangible, everyday solutions that point towards new paths. Art plays a crucial role as a catalyst for change, and in 2025, participants at Roskilde Festival will experience an engaging and progressive lineup across music, performances, art installations, and activism.”
For the first time, two-day tickets are being introduced, allowing participants to choose any two of the festival’s final four days for DKK 2,070 (€278). Full festival tickets are priced DKK2,520.
Belgium’s Rock Werchter (3-6 July), meanwhile, has confirmed Sam Fender as its second headliner. The British singer-songwriter, who first performed on the festival’s discovery stage Slope in 2018, will close the main stage on 5 July, joining Green Day (4 July) at the top of the bill.
Following a record year, Germany’s Jazzopen (2-13 July) is expanding its 7,500-cap main stage lineup to seven days. The Stuttgart festival will host the likes of Kylie Minogue, Raye, Jacob Collier, Jean-Michel Jarre and Lionel Richie, while Joe Bonamassa will play at the Blues Night on 10 July..
“We are going all in with this lineup,” says promoter Jürgen Schlensog. “The programme couldn’t be more colourful. We are looking forward to three generations on stage and in the audience.”
Also in Germany, MS Dockville, which will take place in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg on 15-16 August, will announce one act per day this week, with The Last Dinner Party the first to be unveiled, while Simple Minds (24 July) and Thirty Seconds to Mars (5 July) are the first artists announced for Italy’s Lucca Summer Festival.
Elsewhere, Deftones have announced their first UK performance since 2022, with their biggest UK show to date set for London’s Crystal Palace Park on 29 June, alongside special guests Weezer and High Vis. The park will also host a sold-out headline show from Rüfüs Du Sol on 5 July.
American folk-pop star Noah Kahan will also play his biggest UK concert yet when he headlines BST Hyde Park in London on 4 July.
South Wales’ In It Together (23-25 May) will be headlined by Kaiser Chiefs, Becky Hill and Ronan Keating. Also on the bill are acts including Myles Smith, James Morrison, Daniel Bedingfield, Peter Doherty, Bru-C, Josh Baker, SHY FX, Nova Twins, David Rodigan, Jason Donovan, Sugarhill Gang and Vengaboys, among others. Tickets are already 75% sold out, according to organiser Escape.
Mexico’s Tecate Pa’l Norte returns to Monterrey, Nuevo León, between 4-6 April, featuring Olivia Rodrigo, Green Day, Justin Timberlake, Charli XCX, Kings of Leon, Massive Attack, Seventeen, Fall Out Boy, Gesaffelstein, Black Keys, Caifanes, Benson Boone, Parcels, The Chainsmokers, and Garbage, among others.
And in the US, Las Vegas Festival Grounds will once again welcome When We Were Young on 18 October, topped by Panic! at the Disco and Blink-182. Other names include Weezer, Avril Lavigne, The Offspring, All Time Low, The Used, Knocked Loose and The Gaslight Anthem.
The second annual Montreux Jazz Festival Miami will run from February 28 to March 2, with headliners including Jon Batiste & Friends, Janelle Monáe and an Afro-Cuban La Descarga (improvised jam session) hosted by Batiste and Cimafunk, with Alfredo Rodriguez, Cimafunk & La Tribu, Pedrito Martinez, Robe L Ninho, Wampi, Yissy Garcia and Monsieur Periné.
The intimate 1,500-cap festival, which will be staged at The Hangar at Regatta Cove in Coconut Grove, also includes the return of the Legendary Montreux Jam Session each night of the festival, curated by Batiste and featuring his band Stay Human, as well as a series of masterclasses available to VIP ticket holders.
Fall Out Boy and The Killers will headline the seventh annual Innings Festival (21-22 February) at Arizona’s Tempe Beach Park & Arts Park. Bringing together 18 artists across two stages for no overlapping sets, thelineup includes Incubus, The Black Keys, Slightly Stoopid, The All-American Rejects, eck, Gary Clark Jr., Boyz II Men and Jack’s Mannequin, among others.
Plus, The Lumineers and Kacey Musgraves will headline the second Extra Innings Festival at the same venue on 28 February and 1 March. The 2025 lineup brings 20 artists to two stages for no overlapping sets from Kings of Leon, Megan Moroney, The Red Clay Strays, Maren Morris, Grace Potter, O.A.R., Wyatt Flores, Sam Barber, Trampled by Turtles and more.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
German city festival Jazzopen Stuttgart welcomed more than 57,000 paying visitors over the 12 days of its 30th-anniversary edition.
