Frequency Raises The Bar

It’s rare for an Austrian festival to sell out in advance, but this year’s Frequency did it with two weeks to go and set a new benchmark for the country’s outdoor events.

The Aug. 20-22 gathering on the banks of the River Traisen at St. Pölten, the first year held there since moving from the Grand Prix motor racing circuit at Salzburg, also got rave reviews from the national media.

The event also benefited from having the first Austrian appearance from Radiohead, heading a lineup that included The Prodigy, Pendulum, German reggae and hip-hop star Peter Fox, Bloc Party, Kasabian, Rise Against, Grace Jones and Mando Diao. Frequency is only 9 years old but is still the country’s oldest festival.

“I’m delighted and we’re very proud of what we’ve achieved this year,” Frequency promoter Harry Jenner told Pollstar after his event created a bit of Austrian festival history.

Apart from the move to St. Pölten, which is 40 minutes from Vienna and saves people from eastern Austria from making the three-hour drive to Salzburg, this year Jenner got the local authority’s permission to use the nearby disused army base as an all-night venue for DJs.

The other acts helping Frequency raise the bar for Austrian festivals included Kettcar, Editors, Culcha Candela, Eagles Of Death Metal, The Ting Tings, Jet, and Glasvegas.