Mission: Ultimate InterRail Festival Summer

Run to the water

 FM4 Frequency is an Austrian festival. Why do I start off by saying that? Well, Austrian festivals are die hard. That's what I was told and it's absolutely through. Though the line-up isn't really filled with hardcore bands, the camping is filled with hardcore visitors. Fortunately for everyone, there's a crystal clear river running right through the camping site. Too bad I couldn't get in though cause: where would I leave all my equipment? It looks nice on this phone picture though, doesn't it?

Sziget: The Dutch Island

Picture: Michel Schnater

The biggest musical festival in Europe. At least that's what they say. Hundred thousands of visitors come to Budapest yearly for the Sziget Festival. Sziget means 'island' in Hungarian, so obviously it's all taking place on an island. Fun fact: you can camp on every place on the island. Even in front of the stage. And whenever you say the word 'camping', you say Dutch. With 12.000 Dutchies, Sziget is just a little bit orange. Resident people in Budapest even call it 'The Dutch Island' nowadays...

Moonwalking

I’ve just arrived on M’era Luna in Hildesheim, Germany. M’era Luna? Yeh, M’era Luna. Over 20.000 gothic fans gather on an airport for a weekend to see bands that I hardly know, but they seem to throw a big party. And I feel well invited. There seems to be a dress code though…

The big practical round up (part 1)

For the last 75 days, I’ve been telling you briefly about how great all these festivals were. Of course that made you jealous and I suppose that you all want to kill me by now. But please don’t do so, cause this post is actually useful. If you click ‘Continue reading…’ you’ll find a short review about how to get to the festivals I’ve been to. By train with InterRail. So you know what to do next year!

 

Teenage Kicks

This weekend, I've been at more than one festival. Two, in fact. The first one was Global Gathering. This weekender, held in Stratford upon Avon, is the mother of all dance festivals. Starting ten years ago, Global Gathering grew out to be an international concept that has been organized over all continents. After one night I called it a day though, cause I needed to get to Underage Festival in Victoria Park, London. And yep; that is indeed a festival for teenagers. Adults are not allowed on the festival area. Even I could only get into the site with a so-called 'shepherd'. What can I say? I'm not 18 anymore...

Paléo: paradise

Well, maybe I'm exaggerating a little here. But Paléo is at least a festival paradise. It lasts a week, but it didn't really feel like that to me. Instead, it felt like an easy holiday. The public transport is so well organized, that during the festival you can easily visit Nyon or Geneva just for some hours. For a drink, a swim or just some touristy walk. Of course, you still have to sleep in a tent. And yes, there are people screaming and making noise all night. But it's all just a little bit easier on Paléo. Paradise.

Flower Power

 Paléo in Nyon, Switzerland, is more than a festival. First of all: it lasts for a week. The people on it are not just visitors, but inhabitants instead. It's also the most multicultural festival i've been so far. Other festivals throughout Europe try to bring cultures together, often helped by a serious amount of governmental support money, but none of them really succeeds. Paléo does. Peace and love is what they preach. Call them hippies, but it works.

Birthday BBQ

Although I might be working all the time (somebody's got to do it), there has to be time off during all the festivals as well. That's why I was so glad that I was with some friends to celebrate my birthday. And that wasn't the only good news. You know what? On the Melt Festival in Germany you are even allowed to BBQ at the camping site. On a lot of another festivals the organisation forbids you to, but not this one! So I was able to eat some nice meat in preparation of yet another night of party...

Melting away

 It was pretty hot this weekend. Again. Last week I danced the nights away in Serbia on EXIT, but this week it got even crazier. I decided not to go to Heineken FIB in Spain, but instead I went to Germany for the crazy MELT!-festival. And like I said: it was hot. But instead of complaining about that, one can also enjoy the benefits. Like a hot evening shower, for example. You need a mate to help you out but hey: that’s what friends are for!

Next Exit

 There's not much left of my dancing shoes. My days in the fortress of Novi Sad were fantastic, but also long. Way too long. I do like to see bands such as The Klaxons and The Horrors, for example. But they were on around 8pm, and the dj's don't stop spinning the wheels before 8am. And by that time, the sun is already shining on the hot tents of the camping site. Yesterday night I took a night train to Vienna though, and that's where I am now, enjoying the luxury of a shower and a washing machine. Heading of to Spain again tomorrow!