Sziget Festival. Peace, Love, and Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden, Muse, and Kasabian: metal, Twilight teeny-bobber rock, and indie.  It’s an interesting mix, but it’s part of what attracts over 400,000 visitors to Sziget, one of Europe’s top musical festivals every summer.  Budapest will play host to the bands and the hoards that will come to see their favourite rockers from August 11 – 16th.

While the line up is fairly mainstream, and more focused on rock and metal, there are some surprises.  It will be a event rich with the opportunity to experience names new to many, such as the Belarusian ska-punk group Lyapia Trubetskoy.

The festival is taking place in the city centre, on the Sziget Island.  Festival promoters describe the island as “the island of friendship, the island of love, the island of joyful self-abandon, the island of freedom, the island of cultural diversity. That said, it’s worth keeping in mind this is also the island where the beer is cheap, the girls and boys are beautiful…” While this may sound more like Woodstock, then a contemporary rock fest, it does give a laid back and open direction to the event.

In addition to the aforementioned bands, there will be a truly interesting mix of electronic, punk, and rap. From Faithless, to Gwar, to K.I.Z. the festival promises to be a visual and acoustic orgy, as some massively expansive stage sets and booming systems are planned.  Whatever your preference, you’re sure to find a taste.

Live like a rock star (just please don’t trash the room) at White Line’s Lánchíd 19.  You might just run into a few familiar faces at the bar…

More information, schedules and tickets for Sziget can be found at www.sziget.hu.

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Categories: Budapest, Culture, Events

Contributing writer: Alicia Reuter