Sziget 2013

[Cristall]

I think this year expectations about the line up were higher than even before. Not only was the bar set very high by what in my opinion was the best Sziget line up ever in 2011, with Prince probably being the biggest headliner Sziget ever had, but also was it the twentieth edition and Sziget told they were working on the best line up ever. Expectations may also have become higher because Sziget was voted the best festival of Europe. More people than usual therefore started comparing the Sziget line up with festivals that spend much more on big headliners and much less on everything else.

At the point where I and many others bought tickets, we didn't know yet Prince was too expensive and neither did we know about Vodafone pulling out. Therefore I can understand why many were disappointed with the 2012 line up. I think many were missing the icing on the cake they were expecting, a big headliner like Prince in 2011. But having been to a few more editions, I think 2012 had a great line up compared to the years before 2011. And the Wednesday-Sunday headliners indeed were about just as strong as in 2011.

At the same time we also didn't know about the changes yet. I think those wanting to spend a lot of time at the open air metal stage that was introduced in 2011 were the most disappointed with the changes. Metal day on day zero simply isn't the same as a full week of metal bands on the metal stage. On the other hand I also spoke with some metal fans who were actually quite happy with the changes, because they spent more time on other stages than in previous years. For them the changes turned out to be an eye-opener, but I think most metal fans were disappointed. For me it didn't really make a difference, since I am not that much into metal and used to avoid the metal stage.

I missed the open air meduza in 2011, but I didn't really miss it this year. The meduza tent in 2011 was far from good, but this year there were much better replacements. The inmedio bar was not as good as the open air meduza, but certainly much better than the meduza tent. And the meduza nights in the a38 were also nice. A38 was also looking much better than in previous years.

Besides these changes I loved the new location for the world stage (situated where the europe stage was in 2011) and I was also pleasantly surprised by the effort that was put into decorations. A38 being closer to main stage was also a good change. Considering all these changes I think overall Sziget has become better, except for the metal fans and for those who think really big headliners are very important. The only thing I was really missing, was an english programme booklet. Those were too late, but hopefully Sziget has learned from that mistake.

[thetime]

Nice post cristall.

As the was no english booklet were the times of bands and stages announced beforehand on the website or the app?

[Cristall]

The times and stages could be found in the Hungarian booklets (it wasn't that hard to understand because times were written like 15.00 and the names of the stages mostly looked like their english equivalents), in the app, on the website and on the big screens next to the bigger stages. Main reason why I thought the lack of english booklets was a pity, was because I couldn't read any description of any of the smaller bands and venues unless I used the app, which was not good for the battery of my phone.

[stevoooo]

Excellent points Cristall. I think you are spot on...their early post about 2012 being the biggest and best Sziget ever for the 20th aniversary got people expectations going off like crazy.

I'm not a huge metalhead, but enjoyed seeing little bits of the Motorhead, Judas priest, etc, as was walking about the site. seemed a shame to stick it all into Day 0.

The Europe Stage was my favourite last year and got me into the likes of Ojos de Brujos & Rotfront

That's a shame about the booklet, though I thought the app worked really well in 2011....2010 it was a disaster!

Also sad to hear that Dreher Karaoke tent was missing this year that was always good fun,

The Vodaphone tower was stunning last year, though the big wheel looked pretty cool this year... you guys go up it?

Did they still have the huge climbing wall and absailing tower?

stevoooo

[edfirth]

Booked! Staying in an apartment on the other side of the river and a bit further South. How easy will it be to get in each day and are there shuttles of some sort heading back in the late hours?

[Cristall]

Aftermovie

[thetime]

Aftermovie

[stevoooo]

That aftermovie is awesome!

Thetime, have you seem this one from 2011...

[thetime]

That aftermovie is awesome!

Thetime, have you seem this one from 2011...

[Cristall]

Another one, from 2010:

[thetime]

Another one, from 2010:

[Lambo_KoRn]

these are some of my fave sziget vids you might not have seen before

[Lambo_KoRn]

[h1210]

Awesome videos, I'd not seen many of them before. We only went for the day this year but a lot seemed to have changed since last time I went (2008). When did all the bars disappear from behind the mainstage (on the path with all the flags)? I loved chilling out in one of them with people flying over your head on a zipwire every so often!

[thetime]

I see qotsa have been announced for volt, does this rule them out of sziget?

Edited November 30, 2012 by thetime

[Kuki]

Yes, I think so.

But good thing, that one-day tickets for Volt are only 30EUR

[PastCaring]

Hopefully, then, that also rules out 30 Seconds to Mars

Surely, we're due for some sort of announcement soon - if last year is anything to go by?

[Cristall]

At some point last year it looked like when an announcement came for Volt, the next week there was an announcement for Balaton Sound and the week after that for Sziget.

Parov Stelar Band to Sziget, nice! Saw them once on Volt, great live electro band!

[Uncle Liam]

They won't do, but they should book Kraftwerk, because I would enjoy that.

[spudling]

The Specials are on tour in the UK in May .They have played Sziget before so would like to see them play.

[Capzilla]

Ah... can't wait to go back!

[spudling]

Please lets have a announcement before Christmas.

[Lambo_KoRn]

eminem just been announced for leeds festival in england which is end of august, would love eminem at sziget and deftones!

[spudling]

You might be right snoop last year eminem this year..

[PastCaring]

Eminem's not really our thing, but would go and take a look just to see what all the hype's about Would actually rather have him announced as first headliner than KoL - at least that makes the Sziget announcement a bit different from that of most the other European festivals to date! Would love for Deftones to be there, though!