Festival of the Week: La Route du Rock

Posted on Aug 14th 2009 6:00AM by Stephen Dowling
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Where: Saint Malo, Brittany, France

Website: http://www.laroutedurock.com/

When: Aug. 14 to 16

How to get there: You can get a ferry direct to Saint Malo, one of northern France's most picturesque cities, from Poole in Dorset. The festival's organisers have set up a package with ferry company Brittany Ferries. There's also a TVR service to the city via Paris, which make the Eurostar a viable option too, especially if you're prone for seasickness.

Capacity: 25,000.

Ticket price: Seeing as the festival will include the cost of a trip to France as part of the outgoings (unless you're reading this in France, in which case -- bonjour) you'll be better off buying a package which includes travel, such as the £99 festival deal from Brittany Ferries.

Who's playing?: Bring the earplugs – one of this year's headliners is My Bloody Valentine, set to cause ringing skulls aplenty, while the jazz-tinged post rock of Tortoise rub shoulders with the skuzzy charm of the Kills and this year's band-to-catch, Grizzly Bear. The Horrors had been due to play but have had to bow out, while the line-up also boasts

Who's played before?: There have been headline sets from the likes of Sonic Youth, Portishead, PJ Harvey, the Cure, Sigur Ros, Foals, the Breeders, Mogwai, the National, TV on the Radio and Tindersticks.

What's it like?: As much a city-break as a festival. Though Saint Malo suffered extensive damage during World War II, extensive repairs have brought back much of its historic charm, and the festival makes good use of this tourist magnet. Few festivals, after all, can boast both a beach and a castle, unless the latter's of the bouncy variety.

What sets it apart?: Unlike most festivals, La Route du Rock changes sites between day and night. The daytime line-up plays on a beach near the historic walled city, while the night-time activities are held in a stage within the Old City. This way, you get the combined benefits of the beach and the city, alongside a usually excellent line-up.

The festival began in 1991, and it has another major difference to most festivals - there's a winter event aswell as the summer dates.

When festival fever sets in: Cobbled streets, the beach, bars filled with bottles of the local vino, pastries, café au lait, blazing sun, the famous French cuisine... Spinner is already booking its tickets for next year.