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Coachella 2010: dates announced

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is definitely one of the highlights of California’s festival calendar.

Held at the beautiful Empire Polo Field in Indio, California, the popular music festival will be held over three days on 16, 17 and 18 April 2010.

The lineup has yet to be announced, of course (being so far away ‘n’ all), but to give you an idea of calibre, the lineup for last year’s event included the likes of Leonard Cohen, The Killers, Joss Stone, Paul McCartney, James Morrison, The Chemical Brothers and more!

To find out more, visit www.coachella.com.

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Early Bird tickets for Splashy Fen 2010 now on sale!

Early Bird tickets for Splashy Fen 2010 (April 1-5) are now on sale at Computicket for just R350, which is a massive saving of R200 on the gate price.  This offer is valid until the end of December only and tickets are limited.

Established in 1990, Splashy Fen is South Africa’s longest-running annual music festival, which every Easter attracts thousands of people to a farm near Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal for a unique outdoor music experience.

Supported by Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, the festival offers a four-day line-up of some of the country’s hottest acts, top-class sound and lighting, plus a wide choice of outdoor leisure activities for the whole family.

Add to that the beautiful scenery of the southern Drakensberg, an abundance of different food and drink outlets, colourful arts and crafts, a crèche and children’s entertainment programme, as well as various camping and accommodation options and you’re set for a winner of a long weekend!

As part of the Early Bird promotion, tickets for children aged 4-11 will cost R50 during November and December 2009.  These are available at physical Computicket outlets only.  Children under four get in free.  All tickets include camping for the entire festival from April 1-5.

For more information and to find out about the new ‘Splashy Made Easy’ travel packages available through Thompsons Travel, visit www.splashyfen.co.za or contact 031 563 0824.

Handy travel resources for backpackers:
Book hostels – book a hostel at thousands of locations around the world.
RTW flights – book your round-the-world flights at backpacking prices!
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers.

Posted in Destinations, Festivals | 1 Comment »

Hogmanay 2010: Full programme unveiled

Organisers of the world famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay are pleased to announced full details of the extended 5-day New Year celebrations. From Tuesday 29 December 2009 – Saturday 2 January 2010, this year’s expanded programme features music, dance, art, conversation, fireworks, street theatre, light and fire… lots of fire.

Expect brand new events featured alongside old favourites, bringing Edinburgh’s streets alive with non-stop enjoyment for both residents and visitors to Scotland’s capital city.

The highlights:

•  Torchlight Procession. (29 December ’09). The spectacular Torchlight Procession is the opening event of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2010. Join thousands of torch carriers as they create a river of fire from the historic Royal Mile to the Son et Lumiére and fireworks finale on Calton Hill.
• Light Night (30 December ’09).  Edinburgh Castle is an iconic destination recognised the world over and visited by over a million people every year. This is an exclusive evening event that gets you inside the Castle walls after dark for something rather special.
• Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party (31 December ’09). Three stages of incredible music and entertainment, giant screens, a light and laser spectacular, and the world famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Fireworks.
• Concert in the Gardens (31 December ’09). A music and fireworks spectacular.
• New Man Walking – on the morning after the night before Puppet Lab’s spectacular, giant ‘Big Man’ who has attracted massive crowds as he walked throughout Scotland this autumn, is reawakened to walk the capital’s historic Royal Mile, from Holyrood Palace to The Tron.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.edinburghshogmanay.com.

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Gearing up for Creamfields 2009

Creamfields is one of the UK’s biggest shindigs, with a lineup that would make any dance music fan weak at the knees.  Think Basement Jazz and Tiesto, think Paul Van Dyk, Too Many DJs live, Mylo live and Dizziee Rascal and you’re just getting started.

And, there’s great news for dance-loving backpackers out there:  Creamfields 2009 has reduced its ticket prices!

Creamfields 2009 is an explosive end to the Summer, with no stone left unturned with the line up, and ridiculously good value for money, dance festivals don’t get much better than this!   It’s what August Bank Holidays are for…

So, head over to www.creamfields.com and be a part of this music-lovin’ action.

