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Glade Festival 2008: Tickets On Sale Now (Or Work As A Volunteer)

The Glade Festival is all about getting away from the mainstream, and delving deep into things alternative:

“Having been the renegade dance stage at Glastonbury, The Glade exploded out into its own multi-genre music festival and has steadily grown to be the premier cutting edge electronic music event in the UK. With a strong aversion to all things corporate and mainstream and with a great love of all things alternative, underground and interesting, the Glade has a mind boggling array of artistic ideas; musically, sonically, visually and extra sensorily, from all over the world..”

Held in Berkshire (only 50 minutes drive from London), this popular electronic music festival is unsponsored, shunning the “bollocks of the corporate world“ in favour of “keeping it real… in creating a space for people to dance and laugh, connect and reflect, teach, learn and be here now”.

This year’s festival takes place over the weekend of 18-20 July, and a ticket will cost you £125 (Camper Van Tickets are £45).

If you’re a little out of pocket (or hoping to save more for travel), why not consider volunteering as a litter picker? You pay a deposit (returned after you’ve completed the requisite 3×7hr shifts) and you do 1 shift during the festival, and 2 after it. In return you get free entry and you’ll get a free meal before and after your shift as well! Check out the Glade website for more info and to apply.

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Cheap hostels – find and book your hostel online at special discounted rates
Airtreks Travel Planner – plan your round the world trip with Airtreks
Backpackers Travel Gear – backpacks and other travel gear
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers
Travel newsletter – sign up for our free monthly travel newsletter ‘From The Road’

Posted in Destinations, Festivals | No Comments »

Afrika Burns 2008: Earlybird Tickets On Sale Now

Earlybird tickets for Afrika Burns have just gone on sale. Like its sibling festival, the great and famous Burning Man, Afrika Burns is a participant-created experiment in temporary community building and a “fantastical amazing mind-blowing party” into the bargain.

The African version takes place this year between 16 and 19 October on a farm a few hours from Cape Town, South Africa.

Earlybird tickets will be available for ZAR200, until the end of April, whereafter a sliding scale applies: May – ZAR250; June – ZAR300; July, August & September and October (until the 10th) ZAR350. Tickets at the gate will cost ZAR400.

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Cheap hostels – find and book your hostel online at special discounted rates
Airtreks Travel Planner – plan your round the world trip with Airtreks
Backpackers Travel Gear – backpacks and other travel gear
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers
Travel newsletter – sign up for our free monthly travel newsletter ‘From The Road’

Posted in Destinations, Festivals | No Comments »

How Playing Spice Invaders Could Win You A Trip To Tomatina 2008

Tomatina is coming. Come August, thousands of tomato-pulp-loving backpackers will be making their way to the small town of Bunyol, in Spain, intent on throwing as many mushy tomatoes at one another as is humanly possible.

And then perhaps wallowing contentedly in the resulting river of goop.

It’s hot, it’s wet and it’s seriously mucky (ahem).

Well, if all of that sounds like your cup of sangria, then why not enter Big Tom’s ‘Spice Invaders’ competition. The prize up for grabs is a very lovely trip for two to the Tomatina Festival, complete with flights (not specified if this is limited to certain destinations), hotel and spending money.

And, to win, all you have to do is “Splatter your way through an onerous onslaught of evil drinks, hell bent on world domination, in a final attempt to restore a healthy balanced diet to the universe…”

So, if you fancy your keyboard skills, have a good strong internet connection, and happen to have a bit of spare time, it’s time to play ‘Spice Invaders: Attack of the Insipid Liquids!’.

Good luck, and may the Force be with you.

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Cheap hostels in Spain – find and book your hostel online at special discounted rates
Airtreks Travel Planner – plan your round the world trip with Airtreks
Backpackers Travel Gear – backpacks and other travel gear
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers
Travel newsletter – sign up for our free monthly travel newsletter ‘From The Road’

Posted in Competitions & Giveaways, Destinations, Festivals | 1 Comment »

Austin City Limits Festival Announces Its 2008 Lineup

Music-loving backpackers, take note: the Austin City Limits Festival has just announced its 2008 lineup – and it’s looking rather fine indeed.

To name but a few, the lineup includes Bob Dylan, The Killers, Bjork, Muse, Arctic Monkeys, Joss Stone, Crowded House… and the list goes on.

