Sziget – the most colourful, biggest and
cheapest festival in Central Europe

During this time of global financial crisis value for money becomes a higher priority. We have one foolproof tip for avid fans of music and youth culture: it will definitely be worth their while to come to Budapest from the 12th to the 17th of August when the Sziget Festival (which includes two warm-up days) will be welcoming visitors from across Europe.

Sziget Festival – unique

A narrow iron bridge arching across the river Danube leads to one of Europe’s favourite summer events, the Sziget Festival. Beyond the bridge a new world opens up: an island, a beautiful 76 hectare park, where the organisers build a festival town for one week every year with the capacity to welcome 80 thousand festivalgoers at any one time, with facilities to satisfy all visitor requirements. All this in the heart of the Hungarian capital, enjoying outstanding transport links and yet isolated from the urban environment. More than a thousand programmes are on offer across 55 venues. Guests can recuperate from a hard night of international concerts and partying in the high standard camping on-site.

The festival’s gastronomic palette is also unique: as well as Hungarian specialties, visitors can sample a variety of international cuisines and get a taste of Hungarian wines, and the characteristic local pálinkas and fruit-brandies. The festival atmosphere is exceptionally friendly and relaxed, whilst the prices are exceptionally modest. Everything is set for a memorable one-week cultural holiday at the Sziget Festival in Budapest, on the sunny shores of a beautiful island on the Danube. Although it is all too easy to fill the whole day with the staggeringly varied programmes covering every cultural media on offer, the tourist attractions and world famous spas of the magnificent, historic Budapest are also worth a visit.

Sziget Festival – colourful

Sziget Festival offers the most diverse line-up of all European summer festivals, featuring wide-ranging programmes in numerous venues such as outdoor stages and large tents. International superstars follow one after the other on the Main stage, including Faith No More, Manic Street Preachers, Prodigy, Placebo, Fatboy Slim, The Offspring, Snow Patrol, Klaxons, Block Party, Ska-P, Maximo Park, The Subways,The Ting Tings and many more. The World Music Main stage will be hosting amongst others Khaled, Amadu&Mariam Calexico, So Kalmery, Speed Caravan, Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, 08001, and Figli Di Madre Ignota. There will also be a main stage showcasing Hungarian acts. The large programme tents are generally themed according to musical category. In the 2700m² main tent partygoers can enjoy the best in electronic music, such as Armin Van Buuren, Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold and Eric Prydz. International stars will also be appearing on the stages of the dedicated Hard Rock and Indie tents which have the capacity to accommodate 5- to 600 people. Due to high demand the organisers have increased the size of the tent presenting Roma music. The venue showcasing Gay and Lesbian culture boasts a spectacular turnout every year and hosts mind-blowing dance parties that go on to the small hours of the night. Amongst countless other venues and programmes there will be a jazz and blues pub, an Afro-Latin stage, Balkan stage, folk-dance venues, classical music concerts, literary nights, comedy and stand-up, circus and jugglers, art exhibitions, film screenings, theatre and dance performances, an adventure park, and a nightly performance from the world-famous and breathtaking Catalan street circus La Fura Dels Baus. Every night multiple dance parties will ferry tireless partygoers’ right through the night and into the next day.

In 2010 the Southern-Hungarian town of Pécs will be the European Capital of Culture, on account of which visitors can get a taste of the colourful programmes that will be on offer next year at two separate venues.

The organisers take great pride at showcasing NGOs in the areas of tolerance, human rights, environmental protection and prevention. 120 NGOs interested in the above themes will introduce themselves and organise programmes in the area entitled Civil Sziget.

A new addition at this year’s festival is the Hungaricum Village, where visitors will be able to sample Hungarian culinary specialities, view and even buy craftwork and applied arts products.

Festivalgoers are guaranteed to be spoilt for choice amidst the vast array of programmes on offer. For detailed listings go to www.szigetfestival.com.

