Jazz, rock, electronic, rap… whatever your poison, there’s something for you.
In Luxembourg
The season opens with Luxembourg Open Air (popularly “LOA”), which celebrates electronic music in all its forms. Ten DJs, both local and not, will spin sets across three stages in the centre of Belval. EDM, house, techno and dubstep will reverberate all the way to the nearby blast furnaces. (Hey, that reminds us of by Luxembourgish electronic music producer Mathieu Moës.) Featured at LOA this year: Will Sparks, Malaa, Blasterjaxx, Regard, CVMPANILE, Goodboys, Juicy M, Medun, Tony Romera and VLTR.
Date: 3-4 May (Friday and Saturday); Venue: Place de l’Académie, Esch-Belval; Tickets: €54 for the day, €89 for the weekend. Available .
The third edition of Usina24 will then take place at the beginning of June. A result of collaboration between several institutions of Luxembourg’s cultural scene (including the Centre national de l’audiovisuel, de Gudde Wëllen, den Atelier, Kultur | lx and the Lycée des arts et métiers, to name but a few), this festival offers a varied lineup including Cro, Joris, English Teacher, Say Yes Dog, Balming Tiger and Tali, the Luxembourger who will represent the country at Eurovision 2024.
Date: 1-2 June (Saturday and Sunday); Venue: Route de Thionville, Dudelange; Tickets: €66.40 for Saturday, free entry on Sunday. Available .
A concept imported from La Rochelle, the Francofolies in Esch-sur-Alzette has become a not-to-be-missed event in Luxembourg’s festival season. With the aim of promoting multiculturalism and the transmission of Francophilia, as well as defending a modern and new vision of culture, the event brings together popular artists and young talent. On the programme: Shaka Ponk, Ninho, Luidji, Lost Frequencies, Zaho de Sagazan, David Guetta and L’Impératrice, among others.
Date: 7-9 June (Friday to Sunday); Venue: Gaalgebierg Park, Esch-sur-Alzette; Tickets: €56 for Friday or Saturday, €64 on Sunday, €130 for a 3-day pass. Available .
The Francofolies will take place at the Gaalgebierg in Esch-sur-Alzette. Photo: Sarah Aubel
Waal, meanwhile, styles itself as “a place where lost souls converge, united in their quest for self-expression.” The multi-stage festival will take place in Clausen over one evening, and feature the likes of Bandido, Unity x FRKTL, Fogo x Black Magic, Johnny Be Gudde, La Fancy, Love Temple, Nevermind and Reggaetop.
Date: 8 June (Saturday); Venue: Clausen, Luxembourg City; Tickets: €15 for “super early bird,” rising over time to €30. Available .
The mission of Siren’s Call is to import foreign indy acts to Luxembourg--and also to revel in ’90s sounds in particular for the 35-50 age group. In the lineup are Bombay Bicycle Club, Bat for Lashes, Alvvays, Kim Gordon, Fat Dog and Luxembourg duo Francis of Delirium. The festival is also kid-friendly, with Minimënster, a festival specially designed for kids, featuring a children’s rock lineup of Ourk and Karlo Kipper.
Date: 29 June (Saturday); Venue: Neimënster, Luxembourg City; Tickets: €63.10 and free entry for children under 12. Available .
Food trucks will be on hand at Siren’s Call. Photo: Nader Ghavami/Archives
For those who prefer electronic music, the End-of-Season Party at the Philharmonie will be going on the same day. It kicks off at 4pm with a pre-party organised in collaboration with Ultraschall Collective. Then, at 10pm, the Philharmonie’s Grand Foyer will be transformed into a 2,700m2 dance floor, alive with a succession of DJ sets, headlined by France’s NTO (to be joined by musicians from the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra). The organisers are promising 12 straight hours of music.
Date: Saturday 29 June; Venue: Philharmonie, Luxembourg City; Tickets: €25 in advance and €30 at the door. Available .
