Now that WOMAD is gone, it’s time to get out of town to enjoy the best music festivals around the world. Alexis Ong has the insider’s guide to rocking out

Summer’s a-brewin’ and there’s no better way to enjoy the sweatiest months of the year than a good old-fashioned outdoor music festival. With so many international events to choose from, it was tough to whittle them down to a shortlist, but here they are: seven massive gigs you should start saving up for in T-minus…now. 

Sónar
19-21 June; Barcelona, Spain; 
www.sonar.es
Every summer for the last 15 years, 80,000 pilgrims have journeyed to Sónar – the mecca of ‘advanced music and multimedia art’ (the festival’s official tagline). Their devotion is repaid with a three-day audiovisual circus. During daylight hours, revellers invade the heart of Barcelona, taking in record fairs, films and concerts. However, the night-time line-up is the real draw. Attendees are shuttled out of the city via festival-organised coaches to the Sónar by Night venue – four sites spread across 10,000 metres. Big names like Goldfrapp and returning headliner MIA rub shoulders with hot fringe acts like DJ Scotch Egg and Jimpster. 
Famous alumni: Miss Kittin, The Chemical Brothers, Kraftwerk, Aphex Twin 

Hellfest Open-Air
20-22 June; Clisson, France; 
www.hellfest.fr
The picturesque town of Clisson in Brittany, northern France, is an unlikely choice for one of Europe’s most hardcore music festivals: Hellfest Open-Air. Perhaps the clumps of megaliths (ie very large stones) dotting the countryside, creating a somewhat eerie atmosphere, are what drew the producers of this metal fest in the first place. After years of organising minor concerts for Clisson metalheads, the self-styled local ‘CLS Crew’ has lovingly nurtured Hellfest into one of the best metal gatherings in Europe. This year’s line-up promises heavyweights like Motörhead, Dimmu Borgir, Opeth and Swedish prog-death legends Meshuggah. 
Famous alumni: Slayer, Megadeth, Neurosis, Mastodon, Lamb of God – who had to pull out because their generator caught on fire. How much more metal can you get? 

Roskilde, Festival
3-6 July; Roskilde, Denmark; 
www.roskilde-festival.dk  
Roskilde started as the brainchild of two students in 1971 and has, since then, grown into a music institution that even has its own train. Every year its army of 25,000 volunteers ensures that everything goes smoothly, from food stalls to sanitation – with all profits going to charity. Roskilde attendees arrive armed with tents and all the essentials for powering through 96 hours of summer lovin’, hip-swinging tunes ranging from mainstream to underground subgenres. Originally a gathering for the hippy set, the event has evolved into a more broad-based music lovers’ shindig. It also encourages a universal love of music and musical culture, with the campsite opening early to allow festival-goers to ‘warm up’ and mingle. Imagine slumming it with 80,000 fellow Roskilders, braving the elements together. Look out for Radiohead, My Bloody Valentine, The Chemical Brothers, Battles, and the ubiquitous MIA. Just don’t Google that 2000 Pearl Jam incident. 
Famous alumni: Black Sabbath, Björk, N*E*R*D, Bob Marley, Ravi Shankar, David Bowie 

Rainforest World Music Festival
11-13 July; Borneo, Malaysia; www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com  Welcome to the jungle, or the closest thing to it – the Rainforest World Music Festival. Nestled between mountain and beach, the Sarawak Cultural Village sits in a rainforest that’s home to 27 ethnic groups. Besides a smorgasbord of global beats from far-flung locales like Madagascar and New Zealand (though no big names to speak of), RWMF offers fans the chance to jam with artists and attend musical workshops. Go bush and learn about traditional instruments, or feast on international cuisine between acts. Remember to BYOB (bug spray, that is) and something to sit on – the jungle can get a little soggy.

Fuji Rock Festival
25-27 July; Naeba Ski Resort, Japan; 
www.fujirockfestival.com No longer located at Mt Fuji, Asia’s biggest and brightest rock beacon now shines atop Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata Prefecture. Despite getting cancelled by a typhoon at its 1997 christening, Fuji Rock persevered and is now an internationally acclaimed event that attracts more than 100,000 music lovers annually. Naeba provides a pristine green campsite for those who prefer to rough it – but don’t worry, there are regular one- and three-day tickets and car passes for commuters. The location is beautiful but a tad hilly, which means getting around Fuji’s seven stages requires some walking. Move mountains with Primal Scream, Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS), Switch, Underworld and more. Famous alumni: Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Gnarls Barkley, Scissor Sisters

Paléo Festival
Nyon 22-27 July; Nyon, Switzerland; 
www.paleo.ch
Borrowing its name from a champion racehorse, Paléo is a six-day, six-stage musical romp through Switzerland’s great outdoors. It still ranks as the country’s biggest open-air music event and features a whirlwind musical roster of established bands and up-and-comers. This year, Paléo promises a Brazilian theme at its F&B area, which provides revellers with a lavish food spread from the featured region. Big pluses: sideshow street theatre, the free campsite and daycare facilities for (responsible!) partying parents. And don’t worry about Heidi – strict environmental measures are in place to minimise the festival’s impact on the lakeside venue. 
Famous alumni: Arctic Monkeys, Jamiroquai, The Who, Depeche Mode 

Lollapalooza
1-3 August; Chicago, USA; 
www.lollapalooza.com 
Taking up where Woodstock left off, this rock monolith has made a huge comeback as an American cultural icon after a brief stumble in the late ’90s/early 2000s. Even with quirky side attractions including Shaolin monks, virtual-reality games and a circus freakshow, Lollapalooza was cancelled in 2004 due to weak ticket sales before getting revamped under new management. Previous Lollapaloozas have taken a few hard knocks for, erm, unruly behaviour (including huge bonfires and mud-slinging at performers). But that’s all in the past. And though some critics might gripe that Lollapalooza’s revival in 2005 as a single-city event (Chicago until 2011) is a little too ‘commercial’ considering its grungy, itinerant origins, just be thankful this festival is still alive. Look forward to Daft Punk, Pearl Jam, The Roots, Interpol, rump-shake kings Flosstradamus, and everyone’s favourite rehabber, Amy Winehouse. 
Famous alumni: Jane’s Addiction, Metallica, Devo, Red Hot Chili Peppers 

Summer Festival Survival Tips - Gone camping 
Frolicking at your fave fest shouldn’t be like going to war. Sure, it’s going to get a little dirty, but you’ll be among thousands of other filthy music fanatics, so who cares? Take our advice for summer concert survival: 

- When it comes to clothes, think versatile and pack light. 
- Buy a disposable waterproof camera that can withstand the elements. 
- Wearing flip-flops is the worst decision you’ll ever make. 
- Clean socks rock. Listen to Mum on this one. 
- If you can’t carry it in your bag and/or pockets, don’t leave it in your tent. Take advantage of the festival’s storage facilities. 
- Always arrange a meeting place with your mates. 
- Girls: tissue, a good friend and a lot of Dutch courage will save you a world of agony. 
- Finally: alcohol is not food. Remember to chow down regularly.