Sziget announces 27-strong DJ line-up for the Samsung Colosseum Arena

colosseum sziget

The fifth-biggest festival in the world’s electronic music hub will host Avalon Emerson, Courtesy, Red Axes, Butch, Margaret Dygas and more inside the 360-degree arena stage

Sziget’s Samsung Colosseum stage is an immersive 360-degree arena made entirely of palettes, set to play host to an eclectic and progressive line-up of 27 world-class DJs including B. Traits, Avalon Emerson, Objekt, Red Axes, Blawan and more.

This electronic line-up sits within a major programme of music, arts, performance and more across 60 stages with over 1000 acts across the week-long bucket list festival. One, three, five and seven-day tickets and accommodation options for Sziget 2019 are now on sale. For more information, head to szigetfestival.com

B.Traits is a stalwart in the world of electronic music, seamlessly bridging the gap between underground genres including techno, jungle, breakbeat and house in her sets. Crowned as Mixmag’s ‘DJ of the year’ in 2018, Objekt is also renowned for his genre-defying mixes, ignoring BPM gaps and jumping seamlessly from drum and bass to industrial techno to dance-pop and all the way back again.

An electronic innovator in the UK, Blawan walks the tightrope between mainstream and underground and has been a key member of the electronic scene since his first dubstep release in 2009. His cultishly popular Why They Hide Their Bodies Under My Garage won Blawan acclaim from everyone from Skrillex to Jeff Mills, and his unique form of nuanced techno promises to be a standout set.

Avalon Emerson has gone from strength to strength in the last two years with an incredible string of releases unmissable sets across the globe including Berghain’s Panorama Bar.

Israeli electronic/indie duo Red Axes take influence from disco, house, garage rock, post-punk, psychedelic rock and techno, amalgamating a diverse range of genres to create their unique and energetic sets.

Other artists and DJs announced to play the Colosseum include the likes of Dutch DJ and label owner Courtesy, tech house favourite wAFF, Brazilian breakthrough Anna, former Prince-engineer Black Asteroid, electronica chameleon Butch, techno boyband Fjaak and more.

Sziget brings together a programme of world music, theatre, cabaret, installations, performances and art. Set in the heart of Budapest on Óbuda Island, Sziget is a community built festival and known as the ‘Island of Freedom’. Attended by 500,000+ Szitizens from over 100 countries each year, the festival is dedicated to embracing diversity as a part of its ‘Love Revolution’, using the power of the community to celebrate and bring love, acceptance, tolerance and freedom to the heart of Budapest and beyond. Headline acts this year are Ed Sheeran, Florence + The Machine, Foo Fighters, The 1975, Post Malone, Twenty One Pilots, Martin Garrix and The National, and with preparations well underway for next August, year 27 is set to be Sziget’s biggest and best festival to date.

Date: 7 – 13 August 2019
Venue: Óbudai-sziget, Budapest, Hungary

Sziget returns in 2019 between 7 – 13 August. Three-day tickets are now on sale starting at € 209. For more details on Sziget head to szigetfestival.com.

SAMSUNG COLOSSEUM LINE-UP

Anna
Avalon Emerson
B.Traits
Black Asteroid
Blawan
Butch
Courtesy
Craig Bratley
Fjaak
Giovanni Verrina
John Digweed
KINK
Luigi Madonna
Marco Bailey
Margaret Dygas
Mark Reeve
Marvin & Guy
Metodi Hristov
Objekt
Paul Ritch
Raresh
Red Axes
Regal
Ryan Elliott
The Advent
wAFF
Younger Than Me

FULL LINE-UP

Foo Fighters
Ed Sheeran
Florence + The Machine
Post Malone
Twenty One Pilots
The 1975
Martin Garrix
The National
Richard Ashcroft
Franz Ferdinand
James Blake
Years&Years
Tove Lo
Catfish & The Bottlemen
Mura Masa
Kodaline
Chvrches
Johnny Marr
Jungle
Tom Odell
The Blaze
Razorlight
Big Thief
Son Lux
Richie Hatin CLOSER
Honne
Maribou State
David August
Jain
IDLES
Yeasayer
Yellow Days
Broken Social Scene
Parcels
Superorganism
Pale Waves
Tove Styrke
Boy Pablo
Masego
Iamddb
Protoje &The Indiggnation
Xavier Rudd
Coheed and Cambria
Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls
Alma
Gang Of Youths
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
W&W
Vini Vici
Carnage
Jax Jones Live
Sigala
Yungblud
Of Mice & Men
Wanda
Elderbrook
Sonny Fodera
Polo & Pan
Khruangbin
Anna of The North
Roosevelt
Black Mountain
Hucci
Fakear
Grace Carter
Tamino
Valeras
Welshly Arms
Ocean Alley
Burak Yeter

More information HERE: https://szigetfestival.com

Sziget announces The National as final headliner

Sziget Festival

American indie rock nobility The National complete the illustrious Sziget headliner bill, joining global superstars Ed Sheeran, Foo Fighters, Florence + The Machine, Post Malone, The 1975, Twenty One Pilots and Martin Garrix. New additions to the genre-spanning line-up also include Brooklyn folk rockers Big Thief, DJ powerhouse Jax Jones, Canadian experimental rock collective Broken Social Scene and more. One, three, five and seven-day tickets and accommodation options for Sziget 2019 are now on sale. For more information, head to szigetfestival.com 

With seven albums under their belt – four of which made NME’s top 500 albums of all time list – The National are one of the most successful and revered American rock bands in history. A sincerely conscious and political five-piece, their poetic, melancholic form of indie art-rock has won them awards including a Grammy in 2017, and their headline performance is set to be unmissable.

