Heat Swells Cactus

Cactus Festival chief Patrick Keersebilck has long accepted his Belgian event is heavily dependent on good weather during the two weeks before it opens, but this year he had further evidence as a record-equaling 30,000-plus crowd turned up to the Brugge Minnewaterpark July 9-11.

The sun shone and average crowds of over 10,000 per day matched last year’s record-breaking figure, which was a much-needed boost on 2008 when rain during the week leading up to the festival cut the crowd to nearer 7,000 per day.

Elvis Costello & The Sugarcanes was the only act to miss out on the sunshine, although the rain that fell throughout the set didn’t dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm for it.

The other acts helping the sun swell Cactus included Macy Gray, Tori Amos, Jamie Lidell, Regina Spektor, K’s Choice, David Gray, and Admiral Freebee.