Odd Ball but Awesome Festivals

With Latitude this weekend, and Bloc just having been cancelled we thought checking out some of the more alternative festivals out there would be a good bet, here’s a pick of the most interesting.

Rewind Festival – July 21, 22 and August 18, 19

Rewind started in 2009 in Henley-on Thames, England and as exclusively 80s music festival. Loving the 80s isn’t a crime, especially after the movie Rock of Ages made it alright to wear leather pants again (maybe?) So if you’re feeling ready to jam to some solid synthesizers and do the YMCA, this is the place for you. The festival has since spread to Scotland and Australia. This summer the Scotland branch boasts The Village People, Wang Chung, and the Bay City Rollers, among others. The English contingent will also see Wang Chung, and The Bangles, and Rick Astley.

Tribfest – August 16-19

The festival where nothing is their own. Tribfest, which is the world’s biggest tribute band music festival, has its home in East Yorkshire, England. Here you can find bands tributing Michael Jackson, to Green Day, to Queen, all in one weekend. The festival boasts, that it is a family affair, for people looking to enjoy good music and good people. So don’t be upset that you couldn’t make it to see Freddie Mercury when he was alive, the Bohemians are sure to put on an equally amazing show.

Rift Valley Festival – August 31-September 1 and 2

If you’re looking to get out of the traditional festival atmosphere, then head down to Kenya’s lake Naivasha region for the Rift Valley Festival. This festival, started by brothers Sean and Ivan Ross in 2009, blends African culture with international music. Attendees enjoy the sights and sounds of the African valley, such as hippos hanging out around the fenced in fest. Unlike other festivals Rift Valley donates all funds raised to helping the local area to provide clean accessible drinking water, improved sanitary conditions, and other projects.

Holy Ship! – January 4-7 2013

Everyone gets a bit down in January, the holidays are over, work is piling back up, and it seems there is never enough sunshine. To fight that you could try attending the Holy Ship! festival, a dance music packed weekend on a cruise ship leaving from Florida. The ship hosts 5 small venues, where DJs perform over the course of three nights. The ship hosts some of the world’s best DJs and docks in the Bahamas allowing passengers the chance to snorkel and explore the beautiful port city.

What’s the strangest festival you’ve been to?