by Matthew Furst

Some say the best places to see a band is in a small, intimate club. Others claim there’s nothing like relaxing on the lawn of a huge outdoor pavilion while basking the melodies of your favorite tunes. Not matter your preference, there’s a ticket waiting just for you. Here are the world’s best music festivals:

Glastonbury, England (late June)
Surviving through all the years and trends since 1970, Glastonbury has long been England’s place to see the biggest and best bands in the world. It is also notoriously the muddiest. But, rain or shine, concertgoers revel in the sounds of more than 700 bands each year.

Rock Al Parque, Bogota, Columbia (late June)
This free concert is one of the largest in South America, if not the world. More than 320,000 rockers show up each year to enjoy some of the biggest acts in rock today. Maybe you should too.

Roskilde, Denmark (early July)
Acts like Bob Marley and Bob Dylan weren’t strangers to Roskilde, so you shouldn’t be either. Nearly 80,000 people show up each year to enjoy the sounds, sights, and the annual “naked run” where the winner receives a free ticket to the show. Who knows, maybe next year that could be you.

South By Southwest, Austin, Texas (late March)
If you prefer an amazing city backdrop and big bands in small clubs to sleeping in a tent South By Southwest is for you. While the festival has exploded in recent years, with an all-access pass, you can still find some amazing shows at tiny venues. You’ll also have a great chance at discovering bands you’ve never listened to before.

Primavera, Spain (late July)
A three-day festival by the sea. What could be better? That’s right. Not much. Here you’ll find breakout bands typically the year before they explode into the mainstream. Think Bon Iver, Vampire Weekend and Phoenix playing amazing sets before everyone knew their lyrics by heart and that’s basically Primavera. If you love new music, you’ll love Primavera.

Fuji Rock, Japan (late July)
Taking its name from Mt. Fuji, Fuji Rock is the biggest show in all of Japan. Known as the most beautiful festival in all the world, due to the surrounding streams and hills, Fuji Rock should definitely land on your greatest hits list.

Coachella, California (late April)
Perhaps the best festival in America, Coachella is a beast. Blistering hot during the day and just plain cold at night, you’d think attendance would be slim. But those in the know know it’s worth any discomfort to witness spectacular lineups that excite even the most ardent music cynics year after year. It’s what all music festivals aspire to be but rarely are. This is one show you don’t want to miss. Have fun and be safe.