Too busy, too lazy or simply too broke to party four days in a row? Roskilde Festival’s one-day alternative may just be your ticket.
While the standard ticket allows access to four days of non-stop music (nearly 200 bands) and nine days of camping, the one-day ticket offers an intense 24-hour experience, which can be just as unforgettable − depending on how well you use it.
A one-day ticket gives you an entire day at the festival grounds, for as long as the music is playing. In other words, you get access to one of the concert days (between July 5 and 8), from 5:00 in the morning to 5:00 the next morning.
The number of one-day tickets is limited, so act fast, if you want a chance to experience North Europe’s largest music and culture festival. The one-day tickets for Saturday are already sold out, proving that Bruce Springsteen is still The Boss. Chin up, if you were hoping to hear ‘Born in the USA’ live and loud, as there are still plenty more classic acts on the menu.
Thursday
Thursday’s highlight is legendary British band The Cure (Orange stage, 21:00). Their dark-rooted ‘80s vibe will undoubtedly mystify the crowd. Perhaps better suited to playing Friday rather than Thursday due to their hit ‘Friday I’m in love’, The Cure is a perfectly valid reason to choose the Thursday ticket. It will be worth it, just to see lead singer Robert Smith’s larger than life (and Edward Scissorhands-like) persona. Also larger than life, Janelle Monáe (Arena stage, 23:30) is another must see. Thursday is also a great day for fans of psychedelic tribal music, as Django Django (Pavilion stage, 17:30) will also take the stage. Other highlights include pop-masters The Shins (Arena stage 18:00) and ‘Black and Yellow’ rapper Wiz Khalifa (Arena stage, 20:30).
Friday
Friday is a big day for the Orange stage – the festival’s largest venue. Quality acts will be performing all day long, including Gossip (17:00), The Cult (19:30) and Jack White (22:30). Gossip’s funky disco-pop fronted by spunky lead singer Beth Ditto will kick-start the evening in style. Legend will follow − in pure Monty Python fashion − as The Cult really are something completely different. Playing goth-rock and heavy metal and harbouring a deep fascination with the occult, The Cult have been mesmerising audiences for 25 years. Jack White, half of influential band The White Stripes, has been described as one of the most important rock voices and guitarists of the new millennium. Other highlights include American death-metal band Devildriver (Arena stage, 21:00) and energetic British rock band The Vaccines (Odeon stage, 23:00).
Sunday
Sunday is ‘Björk day’ (Orange stage, 22:00). No stranger to the festival, or to eccentricity, the iconic Icelandic singer is one of the biggest acts performing this year. Her stage presence and showmanship is of a magical nature: a mix between visual and musical originality that has earned her the title ‘musical sorceress’. Sunday is also a great day for metal fans, as both Machine Head (Orange stage, 17:30) and Suicide Silence (Pavilion stage, 21:00) will be taking the stage. Other highlights include American artist Santigold (Arena stage, 20:30), known for her chic mix of R&B, new wave and urban pop, and electronic pop band Friendly Fires (Arena stage, 18:30).
Roskilde one-day tickets
Dyrskuepladsen, Darupvej, Roskilde; Thu July 5, Fri July 6 & Sun July 8 (Sat is sold-out); tickets 900kr, over-60s free adm on Sun only, www.billetlugen.dk; www.roskilde-festival.dk
