Imagine for a moment that several of your favorite bands from the last two decades are preparing to assemble on a field in a far-away country, gearing up to play killer sets over the course of a long weekend. Sound like a dream vacation? What if it became a reality?
Robyn, Prince, and Kanye West are just some of the headliners at this year’s Way Out West, which will be held from August 11th through the 13th in Sweden’s second-largest city, Goteborg. Dozens of bands are scheduled to play at this fantasy festival, including more than 20 on the main stage in Slottsskogen Park. Coinciding with the festival is Stay Out West, an extension of the primary event, that will involve intimate shows at clubs and other venues scattered throughout the city.
Since its inception in 2007, Way Out West has hosted platinum-selling artists and emerging musical acts from across all genres and continents. Like a more temperate Coachella Festival, Way Out West attracts jam-packed crowds of music lovers on an international scale. In its few years of existence, the festival has enjoyed extensive critical acclaim. This year, it boasts what is arguably one of the best summer festival lineups in the world, including an appearance by the recently-reunited Pulp.
Calling the chance to cover this event “the opportunity of a lifetime” is a gross understatement. As long as I live, I may never again experience anything more awesome than Way Out West promises to be. In a matter of days, I’ll be nestled in a sea of ultra-stylish Europeans, gleefully reporting on this festival for melophobe. Damned if I don’t feel like the luckiest person on earth.
The full festival lineup can be found here: http://www.wayoutwest.se/en