Following our preview of Pohoda a couple of weeks ago, many people have asked us about what other festivals are taking place across the country this summer. We’ve compiled a list of everything that’s worth going to in Slovakia, plus a few in neighbouring countries.
Bažant Mlynoch
When is it?
May 29
Where is it?
Mlynska Dolina, Bratislava
How do I get there?
31 or 39 bus. Will be nearly impossible to get a bus on the way back and many taxis wont go there for fear of vomiting students.
How much does it cost?
It’s free.
What’s it all about?
The student area Mlynska Dolina is taken over for the day and night, with an outdoor stage plus the 3 venues on the campus (Unique, Elam and Club 39) playing host to various live acts and much more besides (including a wet t-shirt competition). Fine entertainment and possibly the cheapest beer you’ll ever find at a festival.
Who’s playing?
Well established Slovak acts of all genres, especially more mainstream ones. It’s a festival more for carefree partygoers than musos. Here’s the full lineup..
Billy Barman (SK) – Indie rock
Gladiator (SK) – dadrock band dating back to 1989
Skyline (CZ) – breaks and dnb electronica act who have toured with Underworld
Polemic (SK) – ska veterans and one of the best acts around (click here for our review of their recent gig)
Vidiek (SK) – comic rock
Opak (SK) – hip hop artist and member of AMO who released his debut solo album “Otvorenie” (the Opening) earlier this year
David Koller&Band (CZ) – veteran pop rock
Where can I find out more?
Er, we’re not sure if the festival has a website, persistent googling has not successfully summoned one. The ever on the ball last.fm have some info here. Expect posters to pop up all over the city a couple of days beforehand.
Wilsonic
When is it?
June 11 – 13
Where is it?
Summer Club Incheba
How do I get there?
It’s in the grounds of Incheba, the big exhibition centre on the Petržalka side of Novy Most, so easy to reach by bus. All public transport is completely free for festival visitors upon showing a valid ticket or a wristband. You also can get a 25% on train tickets if travelling from within Slovakia.
How much does it cost?
Weekend: 35 (members, advanced), 39 (advanced), 45 (on the day)
Day (Fri or Sat): 25 (members, advanced), 28 (advanced), 30 (on the day)
What’s it all about?
When BratVegas spoke to the owners they said: “We want Wilsonic to be a place where this corner of Europe annually shows its best fruits,” the aim of the festival being to “put the spotlight on Eastern Europe and its up-and-coming artists” focusing on “new, original, and innovative music.” Click here http://www.bratvegas.sk/articles/view/38/wilsonic_2009_preview.html to read the full interview
Who’s playing?
Moderat = Modeselektor + Apparat + Pfandfinderei (DE), Junior Boys (CAN), Jazzanova LIVE featuring Paul Randolph (DE/US), Nôze All Star Band with Dani Siciliano (FR/UK), Henrik Schwarz (DE), The Invisible (UK), Kelley Polar (US), Rustie DJ (UK), Hudson Mohawke DJ (UK), The Mole (CAN), Adam Marshall DJ (CAN), Catz N’ Dogz (PL), Dorian Concept (AT), Aardvarck DJ (NL), Rusko (UK), Joker + MC Nomad DJ (UK), The Dead Sea (AUS), For A Minor Reflection (IS), Napszyklat (PL), Disasteradio (NZ), Daj Ray (US), Ost & Kjex (NO), Hyperpotamus (ES), Akira (UK), Trouble over Tokyo (AT/UK)
Where can find out more?
www.wilsonic.sk
Fun Radio Summerfest
When is it?
June 13
Where is it?
Nove Zamky airport
How do I get there?
Plenty of trains and buses go there
How much does it cost?
€19
What’s it all about?
Mainstream pop brought to you by the popular Fun Radio. So expect happy and smiley, perhaps verging on cheesy.
Who’s playing?
There are 3 stages, the Main Stage, Ministry of Sound Stage and Hip Hop Stage. The 2 biggest names are Swedish euro-popstress September and Slovak hip hopers Kontrafakt.
