Cactus Thrives On Hot Spell

At a time when most of Europe is expecting rain on an almost daily basis, Cactus Festival organiser Patrick Keersebilck was happy to see the sudden hot spell help draw crowds averaging almost 10,000 per day.

More than 6,000 turned up for the July 6-8 event’s Friday evening opening, but well more than 9,000 showed on each of the following two full festival days.

The 25,000 gross crowd at Brugge’s Minnewaterpark was about 4,000 up on last year, when Cactus was celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Among the acts helping the crowd enjoy the weather were The Flaming Lips, Soulsavers with Mark Lanegan, Ozark Henry, Gabriel Rios, The Waterboys, Archie Bronson Outfit, Gotan Project and Buffalo Tom.