The 2024 event, organised by Opus Live, comprised 60 concerts across eight stages between 18–29 July.
The four main stages – Schlossplatz, Altes Schloss, the SpardaWelt Eventcenter and the BIX Jazzclub – achieved a stage occupancy rate of 97%.
In addition, several thousand music fans attended the free admission Jazz Open Stages concerts, which have been offered since 2018.
Artists that performed at Jazzopen Stuttgart included Herbert Grönemeyer, Lenny Kravitz, Sting, Angélique Kidjo, Billy Cobham, Jamie Cullum, Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour and Marcus Miller.
“Our audience obviously appreciates the enormous density and quality of the lineup”
“We are very satisfied with our 30th-anniversary edition,” says promoter Jürgen Schlensog. “After the postponement of the festival made necessary by the European Football Championships, this was not to be expected. But our audience obviously appreciates the enormous density and quality of the lineup.
“It wasn’t just the shows by the big stars that were sold out. The top-class jazz concerts, especially at the SpardaWelt Eventcenter and BIX, were also better attended than ever before. What’s more, young audiences are increasingly taking to the free Open Stages concerts.”
Last year’s Jazzopen Stuttgart attracted more than 45,000 paying visitors over 11 days, achieving a stage occupancy rate of 90%.
Preparations are already underway for the 2025 edition, which will take place from 3 to 13 July.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
The festival season rolls on this weekend, as IQ returns with our regular preview of what’s going on around Europe.
The UK has a feast of events in store, including Latitude, which runs from 25-28 July in Henham Park, Suffolk. The lineup is headed by Duran Duran, Kasabian, Keane and London Grammar, who are joined on the bill by the likes of Nile Rodgers + Chic, Future Islands, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Caity Baser, CMAT, Seasick Steve, Rick Astley, Lottery Winners and The Vaccines.
Also from 25-28 July, Secret Garden Party: Roots will feature more than 350 artists including Unkle, Crystal Fighters, Ren, Chinchilla, Franky Wah, Carly Wilford, Adelphi Music Factory, Jakkob, Omega Nebula, Technobrass and TC & The Groove.
The Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire-based independent event made headlines earlier this week after announcing it will have its main stage set ablaze on Saturday night, symbolising the finale of the event in its current form and a call for change in the UK festival sector.
WOMAD Festival in Charlton Park, Malmesbury, is topped by Young Fathers, Sampa the Great, Alison Goldfrapp, Alborosie, Abadou & Mariam, Gogol Bordello and Baaba Maal between 25-28 July.
Truck Festival will grace Hill Farm, Oxfordshire, from 26-28 July. Topped by Jamie T, Wet Leg and The Streets, the lineup also includes acts such as Idles, Declan McKenna, Soft Play, The Kooks, Holly Humberstone, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Yard Act and The Snuts.
Sheffield’s Tramlines welcomes headliners Paolo Nutini, Jamie T and Snow Patrol to Hillsborough Park from 26-28 July, backed by a supporting cast including Bombay Bicycle Club, Tom Grennan, The Human League, The Snuts, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Miles Kane, Example, The Charlatans, Yard Act, Maximo Park, Sprints, Coach Party, Holly Humberstone and Annie Mac.
Germany’s Feel Festival keeps its lineup secret until the start of the event
Fellow Yorkshire festival Deer Shed will bring The Coral, Bombay Bicycle Club, CMAT, BC Camplight, The Go! Team, Los Bitchos, Stornoway and King Creosote, among others, to Baldersby Park, Topcliffe between 26-29 July.
Elsewhere in Europe, Switzerland’s Paléo Festival Nyon is being held from 23-28 July. Acts include Sam Smith, Burna Boy, Booba, Mika, Sean Paul, Major Lazer Soundsystem, PLK, Nile Rodgers + Chic, Paul Kalkbrenner, AURORA and Khruangbin.
In Romania, ArtMania is set for 26-28 July in Sibiu, Transylvania, with artists such as Korn, Spiritbox, Satyricon, Igorrr, Borknagar, Taine and The Flower Kings.
Electronic music spectacular Tomorrowland Belgium returns to Boom, Antwerp, for its second and final weekend across 25-28 July with DJs like Swedish House Mafia, Lost Frequencies, Meduza, Dom Dolla, Armin van Buuren, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Tiësto and David Guetta.
In addition, Italy’s Lucca Summer Festival concert series, which started on 2 June, wraps up its 2024 programme with a performance by Gazelles on 26 July.
