Love these UK festivals? Here are their worldwide equivalents

Yeah, festivals in the UK are fun, but what about all the mud, rain and that tradition at Reading where they set all the tents on fire? Not so cute. This festival season, why not jump on the trend of ‘gig-tripping’ by heading overseas, where you might get some guaranteed sunshine and won’t spend the weekend being jostled by lads in football shirts.

All over the globe there are unique and exciting festivals for all types of music fans and friend groups, and they’re more than good enough to rival the parties we throw in Old Blighty. So if you’re a Houghton head, you need to check out Draaimolen. A regular at Reading? Head to Lowlands. Obsessed with Wireless? Go to Rolling Loud. Together with Samsung – which has just released its new earbuds, Galaxy Buds3 Pro, we’re bringing you your essential guide to alternative festivals to switch up your planning.

If you like… Outbreak
Then you’ll love… Riot Fest

Riot Fest, Bridgeview, USA. September 20-22

If you’re a regular at punk, rock and alternative festival Outbreak, you’ll want to know about Riot Fest. The legendary three dayer, taking place in Bridgeview, Illinois, is one of the US’ biggest indie music festivals. It’s known for its killer, alternative lineups, and for booking reunion acts as well as shows that play albums in full – previous editions have seen Ice Cube perform Straight Outta Compton, and a No Doubt reunion. For this reason it’s got a dedicated fanbase of moshers and headbangers, with 50,000 punters making the pilgrimage every year. This year Fall Out Boy, Beck and Slayer will headline.  

If you like… Reading and Leeds

Then you’ll love… Lowlands

Lowlands, Biddinghuizen, Netherlands. August 16-18

Idles, Queens of the Stone Age and Goldband are just some of the bands that will perform at Lowlands in the Netherlands this August. Like Reading and Leeds, the three-day camping fest has got a decent band-heavy lineup with some pop and RnB acts thrown in (think Raye, Fred Again.. and Jorja Smith), but you won’t have to fall asleep listening to the distant calls of ‘Steve’ and ‘Alan’. Lowlands has also got plenty of interactive art installations, impressive stages and the best part of Reading and Leeds every year… a silent disco. 

If you like… Houghton

Then you’ll love… Draaimolen

Draaimolen, Tilburg, Netherlands. September 6-8

Set in a forest just an hour away from Amsterdam, this boutique festival is a must for the electronic music crowd. Draaimolen has gained a name for itself thanks to its notoriously good bookings, and spectacular, high-tech stages that compliment the surrounding nature. This year legends like Octo Octa, Eris Drew and Job Jobse will be on the decks at the three-day knees-up. And don’t miss the famously riotous back to back sets. 2024 will see Hunee go b2b with Mattias El Mansouri, Julie b2b Marie Pravda, Lyzza b2b Shyboi and many more.

If you like… Glastonbury

Then you’ll love… Flow

Flow, Helsinki, Finland. August 9-11

Missed out on Glasto tickets like the other hundreds of thousands of us? No worries. Booking flights to Helsinki is much easier than trying to scrabble a group of six together for Glastonbury. Instead of sweating it out in Somerset, we recommend heading to Finland’s Flow Festival. As well as headliners Fred Again.., Pulp and Halsey, Flow will host talks about technology and nature, art installations, and much more. Just like Glasto, it’s an all-round experience, and it's even got a family day on the Sunday. With 90,000 attendees, you’ll have a bit more space than in the Glasto crowd, but you’ll get to see many of the same acts. It’s a win-win. 

If you like… Wireless

Then you’ll love… Rolling Loud 

Rolling Loud, Pattaya City, Thailand. November 22-24; Miami, USA. December 13-15

Finsbury Park isn’t a particularly glam spot to attend a festival. What about catching your fave hip-hop artists beachside in Thailand, instead? Have a look at Rolling Loud, the biggest hip-hop gathering in the world. The rap knees-up, which is headlined by Playboy Carti, Travis Scott and A$AP Rocky this year, celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2024. It has multiple festivals around the world, so you can take your pick. The California and Europe 2024 editions have already taken place, but later in the year it heads to Miami and Thailand.