Sziget – the highest standards

The sleepover festival pass includes access to the camping site and all related services. For the first time the festival is introducing a VIP camping area, which will group all high-end camping facilities in one place – without reducing the quality and quantity of services available to other campers. Toilets, hot water showers, grocery store, café, internet, laundry, luggage lockers and safe deposit will provide heightened comfort in a gated and guarded area. This outstanding service is available for €80 supplemental to the ticket price. There is also an option for caravan camping for an extra €100 per vehicle, which can be purchased on location with the camping ticket. Sziget organisers do their outmost to provide a secure and comfortable environment for a week of carefree entertainment for all visitors. Dozens of pubs offer a variety of drinks from lager to cocktails, numerous restaurants from Hungarian to international flavours. Post office, bank, money exchange, internet tent, ATMs, tourist and travel information, customer services and complaints desk, laundry, free luggage lockers and safe deposits, pharmacy and first aid station are just some of the services provided to ensure a pleasant experience. A 1,200 strong security force is ensuring the safety of festivalgoers, 400 medical staff, and a team of police officers from a number of countries under an international cooperative scheme. As well as recycling, Sziget employs 600 cleaners who will do everything from mosquito and tic control to dust elimination on main roads for the comfort of visitors. There will be 1,500 toilets provided and 400 free showers available in the camping area with a 25 thousand person capacity. The festival pays special attention to those living with disabilities; the grounds are entirely obstacle free with dedicated disabled infrastructure: a wheelchair viewing platform at the main stage, Braille programme magazine, and support staff available on demand for those with special needs. Visitors can experience the difficulties faced by those living with disabilities in the ability park where they can challenge themselves in the wheelchair obstacle course, the pitch black room, and other programmes aimed at those interested in gaining an insight into living with disability.

Sziget – more for less

All of the above is available for a price significantly below the average of European festivals: one week of parties, more than 200 international performers as well as exciting Hungarian programmes, with services of the highest standard and camping facilities are available for only €150 until 30 April and still only €180 after. (Without camping the one week pass is €120 and €150 respectively). But ticket prices are only one side of the equation, cheap tickets are often balanced by expensive services, drinks and food on the grounds. In contrast, at the Sziget Festival all basic services (toilets, showers, luggage lockers, camping, medical services, etc.) are included in the ticket price. (Extra services can be purchased in addition: VIP camping for €80 and caravan parking for €100) All additional expenses are also astoundingly cheap compared to the European average whilst being of an equal if not higher quality. Thirsty festivalgoers can drink a pint of beer for €1.5 or sip a Cuba Libre or Mojito for €4, and can munch on a hamburger for €2 or a large slice of pizza for €1.5. A large variety of meals are available for the very friendly average price of €4 and a large soft drink costs only €1.3. And since the Hungarian currency has weakened significantly against the Euro, visitors can get 15-20% more for their money. 

Budapest, 29 April 2009 

 

Sziget 2009 – the best week of the year

Whilst the global recession is still raging with no end in sight, there is one thing we can count on to dispel the ubiquitous gloom of the credit crunch. One carefree party-filled week of joyous self-abandon that is the Sziget. This year what is, was, and always will be the crown jewel of European festivals will be is running from 12-17 August, introduced by two warm-up days. Already some major names have been confirmed, with even more yet to come.

Right from day one there is going to be a truly legendary party as Tankcsapda celebrates the band’s 20th birthday. Laci Lukacs has promised the biggest concert in the band’s history on 10 August, launching the festival on Day -1. The “Big Tankcsapda Day” will start in the early evening with warm-up bands, followed by the “Tanks” with sets and lights designed exclusively for this occasion, performing assorted hits from the last 20 years and – if the rumours are true – a brand new song as well. All this is free with the ‘camping ticket’. Regular tickets are otherwise 5000Ft. While Day Zero is still wide open to exciting possibilities, our favourite festival’s steadfast audience is certain to experience a mammoth line-up of album promotional concerts. 

Performing on the main stage is none other than The Prodigy. Their latest, fifth studio album ‘Invaders Must Die’ is a huge hit in Hungary and around the world. It went straight in at number two on the Hungarian MAHASZ chart and is leading the European Billboard TOP 100.  

Norman Cook, also known as the legendary Fatboy Slim will be leading a riotous party showcasing his brand new fifth album. And even the artist fresh out of rehab might find it hard to resist the lure of the Dreher fuelled ‘Sarki Feny’ (Carbonated Vodka).  

Placebo recently announced their new album, "Battle for the Sun" will be released on June 8th 2009. Hungarian fans will have a chance to check out the new album live at Sziget this year.  - "We've made a record about choosing life, about choosing to live, about stepping out of the darkness and into the light," explains frontman Brian Molko. "Not necessarily turning your back on the darkness because it's there, it's essential; it's a part of who you are, but more about the choice of standing in the sunlight instead. I'm very optimistic about the future. I'm in a positive frame of mind and a good head space. It's very exciting." 

