Top 8 festivals for hardcore musos

AfrikaBurn is a community of participants who come together to create art, burning structures, costume,performance, theme camps, music, mutant vehicles and much, much more. Picture: Michael Walker

AfrikaBurn is a community of participants who come together to create art, burning structures, costume,performance, theme camps, music, mutant vehicles and much, much more. Picture: Michael Walker

Published May 21, 2016

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London - It’s festival season but forget events packed with celebrities, for committed music fans outdoor performances are characterised by mosh pits, extreme temperatures and bartering as the only currency.

From freezing cold temperatures at the SnowGlobe Festival to bare knuckle brawling at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, these global gatherings are not for the faint-hearted.

If you fancy yourself as a hardcore festival-goer, here are the most physically challenging.

 

AfrikaBurn, South Africa

With freezing temperatures at night, and daytime temperatures into the 40s, AfrikaBurn is as tough as they come. Thousands of people attend the week-long cultural festival in the Karoo, which was held earlier this month.

Although it is based on the Burning Man festival in Nevada, AfrikaBurn is even more basic and remote. Cash serves little purpose in the temporary city as nothing is for sale and, generally, if you want something, like food and water, you barter for it.

 

 

 

A photo posted by africa burn (@afrikaburn) on May 8, 2014 at 4:04am PDT

 

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, US

A visit to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota should be prepared for body shots and bare knuckle brawling

But there’s a ton of old-fashioned rock, country, and comedy. The festival is certainly a sight to behold, as over 700 000 bikers head to the Black Hills and the remote town of Sturgis (population 6 627) every summer.

This year the rally will be revving up during August 8-14.

 

 

Main Street #sturgismotorcyclerally2014

A photo posted by Foremost Insurance (@foremostinsurance) on Aug 10, 2014 at 9:09am PDT

 

 

SnowGlobe Festival, US

The Californian gathering is held at South Lake Tahoe, with temperatures dropping to about minus 12ºC. You’ll need to get those dancing shoes on and have a few drinks to avoid frostbite.

But the event could be the perfect way to end the year and kick-start the next, as it is running from December 29 -31 this year.

 

 

A photo posted by John Jacobson (@johnmjacobson) on Dec 31, 2015 at 11:45am PST

 

 

Burning Man, US

In order to attend the Burning Man festival you have to head out into the middle of nowhere. With the only city of any size six hours away, you will need to be truly committed. “Burners” are responsible for their own water, food and necessities as there are no shops at this festival.

The celebrations are held in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada and this year take place from August 28-September 5.

Don’t forget a scarf or cover up, as the dust clouds tend to swing by from time to time.

 

 

A photo posted by Burning Man (@burningman) on May 2, 2016 at 9:39am PDT

 

 

Sziget Festival, Hungary

Crowds at the Sziget Festival in Budapest are advised to book the entire week off as it is one of the largest, and longest in Europe celebrating music and culture. If that isn’t enough, don’t worry you can even take the party train to the festival with resident DJs to really get you in the mood.

This year the festival is running from August 10-17.

 

 

Træna Festival, Norway

Getting to the festival isn’t straightforward.

You have to get to Norway, then to Northern Norway, and then you take a ferry to the islands of Husoya.

The most gruelling part of the Træna Festival in Norway is the journey it takes to reach it.

This music festival is being held this year from July 7-10.

The sun shines for 23 hours a day here so you only have an hour a day to get any sleep.

 

 

Glastonbury, UK

One of the most gruelling parts of Glastonbury is the British weather. Being caked in mud for five days with limited access to showers is something reserved only for hardcore music festival fans.

Those up to the task will be heading to the musical Mecca from June 22-26.

 

 

 

Roskilde Festival, Denmark

The eight-day festival in Denmark hosts 130 000 festivalgoers and one of the highlights is an annual naked run.

The festival runs June 25-July 2.

 

Daily Mail

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