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British Croatian Society Annual Dinner

British-Croatian Society Annual Dinner in London, 22nd November 2013

The British-Croatian Society Annual Dinner will take place in London on Friday 22nd November, with this year’s dinner returning to the wonderful venue of The Montague on The Gardens Hotel, following the success of the dinner there last year.

British Croatian Society Annual Dinner

After being welcomed with a glass of wine, attendees will enjoy a sumptuous three course dinner followed by petits fours and coffee, served in the The Montague’s Great Russell Suite. With the hotel holding such an excellent reputation for its food and service and located so centrally (close to the British Museum), there’s no doubt that this will be a delightful evening.

Guest speaker at the dinner will be Josko Stella, Director of Tourism for the Split region, who will talk about new developments in tourism. The Croatian Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Dr. Ivan Grdesic, will also be present.

Tickets for the dinner cost £50. You can book places for the dinner by emailing britishcroatiansociety@gmail.com with the names of those attending. Please then visit the British-Croatian Society website’s Membership page where you can pay online via Paypal (click on AD £50). Alternatively, if you would prefer to pay by cheque, please see the payment details on the Society’s Events page.

This is sure to be a very enjoyable night as one of the top events on the British-Croatian social calendar!

British-Croatian Society Annual Dinner
6.30pm, Friday 22nd November 2013
The Montague on the Gardens Hotel
15 Montague Street
WC1B 5BJ

Croatian Film Festival

Croatian Film Festival in London, 31st October to 2nd November 2013

Starting tomorrow, there’s an exciting opportunity to see some Croatian films in London! The four-day Croatian Film Festival is being presented by the British-Croatian Society and the Croatian Audiovisual Centre and will take place at the Lost Theatre on Wandsworth Road, London SW8. A diverse mix of subject matters will be presented through these films, featuring a combination of dramas and comedies, and many of the films shown have won multiple awards both in Croatia and internationally. Most will be feature films, although there will also be one short film shown. And – don’t worry, English-speaking friends! All films will be shown with English subtitles.

Croatian Film Festival

The Croatian Film Festival will kick things off at 6pm on Thursday 31st October with a screening of Pismo ćaći (A Letter to My Dad), described as a drama-documentary hybrid that’s based on real events but structured like a live-action feature film. At 8pm the same day, the romantic comedy Sonja i bik (Sonja And The Bull) will be shown; Zagreb-girl and animal-rights activist Sonja challenges the Dalmatian countryside residents on their bullfighting…and they in turn, challenge her to stand in front of a bull.

On Friday 1st November at 6pm, the comedy-drama Nije kraj (Will Not Stop There) will be screened, followed by the experimental short film From To at 8.30pm. At 8.45pm, it’s Neka ostane među nama (Just Between Us).

On Saturday 2nd November at 5pm, it’s the turn of Lea & Darija – an inspiring and true coming-of-age tale of two thirteen year old girls who were dancing and acting stars in Zagreb on the eve of World War II. At 7pm on Saturday, it’s Ljudožder vegetarijanac (Cannibal Vegetarian), a medical crime thriller. At 9pmNa putu (On The Path), the tale of a young Bosnian-Muslim couple, Luna and Amar, in post-war Sarajevo who have to deal with Amar’s increasing Muslim radicalisation. Zrinka Cvitesic, who plays Luna, was nominated for Best Actress at the 2010 European Film Awards for this role.

More details on the films showing at the Croatian Film Festival in London can be found on the Lost Theatre website at www.losttheatre.co.uk/index.php/11-current-shows/200-croatian-film-festival-welcome-croatia where you can also book tickets for any of the screenings.

Tickets cost £10 (£8 concessions) for all films, and you can also buy a full festival pass for £25. (Tickets bought online/by phone have an additional booking fee.)

You can also find the programme online on the British-Croatian Society website: www.britishcroatiansociety.com/London%202013%20ENG.pdf

See you there!

Croatian Film Festival
31st October – 2nd November 2013 2013
Lost Theatre
208 Wandsworth Road
SW8 2JU

Nearest tube: Stockwell or Vauxhall

Visiting Croatia in September

Who would have thought it? We’re over halfway through August, which means we are most definitely hurtling towards the end of summer. (Although, personally, I definitely think summer runs until the seasons change in September. But then, I like to be an optimist about the weather.)

Some of you who are perhaps yet to take your summer hols, or are looking for a late summer trip to ease yourself back into autumn ways, may be thinking of visiting Croatia in September. You may be pleased to learn that September is considered the best month to visit amongst those in the know – the weather is still good (yes, you will – most probably – still be able to swim in the sea!), the high season crowds will have departed for home by the end of August, but everything – tourist-related – is still very much open.

Visiting Croatia in September

The island of Vis

However, you probably have a whole list of questions – what’s there to do? Where shall we go? We’re here to help you with these questions and more if you’re considering visiting Croatia in September!

