By Ruxandra Popescu
UCR Class of 2014
Tired of listening to music through your headphones? Do you like 
browsing through video recordings from concerts of your favorite band? Tell me honestly: how many times did you imagine yourself being in that special place, crowd surfing on a sea of people? This year is your year!
What I have for you is a selection of 9 festivals that will probably make you start using that old, crappy piggy bank that has been collecting dust for the past months again. A euro a day brings one more festival your way!
The following events are in chronological order so you can plan ahead. I did not focus on the big events that I am pretty sure you are all already aware of. I will instead bring forward a few not-so-advertized, small to medium scale festivals, hoping that at least one of them fits your taste.
I must add: Congratulations to all of you that got the chance of buying a ticket to either Tomorrowland or Lowlands. Or both. You lucky bastards.
I’m going to kick off by presenting to you what is going to happen in March in Amsterdam, around Leidseplein. 5 Days Off (the 5th – 9th of March) is an indoor festival dedicated to electronic music. They started in 2001, adding bigger names each year. Parts of the show that are going to create a new universe for you with their sounds are Darkside, Darkstar, Noisia, Rustie, Buraka Som Sistema. A pass-partout ticket costs 79 euros. Go and grab it from their official website .
Paaspop is going to take place in Schijndel, close to Den Bosch, between the 18th – 20th of April. On their eleven stages, different genres of music starting with rock and going all the way to hip-hop will help you escape the reality of the end-of-term exams. The headline of this edition is – the one and only – The Prodigy! But the beauty does not end here. Band of Skulls, Blaudzun, Boys Noize, Kaiser Chiefs and Kensington are just a few names that are going to force your body to move across the dance floor. A pass-partout ticket with camping will cost you €110. Worth it, I would say!
Motel Mozaique is an alternative festival that takes place in the first weekend of April in Rotterdam. They started their business in 2001 and they’re asking for €65 for a pass-partout ticket. The great part about this festival is that you can volunteer! You can join the events for free! All you have to do is work for a couple of hours and you get a free t-shirt as well. What more do you need? Among the artists playing there you can find Cashmere Cat (No), Cosmo Sheldroke (UK), Gardens and Villa (US), Gentleman (UK) and Moss (NL).
Changing the style, I would like to propose to you Forta Rock. This is going to take place on the 31st of May in Nijmegen. It is only one day, but the line-up might make you freak out if you’re a rock addict: Iron Maiden, Slayer, Anthrax, Trivium and Gojira are going to be there, to name just a few. The ticket costs €75 and it will offer you access to all 3 stages.
Between the 14th and 15th of June, the Indian Summer Festival will take place in Geestmerambacht. This festival brings together a diverse group of artists, varying from dance to rock music. This year they have the pleasure to present to us Birdy, Chase & Status, Chef’ Special, Crystal Fighters, Parov Stelar Band. For this madness you need to spend €89 for a pass-partout ticket with camping.
This next festival will take you to Wonderland! Down the Rabbit Hole will take place between the 27th – 29th of June in Beuningen. The Black Keys, Foals, The Naked and Famous, MGMT and Little Dragon will also be there to help you explore the wonders of the new world you dared to enter. Go and find your imagination! A pass-partout with camping will cost you €135.
My personal favorite is Dour, which will take place in Belgium between the 17th and 20th of July. For four days of music and camping you will have to spend €119 (if you buy your ticket before the end of March) and this will give you access to all 7 stages, where over 180 artists will perform for your personal delight. The line-up is very much incomplete still, but I can already tease you with names like Girls in Hawaii, Goldie, LFO, Mr. Oizo, Paul Kalkbrener, Sick of it All and Shigeto. This alternative festival brings artists from all genres: from dub to dubstep and then all the way to heavy metal and hardcore. See you there?
The last festival that deserves your attention for now is Psy-Fi Festival, which will take place in Leeuwarden between the 28th of August and 1st of September. This is something that lovers of Goa and Psychedelic music should not miss! There is free camping, workshops and lectures that you can attend and numerous artistic and musical performances. You can also sign up as a volunteer! Among the ones that will definitely lift your spirit above the ground are Zen Mechanics (NL), Sensient (AU), Ital (CL) and Avalon (UK). Tickets are 60 euros, hot and up for grabs!
Put your bad shoes and sunglasses on, leave all your valuables at home and go party like there is no tomorrow at one or all of the festivals presented above. Do not forget to check the websites of Pinkpop, Rock Werchter, Bospop, Les Ardents, Cactus, Holi Festival of Colors Utrecht, Huntenpop, Amsterdam Dance Event and I love Techno as well. Their line-up is to die for! Put your party mood on and let yourself be carried away by the waves of sound!
Ruxandra Popescu, class of 2014, is an Arts and Humanities major from Iași, Romania.
