Rock en Seine 2008, at the expansive Parc de St. Cloud, will be remembered not for what it brought to the stage, but rather, failed to bring to centre stage – or who, more appropriately. Last minute replacement headliner Mike Skinner’s (The Streets) opening words to the enthusiastic, albeit disappointed crowd, “As you can see I AM NOT Amy Winehouse” summed it up very succinctly. Illness was apparently the reason for the tabloid-grabbing diva’s failure to appear in her designated slot. While this a little seems vague, the sheer disenchantment of the festival-goers was painfully obvious as discarded signs and banners lined the plastic garbage bags. The festival organisers will be pursuing legal action and may offer some sort of compensation to ticket holders but that doesn’t change the fact that this was not the way the festival, or any festival for that matter, was supposed to end.

Here are some of this summer’s top festivals in and around Europe, so it’s worth checking out before planning your holidays.

Glastonburry Festival
Glastonbury, UK, 26 –29 June
Kings of Leon, Jay-Z, Fatboy Slim, Kate Nash, Rennie Pilgrim, Sinead O conner, X-Press 2, Booka Shade, The Freestylers, Dreadzone, The Kills, The Ting Tings, Roni Size, Plump Djs, Squarepusher, Radioactive man
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“Brokeback Mountain” on Stage

After the cinematic success based on the short story by Annie Proulx that won 3 Academy Awards, why not head for the stage? Just as “Brokeback Mountain” was an unconventional love story, so too shall be its reincarnation as a live performance: as an operal.