So, if you’re going to be near Austin, Texas around the end of September this year, the Austin City Limits Festival is going to be where it’s at.

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Cheap hostels – find and book your hostel online at special discounted rates
Airtreks Travel Planner – plan your round the world trip with Airtreks
Backpackers Travel Gear – backpacks and other travel gear
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers
Travel newsletter – sign up for our free monthly travel newsletter ‘From The Road’

Posted in Destinations, Festivals | No Comments »

Dates Announced For Afrika Burns 2008: Africa’s Burning Man Festival

Dates for this year’s Afrika Burns Festival have been announced. The 2008 Burning Man-style open-air shindig is set to take place from 16-19 October on a privately owned farm in the Karoo (South Africa).

In case you missed it, Afrika Burns is an “ART festival… participant created… an experiment in temporary community building… radical self-expression, self reliance and non-commercialism… encouraging a culture of environmental mindfulness”. (more)

It’s also, you’ll be glad to know, been dubbed a “fantastical amazing mind-blowing party“ – so there you go. Tickets for the event go on sale soon.

Related entries:
Africa’s Burning Man: Afrika Burns
The Burning Man Goes Green: Carbon Footprints in Black Rock City
Tales From The Playa: Insights From Burning Man

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Cheap hostels – find and book your hostel online at special discounted rates
Airtreks Travel Planner – plan your round the world trip with Airtreks
Backpackers Travel Gear – backpacks and other travel gear
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers
Travel newsletter – sign up for our free monthly travel newsletter ‘From The Road’

Posted in Destinations, Festivals | No Comments »

Get Set For A World Class Line Up For Creamfields 2008

Uber-popular UK music festival Creamfields is 10 years old and this August they’re pulling out all the stops. The lineup so far, looks something like this:

Kasabian / Fatboy Slim / Ian Brown / Underworld / Paul Van Dyk / Tiësto / Pendulum / Soulwax / Gossip / Chic featuring Nile Rodgers / Erick Morillo / Paul Oakenfold / Sasha / David Guetta / 2manydjs / Simian Mobile Disco / John Digweed / Ferry Corsten / Pete Tong / Dubfire / Eddie Halliwell / (and many many more)

Rather impressive, and if you’re a party animal, well worth working into ye ol’ itinerary (and budget). The festival takes on a different shape this year, too:

“As part of the 10th Anniversary celebrations Creamfields 08 has been spread over two days for the first time ever and will host boutique camping where festival goers can rest their dancing feet in tipis, beach huts and solar powered pod pads in the stunning surroundings of Daresbury, Cheshire.”

So, if you’re heading to the UK this summer, be sure to diarise these dates: 23,24 August – Daresbury, Halton, Cheshire. Weekend tickets are on sale now: (with camping) £115 + booking fee; (without camping) £105 + booking fee. Day tickets go on sale 21 April 2008.

Posted in Festivals | No Comments »

Tignesfest: A Fresh New (FREE) Music Festival in The Alps

Here’s a festival guaranteed to warm the cockles of any cost-cutting backpacker’s heart:

“TignesFest is a dynamic new alpine music event to be held in one of the top rated (and highest!) ski resorts in the world, Tignes. Running from 17-20th April, TignesFest is a musical cocktail showcasing the freshest talent out there today. From djs to live bands and exclusive acoustic sets, it’s also a long weekend of skiing, snowboarding, socialising and sounds for the discerning and curious who like to experience something outside of the norm. Best and most important of all, the event is free!”

As for the location, according to organisers, Tignes is regarded as one of the world’s highest and most snow-sure ski areas for skiers and snowboarders alike. It has “pistes to suit all, with the Naturides (ungroomed pistes) and the Spot (Skiing the Powder Of Tignes) zone, a cross between off-piste and a freestyle jumps park, and not forgetting the offpiste activities including snowmobiling, paragliding, ice diving, ice skating, horse riding, bowling and the Ice Museum”.

Special transport and accommodation packages have been put together, with discounts for festival-goers. Find out more here.

Useful (related) links for backpackers:
Hostels in Europe – find and book your hostel online
Backpackers Travel Insurance – cover your trip with comprehensive travel insurance from WorldNomads.