Meanwhile, the 30th anniversary of Jazzopen Stuttgart is unfolding in Germany from 18-29 July, starring the likes of Lenny Kravitz, Sting, Sam Smith, The Cat Empire and Jamie Cullum, while the multi-genre Feel Festival, staged in Lichterfeld-Schacksdorf from 25-28 July, keeps its subcultural lineup secret until the start of the event.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
Long-running German city festival Jazzopen Stuttgart welcomed more than 45,000 paying visitors over the 11 days of its 29th edition, achieving a stage occupancy rate of 90%.
Launched in 1994 and organised by Opus, the 2023 event was held from 13-23 July, the festival featured 53 concerts across eight stages and was brought to a close by Simply Red at Schlossplatz.
The free admission Jazz Open Stages concerts, which have been offered since 2018, attracted a further 8,000 to 10,000 fans.
“Not only our audience, but above all the artists themselves, appreciate our way of always offering high quality of the most diverse music genres on stage,” concludes promoter Jürgen Schlensog.
Preparations are already underway for next year’s 30th anniversary, which will take place from 19-29 July 2024
Jazz-focused shows included Steve Turre, Emile Parisien, Kenny Garrett, Mike Stern, Branford Marsalis, Arturo Sandoval, Marius Neset, James Morrison, Michael Wollny and many club acts.
In addition, ltes Schloss and the Schlossplatz hosted bands such as Snarky Puppy, MEUTE, Die Fantastischen Vier, Simply Red and Deep Purple as well as Parov Stelar, Beth Hart, Joss Stone, LP, Grace Jones, Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Paolo Nutini, Madrugada, Cory Wong and St Paul & The Broken Bones as part of a diverse bill.
Various evenings were streamed live by ARTE Concert and made available as Video on Demand.
Preparations are already underway for next year’s 30th anniversary, which will take place from 19-29 July 2024. The line-up will be announced from early November.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
Jazzopen Stuttgart is on track to welcome more than 30,000 fans to open-air venues across the city this September, for what will be one of the biggest events in Germany’s increasingly sparse 2021 festival calendar.
The long-running city festival was originally scheduled for July, but the team postponed that event – which included names such as Lenny Kravitz, Jamie Cullum and Corinna Bailey Rae – to 2022, instead booking an entirely new line-up for a replacement 2021 festival in September.
Sven Meyer, managing director of Jazzopen organiser Opus (Jürgen Schlensog, Jazzopen’s promoter, is Opus CEO) says Jazzopen was able to take advantage of its good relationships with agents, as well as direct lines to certain bands, to get together a line-up in a fraction of the time it would take normally. “We have very good contacts with UK and US agents, and so we are booking either direct with management or, in most cases, with agents in the UK,” he explains. “[These relationships] have developed over many years, so it was a really fast process of getting on the phone to a lot of people, and also being creative where have direct contacts: Parov Stelar, for example, has played the festival before, so it’s was just a quick check to see if he was keen to play.
“For obvious reasons we had quite a few ‘no’s, but also lots of ‘yes’es.”
“Either make it work, or we don’t do it”
In addition to Stelar, Jazzopen 2021 will welcome international stars such as Liam Gallagher, Ben Howard, Katie Melua, Lianne La Havas, Amy MacDonald and Laura Pergolizzi, as well as German band Element of Crime, Swiss singer-songwriter Sophie Hunger and Italian singer Mario Biondi. MacDonald tweeted in April that when she got the offer from Jazzopen, she “may have shed a little tear!”
https://twitter.com/Amy__Macdonald/status/1383746263376486403
It is hoped that the international artists will not have to quarantine on their arrival in Germany – Meyer says it is currently under discussion “and I think it will go through” – but the preference is for them to already be vaccinated against Covid-19.
Meyer praises the speed of the vaccine roll-out in Germany – at press time, 36.5 million Germans, or 44% of the population, have had at least one jab – and says he’s confident the festival should be able to go ahead in its revised format in September. Plus, “you can still play open-air in September” in Stuttgart, he adds. (By October, it’s too cold.)
While a seated event is nobody’s first preference, Meyer says Jazzopen is also prepared should the coronavirus situation in Germany deteriorate. “We have reduced the capacity of our main venue, which under normal circumstances is 7,000, to 5,800, to make sure that if the authorities expect us to have a seated venue only, we can still seat everybody,” he explains.