The undisputed king of collaborations and incredible multi-instrumentalist Mura Masa joins the line-up as well as powerful pop ballad one-to-watch Grace Carter. British music royalty and ex-Smiths and Cribs guitarist Johnny Marr is set to rock the Budapest stage, while British homegrown singer-songwriter Tom Odell will soothe the crowds with his stunning vocals and musicianship.

Texan psychedelic rock trio Khruangbin’s unique blend of soul, funk, instrumental rock and world music will provide the soundtrack to the sunny Hungarian summer, while electronic duo Honne’s synthpop bangers are perfect for when the sun starts to go down. Also announced are the likes of house music veteran Sonny Fodera, DJ, producer and remix wizard Jax Jones, emerging electronic star David August and more new talent to discover.

Over the years Sziget has played host to some of the most prestigious names in music, including the likes of David Bowie, Oasis, The Stone Roses, Iggy Pop, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, Sex Pistols, Dua Lipa and Kendrick Lamar.

More than just its headliners, Sziget brings together a programme of world music, theatre, cabaret, installations, performances and art. Set in the heart of Budapest on Óbuda Island, Sziget is a community built festival and known as the ‘Island of Freedom’. Attended by 500,000+ Szitizens from over 100 countries each year, the festival is dedicated to embracing diversity as a part of its ‘Love Revolution’, using the power of the community to celebrate and bring love, acceptance, tolerance and freedom to the heart of Budapest and beyond. With preparations well underway for next August, year 27 is set to be Sziget’s biggest and best festival to date.

Sziget returns in 2019 between 7 – 13 August. Three-day tickets are now on sale starting at €199, with a ticket price increase set for 7 March. For more details on Sziget head to szigetfestival.com.

NEW LINE-UP ADDITIONS 

The National
Mura Masa
Johnny Marr
Tom Odell
Big Thief
Honne
Jax Jones
Coheed & Cambria
Broken Social Scene
Khruangbin
David August
Polo & Pan
Black Mountain
Ocean Alley
Grace Carter
Sonny Fodera
Burak Yeter

ALREADY ANNOUNCED 

Foo Fighters
Ed Sheeran
Florence + The Machine
Post Malone
Twenty One Pilots
The 1975
Martin Garrix
Richard Ashcroft
Franz Ferdinand
James Blake
Years&Years
Tove Lo
Catfish & The Bottlemen
Kodaline
Chvrches
Jungle
The Blaze
Razorlight
Son Lux
Richie Hatin CLOSER
Maribou State
Jain
IDLES
Yeasayer
Yellow Days
Parcels
Superorganism
Pale Waves
Tove Styrke
Boy Pablo
Masego
Iamddb
Protoje &The Indiggnation
Xavier Rudd
Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls
Alma
Gang Of Youths
Of Mice & Men
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
Wanda
W&W
Vini Vici
Carnage
Sigala
Yungblud
Elderbrook
Roosevelt
Anna of The North
Hucci
Fakear
Tamino
Valeras
Welshly Arms

Featured image: www.facebook.com/SzigetFestivalOfficial

Sziget Festival announce Post Malone as headliner & 20+ new addittions!

post malone

The fifth biggest festival in the world also welcomes new additions James Blake, Franz Ferdinand, Tove Lo, Years & Years, Richie Hawtin CLOSER, IAMDDB, Razorlight, Yeasayer and more.

Date: 7 – 13 August 2019
Venue: Óbudai-sziget, Budapest, Hungary

Post Malone joins previously announced Ed Sheeran, Florence + The Machine, Foo Fighters, Twenty One Pilots, The 1975 and Martin Garrix as part of the huge line-up of global names on the headline bill. New additions announced today include some of the most exciting established and up-and-coming artists in the world, including the likes of genre-bending Jazz fusionist Masego, teenage indie-soul breakthrough Yellow Days, Arabic and African-influenced French popstar Jain, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd and political reggae revivalists Protoje & The Indiggnation.

23-year old Post Malone is one of the most recognisable and successful artists in rap history. His 2016 album Stoney broke Michael Jackson’s 34-year-old record for most weeks on Billboard’s Top R&B and Hip-Hop Albums with Thriller, and his unique musical style that blends country, grunge, hip-hop and R&B earned him four Grammy nominations in 2019.

Hot off the back of his latest hit album, Grammy-nominated singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer extraordinaire James Blake also joins the lineup. With two albums planned for this year, early-noughties post-punk figureheads Franz Ferdinand are set to grace the Hungarian stage for the first time since 2013, while evocative British synth-pop powerhouse Years & Years promise to get the whole crowd dancing.

Grammy-nominated multi-platinum recording Swedish superstar Tove Lo’s grunge-tinged pop hits are set to be a festival highlight.

New additions to Sziget for 2019 include Detroit techno legend Richie Hawtin, indie-rock comeback heroes Razorlight, international dance vocalist Elderbrook, experimental rockers Yeasayer and Son Lux, breakthrough Mancunian rapper-singer IAMDDB, German synth-pop wizard Roosevelt and more.

Over the years Sziget has played host to some of the most prestigious names in music, including the likes of David Bowie, Oasis, The Stone Roses, Iggy Pop, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, Sex Pistols, Dua Lipa and Kendrick Lamar.

More than just its headliners, Sziget brings together a programme of world music, theatre, cabaret, installations, performances and art. Set in the heart of Budapest on Óbuda Island, Sziget is a community built festival and known as the ‘Island of Freedom’. Attended by Szitizens from over 100 countries each year, the festival is dedicated to embracing diversity as a part of its ‘Love Revolution’, using the power of the community to celebrate and bring love, acceptance, tolerance and freedom to the heart of Budapest and beyond. With preparations well underway for next August, year 27 is set to be Sziget’s biggest and best festival to date.

