The Island beckons. Every June like a rite of passage to the summers of my life is the Donauinselfest (Danube Island Music Festival) emanating from Vienna. In probably the world's largest free music festival, 275 bands and singers entertain up to 3 million people over 2 I/2 days. The crowds are indeed huge ... 99.9% arriving by public transit.. The other .1% can walk over the bridges from their residences. A tribute concert to the legendary Falco and a closing late-nite concert by Rainhard Fendrich were among this year's largest audience draws. When Rainhard Fendrich sang the ersatz Austrian national anthem "I Am From Austria", a hundred thousand people sang along - cigarette lighters and smart phones illuminating the night sky. It was thrilling!
Each year I swear I am not going to deal with the massive crowds of tens of thousands of people squeezing onto the underground and streetcar. But like a moth drawn to the flame, I somehow find myself back amid the throngs on the Island. I swear that I am not going to go to the Donauinselfest next year ... but I'll be there!! read more