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.

Acts in 2005 included Coldplay, The White Stripes and Basement Jaxx, among others. The only problem with Glastonbury is the unpredictable weather. Heavy rain meant that last year many of the fields flooded, spoiling the fun for those whose tents were washed away.

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. More recently, Robbie Williams has sold out concerts to crowds of fans. In fact, his concert in 2003 was the largest ever in the UK with over 375,000 fans attending and more than 3.5 million watching live on TV.

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.



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GLOSSARY 词汇表



picnics

野炊, 野餐

cricket

曲棍球

music festivals

音乐节

camp

露营地

flooded

洪水浸没的

tents

帐篷

aggressive

大张旗鼓

house music

大众化舞曲 (也称”浩室” 舞曲)

boogie

(随着摇摆舞音乐节奏)摆动身体

sold out

销售一空

lazy

懒惰的

dull

乏味的, 无趣的

takes place

举行

unpredictable weather

变幻无常的天气

spoiling

扫兴

washed away

被水冲走

August Bank Holiday

八月的公共假日

rock

摇滚

manor house

庄园主的住宅

tastes in music

对不同音乐种类的喜好