Handy travel resources for backpackers:
Book hostels – book a hostel at thousands of locations around the world.
RTW flights – book your round-the-world flights at backpacking prices!
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Global Gathering: Saturday tickets now for sale

 With fewer than 50 days to go until the Airfield at Long Marston is turned into the UK’s biggest Electronic Dance festival, GlobalGathering has now released Saturday tickets for the event.

Saturday ticket holders can expect to see Orbital take to the Main Stage to headline the night’s proceedings.  Always leaving room for improvisation on stage, Paul and Phil are world-class experts at building up large crowds into a frenzy of excitement, so festival goers can anticipate orgies of sensory overload and revved-up Euphoria. For their headline slot their trademark torch glasses are guaranteed to make an appearance. Innovative video visuals, another Orbital strong point, will also be part of the mix. The musical selection, meanwhile, will be wall-to-wall anthems. No new tunes, no jazz odysseys.

And, that’s not all you can expect… here’s the rest of the lineup for the day and evening”

A musical ambassador since he was in short trousers, a professional DJ since his early teens, a veteran of acid house and a champion of techno, Carl Cox emits a love of his work that is dangerously infectious. Check him when he’s behind the turntables playing his UK festival exclusive in his very own Carl Cox and Friends Arena accompanied by James Zabiela amongst other DJs to help shake the foundations.

Also included in the Saturday’s line-up will be the crème de le crème of international DJs from Eric Prydz, Fedde Le Grand and Nic Fanciulli in support. Having toured with it around the world, Armin Van Buuren will also play a special extended 3hr set of euphoric proportions inside the ‘Godskitchen Boombox’, which is not to be missed.

Above & Beyond will unleash their uplifting trance productions in the Godskitchen Arena and the Bedrock 10 Arena will see the legendary John Digweed and Sasha lift the crowd with their deep selection of tunes. Lisa Lashes will be holding no prisoners in the Polysexual Vs Hardcore Til I Die Arena with Tidy Boys.

The Tuborg Live Stage will make its debut appearance at the festival on the Saturday, so don’t miss the likes of Does it Offend You, Yeah? The Whip Frankmusik, Dan Black, and Sneaky Sound System amongst other box fresh electronic acts set to christen this new addition to the festival.

To purchase tickets and view full terms and conditions please visit: http://www.globalgathering.co.uk/tickets or call 0844 847 1551.

Location: Long Marston Airfield, Nr Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Date: Friday 24th and Saturday 25th July 2009
Times: Friday 5pm-2am / Saturday 2pm-6am
Website: http://www.globalgathering.co.uk

Prices:
Weekend General Admission tickets – £115.00 + bf
Weekend VIP Admission tickets – £165.00 + bf
Weekend Tickets include FREE weekend camping & FREE car parking

Saturday General Admission tickets – £59.50 +bf
Saturday VIP Admission tickets – £99.50 + bf
Saturday Tickets include FREE car parking

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White Mountain earlybird tickets on sale now

If you want to get away from it all and chill out in a superb mountain setting while listening to acoustic performances by some of South Africa’s top artists, then look no further than the annual White Mountain Folk Festival.

Running from 24 to 27 September 2009, this laid-back music festival is held at White Mountain Lodge near Giant’s Castle in the beautiful Central Drakensberg region of KwaZulu-Natal, just 34km from Estcourt on tarred roads, 200km from Durban and 430km from Johannesburg.

On offer is a four-day programme of chilled acoustic music, as well as a wide choice of outdoor leisure activities, arts and crafts, a beer market and assorted food stalls.  Festival-goers can also make full use of the lodge’s facilities, including a restaurant, pub, games room, swimming pool and satellite TV.

Early Bird tickets are now on sale at Computicket for just ZAR350, which is a saving of ZAR150 on the gate price.  This offer is limited to 500 tickets only, so make sure you get in early.  The price includes camping in the newly graded and grassed festival campsite overlooking the dam.

Now in its fourth year, White Mountain has quickly become a firm favourite on the events calendar and is not to be missed.  The line-up is currently being finalised and will be announced shortly.  For more information, visit www.whitemountain.co.za or contact Pedro at +27 82 892 6176.

