Budapest's Hajógyár Kikötö (Shipyard) on the Danube River's Óbudai Island will become its own tent city for the Sziget Festival, Hungary's massive music blast with tons o' stages featuring fun from mainstream to madness starting August 6. The 2012 Sziget Festival features seven days of big bands like The Killers, Gocoo, Anti Flag, Viza, Noah and the Whale, The Subways, Glasvegas, Caro Emerald, The Vaccines, The Horrors, Paolo Nutini, Beatsteaks, Friendly Fires, Two Door Cinema Club, Mando Diao, Hurts, The xx, LMFAO, Placebo, Korn, and The Stone Roses making music on the main stage.
Off the main stage, wander to the OTP World Music Party Stage (do not miss badalicious blast from the past The Pogues); the Roma Tent (Romengo, Fishtank Ensemble, O’Djila, Besh o droM, Gypsy Hill, and Vodku), and the A38 stage (Tiga, Dirthyphonics, Wild Beats, Kakkmaddafakka, Katzenjammer, dEUS). Do see soon-to-be-big acts at the Arena tent, and local stars on the Hungarian Main Stage. Festival "camping tickets" are the way to go, as they get you in to Day -1 and Day 0 shows; bring your own tent. Note that "non-camping" tickets are cheaper.
There's much more to the Sziget Festival scene than just soaking up the sound, like showing your face at the Culture Zone: theater, fine arts, slam poetry, stand-up comedy, classical music and jazz, literature, circus, street theatre, workshops, yoga, tai chi...multi art! Check into the Mambo Stage, Giant Street Theatre, Hungaricum Village, Wine and Fröccs Garden, Magic Mirror and the Afro-Latin Stage and World Village. Or chill at the Cöypon Ambient Tent Garden before a retro concert at the VOLT Festival Terrace, or with a little chess or dominoes at the Logical Games Tent. Man, there is not a dull moment at the Sziget Festival.
Getting There and Hungary Travel
Use public transportation or the ferry lines leaving from Batthyány tér, Jászai tér and Vigadó tér to get to Óbudai Island, and trains to get to Budapest (you *can* drive and you *can* park near the Sziget Festival, but mass transit will be easier).Your Fave European Music Festivals
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