Summer Festivals - Part-1


BY BURAK ŞAHİN (IR/III)
burak_s@ug.bilkent.edu.tr

Spring is here (March 21) although we cannot feel it. This is season to choose which summer festival to attend. There will be some difficulties for those under 24 at Turkish festivals because of a new law. If a festival offers alcohol for sale, it is prohibited for anyone under age of 24 to attend. I would like to present some alternative options that are abroad, good and cheap ones;

Sziget
Country: Hungary
City: Budapest
Dates: August 10 -15, 2011
Ticket Price:  170 Euros (includes camping)
Line-up: Interpol, Pulp, Gogol Bordello, The National, The Chemical Brothers, and more
Why?: Sziget is one of best festivals of Europe. You can listen to the best bands, and you can explore new groups that will be stars of the future. In addition, Sziget is very cheap as compared to other big festivals, and there are Turkish firms that organized tours to Budapest.
Website: http://www.sziget.hu

Beniccassim
Country: Spain
City: Costa Azahar
Dates: July 14-17, 2011
Ticket Price:  165 £   (includes camping)
Line-up: Arcade Fire, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Mumford & Sons, Portishead, and more
Why?: If you are looking for a holiday that includes beach and swimming during the day and listening to amazing bands until morning, you should not hesitate to go Beniccassim.
Moreover, this year best albums owners will be also in Spain. Arcade Fire is one of them.
Website: http://fiberfib.com

Oxegen Festival
Country: Ireland
City: Punchestown, Country Kildare
Dates: July 7-10, 2011
Prices:  244 Euros (includes camping)
Line-up:  Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, The Black Eyed Peas, Brondon Flowers, The National, Two Door Cinema Club, Paolo Nutini, and more.
Why?: The Oxegen Festival was named Best Major European Festival two years in a row, and it really deserved it. This festival is compared with biggest festivals such as Glastonbury and V Festival. The line-up is full of good bands. If you have a chance to go to Ireland and have enough money, do not miss Oxygen Festival this summer.
Website: http://www.oxegen.ie/