Is wading through muddy fields at Glastonbury your idea of heaven? Or finding sand in curious places at Burning Man? Is Dubai’s homegrown festival Groove on the Grass your happy place? Whichever you prefer, we’ve sure missed out on some serious festival action this year. Things are looking up for the 2021 festie season but in the meantime here’s some music festival trivia to fill the void…
1. Heritage
The heritage of music festivals can arguably be traced back to the late sixth century BC Pythian Games, which pre-date the Olympics! Held at the sanctuary of Apollo, at Delphi, the Pythian Games concluded with a day of musical competitions.
2. Green Man
The deeply established Green Man festival in Wales can trace its family line back to the cultural tournament for poets and musicians held by Lord Rhys at Cardigan Castle, in 1176.
3. Woodstock
US festival Woodstock, which took place in August 1969, is widely regarded as one of the most important events in music history. With the hippie movement gaining momentum, more than half a million people flocked to the festival to see the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Joe Cocker and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Hendrix’ Sunday night headline set was delayed by technical issues and bad weather until 9am the next morning.
4. Glastonbury
Farmer Michael Eavis mounted the first Glastonbury Festival – then called the Pilton Pop, Blues & Folk Festival – at Worthy Farm, on 19 September 1970 (the day after Jimi Hendrix died). Around 1500 people paid £1 to attend. Here’s a little nugget for music festival trivia fact fans – the ticket price included free milk from the farm. Glastonbury takes place on the same working farm to this day.
5. Biggest Crowd
The largest festival attendance – according to Guinness World Records – was recorded at the Danube Island Festival, in Vienna, Austria, in 2015. More than 3.3 million people turned up over its three-day duration. Not the best time to lose your mates.
6. Fight For Democracy
The award-winning EXIT festival, at the Petrovaradian Fortress, in Novi Sad, Serbia, was born out of political activism. Protesting for democracy and freedom in Serbia and the Balkans, a couple of student friends organised the first EXIT festival in the city’s University Park in 2020.
With 20th anniversary plans put on ice this year due to Covid-19, EXIT will celebrate the milestone from 8th – 11th July 2021. Eric Prydz vs Four Tet, Solomon, Dennis Sulta and Nina Kraviz are among the DJs already confirmed. Or you could get your thrash on to heavy metal legends Sepultura, if that’s your thing.
7. Super Cool
Fancy a rave in an igloo? Then head to Snowbombing, in Austria. Dubbed “the Glasto of the Alps”, Snowbombing basically takes over the ski resort of Mayrhofen for the duration of the event and fills its many quirky alpine venues – including the local butcher’s shop – with DJs and music. It’s due to take place 5th – 10th April next year. A word in your ear: you’ll enjoy it more if you can snowboard or ski – or are at least willing to give it a bash.
8. Most Remote
Australia’s Birdsville Big Red Bash is considered the “most remote” music festival in the world. It takes place in the Simpson Desert, Queensland – 1900km from Sydney, 1600km from Brisbane and 1200km from Adelaide.
9. Lollapalooza
When the US band Jane’s Addiction decided to split in 1991, singer Perry Farrell conceived a farewell tour. But when 250,000 fans showed up, it sparked the idea for the annual Lollapalooza festival instead. With around 400,000 fans turning up to Lollapalooza in Chicago each year, the festival now also takes place in six other different countries.
10. Lost Causes
Losing your mates at a festival is part of the fun. But just how much fun would you need to be having to lose your prosthetic arm or leg? Prosthetic limbs are on the list of bizarre items found by festival site clean-up squads. As is an urn filled with human ashes. Maybe don’t mention this last piece of music festival trivia unless you want to kill the party.