Sziget returns in 2019 between 7 – 13 August. Three-day tickets are now on sale starting at € 199, with a ticket price increase set for 7 March. For more details on Sziget head to szigetfestival.com.

NEW LINE-UP ADDITIONS

Post Malone
Franz Ferdinand
James Blake
Years & Years
Tove Lo
Razorlight
Son Lux
Richie Hawtin CLOSER
Jain
Yeasayer
Yellow Days
Tove Styrke
Masego
IAMDDB
Protoje & The Indiggnation
Xavier Rudd
Wanda
W&W
Vini Vici
Carnage
Sigala
Hucci
Elderbrook
Roosevelt
Anna of The North
Fakear
Valeras
Welshly Arms

ALREADY ANNOUNCED

Foo Fighters
Ed Sheeran
Florence + The Machine
Twenty One Pilots
The 1975
Martin Garrix
Richard Ashcroft
Catfish & The Bottlemen
Kodaline
Chvrches
Jungle
The Blaze
Maribou State
IDLES
Parcels
Superorganism
Pale Waves
Boy Pablo
Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls
Alma
Gang Of Youths
Of Mice & Men
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
Yungblud
Tamino

+ MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

Photo: facebook.com/postmalone

All the concerts you’ll want to attend in Budapest in 2019

music, concert, festival

2019 is packed with major headliners! World-famous musicians from all over the world will visit our beloved capital next year. There will be a concert for every taste, as artists from various musical genres will pay a visit to Budapest; such as the Backstreet Boys, Eros Ramazzotti and Whitesnake.

Grab your 2019 journal and start planning! Turizmus.com collected all that is going to happen in the musical scene in Budapest next year.

February

In Akvárium Klub, you can see (and hear) Ignite on 2 and 3 January, while the also American John Garcia will entertain music lovers at A38 on 3 February. In Barba Negra, you will find British Tom Odell on 8 February. Well-known composers Guido and Maurizio De Angelis, who (among others) composed the soundtrack of the Bud Spencer films, will appear in Aréna together with non-other than Terence Hill himself on 16 February. February will definitely end strong with Nicki Minaj and Future in Aréna on 25 February.

March

Overkill will perform at Barba Negra on 11 March, Mike Shonoda from Linkin Park will appear in Aréna on the 12th, Night Lovell will give a concert at Akvárium Klub on the 17th. On 26 March, a special ABBA tribute show can be seen in Aréna. Canadian singer Loreena McKennitt will finish March on the 29th in Aréna.

April and May

British guitar player John McLaughlin will perform together with his musical formation the 4th Dimension at MOMSport on 20 April. American jazz giant John Scofield can be seen at Budapest Jazz Club on 3 May. Singapore-born British violinist Vanessa-Mae will appear in Aréna on 24 May. British rock band Muse will finish the season with a concert in Aréna on 28 May.

June

Things really start heating up in summer. Budapest Park will host three major names in June: Sum 41 (12th), Scooter (15th) and Disturbed (25th). Aréna will also not lack headliners: Slayer (11th), Tom Jones (who visits Hungary for the 6th time on the 22nd), Backstreet Boys (25th), Dead Can Dance (26th), and Toto (27th) will all give concerts next June. Moreover, Barba Negra will host Whitesnake on 25 June.

July

World-famous jazz pianist Chick Corea will give a concert in Aréna on 1 June; then Sting will take over the stage the next day. Fans will also have a chance to see Thirty Seconds to Mars in Budapest Park on the 23rd.

Festivals

Some headliners of the most famous Hungarian music festivals have already been revealed. This year, visitors will be able to see Slipknot, Slash feat. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators at VOLT Festival. Balaton Sound’s headliners include Marshmello, Armin van Buuren, Dj Snake, Future and Paul Kalkbrenner. This year, fans can see Ed Sheeran and the Foo Fighters at Sziget Festival, while Strand Festival invited Dimitri Vegas + Like Mike, John Newman and Jonas Blue.

Fall will not be eventless also, as Eros Ramazzotti will give a concert in Aréna on 24 October.

Foo Fighters, Florence+The machine, Twenty one pilots and Martin Garrix to headline Sziget 2019

Sziget Festival

The ethereal chanteuse, rock gods, indie pop heavyweights, electropop duo and DJ wunderkind join Ed Sheeran on the line-up for Europe’s most diverse festival, attended by over 500,000 people each year.

One of the world’s biggest and most eclectic music happenings, Sziget prides itself on boasting a star-studded line-up year by year. 2019 will be no different, with Florence + The Machine, Foo Fighters, Twenty One Pilots, The 1975 and Martin Garrix joining Ed Sheeran on the headline bill. With over 100 award wins between the headline acts so far, as well as the exciting addition of Richard Ashcroft, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Chvrches, Jungle, Kodaline, IDLES, Superorganism, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Pale Waves, Maribou State, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, Of Mice & Men, Boy Pablo, Parcels, Yungblud, Alma, Tamino, Gang Of Youths, The Blaze and more amazing artists to be announced soon, this is just the start for Sziget 2019.

One, three, five and seven-day tickets and accommodation options for Sziget 2019 are now on sale. For more information, head to szigetfestival.com.

Foo Fighters are undeniable rock gods, with roots in some of the biggest bands in musical history. Boasting a discography that includes mammoth tunes such as Times Like These, Best Of You, Everlong, Learn To Fly and The Pretender, their unparalleled energy and anthemic choruses will be a festival highlight for all.

