With the UK festival market rapidly reaching saturation point and with tickets going on sale (and selling quickly) a full year in advance, it's easy to become a bit jaded with the same old acts and layouts all the time. Unless you are a masochist it's unlikely you'll want to see The Kooks in a field more than once (if at all) so perhaps it's time to wander further afield and take in a festival outside of the UK.
The Summercase festival was a two-day event occurring in Barcelona and Madrid with acts alternating between both cities. Deciding to combine a long-awaited trip to Barcelona whilst taking in a festival, the similarities and differences were there for all to see.
Firstly the layout and location was a breath of fresh air compared to UK shows. Situated in an industrial port, the Main Stage arena had a natural amphitheatre setting allowing the hardcore fans to congregate down the front and pogo away, whilst allowing more casual fans to sit back on graded steps and watch a backdrop of bands and the sea. With proceedings kicking off at 6pm both nights and continuing until 6am, the views were tremendous and also indicative of the natives' love of a siesta.
The rest of the layout of the Festival was concrete and angular, looking for all the world like a 1970s futuristic vision of the future or perhaps Disneyland if it was constructed by Kraftwerk. It may have been minimalistic but it offered a far more pleasing and breathtaking sight than the usual fields and fields that UK festival go-ers have become accustomed to.
One great aspect of the Festival centred around its late finish time and for the hours when the local Metro line was not running (2am to 5am), a free shuttle bus was put on between the festival and the Plaza du Catlunya. This is one of the main squares in Barcelona and only five minutes walk from our digs in the city. This was such a great gesture and considering that return bus travel from T in The Park to Glasgow cost £20 per day was clearly an area that the promoters could make a profit from but chose not to.
So the next time you hear T in The Park boasting about their festival being carbon neutral, tell them to be quiet and truly think about the festival goers needs as opposed to little publicity stunts that don't achieve too much.
That aside, festivals are festivals aren't they? The food and drink is overpriced, there are never enough toilets to meet demand and the line-up crossed so many genres and styles that it was likely to please and alienate in equal doses.
Infuriatingly enough though, not even a festival in Barcelona could escape some rain as Friday's proceedings featured a light rain smattering for the first hour. The rain may have been warm but it was still wet and acted as a subtle reminder that festivals are all about the elements, as much as the bands.
The music itself featured a mix of indie and dance (well, it was on until 6am, the revellers needed something to keep them going) and for every act that disappointed like The Feeling or The Divine Comedy, there was another that provided an outstanding set with Daft Punk playing a greatest hits mix that went down superbly well.
Traipsing out of the festival as the sun was coming up and realising that most of the crowd would spend all day sunbathing and either come back the following night or head off to another party or club, the sense of freedom and change from the UK festivals was never stronger.
With flights becoming cheaper all the time and European festivals being considerably cheaper than their UK counterparts, there has never been a better time to consider combining a holiday with a festival and seeing some of your favourite bands in a different setting. With plenty of European festivals to choose from before September and even more on the way for next year, it might be time to learn some foreign lingo and pay for your festival beers in euros.