July is peak time for music festivals and is the most eagerly anticipated month in the year. This is when hundreds of thousands around the Globe pack their tents and waterproofs and travel to their nearest festival. Music festivals have exploded in popularity over the last couple of decades as music lovers wish to take in the finest music in the world and enjoy the opportunity to live in tents for the weekend. People travels hundreds of miles to get away from their everyday work life. This is their chance to forget about their problems and grievances and just let loose for one weekend of the year.
One of the largest festivals in Germany is Melt! The festival appeared on the scene in 1997 and since 1999 has been held annually in Ferropolis, Grfenhainichen Germany. This year's 13th Melt festival sold out in three weeks as 20 000+ tickets were snapped up in record time. This is in stark contrast from the 2000 sold in 1997. Organisers have described the festival as electronic meets rock. Tens of thousands of people will take to the fields of Ferropolis to take in Headlining acts including Friendly Fires, The Futureheads and Goldfrapp. With such an eclectic mix of music, it is no surprise that tickets sold out in record time.
One of the main attractions of Melt! is the location, an open air museum of huge machines from the 20th Century. Some of them weigh up to 1980 tonnes and reach 30 metres high. There is a variety of entertainment on offer for those that may not enjoy the music on offer. One can visit the museum or take in a little light comedy at one of the various shows on offer. Or you can simply chill out at the camp site and soak in the festival atmosphere.
When heading to a festival you must make sure that you are prepared. It is essential to bring with you the appropriate clothing and food with you so that you can make the most of the weekend. Arriving ill prepared can spoil the whole weekend; therefore I recommend creating a check list before you go so that you remember to pack all the essentials.