In 2014 the focus is on the recent, but trendsetting Berlin music scene, as this year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall at many of the Sziget venues.

The Europe Stage at the Island of Freedom is dedicated specially to the fresh and up-and-coming European bands, who truly represent the “old continent” and multiculturalism with their music. Every year a band is invited from a far-off continent, this year from Australia. In 2014 the focus is on the recent, but trendsetting Berlin music scene, as this year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall at many of the Sziget venues.

Getting bigger and more colourful is the concept behind the new Europe Stage, merging the former Mambo and Holland meets Hungary stages and providing a truly European alternative… surely the right place to find new European talents that are already known back home, but still looking for their international breakthrough. In 2014 the Europe Stage also serves as an important venue to present the Berlin music scene, but also introducing Italian, Dutch, Spanish and many other bands from the old continent. Make sure you also check out the Youropen Talent Festival, also hosted by the Europe Stage, presenting talent contest winners from over 14 countries on Days 0 and -1.

The acts are:
3FM Serious Talent goes Sziget (NL)
Amsterdam Klezmer (NL)
Band (NL)
Aucan (I)
BaLaKo (RO)
Ballett School (D)
Caparezza (I)
Carnival Youth (LV)
Charity Children (D)
Compact Disk Dummies (B)
Diaodato (I)
Dubblestandart (A)
DVA (CZ)
Fismoll (PL)
Gloria Boateng (B)
Gubás Gabi és az Éjszakai Nesz (H)
Hornsman Coyote & Soulcraft (SRB)
Kid Simius live (D)
Longital (SK)
Mighty Oaks (D)
Money for Rope (AUS)
Raggalution (SLO)
Rumatera (I)
Salmo (I)
Seward (E)
Siriusmo (D)

Once again Italian bands will play an important role at Sziget Festival; the confirmed acts are: The Bloody Beetroots (Main Stage, 12 August), Salmo (13 August), Caparezza (14 August), Joseph Capriati (Colosseum, 13 August) Diodato (15 August), Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (15 August, World Stage), Aucan (16 August) and Rumatera (17 August). Most of them will perform on the new Europe Stage, promoted by Sziget Festival, L’Alternativa and Puglia Sounds. The Europe Stage is an evolution of Puglia Sounds – Mambo Stage that’s for the past two years hosted some of the most interesting Italian acts, and from this year is dedicated to the international music:  an area of over 1000 sqm with a huge stage for performances; the Puglia Village with a number of workshops and activities linked to the Apulian cultural traditions; and a vast and cosy camping area.

A great international showcase for the Italian music that also this year will be represented by some of the most interesting and renowned artists, including a significant number of Apulian bands.

YOUROPEN – Sziget International Talent Festival
Sziget Festival’s Europe Stage will be the home of European talents on days -1 and 0. YOUROPEN is a 2 days selection of aspiring bands, arriving from 14 different countries and eager to show their skills in front of the world’s possibly most international and open-minded crowd. The program starts early in the afternoon and goes all the way till late night on both days, finishing with concerts of bands involved in the Central and Eastern European Talent Exchange Program (CEETEP).

The 2014 Youropen bands are selected in association with the following partners:

3FM Radio – Serious Talent (NED)
A38 Talentométer (HUN)
Central Eastern European Talent Exchange Program (EU)
Club 014 / Turnhout (BEL)
Demovnica – Radio FM (SLK)
Éter Fesztivál (HUN)
Gotv Bandcompetition (AUT)
Planet Festival Tour 2014 (AUT)
Sziget Band Contest Deutschland (GER)
Sziget Band Contest Schweiz (SUI)
Sziget Sound Fest Italia (ITA)
Sziget Talent Contest Denmark (DEN)
Sziget Talent Poland by Interia.pl and RMF
Maxxx (POL)
Tremplin Sziget France (FRA)

More information on the program: http://szigetfestival.com/programs