big festivals on the horizon

So Download went off with a bang (no I wasn't there), and it's almost time for Bloodstock Open Air, and the biggest of the big, WACKEN (wish I was going to those 2)

Now I have unfortunately not been to one of these festivals, but goddman I would love to go.

One of my best mates, went to germany last year, the lucky son of a gun attended Wacken and Partysan, and the bastard is going again this year.

After he came back from his trip last year, after he told me all the stories, and chatting to a few other folks online about the festivals in mainland europe and in the UK, i have come to the realization that we as South Africans are just not used to shows of that magnitude.

Now what I mean by this, the folks from over the pond I chatted to, had no problem with the sheer size of these festivals, its what they're used to and what they know.

Now it's not that I'm saying we as South Africans don't know or to enjoy a good ol' festival, it's just that we aren't used to size of it.







When comparing our biggest festival which is Oppikoppi to Wacken. Last year Oppikoppi pulled about 13 thousand people (I stand corrected), where as Wacken pulled over 70 thousand.
Like my mate told me, at Wacken, if you don't get there 5 hours before your fav band starts you are barely going to make them out on top of the stage over the sea of people.
But at Partysan (which pulls about the same amount as oppi, i think a bit less), it was a lot better, everyone could see the band playing an so on...

Now this finally brings me to my point, South Africans, being as full of shit as we are. We like the smaller more personal shows, where the band can interact more with the crowd.
 Its strange we all here dream of going to these massive festivals, and we enjoy some aspects of it, but we still long for our smaller more homey fests.

Only thing I'm hoping for is that more of the bands playing these massive festivals, will come and visit our beautiful country, and see how we do a festivals...

The official 2012 Wacken trailer.