Countdown begins for the Tuborg GoldFest

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Among the opening acts of the festival are Apocalyptica, Godsmack, In Flames, Lacuna Coil, Heaven Shall Burn, Ugly Kid Joe, Disciples of Dio, Skindred, and Sweet Savage.

Tuborg GoldFest will kick off July 4 featuring world-famous rock bands along with the best of Turkey’s local rock musicians. American melodic rock band Evanescence will headline the first day while rock legends Guns N Roses will rock the Parkorman stage July 6. Within Temptation, the Dutch symphonic metal band, will close out the event on the festival’s last day.

The festival will give rock fans three days of music on July 4, 6 and 7. No bands are scheduled for July 5 when Tuborg GoldFest has planned a break in events. The festival line-up also features Apocalyptica, Godsmack, In Flames, Lacuna Coil, Heaven Shall Burn, Ugly Kid Joe, Disciples of Dio, Skindred, Sweet Savage and local groups including Şebnem Ferah, Pentagram, Redd, Aylin Aslım, Malt, Foma, Erdem Yener, Planeur, Gürcan Ersoy, Ayşe Saran, Gren and Nefes. Event organizers have said Guns N Roses will perform for at least two hours but front-man Axl Rose, the only remaining original member, is notorious for his belated stage appearances. The rock icon will be singing songs from the band’s latest album “Chinese Democracy,” as well as Guns N Roses classics.

User’s manual to the Tuborg GoldFest

Festival organizers have warned of strict festival rules due to security concerns. Entrance to the festival is limited to those over the age of 18.

Nadir Duman, from the Purple Concerts which undertakes the festival’s production, said glassware of all kinds and sharp metal objects including umbrellas were prohibited from the festival arena.

Festival goers are also not allow to bring their own food into the arena as the event is will host 15 food stands offering a large variety of eats, including hot and cold sandwiches, hamburgers, potato chips and fruit.

The worst part of all festivals is surely the long lines. Organizers of the Tuborg GoldFest said they did their best to avoid them. “There will also be 15 beverage stands, selling both soft drinks and spirits,” Duman said. Prices at beverage stands will range from 1 Turkish Lira to 20 Liras.

Customers will pay using prepaid coupons purchased with either cash or credit cards.

One of the biggest issues for all similarly large festivals is often, without dispute, never ending lines for the bathroom. In an effort to avoid them Tuborg GoldFest will host four restroom areas, two of which are portable toilet systems.

No in and out entrance privileges

Perhaps the most important item to remember among the festival’s list of rules is that festival goers will be provided a different wrist band for every day of the festival in exchange for their tickets.

Organizers said tickets will be controlled on a daily basis and combined ticket bearers are required to keep their tickets throughout the festival.

Participants will not be allowed to re-enter the festival venue if they leave during the day even though they have their wrist bands on.

Only downstage ticket bearers will be allowed to enter the barricaded downstage area. The festival arena features special restroom facilities for the handicapped as well as a handicapped ramp which offers a good view of the stage for disabled patrons.