HEINEKEN OPEN’ER FESTIVAL 2010

STAG PARTIES, CHEAP BEER AND THE BOOM OF LOW-COST AIRLINES HAVE MADE POLAND A POPULAR HOLIDAY DESTINATION IN RECENT YEARS. BUT THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER REASON TO HEAD EAST THIS SUMMER: THE HEINEKEN OPEN’ER FESTIVAL 2010.

For those who slosh through the mud at Glastonbury every year, party at V Festival and buy a three-day pass for Leeds, this is another music event to add to your list. One of the largest rock, pop and dance festivals in Europe, it has also been awarded the title of the best. Earlier this year, it beat the likes of Glastonbury by winning the award for 2009 Best Major Festival at the European Festival Awards.

One of Europe’s biggest, and most important, music events of the summer, this four day July festival in Gdynia, North Poland is an excellent alternative to the best of our British festivals. Situated by the sea, it exudes the chilled ambiance of our welly-wearing weekends whilst being a whole lot cheaper than a ticket to Reading. To top that, the eclectic mix of huge names and some of the world’s biggest artists gives it a feel for a British line-up.

Taking to the stage from 1 to the 4 July, the line-up reads like a ‘who’s who’ of modern chart toppers with this year’s acts including Kasabian, Gorillaz Sound System, Nas and The Klaxons. Classic performers also grace one of the seven stages at the Heineken Open’er and this year you can sing along with Pearl Jam and Grace Jones and rock with The Hives.

Having been a permanent fixture of European festival calendars since its first show in Warsaw in 2002, the Heineken Open’er, now in Gdynia, has since become infamous amongst festival-goers, performers and the media the world over. With tented pitches such like our most beloved British festivals (though I’m sure with a lot less mud) and cheap-as-chip half-litre beers costing only £1.25, there really isn’t a reason not to give Heineken a go this summer.

Unless of course, you’re partial to the old mac in a sac once the British skies open, that is.

The Heineken Open’er Festival runs from 1 – 4 July 2010 in Gdynia, Poland. Ryanair, BA and Wizz Air all fly to the nearby town of Gdansk. For more information on the festival or to book tickets, visit www.opener.pl/en

Prices:

Adult three-day ticket £155 and individual days starting from £55.

Student three-day ticket £125 and individual days starting from £40.

Words Natasha Al-Atassi