Benicassim

Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, Portishead Beirut, Brandon Flowers, Friendly Fires, Crystal Fighters, Elbow. Banicassim has long been an international festival fave with the Brits for the site's close proximity to the beach and the option of camping free from July 11-18 – so it's a grand idea to book time off around these dates and have yourself a good old Spanish holiday – plus there's always a great beach party to finish off your hedonistic long weekend. Heading up the bill this year are the ferociously talented, hugely popular Sheffield quartet AM with their blend of full-tilt, sinewy and sussed kitchen-sink alt.pop, and Canada's hip and hugely admired (by David Bowie and Lou Reed, for starters; both queued to meet the band after their Madison Square Garden show last year) AF, exponents of epic and uplifting orchestral pop. Plus, Strokes man Casablancas will doubtless be sweating it up in a studded leather jacket and if you can blag your way backstage, there's a pool and sushi! Pack your sunscreen and stamina: a stellar list of DJs spin till dawn.