This year’s multi-day event was headlined by Muse, The Killers, Bring Me The Horizon and Sum41 among others
by Isti Miskolczy
courtesy of author.
After a two-year hiatus, Telekom’s VOLT Festival has returned to the western borders of Hungary, to the city of Sopron where fans have had the opportunity to party with not only well-known Hungarian bands but also some of the world’s biggest names. The Gaudie has had the opportunity to be there live and experience how a big summer opening feels like in Hungary.
VOLT Festival took place in the outskirts of Sopron, one of Hungary’s westernmost cities with the venue being surrounded by beautiful hills that have given the festival a very unique scenery.
It was easy to reach from the town, with direct transfer buses operating between the train station and the festival entrance. An afternoon ticket cost about the equivalent of £1 and a night ticket cost about the same as £3 (in Hungarian currency).
The festival’s pink outfit and design (sponsored by Telekom, a well-known telecommunication company) was easily recognisable, so were the signages surrounding the event.
VOLT was operating with four large stages including the main stage – all easy to locate – where everyone regardless of age or taste could find something for them.
courtesy of author.
Especially since the line-up spoke for itself with the afternoon concerts being performed by Hungarian bands and the evening shows being put on by worldwide-famous bands like the MUSE, Passenger or Bring Me The Horizon from the UK, The Killers or Skillet from the US, Sum41 from Canada.
Yungblud’s last minute cancellation due to a strep throat, however, definitely disrupted the main stage’s schedule on day three. For a review of The Killers’ concert, click here.
As for events during the day, visitors had the opportunity to choose from activities organised by various organisations and vendors including the Hungarian Police Force or the Red Cross with the former providing insights to a police officer’s job and the latter organising blood donations.
To The Gaudie, one of the nurses on call revealed that it is popular to donate blood at festivals, however, for some reason less people were doing it at this time.
Fans could also attend networking sessions, test their speed and gumption in Telekom’s Crazy Race in a maze, wake up themselves with a morning yoga session, or spend their afternoon chilling and playing in the boardgame tent.
Those who bought a separate camping ticket as well could rest or sleep in their tents too. The camping was full of threes, providing plenty of shadows for most people. There were also plenty of toilets and phone charging points not only in the camping zone but also at the entire festival area – an enclosed large field also offering free Wi-Fi.
In terms of food options, it was clear that the cheapest option was ALDI’s own built-in tent offering plenty of snacks, grill food, fruit, vegetables, bakery, and ice cream at their usual normal shop prices.
They even sold pop-up tents and whatever barbecue food fans have bought, the ALDI staff was preparing it on the grill for free.
Drinks at ALDI were, however, priced the same as at the rest of the festival with a pint of beer for around £2.50 and Hungary’s famous ‘Fröccs’ (wine + soda) in the festival’s own wine garden with many local wineries present costing between £2 and £6 depending on the size.
The rest of the food vendors were not too bad either with around £5-£7 for a kebab and £6-£10 for a burger.
Overall, the festival was a great experience: just enough people in a cosy venue with internationally famous headliners (and their merch being sold at the merchandise shop).
The venue got busy around 5-6pm every day and the party lasted until sunrise. If someone besides visiting Hungary or Austria would also like to experience a large, lively, colourful festival, VOLT is definitely a great place to do so.
