The truly one-of-a-kind Melt Festival, staged amongst retired coal-mining diggers on Germany’s Ferropolis peninsula, has line-ups to match its location. In 2008, there’s an extra day added to accommodate the all-star cast.

This reviewer was lucky enough to attend the festival last year, so here’s a excerpt of the write-up: “Where else but Germany could you hold a dance party in an open-air museum for industrial machinery? Logically named Ferropolis (“city of steel”), the site has a nightmarish grandeur, its discarded and decaying hulks almost other-worldly in their enormity. Each stage is cleverly integrated into the alien landscape and, with no noise restrictions, the sound is suitably bad-ass. Flanked by a lake at the end of a peninsula, it’s unlike any other ‘city’ you’re likely to wander into.”

More than 80 live acts and DJs span six stages from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 July, with everything from glam rock to the wonkiest minimal techno represented. Plus, it’s a relative bargain compared to the UK festival circuit. Here’s the knee-weakening first round line-up:

Björk // Franz Ferdinand // Editors // Ben Folds // The Gossip // Turbostaat // Booka Shade // Alter Ego // Miss Kittin & The Hacker (live) // Boys Noize // Moonbootica // Efdemin // Len Faki // The Teenagers // Die Türen // Kompakt label special: Supermayer (live) // Burger/Voigt (live) // Gui Boratto // Tobias Thomas // Bpitch label special: Modeselektor (live) // Ellen Allien // Sascha Funke // Tomas Andersson Man Recordings: Crookers // Daniel Haaksman

If you’re feeling rich and in need of a holiday, click HERE for more on Melt.