FIB: Festival Internacional de Benicassim

Why should I go? It’s a summer music festival on the beach in Spain.

Need we say more? Any interesting titbits of information? Vince Power, former boss of Mean Fiddler, is the main man behind Benicàssim.

Completing our Barcelona #2, #3, #4 line-up is Benicàssim, the more hedonistic and less cerebral cousin of Primavera Sound and Sonar. Two days longer, much hotter and located right on the beach, Benicàssim takes a more mainstream approach to its headliners including, this year, booking Oasis, The Killers and Kings Of Leon. It also offers lots of non-musical options such as sculpture, art installations, burlesque dancers and theatre troupes that dot the festival site.
Yet, the main reason people flock to Benicàssim is still the beach and the headliners. No other festival gives you opportunity to sun yourself while listening to some of the biggest acts in the world; and if Oasis and The Killers don’t enthuse there are hundreds of activities (not including sitting on a beach and doing nothing) to keep people busy on the festival site. While the music only lasts four days, the festival allows you to camp for the entire week, giving each ticket-holder prime opportunity to relax, tan and try and work out ways not to go home. Sometimes, music festivals are as exhausting as a week of work; Benicàssim is the exact opposite. It’s pure relaxation, and in many ways that is pure heaven.

Ticket price: four-day ticket (16th-19th July): £160; one-day ticket (Thursday or Friday): £67.50. Camping not included.

Accommodation: Camping. Visit the website for recommendations on hotels, hostels, B&B’s and other local camping sites.

Site opening: Camping site open from Monday 13th July to Tuesday 21st July.

Capacity: 35,000

Stages: Escenario Verde, Fiberfib.com, FIBClub, Pista Pop.

Travel:
The two nearest airports are Valencia and Réus. Trains to Benicássim are 1 hour from Valencia and 1 hour 45 minutes from Réus via Tarragona. Most of the bus lines to the festival come into Castellón Bus Station, which is 14 km from Benicàssim. A constant shuttle bus runs from Castellón Bus Station to the site.