Music Festivals in Europe
Visiting a festival abroad can be a great reason to travel and a way to experience different cultures. These days there is such a number of choices that it's possible to spend the whole summer watching live music in exciting places. Of course, it's also a chance to meet people from across the world.
Melt! Festival, Germany
This festival takes place on the site of an open air museum for industrial machinery. There's also a lake which can be used for swimming when it's hot. This year's line-up has over 120 different bands (乐队). Around 90% of the people attending the festival are Germans providing a perfect chance to practise speaking the language.
Exit Festival, Serbia
Set on the banks of the Danube in an old fortress(堡垒), the festival began as a way to show people's dissatisfaction with the government. These days it's less political(政治的) but still worries about people who are poor, ill, old, etc. and tries to help them. This year's festival will host many famous bands. From electronic music and dance music to hard rock, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Open'er Festival, Poland
Held in an airfield near the northern city of Gdansk, each year Open'er has a seriously good selection of bands. This year is no exception, with many famous bands set to play. Not only are there amazing artists, but both Poland and the festival itself also provide very excellent value for money.
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Scotland
Set on a Scottish estate(庄园) near Inverness, this year Belladrum will welcome artists from around the world. The most enjoyable part of the weekend is the ceilidh(traditional Scottish dance and party) which is always a lively event. It doesn't even matter if you're a beginner because the band teaches you each dance.
Brian Tagalong was born without arms. But that didn't 1 him from leading a normal life. The 2 young man believes he is the only certified tattoo(文身) artist without arms in the world.
A 3 of Honolulu, Brian moved with his family to Tucson. He had always shown an interest in drawing, and set his mind on becoming a 4 tattoo artist. Not many people gave him a chance, but he 5 improved his foot drawing skills and operated the tattoo gun with his 6 .
Brian's mother admitted that 7 him was not easy, but she always made it a(n) 8 to let him explore his options. "The day I gave birth to him, well, I was shocked, but we never hid him. I didn't 9 him in any way.'' And perhaps that's what gave him the 10 to achieve his dreams, 11 the very obvious absence of two limbs. "I was born without arms," he said. "But that has not 12 me down to pursue my dream."
At first, finding a shop that would 13 him proved a very difficult thing. He 14 many tattoo shops and got no calls back. He didn't give up; 15 , Brian finally ran his own shop. Brian used a(n) 16 technique to tattoo—he drew the design on clients' skin with one foot, 17 using the other to stretch the skin. And eventually his tattoos always turned out to get his clients' 18 .
Brian hopes his success will 19 others to follow their dreams bravely. Words and photos just don't do Brian Tagalong justice. You need to see him 20 to witness how he works only with his feet.