The weather in Croatia in September

First things first. This is something we always get asked – is the weather in Croatia still good in September? Yes, very much so. It may come as no surprise really – as a Mediterranean country, the summer weather continues long into September. The last few years have seen very hot summers in Croatia, and this glorious weather definitely hung around in the ninth month of the year. (In fact, even into early October too!) This year there’s also been a rather hot summer in Croatia with temperatures in so many places reaching the very high 30s celsius. In fact, during July, temperatures for practically the entire country were classified as being “very warm” or “extremely warm” (poor Vis was the only place in Croatia to simply be “warm”), whilst most of the country was considered to be either “dry” or “very dry”.

All in all, we expect the weather in Croatia to be great this September! The Croatian Meteorological Society has plenty of forecasts in English – at the moment, they obviously don’t show much data for September, but take a look at their seven-day forecasts a little closer to the time.

The sea off the coast of Croatia – having had all summer to warm up – will be great, temperature-wise, in September. Yesterday, for example, temperatures reached around 23/24C for many places, with the sea a few degrees colder in the north of the coast.

Disclaimer: Yes, of course, the weather everywhere is starting to turn a little crazy. So don’t hold it against us if conditions in Croatia inexplicably turn winter-y during September. That’s definitely not supposed to happen. And it’s very, very unlikely to happen. But if anything insanely crazy, weather-wise, happens…don’t blame us! 

What’s on in Croatia in September?

Croatia has established itself as something of a prime festival destination in the last few years, with more and more dance festivals being added all the time to each year’s calendar. September is when the festival season winds down, but there’s still a couple of events taking place, both in Istria. The brand-new-for-2013 Unknown is being held in Rovinj from 10th to 14th September, with names like Jessie Ware, The Horrors, Jamie xx and SBTRKT all on the bill. Now in its second year, the electro festival Dimensions will be on in Pula from 5th to 9th September, making use of Fort Punto Christo that’s close to the town. (Dimensions is the “little sister” of Croatia festival favourite Outlook, which is on itself in Pula from 29th August to 2nd September.)

For the less dance music type events, there’s the Split Film Festival on from the 14th to the 21st September. The historical festival Gioistra – now in its seventh year – will be held in Porec from 13th to 15th September, with assorted costumes, revelry, sports, street entertainers and products on sale, all re-enacting 18th century times. The second Korkrya Baroque Festival is an international music festival on the island of Korcula, being held from 7th to 13th September. Zagreb hosts both the general entertainment festival RujanFest (literally, ‘SeptemberFest’) from the 13th to the 22nd September, as well as the 46th edition of the International Puppet Theatre Festival (9th to 14th September).

For those more keen on sports events, Croatia will host the Davis Cup tie against Great Britain in Umag (which means clay!) on the weekend of 13th to 15th September. And yes, Wimbledon champ Andy Murray is expected to play. Tickets can be bought on the ticket portal Eventim.hr.

Be sure to pop into the tourist office of wherever you are to ask for events taking place locally!

Where should I go in Croatia in September?

As we’ve covered so far, the weather will be great in September, so it’s hard not to pick a location on the coast. Dubrovnik should be as busy it always is, and there’s certainly a large number of cruise ships scheduled to dock during that month, bringing thousands of (day trip) passengers at a time. Split has had a great season so far, so it wouldn’t be any surprise to see this place as bustling as it has been. (Seeing as it’s Croatia’s second largest city, it is relatively lively all year round!) Some of the more popular islands, such as Brac and Hvar, and other popular locations on the coast (the Makarska Riviera) are still likely to receive a good number of visitors, even whilst the season starts to wind down.

If you’re after something a little quieter, perhaps consider the most outlying of all the larger Croatian islands – Vis. As a quieter and slightly mystical destination any time of year, we think this place would be divine in September. Other islands to check out include those in the Kvarner bay  such as Krk, Cres, Losinj or Rab, all of which are perhaps not as well known amongst non-Continental European visitors.

Istria is of course one of the most popular destinations in the whole of Croatia, with delights such as Porec, Rovinj and Pula all located here. The county has suffered a slight fall in visitor numbers this year, but will still see good numbers overall. If you’d like to visit, why not consider something like a foodie or activity-based holiday – two things the region does very well! Check out Istria Tourist Board’s guides to gastronomy and sport.

From a logistical point of view, almost all flights from the UK to Croatia still operate in September – and well into October too. The one exception to this is Ryanair’s flights from London Stansted to Rijeka Airport stopping at the end of August. See our Flights to Croatia page for details of all routes to Croatia from the UK.