Posted in Destinations, Festivals | No Comments »

V Festival 2008: Travel Packages Now On Sale

August might seem a long way away, but if you’re anywhere near the UK this summer and wanting to whoop it up with thousands of fellow music-lovers, the V Festival is something for which you might well be willing to bend your budget…

Taking place in Hylands Park (Sat 16 August) and Weston Park (Sun 17 August), this year’s festival boasts a rocking line-up, including the likes of Amy Winehouse, The Verve, The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers and ever so many more.

It’s popular, though – very popular – so if you’re set on going, buy your tickets now. And, to make it easier for yourself, you can organise your transport to and from the festival at the same time. V Festival organisers have teamed up with National Express to provide travel packages (travel + tickets, or just travel).

Related entries:
‘Request Your Favourite Bands For Roskilde Festival 2008‘
‘Partying For A Cause Next Summer: Roskilde 2008‘
‘Roskilde Festival 2007: It’s Not Just About The Music‘
‘Capturing An Audience: Roskilde Festival’s Best Crowd Photo For 2006‘
‘Roskilde Festival 2007: Volunteering Can Get You In For Free‘

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Hostels in England – find and book your hostels online
Backpackers Travel Insurance – cover your trip with comprehensive travel insurance from WorldNomads.

Posted in Destinations, Festivals, Travel Deals | No Comments »

How To Get Into The Roskilde Festival For Free: Become A Refund Collector

Roskilde Festival is one of the biggest and best on the European festival circuit – not one to be missed. But, if you’re curtailed by a zealously guarded budget, you might think twice about buying a ticket that would set you back by a minimum of DKK 1650 (about 220 Euros) per person.

Fear not, though, because there is another option that will cost you nothing: volunteering as a ‘refund collector‘. A strange title, perhaps, but all it means is that you assist organisers by wandering around the festival collecting and sorting bottles that have a refund value.

As a volunteer, you’re required to work a minimum of 24 hours (3 shifts of 8 hours each) during the course of the festival and, in return, you’ll get free access to the festival and be able to experience it from the inside, as part of the 25,000-strong team.

Organisers try their best to ensure that volunteers get varied shifts, so whilst you may not be able to see all of what you want, when you want, you’re still going to have a whole lot of fun. Plus, you get that warm rosy feeling of doing something for a good cause (this year all profits from the refund collection will support mine clearance in Congo).

This year’s festival runs from 3-6 July, with the warm-up from 29 June. To be a volunteer, you need to be 18 years old or above, and you will be required to pay a deposit of DKK 600 (about 80 Euros). The deposit is to ensure that you pitch up, and will be paid back to you in full – provided that you’ve worked your required hours – as soon as the festival ends (more about that here).

Head on over here to sign up.

Related entries:
‘Request Your Favourite Bands For Roskilde Festival 2008‘
‘Partying For A Cause Next Summer: Roskilde 2008‘
‘Roskilde Festival 2007: It’s Not Just About The Music‘
‘Capturing An Audience: Roskilde Festival’s Best Crowd Photo For 2006‘
‘Roskilde Festival 2007: Volunteering Can Get You In For Free‘

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
DoCopenhagen Copenhagen Guide – some tips from alternative music blog, DoCopenhagen
VisitCopenhagen – official Copenhagen guide
Hostels in Roskilde – find and book your hostels online
Backpackers Travel Insurance – cover your trip with comprehensive travel insurance from WorldNomads.

Posted in Destinations, Festivals | No Comments »

Early Tickets For A Secret Festival: Glade Festival 2008 Gears Up For Summer

The Glade Festival is one of the UK’s ‘secret festivals’. You won’t know where it’s going to be held, until the very last minute, and then only if you’ve got yourself some tickets.

This popular electronic dance music festival is a place where you “can really let your hair down, dance to your favourite music and hang out with like-minded friendly people from all over the world in the English countryside, without sponsors and corporations trying to catch your attention”.

In other words, organisers say, it “stays true to the spirit of what this is all really about…”

This year’s festival runs over the summer weekend of Friday 18th to Sunday 20th of July. Tickets are not officially on sale yet, but you can get hold of early tickets here.

Related entries:
Glade Festival Gets The Go-Ahead
Return Of The Glade Festival: 2007 Dates Announced
Glade Festival Launches Its Shiny New Website
Shhhh… it’s a secret festival

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Hostels in England – find and book cheap hostels online
Visit England – travel and accommodation info for England.

Posted in Destinations, Festivals | No Comments »