“All the big festivals in Germany have been cancelled, so it’s a fairly brave decision”
“The other thing is that we have a number of events, these big outdoor shows – it’s not like two days with 40,000 people a night,” he continues. “We have a maximum of 7,000 per night, and in the smaller concert venue it’s only 1,000. So we are in a special situation compared to something like Rock im Park, where you have two or three days and a massive audience every day. We are very lucky in that respect.”
“We are also in a very good position because we are not in the touring business,” Meyer adds. “Particularly in Germany, which is a federal country, you could be fine in one state and not in another, which is horrible. So being based in one city, with the shows spread out over a couple of days, is a much better situation.”
As expected, fans must be either fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or produce a negative test to gain entry to the festival.
Meyer estimates they are putting around 33,000 tickets on sale in total – and says they couldn’t have considered going any smaller.
“If we have a real downturn in the [coronavirus] situation and lockdowns and everything, we might come into situation where we’d have to call it off – but Jürgen and I already agreed that we would consider a even more reduced capacity,” he explains, “in the line with the actual government rules at time of the festival. So we either make it work or we don’t do it.”
“Our competitors are saying, ‘Go for it! Raise the flag for our business’”
Meyer says Jazzopen is proud to be able to go ahead in some capacity this year ahead of a return to normality next summer. “The reception we’ve got from the market and from customers is that people would love to see the festival, and artists would love to play there,” he comments, “and we are the first to stick out our necks and say, ‘Okay, we’ll do it.”
“All the big festivals in Germany have been cancelled, so it’s a fairly brave decision. Hopefully we will be rewarded for that.”
Meyer adds that other festivals in Germany are rooting for Jazzopen, having not been able to go ahead themselves.
“Some people are obliged to go for a certain date, or can’t change the nature of the event, and obviously that creates a degree of jealousy,” he says. “But even our competitors, they give us a ring and say, ‘Hey, go for it! Raise the flag for our business.’”
Jazzopen Stuttgart 2021 takes place from 10 to 19 September. The festival returns to its traditional dates next summer (7–17 July 2022).
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
In the most recent edition in a series of 2020 line-up announcements, IQ rounds up the festival billings from Rolling Loud Portugal, Jazzopen Stuttgart, Nos Primavera Sound Porto, Balaton Sound, Mallorca Live and Fest Festival.
(See the previous edition of Festival Fever here.)
When: 8 to 10 July
Where: Praia da Rocha, Portimão, Portugal
The Rolling Loud festival brand is making its European debut this summer in the Algarve region of Portugal.
The beachside festival is headlined by ASAP Rocky, Future and Wiz Khalifa, with performances from artists including AJ Tracey, Roddy Ricch, Dababy, Young Thug, Tyga, Playboi Carti, D-Block Europe and Giggs.
In an Instagram post, Rolling Loud co-founder Tariq Cherif warned that capacity is “limited” for the festival due to the beach setting, and advised fans to act quickly to purchase tickets.
Founded in 2015 by Cherif and Matt Zingler, Rolling Loud has expanded from its flagship Miami festival to take place in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York and Sydney, Australia. An inaugural Rolling Loud Hong Kong was called off earlier this year.
The pre-sale for Rolling Loud Portugal starts on Thursday 6 February at 8 a.m. Remaining tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. the following day here.
The Rolling Loud festival brand is making its European debut this summer
When: 9 to 19 July
Where: Stuttgart, Germany
How many: 50,000 (whole festival)
Founded in 1994, the Jazzopen Stuttgart has hosted the likes of Quincy Jones, Bob Dylan, Lauryn Hill, Jamiroquai, BB King, Herbie Hancock, James Brown and Joss Stone over the years.
The 2020 edition will see artists including Sting, Lenny Kravitz, Van Morrison, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, John Legend, Jessie J, Jamie Cullum and Corinne Bailey Rae grace the main stage.
Staged in multiple venues ranging from 250- to 7,000-capacity, fans will be able to see acts such as Nils Frahm, Herbie Hancock, Arturo Sandoval, James Carter Organ Trio, Emmet Cohen and Rymden over the course of ten days.
“In the last 10 years we expanded the jazzopen from a regional event to one of the leading international jazz festivals with 50.000 ticket sales annually,” comments festival director Juergen Schlensog.
“This was only possible by means of a strong sponsoring. Daimler, Mastercard and Allianz accompany the festival alongside other valuable partners and brands. The UK market is of vital importance for us, as we book all major acts in direct exchange with local agents in the UK and USA.”