Florence + The Machine rocketed to fame in 2009 with their incredible debut album Lungs. The spellbinding vocalist and her band headlined Glastonbury in 2015 following two further number one albums, making Florence Welch Glastonbury’s first British female headliner of this century. Her otherworldly, barefooted presence onstage will ensure that the whole audience has Got The Love on Sziget’s ‘Island of Freedom’.

Sziget Festival
Photo: www.facebook.com/SzigetFestivalOfficial

The Grammy award-winning Twenty One Pilots were the first alternative artist to have two concurrent top ten singles in the United States, thanks to their single Heathens, used as the soundtrack for Suicide Squad.

With five studios albums under their belt, the rap-rock inspired duo will inspire countless singalongs during their performance.

Childhood friends, The 1975 have grown up to be one of the most successful indie pop bands in the UK and beyond with two number one albums and a Brit award for ‘Best British Group’ in 2017. With their latest album set for release at the end of November – which already boasts Annie Mac as a fan – and another album set for release in May 2019, The 1975 are set to continue their domination of the pop stratosphere.

Only 22 years old, Martin Garrix is one of the most successful DJs in the world. The youngest ever recipient of DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs in 2016, he retained his title in 2017 and 2018, becoming only the third DJ to win the award three years in a row. Since bursting into the spotlight with Animals, he has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music and produced countless chart hits, and his headline set will be one of the most anticipated moments of the week.

Hot off the back of a brand new solo album, The Verve frontman and Britpop legend Richard Ashcroft will be gracing the Sziget stage, as will colourful punk rockers Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes. Metalheads Of Mice & Men promise to keep things loud, as do indie-rock favourites Kodaline. On hand to provide a more electronic and relaxed soundtrack are modern soul collective Jungle and rising star Tamino, tipped as the new Jeff Buckley. Alma and Chvrches will inject a special dose of pop, while Boy Pablo takes to the stage to represent the best of the Scandinavian indie scene.

Bristolian political-punk favourites IDLES will bring their unparalleled energy to the Island, whilst indie-pop newcomers Superorganism are joining the illustrious lineup too. The international members hail from England, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

With Sziget welcoming Szitizens from over 100 nations every year, the festival feels the perfect place for the eight-piece to bring their cultures together.

Also announced are anthemic garage rockers Catfish & The Bottlemen, goth favourites Pale Waves, folk-punk icon Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, laidback electronic lads Maribou State, longhaired shoegazers Parcels, up-and-coming rocker Yungblud, Aussie quintet Gang Of Youths and electronic duo The Blaze.

Sziget Festival
Photo: www.facebook.com/SzigetFestivalOfficial

“This announcement is exciting in terms of what it means for the 2019-edition of SZIGET and also marks a new era for the festival. Our company’s mid-term strategy was launched 2018 and allows us to raise the bar and give our Szitizens what they want and deserve. Namely, a superb festival package that combines our unique, trusted and loved SZIGET experience with a festival bill of the highest international caliber.” says Tamás Kádár (CEO of Sziget Festival).

More than just its headliners, Sziget brings together a programme of world music, theatre, cabaret, installations, performances and art. With preparations well underway for next August, year 27 is set to be Sziget’s biggest and best festival to date.

Sziget returns in 2019 between 7 – 13 August. Early bird tickets are now on sale starting at €75. For more details on Sziget head to szigetfestival.com.

LINE-UP

Foo Fighters
Ed Sheeran
Florence + The Machine
Twenty One Pilots
The 1975
Martin Garrix
Richard Ashcroft
Catfish & The Bottlemen
Chvrches
Jungle
Kodaline
The Blaze
Maribou State
IDLES
Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls
Pale Waves
Parcels
Of Mice & Men
Superorganism
Boy Pablo
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
Gang Of Youths
Alma
Yungblud
Tamino

Featured image: www.facebook.com/SzigetFestivalOfficial

Watch superstars try pálinka for the first time, it’s hilarious! – VIDEOS

Slowly the whole world is getting to know the famous Hungarian fruit brandy. The spirit is notoriously strong (there is even a pálinka challenge going around on Youtube) and usually only the bravest are willing to try it. As a Hungarian, I always enjoy watching other people try it for the first time. I can never not chuckle.

The headliners of Sziget try pálinka

World-famous Sziget Fesztivál is the biggest music festival in the country, attracting hundreds of thousands of people every summer. Two journalists working for Sziget Festival Official decided to go backstage at the Island of Freedom back in 2014, and they made the biggest headliners try our traditional Hungarian spirit, the heart and soul of our nation: pálinka. Check out how, among many others, Miles Kane, Skrillex, Bastille, Imagine Dragons or the Crystal Fighters like the special liquid.

Freddie Mercury tries pálinka

If you have already seen Bohemian Rhapsody, and you currently have that “Queen fever”, this video is for you.  See how the biggest star in the 1980s, pop icon Freddie Mercury, liked a shot of some real Hungarian pálinka. Was it too strong even for him?

There is a whole video on Freddie Mercury’s visit to Hungary. If you are interested, check out our previous article about it:

[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/hungarian-rhapsody-the-secrets-of-the-queens-magical-visit-video/” type=”big” color=”purple” newwindow=”yes”] Hungarian Rhapsody: the secrets of the Queen’s magical visit – VIDEO[/button]

Random festival goers try pálinka

Frankly, it is just as fun to watch ordinary people try pálinka for the first time as it is to watch famous pop stars. Blikk made random people they met at Sziget try the notorious drink. People were very brave to try the drink from the mysterious flask. Even though the general impression of people were frowns and shivers, there were a few who appreciated the strong brandy.

