Summer music festivals fit for a holiday Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and the Arctic Monkeys coped with the fierce heat during their afternoon sets, while Radiohead and Pulp's back catalogues roused impassioned singalongs. At one point musical history was made, when the deceased West Coast rapper Tupac Shakur performed, by way of a hologram, alongside Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg. There was little by way of late-night entertainment but this was probably for the best for campers woken early by the desert sun. More luxurious accommodation options included air-conditioned safari tents in a lush field backstage and design-conscious Palm Springs hotels, such as the midcentury, motel-style Ace Hotel (acehotel.com/palmsprings), or the new Saguaro (jdvhotels.com/hotels/riverside/saguaro_palmsprings), both of which hosted pool parties and offered weekend packages. Either side of the festival, there is much to see in Los Angeles, two hours away - from the film theatres of Hollywood Boulevard to the great works in the Museum of Contemporary Art. Admire the coast on the South Bay bike trail by hiring a bike from stations of Perry's Café (perryscafe.com), from where you can cycle past Venice Beach's bizarre characters, skaters and musclemen, to the much-filmed pier at Santa Monica. Here, you can sift through the area's good vintage shops, a short distance from the art deco loveliness of the seafront Shangri-La hotel (shangrila-hotel.com). Here's my pick of other rock and world music festivals worth travelling to. Primavera Sound Barcelona, Spain May 30-June 3 sanmiguelprimaverasound.es The handsome Parc del Forum site has views of the Mediterranean and is close to Barcelona's city centre. When not enjoying Beirut, The Cure, Björk, Yo La Tengo or Wild Beasts - just some of the artists playing at this typically well-curated event - festival-goers can wander around La Rambla, head to the beach or explore the city's nightlife, before returning to the air-conditioned comfort of a hotel room. Gnaoua Festival Essaouira, Morocco June 21-24 festival-gnaoua.net The music of the Gnaoua incorporates Berber, Arab and African influences. Expect to hear the jangly strings of a guembri, an instrument similar to a lute, over drums and metallic castanets in the public squares and courtyards of this relaxed port. There is a mix of international jazz, rock and world music, too. Spend a couple of days before or after the festival strolling along the beach, camel riding and browsing in the medina. There are many pretty riads to stay in but be sure to book well in advance as the event attracts more than 300,000 people. Open Air St Gallen St Gallen, Switzerland June 28-July 1 openairsg.ch The green meadows overlooking the Sitter river are the fine setting for this mid-size festival, which has lots of space for camping within view of the main stages, making for a rather relaxed affair. Mumford and Sons, Florence and the Machine, Noah and the Whale are some of those providing the musical welcome this year. An hour's train ride from Zurich, the city of St Gallen has a charming old town and is close to Lake Constance. Terraneo Sibenik, Croatia August 7-10 terraneofestival.com This small, eco-conscious festival has natural jewellery-making workshops and yoga courses and is held near the Dalmatian town of Sibenik, which has a UNESCO-listed cathedral. Day tickets will be available, making it a good choice for people wanting to drop in while exploring Croatia's most famous stretch of coast. Playing are international and Croatian bands including Friendly Fires, The Vaccines and The Roots. Flow, Sörnäinen Helsinki, Finland August 8-12 flowfestival.com/en This art-filled urban festival, on the site of an old power plant near the city centre, is compact, but a lot of thought has gone into creating a variety of colourful entertainment spaces. Last year, a grassy glade with bunting and tree stumps played host to various DJs and a garage filled with beanbags and street art was transformed into a cinema run by Future Shorts. The main stage is backed by a double-decker bar festooned with lights and serving Nordic berry cocktails. There is an equally eclectic mix of music. This year sees performances from techno superstar Richie Hawtin, soul legend Bobby Womack, Horace Andy, Canadian songstress Feist and blues rockers the Black Keys. Visitors can explore the city in the mornings or take a ferry for a swim on the nearby island of Suomenlinna. Rajasthan International Folk Festival Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, India October 26-30 jodhpurfolkfestival.org The sound of devotions at sunrise set an early start to the day at the sixth Rajasthan International Folk Festival. Held in a spectacular location at the clifftop Mehrangarh Fort, traditional musicians bring to life the region's musical heritage while the sun is up, and world dance beats pick up the pace in a club at night, when the atmosphere is just as magical thanks to the festival coinciding with the year's brightest full moon. The blue city of Jodhpur has many attractions including nearby craft villages and the Mandore Gardens.