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Pukkelpop

Timmo

By Timmo
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Timmo

Timmo

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Anyone else go?

For me it was about 10 times the festival reading/leeds is, similar but with more of a slant towards dance/electronic (Digitalism/Justice/LCD) but a great deal of guitar rock too. (Shins/Kings of Leon/Smashing pumpkins etc)

More when I've recovered, but it was incredible. There were far less brits than I thought there would be, seeing as it's relatively easy to get to and only 130 euros. Seriously amazing weekend. Drinks/food tokens are a fab idea. The only queue I was in for the whole weekend was the cash machine, due to my own poor planning.

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Timmo

Timmo

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What went wrong at Benicassim?

The whole weekend was just a delight. In comparison, Reading last year was horrifically packed (almost claustrophobic, even), uncomfortable and disappointing. An hour walk to the stage is never fun. Pukkelpop was cheaper, had a better line up, had no sound level issues (the quietness of Reading's dance stage last year was a joke), and as I say, no queues or squashes due to good planning.

It didn't start well. The travelling to get there was a bit of a pain (time rather than anything else, it's included in the ticket price), and we arrived to pouring rain, my bedding getting wet in the dark. It didn't take long to get settled though, and the rain soon cleared up (incidentally, the only rain of the weekend). It was superbly organised; any extra muddy bits were quickly boarded over and I didn't see a single person fall or get muddy. We left and headed straight for the dance tent (pre festival party) and I ended up having one of the funniest and generally excellent nights of my life.

When it kicked off, it felt full and there was an exciting atmosphere, but it was never cramped. Most venues were full but there was always room to get in (the only exception I saw being besnard lakes, which was completely rammed). For an idea of size it was about the same as reading.

We always gravitated and met at the special beer tent, (never ANY queues as I mentioned, due to brilliant ticket system) where cheerful cherry beer drinking became an institution. We'd recharge before splitting and heading off to the great variety of bands.

Here was the line-up: http://www.last.fm/event/92533

Liars were the best band there for me, so unpredictable and intense. Battles impressed, as did Digitalism. Lo Fi fnk were great fun. The DJs made the weekend for me, though. I've never danced so much.

Bad points: poor food, solitary cash machine, no cider. The fact it finishes! That's genuinely all I can think of.

I liked the mix of belgians/dutch/germans etc.

Next year? Definitely.

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Marzipan Travolta

Marzipan Travolta

Posted
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What went wrong at Benicassim?

Increased most priced by 25%, there were also vast amounts of Brits. I'd estimate about 60% of the crowd. They were almost all 18 year olds just finished A-Levels, financed by the parents with no respect for the Spanish. Completely took over. Hideously rammed campsite, such that people were falling on tents everywhere and getting into arguments etc..

Having said all that once the festival got underway the crowds were almost all the best I've ever witnessed for that particular band.

Isn't camping at Pukkelpop a bit of an issue? The organisers don't lay much on themselves do they? Plus I believe you can't take your own booze in?

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Timmo

Timmo

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Increased most priced by 25%, there were also vast amounts of Brits. I'd estimate about 60% of the crowd. They were almost all 18 year olds just finished A-Levels, financed by the parents with no respect for the Spanish. Completely took over. Hideously rammed campsite, such that people were falling on tents everywhere and getting into arguments etc..

Having said all that once the festival got underway the crowds were almost all the best I've ever witnessed for that particular band.

Isn't camping at Pukkelpop a bit of an issue? The organisers don't lay much on themselves do they? Plus I believe you can't take your own booze in?

That sounds awful. Brits can't have been 10% of Pukkelpop. The ones I did meet were all super nice, too.

I'm not sure what you mean for camping - you're unsure about facilities? There's plenty of toilets etc. Showers although you could well queue for an hour plus unless you get up early (or you could just stay out!) No drinking water but you can get 2 litre bottles for 1 euro. Our tent was near to an all night bar which was grand. If you mean space etc there were no problems at all. Far less were camping than you'd see at an English festival, looks like day tickets hold more appeal abroad.

I wish I was still there!

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Pmccee

Pmccee

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Increased most priced by 25%, there were also vast amounts of Brits. I'd estimate about 60% of the crowd. They were almost all 18 year olds just finished A-Levels, financed by the parents with no respect for the Spanish. Completely took over. Hideously rammed campsite, such that people were falling on tents everywhere and getting into arguments etc..

Having said all that once the festival got underway the crowds were almost all the best I've ever witnessed for that particular band.

Isn't camping at Pukkelpop a bit of an issue? The organisers don't lay much on themselves do they? Plus I believe you can't take your own booze in?

Amen. Our train ride from Barcelona to Castellon was hideous as most of the passengers wouldn't shut up about their uni courses. Shouldn't have camped in Bonet we camped in the site next to the arena, some friends actually moved from bonet to our site because it was less crowded. Absolute mission getting into town mind from there :lol:

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Halo

Halo

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Also re: Rock Werchter, did you manage to find anything to drink except strong beer? I sure as hell didn't. :(

Nope - but it's Belgium and Stella is brewed in Leuven, so it's to be expected. That said I just drank Belle-Vue while I was there.

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  • 1 year later...
Crusey

Crusey

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So, I'm thinking about attending either Pukkelpop or Lowlands this year instead of making the usual trip to Reading. Anyone been to either (or both) of these in the past? Which would you recommend? So far Lowlands looks like the favourite due to the theme park next door and the fact that Bon Iver is playing. Any idea when the pukkelpop line-up will be announced?

How fast do tickets for Lowlands usually sell out? I notice that they are on sale at the moment but probably can't afford any for a few weeks yet.

Cheers!

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Timmo

Timmo

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Pukkelpop was really disappointing for me last year after 2007, although I think it was mostly because the novelty wore off a bit. I'll be trying somewhere else this year. One of those ridiculous Techno ones in Germany/Belgium, perhaps.

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