My favourite person in this video is the girl whose friend tries it, then the interviewer asks her: “Do you want a taste?” and she just simply says: “I can smell it, no thank you.”

Buzzfeed tries Pálinka

From 2:00 minutes, you can see how people from Buzzfeed reacted to some good old Pálinka. The American internet media and entertainment company always makes its employees try international foods and drinks on camera, and it would have been a HUGE MISTAKE if they left pálinka out of their list.

I sort of ran out of funny videos to watch, so here is a collection of pálinka memes I found on the internet (with English translations where necessary).

Photo: www.memegenerator.net
meme
Photo: www.memegenerator.net

 

“When you are the biggest star in the world, but pálinka is still stronger than you.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqM0XmdFACa/

“When pálinka hits you and you are really trying to keep it down.”

pálinka meme
Photo: www.forum.thevr.hu By DanX27

Featured image: Youtube.com/watch?v=VpnCwpkFPD4&t=9s

Great! Ed Sheeran to headline Sziget Festival 2019!

ed sheeran concert facebook

Attended by over 565,000 people last year, Europe’s answer to Glastonbury welcomes the biggest male pop star on the planet as its first headliner

Date: 7th-13th August 2019
Venue: Óbudai-sziget, Budapest, Hungary

Sziget is Europe’s most diverse festival and the fifth biggest in the world.

So what better platform for the biggest selling artist on the planet to take the stage for a headlining performance than Budapest’s legendary Island of Freedom? Ed Sheeran’s infectious sing-along tunes and stories of love, loss and youth have earned him countless awards and the title of current king of pop, and are set to be the perfect soundtrack to Sziget’s Love Revolution in August 2019.

Szitizen Prime passes for Sziget 2019 are on sale from 1st October.

Ed Sheeran began his career busking on the streets of London and living on mates’ sofas. Fast forward ten years and Sheeran is selling out stadium tours, playing to hundreds of thousands of people with nothing but a guitar and loop pedal to protect him. With three UK No. 1 albums and five UK No. 1 singles, he’ll be bringing his tongue-in-cheek blend of pop, folk and hip-hop to the Sziget Main Stage.

Sziget turned 26 in August this year. The seven-day festival saw headline performances from the world’s biggest acts including Kendrick Lamar, Gorillaz, Lana Del Rey, Mumford & Sons, Dua Lipa, Kygo and Arctic Monkeys. Over 1000 artists and performers from the world over took to Óbuda Island including Stormzy, Shame, Shawn Mendes, Goo Goo Dolls, Slaves and many more.

More than just its headliners, Sziget brought together a programme of world music, theatre, cabaret, installations, performances and art, with Szitizens flocking from over 100 nations to experience the ‘Island of Freedom’. With preparations well underway for 2019, Sziget is preparing for its biggest and best year to date.

Exclusive Szitizen Prime passes will be on sale for 24 hours from 1st October. As well as a ticket 7 or 5-day ticket to next year’s festival the pass will include a beanie, gym bag, stainless steel straw, patches, pins, and stickers.

Sziget returns in 2019: between 7-13 August.

For more details on Sziget head to szigetfestival.com.

Featured image: facebook.com/pg/EdSheeranMusic

Syrian-Canadian performer harrassed at Hungarian Sziget Festival

danny ramadan sziget

Danny Ramadan, a gay activist and author, born in Damascus has been seriously beaten at Sziget Festival in Budapest. As Nlcafé.hu reports, the abused author was a performer of the festival.

Danny Ramadan is a Syrian-Canadian author and gay activist who was born in Damascus. He got to Lebanon as a refugee in 2012, from where he immigrated to Canada and became one of the Top 25 Immigrants to Canada in 2017.

He is a powerful speaker and columnist who stands out for LGBT rights and gay refugees. He participated at Sziget Festival as a speaker, but unfortunately, he had to leave with a sad and dreadful experience.

He got beaten by a group of young, white males, who thought that he was Roma.

Following the incident, the Canadian ambassador, Isabelle Poupart stood up for the activist with a Twitter post and the #NotMySziget hashtag.


As the ambassador emphasised, the Hungarian Sziget festival is a place known for tolerance and inclusiveness – both organisers and visitors think the incident is entirely unacceptable. Last year Sziget joined an initiation (Take a Stand), which encourages cultural tolerance, solidarity towards minorities and openness to mutual learning. The campaign of Sziget 2018 included posters decorated with hearts and rainbows meaning that everyone is welcome at the festival regardless of their ethnicity, political or sexual orientation.

In their response to the incident, the festival’s management stressed that extremist opinions are not welcome at the festival. What is more, those are mostly rejected at the festival.

„We believe that far-reaching conclusions cannot be drawn of the whole festival from one single case. Although the incident did happen at Sziget, it is completely contradictory to the whole ethos and messages behind the festival.” – organisers said after the events.

This year Sziget was truly successful and set a new record with more than 500,000 people to join the festival from the whole world. Several celebrities were also present, such as Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen.

Featured image: www.facebook.com/pg/DannyRamadanPage

Borat at the Sziget festival

The Sziget festival had a world famous visitor this weekend: Sacha Baron Cohen, aka Borat. This is even more interesting since one cannot even find Hungarian celebrities, because the VIP section is cordoned off, so this was quite a treat, borsonline.hu reports.

