A total of 385,000 visitors came to the island festival during the week, generating profits of HUF 50 million for the festival?s organisers.
This year?s programme was especially diverse, including not just music, but dance, street theatre, acrobatic and puppet productions as well. About 250 acts came from abroad, including 42 from the UK, among them Placebo, Franz Ferdinand, the Prodigy, Robert Plant and Radiohead, and 24 from the United States, including Iggy & The Stooges, the Scissor Sisters, Sick Of It All and Living Color. A further 26 acts arrived from Germany, and France was represented by 22 bands on the programme. In addition to the European and US acts, the festival hosted performances by artists from as far away as Columbia and Japan.
As festival-goers finish another unforgettable week, a recap of the week?s events is in order.
Day one?.The festival attracts 45,000 visitors, drawn by acts such as Franz Ferdinand and former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant.
Day two?.Wednesday, some 25,000 people listen to Italy?s Jovanotti on the Main Stage, while 12,000 dance to Goran Gregovic on the World Music Stage. Altogether 46,000 people visit the island.
Day three?.The day?s 200 programmes draw 50,000 visitors. US glam rock sensation the Scissor Sisters attracts a crowd of 30,000 for a performance on the Main Stage.
Day four?.Saturday, the island draws 63,000 visitors, of whom 50,000 come to see the weekend headliners Radiohead, one of the most creative acts of the era. Earlier in the evening, 1,700 visitors volunteered to create the world?s biggest cow mosaic in coordination with the organisers of the ongoing CowParade Budapest.
Day five?Some 55,000 visitors come to the Sziget Festival. In addition to the musical acts, ?Firebirds?, a production by Germany?s Theater Titanic, attracts many.
Day six?.About 61,000 visitors cross the bridge or take a boat to the island. Some 50,000 people watch Placebo play on the Main Stage. Exploited also packs in a crowd at the HammerWorld Stage.
Day seven?.In addition to the Prodigy, the week?s capacity crowd comes to hear Iggy & The Stooges, Gogol Bordello and Hungary?s Sziámi.
Iggy & The Stooges drew an especially dedicated number of fans, some of whom could not be restrained from climbing on stage with the band. After unsuccessful attempts by the concert?s security staff to remove the fans, they were invited to stay by the band. Some even shared in the performance.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