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Afrika Burn 2009: Early bird tickets still available

Afrika Burn, Africa’s take on the famous, the extraordinary, the wild and dusty Burning Man Festival is coming up in September. It’s only been going a few years, but seems to be gathering momentum.

Like Nevada’s renowned event, Afrika Burn is all about freedom of expression, creativity, and community (and a weekend-long letting down of hair in a location far from the madding crowd).

If that’s up your alley, and you happen to be in South Africa, near the southern end (the Western Cape), or heading that way come Spring-time, take advantage of the earlybird tickets still available online.

A limited number of these earlybird tickets are going for ZAR250, until they run out, whereafter it’s ZAR350 online until 7 September ’09 and ZAR450 at the gate.

Handy travel resources for backpackers:
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Posted in Destinations, Festivals | 2 Comments »

Pay less for Creamfields tickets!

Coming up for any backpackers planning to be in the UK in August is kickass dance festival Creamfields – and the good news is that tickets for the event just got cheaper.

Yep, seems there are some good sides to the credit crunch, after all…

“The legendary northern fest is responding to the current financial climate and have put together a credit crunching limited ticket offer.  Joining forces with clubbing bible Mixmag, the first 5000 tickets on sale will be sold at a reasonable £100 for all camping and weekend tickets, coming in £20 cheaper than any of its competitors.    And it doesn’t stop there, day tickets have been frozen at 08 prices and hospitality tickets have dropped as much as £25.”

A little bit of light at the end of the dance-party-fan’s tunnel?  We think perhaps so.

Tickets will go on general sale at 9am on Friday 3rd April 2009.  But, all Mixmag readers can get first bite of the cherry from Monday 30th March, when festival goers can pre-order tickets 5 days before anyone else!  All you have to do is go to www.mixmag.net now to take advantage of this exclusive offer.

Creamfields 2009 takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend of 28,29 August at Daresbury, Halton, Cheshire in the UK.

Handy travel resources for backpackers:
Book hostels – book a hostel at thousands of locations around the world.
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Creamfields 2009 website revealed (bring on summer!)

You know southern hemisphere summer is knocking at the door when all the fabulous festivals start announcing the year’s line-ups, and revamping their websites to tempt ever more party-goers to pick their event over others.

Well, huge UK dance party Creamfields has recently given their website just such a makeover, and though the line-up hasn’t been announced just yet, festival fans have only a few more weeks to wait until they find out.

We can also reveal that the line up for this years Creamfields festival will be announced on www.creamfields.com on Friday 3rd April.  Having celebrated its 10th anniversary last summer and becoming one of the major highlights of the festival calendar, the UK’s original dance festival returns to the idyllic Cheshire countryside on Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th August Bank Holiday weekend, following the overwhelming success last year, the festival will return as a 2 day camping festival.

Bring on summer!

Handy travel resources for backpackers:
Book hostels – book a hostel at thousands of locations around the world.
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Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers

Posted in Destinations, Festivals | 1 Comment »

The OppiKoppi “Strictly Come Twakkie” Not-Quite-Easter- Festival is approaching!

Oppikoppi is coming… It’s one of South Africa’s favourite festivals, drawing thousands of party-loving folks up to Oppikoppi Northam Farm every April – for a weekend of some of the best local music the country has to offer.

And every event has its own, somewhat unusual theme…

With eyes of an ostrich, ears of a bat-eared fox, strength of a buffalo, speed of a zebra, the mystic man from afar, Twakkie, our beloved new bureaucrat is running for president this 2009 elections.

The campaign party, in association with MK and Jose Cuervo Tequila will be taking place from the 24th to the 26th April at the party’s headquarters: Oppikoppi Farm, Northam in the far-flung province of Limpopo.

Tickets will soon be on sale for R270 each at http://www.tunegum.com/  and will also be available at the gate on the day of the performance.

And, if you’re feeling hard up for cash, you can always become a volunteer and get in for free.

Handy travel resources for backpackers:
Book hostels – book a hostel at thousands of locations around the world.
RTW flights – book your round-the-world flights at backpacking prices!
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers

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