[button link=”#https://dailynewshungary.com/apartments-in-budapest-where-hollywood-stars-appear/” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] APARTMENTS IN BUDAPEST WHERE HOLLYWOOD STARS APPEAR [/button]

He is a British actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer, known for his roles as Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev, Brüno Gehard and Admiral General Aladeen. His wife, Isla Fisher is also in Budapest at the moment. You might know her from the soap opera Home and Away, Scoobie Doo, Wedding Crashers, The Great Gatsby, Bachelorette, Rango or Arrested Development.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmQOhsUAexs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

We knew that the two celebrities came to Budapest a few days ago, but were not sure what was the reason for this visit. Well, it looks like they are not filming, instead they came to have some fun at the Sziget festival. They were both seen at the VIP section on Saturday. Someone even managed to take a picture of them, they can be seen on the official Facebook and Instagram pages of the Sziget festival.

https://www.facebook.com/SzigetFestival/photos/a.100331018974.109625.11406223974/10157832805268975/?type=3

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmWjcoxgDiy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Here is another photo of him from the Instagram page of cinemamoziklub.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmQ5qT2FmzX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

We had some celebrities last year too at the festival. Then it was Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. She was shooting The Spy Who Dumped Me last summer in Budapest, so it was almost a given that they would turn up at the Sziget.

Featured image: facebook.com

 

New record: Sziget festival brings together over 565,000 people!!!

sziget festival 2018 main stage

Europe’s answer to Glastonbury celebrated its 26th year with over 1000 shows across seven days and 60 venues with Kendrick Lamar, Gorillaz, Lana Del Rey, Mumford & Sons, Dua Lipa, Arctic Monkeys and Kygo headlining in the heart of Budapest

Sziget, Europe’s most diverse festival and the fifth biggest in the world, turned 26 this year. The seven-day festival saw headline performances from the world’s biggest acts including Kendrick Lamar, Gorillaz, Lana Del Rey, Mumford & Sons, Dua Lipa, Kygo and Arctic Monkeys. Over 1000 artists and performers from the world over took to Óbuda Island including Stormzy, Shame, Shawn Mendes, Goo Goo Dolls, Slaves and many more. More than just its headliners, Sziget brought together a programme of world music, theatre, cabaret, installations, performances and art, with Szitizens flocking from over 100 nations to experience the ‘Island of Freedom’.

Tamás Kádár (CEO) :

Sziget is a truly unique global festival. We are so proud to have seen 565,000 people from all over the world join us here in the heart of Budapest. An international celebration of the arts, artists from over 63 different countries came to perform over 1000 programmes in seven days. The DNA of the festival, openness, love and respect, could be found in every stage, performance and Szitizen, and we will continue to lead the way with our love revolution.”

After cooling off in the Danube on Sziget’s very own beach, festival goers saw in the first night with a headline performance from the King, Kendrick Lamar. Also smashing the main stage on the first night was Stormzy, who brought all the charisma he’s known and loved for to his performance and had fans going crazy. Elsewhere rap-rock enthusiasts were out in full force on The Tribute Stage as Rage Against The Machine and Limp Bizkit tribute acts brought the energy to the island.

Thursday

Thursday saw Gorillaz take the reins. Mixing the old classics with their new material, Damon Albarn led the charge backed up by a full choir, adding a whole new element to their songs. Elsewhere Seasick Steve and Cigarettes After Sex treated the crowds to their own blends of DIY blues and ambient pop respectively. Away from the main stage, revellers also delighted in the Cirque du Sziget and Magic Mirror stage, where FAMEfatale put on an incredible performance each evening amongst comedy and film screenings.

Friday

Shame welcomed in the weekend early with a mid-afternoon set on the Friday, stirring up the crowd with their snarly post-punk sound and unparalleled energy onstage. The Kooks and JP Cooper both also played stand out sets, their catchy pop bangers delighting the international fans. The all-American beauty queen, Lana Del Rey finished things off on the main stage, descending into the crowd whilst singing her swooning vocals.

lana del rey sziget budapest hungary 2018
photo: [ Sandor Csudai ] . www.facebook.com/csudaisandor

The Kooks thanked the festival and fans: “Sziget was a wild time. Thank you for making it so!”

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Saturday

Saturday’s highlight was a monumental headline set from Mumford & Sons, a passionate performance of their biggest records and three brand new songs for the crowd.

Mumford & Sons shared an emotional post on Instagram following their performance: “Waking up from last night – it was like a dream. Thank you @szigetofficial Thank you to all who came to share that moment with us. We love what we do and are so grateful.”

sziget
Photo: László Mudra http://www.mudralaszlo.hu – Rockstar Photographers

Bastille played an absorbing set beforehand, whilst Everything Everything brought in thousands to the Mastercard A38 stage. Sofi Tukker also performed, their ’90s house-inspired jungle pop turning the tent into one huge dancefloor. Szitizens not ready for the party to end found their way to the porta-party, a not-so-secret hidden stage inside a portaloo that carried on until dawn.

Sunday

sziget 2018
Photo: László Mudra http://www.mudralaszlo.hu – Rockstar Photographers

British bands reigned supreme on Sunday, with Slaves and Wolf Alice both drawing huge crowds to the A38 stage with their sweaty, unrelenting punk attitude. Liam Gallagher played a set of non-stop hits, bringing all the Mancunian swagger and stage presence. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard provided a welcome dose of psychedelic rock, whilst Dua Lipa proved why she’s the biggest pop star on the planet with a spellbinding headline set, ending with her punchy hit ‘New Rules’. Fans who hadn’t lost their voice singing along to Dua’s infectious pop bangers found their way to The Tribute Stage, where an ABBA tribute act had the crowd of Super Troupers dancing till the early hours.

