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Even though some have criticized different things about this year’s festival, SzigetNews friend Iain form Inverness, Scotland had a great time and wants to share it with you. Here’s Iain’s take on this year’s Festival:

“How can anyone say they didn’t enjoy this years Sziget. I don’t care what anyone
says there was something for everyone, when you list the acts the names are
pretty big….REM, The Sex Pistols, The Killers, Lee Scratch Perry, Justice etc.
Look at the price on the ticket and tell me it wasn’t worth it and if anyone got
anything stolen it was their own fault. There was free safe deposit boxes as
well as left luggage containers. What about the great weather, the new friends,
the banter, the variety of food and drinks at good prices, the smiley faces, the
characters and the memories….do you need much more? Roll on next year, I for
one cannot wait!!”

We’re still waiting for your Sziget 2008 stories and pictures, as a comment, or through the Contact section.

Our reader szigetist has shared his very enthusiastic memories with us. Here they are.

“Great festival, nice people, affordable food and drinks, great weather, uninspiring line-up on the main stage, but the rest was great (parov stelar, vitalic, justice,…) and party 24/7, all in all the best festival i’ve ever been to!!!”

Szigetnews friend Michael has sent us his account of this year’s Festival. Here it is:

“Great festival, as has been said carl cox and pendulum cancelling was a joke as
was the whole dance set up a.k.a no one knowing when anyone was on. IMO Digweed
more than made up for Cox,think there could be room for improvement dance music
wise anyway. Everything else was top notch, had to drag myself away from the
world music stage a few times it was so good. Good few of my friends had stuff
stolen, but thats not the organisers fault. Thanks to Hungary and the good
people at sziget for one of the best festivals I’ve ever been to. “

We have another not-so-happy festival visitor. Frank says:

“i agree with Niall
+ the underground music stage (last year called the master card tent or something) disappeared! instead there was this commercial Burn-stage

i think this was my last visit of sziget”

How was it for you? Send your opinion in a comment or in the contact section and Szigetnews will post it on the site.

Looks like the festival wasn’t that great for some of our readers. Here’s Niall Cleary’s opinion:

” what a load of rubbish!!!pendulum and carl cox cancelling, justice playin at 12 pm, campsites un-safe and the mood at this years festival was nothing on previous years..yes maiden rocked and REM surprised but seriously the organizers have to take a long hard look at improving next years line-up. apparently 5 days meant a stronger line-up…not convinced at all…wont be telling any stories of praise upon returning home”

Our reader gianpiero wants the festival to return to its usual 7-day format, and also wants “a better programme”

How about you? Szigetnews is still waiting for this year’s festival stories, pics and videos from you – post them as comments or use the contact section.

Our reader Jane sent us her impressions of this year’s Sziget Festival.

“I had a BRILLIANT time at Sziget 2008.! Even though I had my camera stolen while I was trying to get close to the stage with balloon flowers for The Kooks!
I will definately be going again next year. If anyone has any pictures of my balloon flowers I would love to see them.
Thanks so much all at Sziget!!!!!”

This year’s Festival is now over, and, according to preliminary data released by the organizers, this year’s edition of Sziget Festival made approximately 421,000 euros in profit. The Festival was attended by a total of 385,000 people this year.

How was it for you? What did you enjoy most? What disappointed you this year?

Here’s a a beautiful video from The Kooks’ performance at Sziget this year, two days ago. Enjoy! We’re waiting for your Sziget stories, before or after the festival, at contact (at) szigetnews.com, through the contact section or via comment.

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Here’s a video of Iron Maiden rocking Sziget Festival last night.

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Szigetnews is waiting for your Sziget stories. The best ones will be published here on Szigetnews.

It has been recently announced that around 60-80 consumer protection officers will work during this year’s Sziget Festival, in order to ensure everything is at an optimal rate. they will focus on food and water quality, as well as the safety of the venue (electric equipment, structures)

The organisers have also announced that police officers will randomly check visitors for drugs upon entrance, using dogs.