The Blues Express blues festival will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this summer: to mark the occasion, the organisers are giving local and regional blues bands the chance to take part in the festival through . The lineup hasn’t been announced, but we'll leave you with last year’s aftermovie to whet your appetite.
Date: 13 July (Saturday); Venue: Fond-de-Gras and Lasauvage, Differdange; Tickets: Not yet available.
Next comes the Blues‘n’Jazz Rallye, whose programme isn’t yet finalised. Still, save the date: the event routinely brings in talented blues and jazz acts, which set up along and around the ramparts of the ancient fortress and surrounding areas.
Date: 20 July (Saturday); Venue: Grund, Clausen and Pfaffenthal districts, Luxembourg City; Tickets: free admission.
In France
If you’re willing to venture south of the border--no more than two hours’ drive or so--the good times continue. You can start with Le Jardin du Michel, on from 31 May to 2 June in Dommartin-lès-Toul. Grand Corps Malade, Jain, Dub Inc, Feder and Pierre de Maere will be headlining the festival. Tickets are available .
Or, try Nancy Open Air, where the Zénith du Grand Nancy will be hosting seven concerts between 8 June and 13 July. R&B artists Dadju and Tayc will be on stage on 8 June, after which it’s on to the heavyweights of the hard rock and heavy metal scene: Scorpions, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Megadeth, Extreme, The Last Internationale, Sortilège, Pretty Maids, Ayron Jones and Tom Morello. Also performing are I Am, MC Solaar, and Louane et Louise Attaque on 13 July. Tickets are available .
Then head to the Square Bayard in Charleville-Mézières for the Cabaret Vert. From 15 to 18 August, 21 Savage, Korn, Queens of the Stone Age, Macklemore, Justice and SCH will be performing at this festival, which has become a must-see. Tickets are available .
In Belgium
Within about three hours by car from Luxembourg City, you have more options. In Arlon, Aralunaires is on from 1 to 5 May. For this, its 15th anniversary edition, the festival has announced 38 artists--including Loverman, Moji x Sboy, Reinel Bakole and Teki Latex--18 concert venues, 10 free showcases, five days of partying and even a bike ride. Tickets are available .
Les Ardentes is the place to be for fans of rap: between 11 and 14 July in Liège, listen to Offset, DJ Snake, Gazo, Doja Cat, 21 Savage, Central Cee, Hamza, Booba, PLK and Nicki Minaj. The audience is renowned for its energy at this one. Tickets are available .
At Dour--which is both the name of the festival and the town where it’s taking place--the lineup is more eclectic. Pop, rap, techno, rock, drum and bass, reggaeton and eurodance: there’s bound to be something for everyone. Headliners include Isha & Limsa d’Aulnay, Paula Temple b2b SNTS, Dinos, Ice Spice, James Black, Amelie Lens, Skepta, Aminé, The Blessed Madonna, Arca and The Libertines. Tickets are available .
In Germany
And finally, looking the other way--and keeping to the three hour drive limit from Luxembourg City--Rock am Ring is happening on 7-9 June in Nürburg. This rock and heavy metal festival is unique in that part of it stretches along the pit lane of the Nürburgring motor racing circuit. Performing will be Die Ärzte, Avenged Sevenfold, Green Day, Broilers, Måneskin and Parkway Drive. Tickets are available .
It’s impossible to continue talking about German festivals without mentioning Summerjam, taking place on 5-7 July near Cologne. Burna Boy, Sido, Beenie Man, Busy Signal and Ky-Mani Marley will be taking part in what is one of Europe’s biggest reggae festivals. Tickets are available .
And finally, for anybody putting off going back to school, head out to Hockenheim on 12-15 September for Germany’s biggest festival, Glücksgefühle. During some 40 hours of live music, you can see the Backstreet Boys, Shirin David, Amelie Lens, Boris Brejcha, Avaion, Blasterjaxx, Creeds and many others. Tickets available .
This article in Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.