Europe, Environment

Denmark‘s Roskilde Festival has sold out its 80,000 full festival tickets quicker than at any time in the past 15 years. The upsurge in demand has been caused mainly by an increase in interest from abroad.

The Festival is non-profit and pours all its proceeds into charities

The Roskilde Festival is non-profit and pours all its proceeds into charities Image by Hunter Desportes / CC BY 2.0

Festival spokesperson Christina Bilde said they were delighted with the response which would see so many people arrive for the full eight days of the festival.

The event has grown from year to year and the number of international visitors has meant it sold out quicker this year than in the previous decade and a half

The event has grown from year to year and the number of international visitors has meant it sold out quicker this year than in the previous decade and a half Image by Hunter Desporte / CC BY 2.0

Ms Bilde say there would be music fans from 74 different countries around the world or 16% of total ticket sales.

According to the Local, the organisers are hopeful that the influence of a wider international audience would create a better atmosphere and sense of community and fun.

The Roskilde Festival is offering this year over 180 concerts on nine stages. Among the artists performing will be US legend Neil Young, PJ Harvey, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wiz Khalifa, LCD Soundsystem and Tame Impala.

The festival still has a small number of one-day tickets available for the last two days of this month but warned against purchasing tickets from unofficial sources.

Roskilde stages the largest festival in Northern Europe and all its proceeds are donated to charity.

The non-profit organisation is happy that the quick sales will mean big donations to social and cultural charities.

Roskilde Festival begins on Saturday 25 June and runs until the following Saturday (2 July). Normally the first four days are viewed as a “warm-up” period for the full weekend main lineup of big music names.