Dua Lipa on headlining Sziget: “My first ever major festival headline show. What an absolute dream. I don’t know how we got here so fast but I never wanna leave. Love you all so much for last night… life is pretty crazy”

Monday

Shawn Mendes drew thousands of adoring fans to the main stage on Monday afternoon. He captured the night in a post to Instagram: “My heart exploded tonight! Thank you Sziget”

Revellers found exactly what they’d been looking for during Tom Grennan’s brilliant set, whilst New York rockers Goo Goo Dolls injected a whole load of energy into the day. Little Dragon and Nick Murphy (FKA Chet Faker) both hypnotised crowds with their trip-hop vibes, and Kygo brought a mesmerising show of visuals and euphoric dance tunes to the masses that lit up the sky. Elsewhere on site, Szitizens discovered spectacular installations, colourful sculptures, unique art projects and more themed around the theme of ‘Love Revolution’.

sziget budapest hungary
Photo: MTI

Blossoms kicked the final day off, their catchy alt-rock hits getting the crowd geared up for a spectacular headline set from Arctic Monkeys who proved that they’re still the best rock band in the world. Lewis Capaldi and Nothing But Thieves played earlier in the day, showcasing two of the best vocalists in current music. The party didn’t stop there, with elrow putting on the mother of all closing parties with their immersive, ingenious designs and amazing music selection.

Sziget this year has improved its commitment to reducing environmental impact. With a reusable cup system to reduce rubbish on site, eco-camping, recycling centres and it’s ‘Don’t Suck’ anti-plastic straw programme, the festival’s eco-footprint has been dramatically reduced and their ultimate goal of totally sustainable development is more of a reality than ever.

Sziget returns in 2019. For more details on Sziget head to szigetfestival.com.

Cashless society promoted at cashless festival

Sziget Festival

Ágnes Hornung, the finance ministry’s state secretary, urged Hungarians to cut down on their cash transactions at a press conference at the Sziget Festival – which went cashless in 2011 – on Tuesday.

The stock of cash in Hungary stands around 5,000 billion forints (EUR 16bn) at present, more than 14 percent of GDP,

well over the 8 percent average for the European Union as a whole, Hornung said. Cash transactions cost the national economy some 450 billion forints a year, she added.

She noted that the government had recently approved a seven-year strategy to boost Hungarians’ financial savvy. State subsidies are also going to businesses that buy POS terminals which should raise the penetration rate for such devices close to 80 percent, she added.

Sziget Festival organiser Tamás Kádár said that festival-goers may pay merchants with their MasterCard contactless cards or with a wristband that can be topped up using the festival’s own mobile application.

Top-ups exceeded 1 billion forints by the festival’s fifth day, he added.

Budapest’s Sziget Festival, a week-long musical extravaganza on an island in the Danube, is expected to draw more than half a million visitors this year. This year’s event officially ends on Wednesday.

Organisers of Budapest’s Sziget Festival greeted the event’s 9 millionth visitor on Tuesday, read more HERE.

Photo: MTI

Swiss student 9 millionth visitor at Sziget Festival

Sziget Festival girls

Organisers of Budapest’s Sziget Festival greeted the event’s 9 millionth visitor on Tuesday.

Swiss secondary school student Joelle Gbeassor was spending her last day on vacation in the city and wanted to buy a day ticket for the festival, but was taken by surprise when she was given a lifelong pass for the annual event.

Sziget 9 millionth visitor
Photo: www.facebook.com/SzigetFestivalOfficial

Tuesday is the closing day of the 26th Sziget Festival, featuring Arctic Monkeys, Blossoms, War On Drugs, Lewis Capaldi, Nothing But Thieves, Zara Larsson, and Ifriqiyya Electrique.

Featured image: MTI

 

Ministry supports Greener Sziget project

Sziget Festival 2018

Hungary’s innovation and technology ministry voiced its support for the Greener Sziget, an environmental protection project underway at the Sziget Festival, a big outdoor music event in Budapest, in a statement released on Saturday.

The message of the Greener Sziget is in line with the goals of the ministry’s secretariat for sustainability: supporting environmental awareness and sustainable development, the ministry told MTI.

Selective waste islands have been set up at 140 locations on the festival grounds, and festival-goers can trade their trash for gifts or WiFi access at three recycling centres.

Some of the waste is even being used to make accessories at the Trash Fashion workshop, resulting in an overall recycling rate of 30-40 percent.

Caterers at the festival are using biodegradable plates and eating utensils, plastic straws are being provided only upon request, plastic bags have been prohibited, and drinks are being served in reusable cups for which customers pay a deposit, a giant step toward reducing plastic pollution, the ministry said.

More than half a million visitors are expected at this year’s Sziget Festival, which runs until Wednesday.

Featured image: MTI

70th anniversary of State of Israel marked at Sziget Festival

Israel Sziget festival

The heads of mission of 25 countries to Hungary marked the 70th anniversary of Israel’s independence at a reception held at Budapest’s Sziget Festival on Friday.

Jossi Amrani, Israel’s Ambassador to Hungary, called the decision for Israel and Sziget to sign a cooperation agreement for the anniversary a “great idea”.

Amrani expressed his country’s appreciation of the opportunity to bring Israeli culture to Hungary. The ambassador also voiced his satisfaction over the fact that during his recent visit to Israel, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán secured the organisation of a Hungarian Cultural Season in the country next year.

Péter Fekete, the state secretary responsible for culture, called it an honour that Hungary and Israel could discuss their friendship, arts and stability at the Sziget Festival on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Israel’s independence.

Sziget Festival CEO Tamás Kádár said the festival attracts visitors from more than a hundred countries. He highlighted the Love Revolution campaign, which he called the “most important message” of this year’s event, whose goals include the elimination of violence and fear, the sustenance of a liveable Earth, the enforcement of fundamental human rights and the elimination of prejudice and exclusion.

