The best winter music festivals that are still going ahead
Forget Glastonbury with the muddy fields and wee-drenched tents (really, why do we put up with that?), how about getting that festival-fix a lot earlier in the form of a snow-break you’ll NEVER forget.
Snow sports festivals are becoming increasingly popular and with the perfect mix of skiing and partying, it’s not hard to see why. They offer some of the best slopes for skiing and snowboarding across Europe’s best resorts, with mountains that create a stunning backdrop for some of the world's best performers and some top-notch content for the ‘gram.
Whatever your music preference, whether that’s Liam Gallagher at Snowbombing in Austria, Hannah Wants at Snowboxx in France or Jamie Jones at Caprices in Switzerland, these snow sports music festivals prove ski holidays aren’t just for skiers. If you’re a first-time skier, a ski festival is probably the safest bet. That way, if you’re the worst skier to ever grace the slopes, you can at least snowball yourself straight into an après bar and enjoy the music instead.
Dig out your Mum’s garish 80s ski-suit or head to the Topshop sales for a new ski jacket and gear yourself up for a live-music experience you’ll never forget. We’ve selected the best ski music festivals in Europe that haven’t yet been cancelled due to coronavirus, so grab some last-minute tickets before we all have to go into hibernation.
SNOWBOXX
WHERE
Avoriaz, France
WHEN
21st - 28th March 2020
LINEUP
DANNY HOWARD - DENIS SULTA - DIMENSION - HANNAH WANTS - THE HIGH CONTRAST BAND
Avoriaz is home to Europe's largest connected ski area with more than 650km of pistes and 11 snow parks. The very best quality snow is guaranteed throughout the festival and there are plenty of options for skiers of all levels. From cruisey blue pistes to the infamously challenging Swiss Wall, one of the most difficult slopes in the world. The resort is 100% vehicle-free, revellers can ski in and out of their apartments to catch the nearest lift, walk to any of the festival stages and pass lines of fairy lights during the week-long party. The beating heart of the town, The XX, is the largest club in the Avoriaz resort and the perfect place to carry on the party until the early hours, with respected brand La Folie Douce also set to throw apres parties everyday throughout the week. Alongside showcasing some of the biggest names in dance music, Snowboxx offers a fun-filled week of activities that include high altitude bottomless brunches, inflatable sled races, a fancy dress day, skim pool, forest raves, igloo parties, indoor waterpark, outdoor yoga, spas and a smorgasbord of world class restaurants to choose from.
SNOWBOMBING
WHERE
Mayrhofen, Austria
WHEN
13th-18th April 2020
LINEUP
LIAM GALLAGHER - THE STREETS - CHASE & STATUS - GORGON CITY - ALAN FITZPATRICK
Mayrhofen boasts a variety of ski terrains perfect for beginners, experts and everyone in between. Over 650km of pure unadulterated piste, the Penken Snow Park, blue runs, red runs, beginner slopes and Europe’s steepest incline, the fearsome Harikiri at 78%. When it comes to stages Snowbombing has it all, including four headline venues, three mountain venues and two apres ski venues. There’s a huge range of activities throughout the week including the Snowlympic Games, mountain top tug of war, ski-lift sing-along, glitter stations, ski-lift speed dating and workouts with the actual Mr Motivator. Or you could Zen out every morning with Alpine Yoga sessions or visit some roof-top hot tubs with panoramic views of the Austrian peaks.
CAPRICES
WHERE
Crans-Montana, Switzerland
WHEN
17th-19th April, 24th-26th April 2020
LINEUP
Jamie Jones - Ricardo Villalobos - Archie Hamilton - Sonja Moonear - Magda - Traumer
Caprices is home to one of the most visually stunning music venues in the world, The Modernity Stage, a greenhouse-like structure that sits 2,200m above sea level offering panoramic views of the crystalline skies and snow-capped mountain vista. Three new stages will be in place this year — firstly a new daytime stage at Cry D’Er to complement Modernity, plus the Moon stage from previous years will give way to two brand new stages, The Forest Stage and The Chalet Stage. The resort itself boasts a broad selection of eateries ranging from mountain huts to award-winning restaurants, numerous boutiques and shops, a wellness centre and a variety of entertainment including 140km of pistes, 100,000m² snow park, illuminated ice rink and an eco museum.
THE UNLIMITED FESTIVAL
WHERE
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
WHEN
31st March - 5th April 2020
LINEUP
AME - Carl Craig - Maceo Plex - Nina Kraviz - Tale of Us
Chamonix hosted the first ever Winter Olympics, so keen skiers and snowboarders will get a chance to sample the slopes with Chamonix-born brand black crows. The Unlimited Festival has six open air stages with jaw-dropping views of the peaks and Mont Blanc. This includes the Skyway Monte Bianco stage which is often referred to as the roof of Europe, it’s 3,466 meters high, that’s more than three quarters the height of Mont Blanc itself, the highest mountain in Europe.
