Melt! has been running since 1997, and takes place in Ferropolis (the city of steel), near Dessau.

The site is an open-air museum of mining and excavating equipment, and the festival takes place in and around a collection of hulking great digging machines from the mid-20th century. At night, with the spot-lit machines acting as a bizarre backdrop, 20,000 people party til the wee hours at one of Europe's most universally popular festivals.

The festival always boasts a stellar line-up, and headliners in recent years have included acts like Pulp, Oasis, Aphex Twin, Franz Ferdinand and Royksopp.

Now coming up on it's 17th year, Melt! has become one of the most international festivals on the circuit, attracting visitors from all over Europe, and staking a serious claim as one of the most exciting festivals on the planet.