There were long lines for showers but sweltering heat in Trenčín during the Bažant Pohoda music festival didn't deter 22,000 fans who showed up for the event.
Water tankers continually sprayed the roads and brought in drinking water from the military airport throughout the festival on July 20-21.
Saturday's program included world-famous bands Basement Jaxx (UK) and Air (France), along with many popular Slovak and Czech performers. New features at this year's festival included performances by the Slovak National Theatre's Opera troupe and the Blind Boys of Alabama gospel group (U.S.A.), formed back in 1939. The seven-member group, which still includes two original singers, received a Grammy award in 2001.
The first day of the festival featured performances by Wu Tang Clan (U.S.A.) and The Hives (Sweden) among others.
A new feature of the festival was the Bazant Kinematograf cinema tent, which showed films such as "As Good as It Gets", "Pat Garret and Billy The Kid", and a new comedy by Oscar-winning Czech director Jan Svěrák called "Empties".
Temperatures hovered at around 38 degrees Celsius most of the time. Some 15 people fainted, but medics reported no serious health problems. Seven medical tents and three ambulances were on hand and ready to take care of any medical problems.
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