There are already confirmed opening bands on the main stage. Rocking the crowd in extravagant British acid-rave sci-fi punk style is The Klaxons. The chaotic break-beat heavy Gareth McGrillen and Rob Swire lead Pendulum to Sziget Mainstage and one of the most popular bands of the indie-rock scene of the 2000’s Bloc Party will be blasting off, blending musical inspiration from the Sonic Youth, The Cure and Joy Division.  And Brit indie-pop sensation The Ting Tings will be making sure all of Hungary knows their name. This year’s festival won’t pass without a Ska superstar either, returning for the third time the Spanish Ska-P will keep festivalgoers bouncing. 

The World Music Stage has never introduced so many fresh acts as it is in 2009. Amongst the best known names, one of the biggest sensations will be the debut concert of Claxico from Arizona. The style of this veteran formation is a fusion of indie-rock, alternative country and mariachi music. Performing for the first time in Hungary is the Congolese So Kalmery that created a unique sound known as ‘brakka’ from blending central-African styles, reggae and guitar based dance music. North-African and Spanish flavours mingle in the electronic-based music of the 08001 cult collective from Barcelona, whilst French-Algerian Speed Caravan creates the most radical and fastest lyre music of all time. Also one of the latest bands is Figli di Madre Ignota, whose brass ‘Spaghetti Balkan’ promises to bring the festival’s highest energy party. There are of course returning favourites. From the members of the Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club we can once again enjoy Guajiro Mirabal, Jesus Ramos and Manuel Galban; and those partial to roots-reggae will be delighted by Tiken Jah Fakoy from the Ivory Coast.  

On the other end the Party Arena is preparing its quality program. So far we know that Armin van Buuren, who was voted to be the one of the world TOP 100 Djs in 2007 and 2008 as well (according to DJ MAG) will be there for sure. And this is only the beginning. Our next news release will reveal just as many delicacies from the World Music Sziget. 

Budapest, 25 March 2009 

More Names on Sziget

The Offspring from Los Angeles, Snow Patrol from Glasgow, Die Toten Hosen and many more artists from around the world have recently confirmed that they had accepted the organisers’ invitation to perform on the numerous stages of our beloved festival.

Californian kings of old school impudence The Offspring, one of the most successful punk bands of all time with over 50 million albums sold worldwide, made a come back last year with the album Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace and will be showcasing its riotous sound to the Sziget audience this coming August. Also arriving in August is Snow Patrol, the Glasgow-based band originally hailing from Northern Ireland who will be opening for U2 on their No Line on the Horizon world tour. This festival will give connoisseurs of rock the chance to experience the cult Dusseldorf punk band Die Toten Hosen, who have released several gold and platinum albums during a career spanning more than two decades. We can welcome Haydamaky, a band from Ukraine whose unique ethno-ska music has seduced the whole of Europe, as well as Finnish Disco Ensemble, who – despite their name – will produce not golden oldies but mind-blowing post-hardcore hits as they perform from Magic Recoveries, their Finnish chart-topping album. Tom Jenkinson, the electro artist who has released twelve albums during his decade long career under the pseudonym Superpusher will be enticing Sziget audiences for the first time in 2009, as will the electro soundscapes of Coldcut. Adding even more colour to the punk palette is Swedish new wave punk band Backyard Babies, who have won a Grammy in their home country for their 2002 album Stockholm Syndrome. The best week of the year cannot pass without a jolt of inimically French electro, which will be delivered by the turntable maestros of the Birdy Nam Nam crew, named best DJ team in 2002. Strengthening the electro front on Sziget will be the Portuguese experimental electro rock band Blasted Mechanism. Known primarily for world music, their performance will exhilarate rock- world- and electro fans alike. Matatu, specialists of breathless ska-parties will be let loose on the island this August. Everyone will be swept away by the smooth drum n bass waves of Miloopa – named after Poland’s favourite baby food. We will be welcoming Dutch classic guitar rock band De Staat, who released their debut album Wait for Evolution in January. Also arriving for the first time in Hungary will be Expatriate, the Australian indie band who have been called kindred spirits with cult legends Hot Hot Heat, Deathcab for Cutie and Blonde Redhead and released their first album In the Midst of This in 2007. Donots, Germany’s most popular punk band to have ever come out of Ibbenburen, will be playing from their latest album Coma Chameleon from 2008 to whip Sziget audiences into a party frenzy.

 

Подальша інформація:  press@sziget.hu