The cooperation agreement signed between Israel and Sziget also brought a number of Israeli artists to the festival, including singer-songwriters Borgore and Asaf Avidan, rock band Jewish Monkeys and singer-songwriter and guitarist Omer Netzer, among many others.

Featured image: MTI

Six foreigners arrested at Sziget Festival on drug-related charges

Sziget Festival 2018

Police have arrested six foreign nationals at the Budapest Sziget Festival on drug-related charges, the Budapest police headquarters (BRFK) said on its website on Thursday.

Police on Wednesday arrested three Italian men at the festival on suspicion of drug possession after uncovering 114 suspicious pills and hundreds of thousands of forints and foreign currency in cash among their belongings.

Also on Wednesday, the authorities arrested two other Italian men and an Uzbek woman on suspicion of drug dealing.

They were caught trying to sell drugs to festival-goers.

A search of their belongings yielded more than 100 pills, eight bags containing white powder and eight bags containing suspicious brown substances, BRFK said.

Featured image: MTI

All the practical information you need before heading to SZIGET 2018

sziget festival

Edina Juhász from Dívány magazine compiled a brief list containing the most important practical information one would need before going to Hungary’s biggest and most popular festival in Budapest: the Sziget festival.

Transport: how you get there and how to get home

The fastest way to get to the festival is with H5 (suburban railway). Visitors need to get off at Filatorigát station. H5 will operate more frequently and with more carriages during the festival.

H5 will operate throughout the night as well, so visitors can use it to get home, too. However, if you are not in a hurry, you can also use the boat service (departs from Jászai Mari square) or your bike to get to the festival.

Luckily, trams and tram replacement buses will operate more frequently during the festival during both day and at night.

You can find more information on the BKK’s website.

It is not recommended to approach Sziget by car, as there are usually no parking spaces available anywhere near the festival. Although, Sziget offers a guarded parking lot for HUF 6000 per day.

All about the tickets

Daily tickets are valid from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. the next day. You can also buy daily tickets from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next day, and these cost way less (half the price to be exact), and you can still have a great night. You can only use the camping and showers if you buy daily tickets for at least two consecutive days, but there is a combination 3-day-ticket which costs less than three separate single daily tickets. And do not forget, children under the age of 11 get in for free (under adult supervision, of course).

Cashless payment

Cash has been banned from almost all major festivals for a few years now. Visitors can pay with PayPass or with a mobile app.

This year, visitors can also transfer money from their bank accounts directly to their wristbands (even before receiving the wristband itself) by using the Sziget app.

If you have more than HUF 300 on your wristband at the end of the festival, it will be transferred back to your account. Keep the PIN code you received with your wristband!

What you can/can not bring

You can bring in chips, sandwiches or any kind of food below the commercial quantities. You can also bring a 2.5-liter-drink which is non-alcoholic, and a maximum of 20 packages of cigarettes.

You cannot bring any glasses, umbrellas, alcoholic beverages, stabbing or cutting tools, or anything that is illegal or can potentially harm others.

Featured image: www.szigetfestival.com

Sziget festival expected to attract over 500,000 visitors

Sziget Festival 2018

The 26th Sziget Festival, to be held in Budapest between August 8 and 15, is expected to attract a record crowd of about 500,000 visitors, organisers told the press on Tuesday.

The ticket sale data show that over 120,000 of the guests will be foreigners, Tamás Kádár said. About 20,000 of them will be UK citizens, outnumbering the Dutch for the first time in several years, he said.

Some 10,000 visitors have already arrived at the venue, an island on the Danube, he said.

Highlights of the festival will include US singer Lana Del Rey, rapper Kendrick Lamar, as well as British virtual band Gorillaz, Mumford and Sons, Dua Lipa, Kygo and the Arctic Monkeys. The festival will offer altogether 600 programmes, Kádár said.

Featured image: MTI

Festivals in Hungary have become more competitive

festival sziget

Festivals in Hungary have become more competitive on the international market thanks to subsidies and a reduction in the related VAT rate, a government official said on Wednesday.

Bence Rétvári, the parliamentary state secretary of the ministry of human resources, told public media that the average foreign visitor spends 40,000-100,000 (EUR 125-310) forints per day. Fully 10-12 percent of tourism in Hungary is linked to festivals, with every eighth to tenth foreign visitor attending one.

Most visitors to the Sziget come from abroad and nearly half of the visitors to Balaton Sound are foreign.

Surrounding major festivals are various cultural and gastronomic events, he noted, adding that smaller localities have also jumped onto the festival bandwagon.

Every year is a long wait until the festival season kicks in summer, and we will have a host of popular bands and singers coming to Hungary this year again. Funzine collected the gigs that make it worth to go to festival all over the country in the summer months. Dua Lipa, Shawn Mendes, Lana del Rey – they are just some of the artists we cannot wait to see. Read more HERE.

Sziget is proud to announce its final wave of acts, completing another incredible line-up for this year’s festival, today announcing the British multi-instrumentalist and electronic artist Bonobo, EDM producer and DJ, Flux Pavilion and Dutch duo, Yellow Claw. With the full line-up now fully announced, they join a monumental group of artists all heading to Óbudai-sziget including Kendrick Lamar, Arctic Monkeys, Gorillaz, Lana Del Rey, Mumford & Sons and Dua Lipa among over 100 others. Bringing together 450,000 people and tipped as the continents Glastonbury equivalent, the ‘Line-Up of the Year 2017’ winners are back 8-15 August for an unforgettable festival for any music lover. Read all details HERE.

Photo: facebook.com/SzigetFestivalOfficial