23 replies to this topic

[squire]

Hi - Im surprised this festival in Switzerland has not been mentioned on these pages given the strength of the lineup. The manics, prodigy, beck, the fratellis, kings of leon, we are scientists, the enemy and a few more decent names. Only £72 for a 3 day ticket as well, including camping, shuttle bus and booking fee!

Has anyone been in previous years, or heading there this year?

Cheers for any info anyone has.

[Layla8]

I'm surprised too. The line-up looks deadly! Its a crime not to go. I was considering roskilde but this one looks better so i'm definately going to be at openair. Its so cheap too. cant go wrong. Havent been before so cant say what the atmosphere will be like but as most people say the european festivals are amazing, i'm sure this one will be one NOT to miss!

Edited by Layla8, 30 April 2008 - 10:45 AM.

[branvan]

hi! i was there many times and i tell you, THIS is the festival with the best atmosphere in switzerland, very very laid back. you will like it.

[Layla8]

I'm SO glad you've said this Branvan. I'm extra excited now! Love everything that chilled out and laid back!

[Layla8]

Can you bring your own alcohol onto the site?

[branvan]

@layla: yes you can. but no glasses or cans or allowed. ps: timetable is online now. go and see züri west (band before the kooks): best known swiss band and very great

[Layla8]

@Branvan: Great! I will take ur advice and check out zuri west. Thanks for the info. Oh- How much is the train from Zurich? i have a day to spend in zurich the day before the fest.

[branvan]

layla, the ticket with the train from zurich to st.gallen is 28 swiss francs. if you show your festival ticket you get it 20% cheaper. getting from zurich to st.gallen is very easy. if you spend the night in zurich, i can give you some advices... with good weather condicions, openairsg is one of the most beautiful festies (and i've been to many all over europe)...

Edited by branvan, 06 May 2008 - 07:38 AM.

[Layla8]

Branvan, Thats really a great help- thanks. Is it easy to get a train ticket on the day or do you think i should book in advance?
So i have a full day and one night in Zurich- What would u recommend to do?
Will you be going to openair this year? This will be my first european music fest...

[branvan]

hey layla, you can get a train ticket on the day, no problem. the train goes every 30minutes and the ticket is valid the whole day. which kind of music do you like? more alternative rock or more dance music?...
i probably don't go this year, but doing summercase instead. which is a shame, because i live near zurich... but missing the preachers... hmm.

[Layla8]

l

Edited by Layla8, 07 May 2008 - 09:49 AM.

[Layla8]

Hey Branvan. Great! I will get a train ticket on the day. Will I be able to get a camping space no problem?
Ah shame you missing openair this year. The lineup is so cool. BUT summercase has a fantastic lineup too. Amazing bands like Kings of Leon, The Verve, Ian Brown, Maximo Park, Primal Scream!!! If i wasnt going to Benicassim i'd definately go to Summercase.

my musical taste is more alternative rock to be perfectly honest....

..missing the preachers?

Are you going to any other festivals?

Edited by Layla8, 07 May 2008 - 09:48 AM.

[branvan]

in the open air area, there is a tent/stage called abart (that's a club in zurich), they will play alternative music all three days... missing manic street preachers is a shame. lets wait and see, maybe i'm going to st.gallen.

the fib is great, was there 3 times :-)

[Layla8]

Hey Branvan
Thanks for the club advice. I will check it out.
If you end up going to Openair, let me know. i'll buy you a beer!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for good weather in st gallen at the end of june.....

[ColFace]

Layla8, on May 7 2008, 10:41 AM, said:

Hey Branvan. Great! I will get a train ticket on the day. Will I be able to get a camping space no problem?
Ah shame you missing openair this year. The lineup is so cool. BUT summercase has a fantastic lineup too. Amazing bands like Kings of Leon, The Verve, Ian Brown, Maximo Park, Primal Scream!!! If i wasnt going to Benicassim i'd definately go to Summercase.

my musical taste is more alternative rock to be perfectly honest....

..missing the preachers?

Are you going to any other festivals?

Hi,

I went to Open Air St G last year and it was great but it might be worth pointing out a few things

1. GET THERE EARLY TO GET A GOOD PITCH. The vast majority of the camping area is on steep hills. You have to get there early to get a good flat pitch. There are so many gazebos around the place that they consume good camping pitches. Local farmers sell bales of hay so you can try and give your tent a bit of a flat pitch. I did see some amazing Swiss engineering with tents built in to the side of a hill with hay - now I know how they build chalets.

2. Take a gazebo - the heat was intense last year and it was rather unpleasant waking up in a tent that had slid down the hill in the burning morning sun with a hangover. Its good to have some form of shade to catch a wee nap in comfortable surroundings.

3. There is a free shuttle bus from outside the train station to the site. Do remember that Queuing and the British appreciation for good, orderly queues does not always translate abroad - get your elbows out and you'll get on the bus in one piece.

4. Only take plastic bottles - they'll confiscate glass and tins. All the Swiss seemed to have a local beer that came in handy green plastic bottles. We witnessed the most amazing long range beer fight with said bottles on the Sunday night. There are plenty of alcohol stalls available.

5. Limber up your vocal cords for the local festival chant of 'Helga'. If you wonder why everyone randomly shouts 'Helga' it apparently dates back to when the festival began and a guy got really pissed, lost his girlfriend (Helga) and spent the whole weekend falling about and looking for her.

6. You are charged an extra half franc or something like that for each plastic cup/plate you use - the extra half franc is redeemable when you return them. This help keeps the place tidy.

7. The toilets are like portakabins rather than the portaloos we'd be used to in UK festivals. This means they flush which is great and you can wash your hands. It does also mean the Q can get a bit long.

8. People were really surprised we had come from the UK for a festival there but the Swiss are very friendly in my experience.

Cheers.

[branvan]

indeed, we are very friendly :P

@layla8: i decided not to go to st.gallen this year. doing fib and summercase instead :-) but st.gallen will be great this year with the preachers, justice, the kooks... don't forget to take good shoes with you in case of rainy weather, the whole place gets very muddy..

Edited by branvan, 23 May 2008 - 07:22 AM.

[Layla8]

Colface- brilliant info. thanks. Sounds like this is gonna be a rocking festival. I love this Helga chant story! Hilarious. I've started practising chanting it already!! So my plan to leave on a very early train on the friday morning to get to St Gallen early is a good plan....I didnt imagine switzerland would be so hot but i'm pleased about that and i'll bear in mind the gazebo.

Branvan- ah well i think FIB is gonna be amazing! Good choice. Thanks for all your help. i'll buy you a beer at st gallen and drink it for you ;-)

[Squig]

Helga is a tradition practiced on any German languaged festival though, not only St Gallen. Nobody really knows where it comes from, there have been quite a few legends about it.

[scouse456]

Cant wait for the the open air, went last year going back again with all the lads from liverpool, it was such a good time bloc party bein my highlight, no trouble cheep beer, great music, come and say hello wen were there we'll be flyin the st.george flag.

[ColFace]

scouse456, on Jun 2 2008, 07:21 PM, said:

Cant wait for the the open air, went last year going back again with all the lads from liverpool, it was such a good time bloc party bein my highlight, no trouble cheep beer, great music, come and say hello wen were there we'll be flyin the st.george flag.

I do believe I was standing behind you at Bloc Party then Scouse456 - near the orange Migros tent?