Roskilde Festival part 1

Roskilde Festival

Attendance: Saturday June 27, 18:00 to Monday July 6, 15:00

10 camping days
12 films screenings, 30 hours work
17 concerts
3 showers
+ 25 degrees celsius and sun
1 over heated 7am tent
3 sets of earplugs
1 hindering blister

and non tallyable Tuborg beer.

Inspired by other festivals such as Woodstock or Thy, Roskilde Festival began in 1971 and is now the largest North European culture and music event. The Festival is also a non profit organization consisting of about 25 full-time employees and thousands of volunteers. Each year, any profits are donated directly to the Roskilde Festival Charity Society which in turn, donates the money to humanitarian or cultural purposes benefiting people all over the world.

Orange stage

The first 1971 festival took place over 2 days, with one only stage located just outside of the city of Roskilde (31 km west of Copenhagen) featuring approximately 20 bands. Today, there are 7 stages, 175 bands, and this year's 2009 festival brought in a total attendance of 67,413 all-week guests and 12,931 one-day guests.

Arena Stage

Partaking in Roskilde Festival in its entirety means than one could be there over an 8 day period, although live concerts only take place during the last 4 days. For many, the camp atmosphere and surrounding activities during the days before the music starts, can contribute as much or sometimes more to the festival experience than the actual time spent listening to the concerts.

Loading in the weeks supply of necessities

In fact this year, impatient festival goers waiting to be let in on Sunday at 08:00 broke down the barricading fence by 20:58 on Saturday evening, and ran in to get to their favorite camp spot before the next came along. In less than 2 hours, there were thousands of colourful tent peaks, white pavilions and camp flags setup and backlit by the glow of the setting sun.

Due to the unexpected breaking down of the fence, I had to fend off festival vultures to save this 12 tent camp area (photo above and below). Meanwhile I waited 3 hours for backup friends to finally arrive from Copenhagen after receiving my emergency call to packup and rush in 8hours before our arranged meeting time.

I was offered a choice of 2 volunteer positions at Roskilde this year: first for NOAH, friends of the Earth, a non-profit environmental organization and second, for the Roskilde festival cinema. Since 10 days was bound to lead to some form of debotchery, I opted against the green friendly position. Instead, as a media volunteer, I knew that I would receive in exchange, not only a free entrance pass, but access to warm showers, cleaner toilets, and a quieter place to retreat on the secure grounds of the cinema. These are all elements that were essential for my survival during those days.

Roskilde cinema tent (capacity of 1000)

Notice the interior metal vertical beam in the closest peak was removed and instead supported by 3 other external beams and cabling.

Shade and shelter is what I found on this piece of grass and
I kept coming here frequently despite the walk ...

from westcamping ...


past the hungover morning lineup at the stinkies ...


up the bridge ....


down the bridge ...

past the dustiest tents...


along the very very long gravel path....

beside the enormous gravel pit right in the center of the campgrounds ...


and finally, through the mess at east camping.
(west camping was clean in comparison)

And so this was my daily excursion, from my camp located at westcamping to the cinema at eastcamping, that took 30 mins each way or 45mins with the fresh new foot blister that resulted.