Main stage: September SW, Morandi RO, Tomi SK, L.L.Junior HU
Ministry of Sound Stage: Scott Simons, Ali Payami, Collins and Benham
Hip Hop Stage: Rytmus a Kontrafakt, Opak, Viktor Hazard
Where can I find out more?
www.summerfest2009.sk
Topfest
When is it?
June 26 and 27
Where is it?
Nové Mesto nad Váhom, - Zelená voda (Golden Waters Lake)
How do I get there?
It’s well connected for trains and buses
How much does it cost?
€27 advanced, €30 on the day
What’s it all about?
3 stages of music over 2 days. Mainly rock, metal and punk.
Who’s playing?
Limp Biscuit are the main draw. The huge bill consists mainly of Slovak and Czech artists and includes the names ever present at festivals such as Polemic, Puding Pani Elvisovej and Tata Bojs. There’s also a liberal peppering of punk veterans including Konflikt and Slobodná Európa from Slovakia and Alkohol from the Czech Republic.
Where can I find out more?
www.topfest.sk
Rock for People (CZ)
When is it?
July 4-6
Where is it?
Near Hradec Kralove, 100 km east of Prague
How do I get there?
Revelers are encouraged to locomote. Hradec Kralove is 1 hour 40 mins from Prague with regular trains running once per hour plus extra ones laid on for the festival. Shuttle buses run between the station and the festival site.
By car take the D11 highway to Hradec Kralove, turn left at the end of the highway (if coming from Prague, turn right if coming from the other direction) and drive northbound over Libisany, Brezhrad and Svobodne Dvory -direction Nachod and Wroclaw. Take first to the right at the fourth roundabout (direction Hradec Kralove centrum) and look for OBIsupermarket. Then turn left.
Easy as that then, no wonder the organizers advise the train.
How much does it cost?
CZK 1250 + tax (approx €50) for 3 days. Cost of 1 day tickets will be announced nearer the time.
What’s it all about?
It began 12 years ago as a community festival and has grown to be the biggest festival in Czech Republic and one of the biggest in Central Europe. The capacity is 30,000 people and over 20,000 are expected to attend As well as music over 5 stages there are movies , adrenaline sports and many more attractions. They are a non profit organization who have donated over 500,000CZK (approx €20,000) to charity.
Who’s playing?
Lots of big international bands, mainly guitar based. There are enough stadium fillers on the bill to make this one of the strongest lineups in Europe. The acts announced so far include..
Arctic Monkeys, Placebo, SKA-P, The Kooks, Hadouken!, Underworld, Bloc Party, Gogol Bordello, Freestylers, Ignite, Mucky Pup, Bouncing Souls, Static-X, Comeback Kid, Therapy?, The Black President, Defeater, Gocoo, Expatriate, The Inspector Cluzo, Fancy, Firewater
Where can I find out more?
http://www.rockforpeople.com/
Sziget (HU)
When is it?
12-17 Aug
Where is it?
Óbudai-sziget (an island in the Danube, in the centre of Budapest)
How do I get there?
Budapest is well connected by planes, trains and buses. Being in the heart of a big capital city, it could be a driver’s nightmare if you don’t know your way around Budapest.
How much does it cost?
Whole festival with camping - €180
Whole festival without camping - €150
Day ticket - €40
What’s it all about?
The week long festival began in 1993 as a low key student event. It takes place on Óbudai-sziget ("Old-Buda Island") and attracts huge crowds, with 385,000 attending for the last few years.
Who is playing?
It seems that no artist worth their salt has failed to play there in recent years. Some are confirmed this year, with more to be added:
08001, Armin van Buuren, Backyard Babies, Birdy Nam Nam, Blasted Mechanism, Bloc Party, Calexico, Coldcut, De Staat, Die Toten Hosen, Disco Ensemble, Donots, Expatriate, Fatboy Slim, Figli Di Madre Ignota, Guajiro Mirabal (Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club), Haydamaky, Jesus Ramos (Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club), Klaxons, Manuel Galbán (Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club), Matatu, Miloopa, Pendulum, Placebo, Ska-P, Snow Patrol, So Kalmery, Speed Caravan, Squarepusher, Tankcsapda, The Offspring, The Prodigy, The Ting Tings, Tiken Jah Fakoly, White Lies
Where can I find out more?
http://www.sziget.hu/festival_english
