Roxettival 2008

Posted by Andy Geoghegan, on June 25th, 2008 Leave a comment

Too many of the festivals on offer around the country are becoming too commercial and trendy. I was listening to the wireless yesterday and they had a feature on ‘This Summer’s Festival Fashion Tips’.

I shit you not!

It was Jo Whiley on Radio 1 with some dumb slag and they spent a good twenty minutes on the subject. If you still don’t believe me then click here but don’t read it, it’ll make you upset. Saying that, I’ll have to quote from it.

For boys, I would recommend Gap’s lightweight hooded jackets that come in bright colours – cool cover-up should it rain (highly likely) and great stand-out-in-a-crowd hues! £39.50 coral orange or bright blue.

It goes on…

Cardigan; grey slim fit v neck £70 Bolongaro Trevor with braces loops at the bottom grey slim fit v neck www.bolongarotrevor.com

£70 for a f****ng festival cardigan that’s going to get covered in beer, sick, mud, piss, shit & maybe some food! What has the world come to?

So, if I’m going to slag it off I may as well offer an alternative…

Andy’s Festival Fashion Tips
Pack whatever you think you’ll need and then half it. Old jeans that are on the cusp of being thrown out, a few old band t shirts (tour dates on the back) and one pair of old, sturdy, weathered trainers or boots. If it rains go and get smashed in the Cider Bus.

Don’t get me wrong, we all like to look good but when you’re spending four days getting drunk and sweaty in a muddy field without any hot water is there really any point to spending £70 on a pissing cardigan? (Do I hear the voice of Matt Kelly disagreeing?)

How refreshing it was therefore that this weekend marked the debut of Europe’s hottest new festival? Roxettival is the brainchild of Ian Findlay and seeks to celebrate the music of Sweden’s second greatest export (after hot girls). The venue for Roxettival 2008 was Stuoobs’ back garden and incorporated Stuoobs’ birthday.

The centrepiece of the event was the Roxette Tent which educated people about the history and discography of the band. At the Roxette Tent there was, of course, live music performed by festival goers who chose from a selection of Roxette classics and were rewarded with a small bottle of Jagermeister.

Later in the evening the festival moved indoor with a more varied setlist for the expectant crowd to enjoy.