專四晨讀美文：UK Music Festivals

UK Music Festivals
Summer in the UK is traditionally the time
when people go on holiday.
It is also the time for quiet picnics
and spending lazy days doing nothing.
Alternatively, you could watch
the Wimbledon Tennis Championship,
or spend five days watching cricket,
a sport nobody seems to understand.
Does this sound too dull?
Well, it is also the time for outdoor music festivals.
Let's look at some of the most famous ones.
The Glastonbury Festival first started in 1970,
and is often seen as the standard to judge other festivals by.
It takes place on a farm
in the south-west of England over 3 days,
and visitors camp in the fields around the site.
While Glastonbury tries to keep an air of peace and love,
the Reading Festival is a noisier, more aggressive weekend.
It is much easier to attend
as it is in the centre of the city of Reading,
and although you can camp you can also go just for the day.
Up to 55,000 people are expected to attend
on the weekend of the August Bank Holiday,
and top British acts
such as Franz Ferdinand and The Kaiser Chiefs
will entertain the crowds.
If you prefer house music to rock,
then Creamfields is probably the place for you.
Since 1998, this festival of dance music
has taken place in Liverpool,
also on the final weekend of August,
but only for one day, so there is no need to bring your tent.
Instead, just enjoy a boogie to top DJs and live acts.
Finally, Knebworth—
Knebworth is a huge manor house
and the festival takes place in the gardens.
It first took place in 1974,
and since then acts such as The Rolling Stones, Queen,
Elton John and Paul McCartney have all featured.
So, whatever your tastes in music
there is a festival taking place in England to suit you.
Just don't forget to pack your raincoat.