Sziget

Alas, Hungary's largest gathering of musicians, artists and French hippies has come to an end. The Sziget Festival was eight days of muddy hedonism with some of the world's greatest rock bands showing up. The Killers, Madness, Nine Inch Nails, the Chemical Brothers and Manu Chao all played the main stage with at least 40,000 people corralled into the center of the festival.

Many of the smaller acts along the outer banks of Obudai Island in the middle of the Danube were enjoyable as well -- not to mention more accessible. Gogol Bordello and Mau Mau proved that in order to rock a side tent at any festival these days, you MUST incorporate an accordion player into the band.

Sziget becomes a temporary community as backpackers descend on Budapest in droves. There is shopping, great food, dance parties that never stop, and an international crowd that camps around the island. The festival also gives artists a chance to exhibit their interactive wares.

A New York-Hungarian collaboration called Flux Factory merged Budapest and New York in one trippy installation.



And near the medusa tent there was a plethora of soul-seeking and labyrinthine projects...

Sziget was such a massive event that you would think that would finally put an end to the festival season. Whew! It's finally over. Or is it?...

Balaton Sound

The first Balaton Sound festival went off without too many problems. It's hard to beat such a mellow daytime feeling where music drifts in on a soft breeze while taking a dip in chilly Lake Balaton. There were the obligatory gripes about commercialism, but it must be difficult for the organizers to turn a profit on just the ticket sales.

There was an emphasis on soul and ethnic music on the festival's main stage.

The Beastie Boys unveiled their new instrumental album.


The Brand New Heavies played from their new album as well but found more success in playing the classics.And, the Basement Jaxx played a surprisingly diverse set with lots from the horn section and a new wardrobe from the female vocalists every two songs.

Balaton Boogie Time

The first ever Balaton Sound begins tonight and goes on through the weekend. The music festivus is the second major alternative music gathering in Hungary this summer. Last week, Prodigy and the Roots rocked the Volt Festival. Check out Swedish band Koop from the Sopron shindig.

Balaton Sound should be interesting because it takes place on the southern bank of Europe's largest body of fresh water, Lake Balaton. Three "Bs" of master mixing will all be there: Beastie Boys, Brand New Heavies and Basement Jaxx.