Tickets for Jazzopen Stuttgart 2020 are available here, with full festival passes priced from €700. Tickets for individual shows are also available for a range of prices, with some free-to-access concerts.
The 2020 edition will see artists including Sting, Lenny Kravitz and Van Morrison
When: 11 to 13 June
Where: Parque da Cidade, Porto, Portugal
How many: 30,000
The Portuguese sister event of Barcelona festival Primavera Sound has released the line-up for its ninth edition.
Tyler the Creator, Lana Del Rey, Pavement, FKA Twigs, Beck, Bad Bunny and King Krule are among those headlining the festival, which also features Chromatics, Earl Sweatshirt, Cigarettes After Sex and Kim Gordon.
Primavera Sound’s flagship Spanish event, which sold over 10,000 tickets in a day after announcing its line-up last month, will feature performances from the Stokes, Iggy Pop, Massive Attack, Lana Del Rey and Brittany Howard.
Tickets for Nos Primavera Sound Porto are available here, with a full festival pass priced at €120 (£102) and a day ticket at €60 (£51). Tickets for Primavera Sound Barcelona are still available here for €195 (£165).
The Portuguese sister event of Barcelona festival Primavera Sound has released the line-up for its ninth edition
When: 8 to 12 July
Where: Lake Balaton, Hungary
How many: 40,000
Balaton Sound, one of Europe’s largest open-air electronic music festivals, is back in 2020 following a record-breaking outing last year.
Over 170,000 fans attended the five-day event in 2019 to see artists including Tiesto, Marshmello, the Chainsmokers and Armin van Buuren.
The 2020 edition brings performances from the likes of Martin Garrix, DJ Snake, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, Kygo, Steve Aoki, Don Diablo, Sigala and Jonas Blue.
A special, Hollywood-themed VIP area will provide guests with a massage parlour, makeup lounge, exclusive pool parties and surprise shows.
Tickets for Balaton Sound 2020 are on sale now, with multi-day passes starting from €169 and going up to €325 for a five-day VIP ticket. Prices will increase on 14 February.
Over 170,000 fans attended the five-day event in 2019
When: 14 to 16 May
Where: Old Aquapark of Calvià, Mallorca, Spain
How many: 11,000
Mallorca Live festival is back in 2020 for its fifth year, with a headline performance from British electronic pop band Pet Shop Boys.
Crystal Fighters, Michael Kiwanuka, Miles Kane, Kate Tempest and Temples are among other acts performing at the festival.
Last year’s festival saw a record attendance of 33,500 people over three days, thanks to a festival site extension. A new fourth stage – Tròpic Stage – has been added for 2020, dedicated to electronic acts, featuring DJs including Marcel Dettman, dOP, Or:La and Red Axes.
Tickets for Mallorca Live festival can be purchased for €75 (£64) plus fees for the two-day pass (Friday and Saturday) and for €90 (£76) plus fees for the three-day pass here.
Crystal Fighters, Michael Kiwanuka and Kate Tempest are among other acts performing at the festival
When: 13 to 15 August
Where: Silesia Park, Chorzów, Poland
Poland’s Fest Festival, one of the fastest-growing music festivals in eastern Europe, has announced the second wave of acts for its 2020 edition.
The festival’s second outing will be headlined by Mark Ronson, with performances from James Bay, Nothing But Thieves, Denzel Curry, Sigrid, Alice Glass, Sohn and Daughter.
Polish rappers Taco Hemingway and Mata have also been added to the line-up, along with local indie-rock band Sonbird.
Fest Festival was nominated for best new festival at the European Festival Awards 2019 and is up for the New Gig on the Block prize at the 2020 Arthur Awards, taking place at the International Live Music Conference in March.
Tickets for Fest Festival are available here for PLN 349 (£70), with prices set to increase on 14 February.
The festival’s second outing will be headlined by Mark Ronson
When: 30 to 31 May
Where: Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, Ireland
How many: 10,000
Pod’s Forbidden Fruit Festival is celebrating its tenth anniversary edition in 2020 at its home in the grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin.
The line-up for this year’s festival includes headliners Jorja Smith and Underworld, along with Peggy Gou, Loyle Carner, Hot Chip and the Avalanches.
The festival is returning to its roots this year, taking place over two days, rather than the three-day format preferred in previous editions. Organisers promise plenty of “birthday surprises” for their tenth year.
Weekend tickets are available here, priced at €124.50, with day tickets available for €69.50.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.