NEWS: Plugfest (listed below) has sadly been cancelled. Check out these Indigo Festival instead. It’s very different, but fun.
The first and second weekends in May are a good time to be in Israel as there are two festivals coming up that any music lovers should definitely know about. The catch – they’re both outside of Tel Aviv so you’ll need to sort out your own ride or rideshare, plus the usual tent / sleeping bag / etc. or, in the case of the second festival, a hotel room in a nearby town and a car. Also, even though both these festivals are definitely great to go to even if you don’t speak Hebrew, the websites seem to be only in Hebrew.
First up, on the 2-5/5 (3 days) we have the Menashe Forests (Yearot Menashe) festival in the north of Israel, about an hour and a bit away from Tel Aviv, sort of near Zichron Yaakov. This festival showcases local alternative and independent music and a tiny bit of foreign acts (nothing big) from rock to punk, pop and dance. It has lots of stages, a great vibe, is suitable for families (but also for people without families) and is relaxed, fun and full of amazing music in a beautiful place. You can see the line up here. Many names are written in Hebrew.
Tickets: 3 day tickets cost 250NIS. Day tickets for Thurs or Sat – 100NIS. For Friday, 140NIS. Children up to the age of 12 go free when accompanied by parents. If you don’t have a car, you can actually buy a ticket + coach ride from Tel Aviv leaving either on Thursday at 14:00 or Friday at 10:00 and returning Saturday at the end of the festival. Tel Aviv ticket points are the Casbah Cafe and Abu dubby hummus. The website also says there may be an option of volunteering in return for a ticket, mostly by helping to keep the place clean. Contact festival staff to find out more about this and to find out any more info on: yaarot.com@gmail.com
Main festival site: http://www.yearot.com/
Online Tickets (for festival and festival + ride) here: http://www.yearot.com/#!tickets/c1eyt
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The following weekend, 9-11/5 we have Plugfest with one of the biggest local / international line ups seen here in recent years. Check out the awesome line up here. There are loads of carefully selected international names plus great local acts, including loads of great dance DJs. It’s all happening in the desert near Masada and there will be camping on site with showers and toilets, but if you want you can stay in nearby Arad and travel to the festival to see the music.
Tickets: This one’s more expensive – day tickets are 300NIS and a 3 day ticket is 550NIS. For this price you need to pay with Paypal. Children up to the age of 12 go free when accompanied by parents. Get tickets online here (Hebrew only).
Main website here.
More info, including the possibility of volunteering for a ticket: email plugfest2013@gmail.com