Do note that in almost all cases, ferry schedules will still be running to summer timetables until the end of September. Certainly, almost all of Jadrolinija‘s local routes remain the same until the end of September, as does their twice-a-week coastal route that runs Rijeka – Split – Stari Grad (Hvar) – Korcula – Mljet – Dubrovnik and vice versa. The exception lies with some of their international sailings (to Italy) that reduce in frequency in September, and again further in October. Venezia Lines‘ sailings between Istria and Venice will only operate from Porec and Rovinj during September.

Or check out Adriagate – they offer last minute discounts on accommodation for destinations all over Croatia!

All in all, if you’re visiting Croatia next month, we hope you enjoy your stay! Why not drop us a line on email, Twitter or Facebook to let us know how it went – we’d love to hear from you!

For Festival

Countdown to this weekend’s FOR 2013 Festival on Hvar!

There’s less than a week to go to the inaugural FOR 2013 Festival on the beautiful island of Hvar – and we can hear many of you getting really rather excited at the thought of partying on such an idyllic location in less than a week’s time!

Taking place on three of the top venues in Hvar Town – Carpe Diem Beach, Veneranda and Amo Beach Bar – the Festival has a wonderfully diverse and canny line-up of some top artists. These include Tame Impala, Solange, Horse Meat Disco, James Blake, DJ sets from 2ManyDJs and James Murphy, Nicolas Jaar, Tensnake and numerous other top names. In addition to this great line-up, another plus is that only 2,000 tickets have been made available which means that FOR 2013 will truly be one of the most intimate festivals to take place this summer.

For Festival

The party gets started in the late afternoon each day at Carpe Diem Beach, with matters then switching over to club Veneranda in the evening to get the vibe really ramped up. Carpe Diem Beach – part of the famous Carpe Diem club on Hvar, which this year celebrates its 15th birthday – then takes over proceedings once more, keeping the party going until the very early – and we do mean very early – hours of the morning. But in such a paradise-like setting, and with temperatures reaching a night-time low of about 22C (yes, you did read that right) we can imagine that everyone will keen and eager right until the final beat gets played each night.

FOR 2013 announced their set times today, which you can see at forfestival2013.com/line-up.htm. Check out that page to start planning where you’ll want to be when.

To get you in the mood, take a look at this teaser FOR 2013 video, produced by Croatian creative agency PHOLA:

The team behind FOR 2013, Australian label Modular Recordings, have also been producing regular modcasts featuring some of the acts on the bill – lend your ears to the ones by Tensnake and Croatian label Burek for a little preview of what all you lucky revellers will be experiencing this weekend.

A small number of tickets are still available for FOR 2013, so if you fancy heading to Hvar, be sure to snap these up quick! Three-day passes – which allow you entry to all of FOR’s venues for the entire weekend cost £130, whilst one-day passes cost £45. There are special discounted ticket prices for passport holders of the ex-YU nations. More details on FOR’s tickets page.

We’ve also got a brief guide to FOR in our Festivals in Croatia 2013 section – FOR 2013 – which provides some useful practical info, including how to get to Hvar.

But for all the details on FOR 2013, do make sure to take a look at their website, which also covers discounted accommodation options at local hotels. Be sure to also check out all the festival news on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

FOR 2013
Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd June 2013
forfestival2013.com

Events in Istria - Boombarstick

Boombarstick Urban Arts and Music Festival in Vodnjan, 3-7 July 2013

It may be no surprise to our regular readers that Croatia enjoys a very healthy cultural calendar each year, with some wonderful film, dance, theatre, art and other events taking place each summer, all across the country. We’d like to use this post to highlight the Boombarstick Festival which will take place for the first time in July in Vodnjan, Istria – an independent, urban arts and music festival that will feature a full line-up of art exhibitions and concerts, as well as featuring workshops and also showcasing locally made products.

Boombarstick Art and Music Festival Croatia

Of great importance to the festival and something that plays a large part in its background is the setting in Istria. This particular region of Croatia is one has a very vibrant history – having been under the rule of numerous tribes, leaders and countries over the centuries – but one that has also been peaceful, meaning that today, different ethnic groups and cultures coexist in harmony. Boombarstick’s aim, in a year that Croatia is to join the EU (on 1st July), is to show that Istrian and European cultures can (and should) influence and enrich themselves, but also that Istrian people should treasure their culture – one that is unique and constantly evolving – and share it with others, and not seek to replace what they have with some kind of European dream. Boombarstick will offer up a kind of “momento” for Istrian collectivity, but also show that the town of Vodnjan has much to offer artistically, musically and culturally – three “languages” that can be understood by anyone, wherever they are from.

Boombarstick Festival Croatia

Boombarstick Festival Croatia

Boombarstick Festival Croatia

Boombarstick Festival Croatia
The above series of images show the first wallpainting of 2013 in Vodnjan, created by Aec from Interesni Kazki for the Boombarstick preview a few weeks ago (click on any image to enlarge)

What’s on at the Boombarstick Urban Arts and Music Festival

The art programme at Boombarstick will see a fantastic collection of outdoor wallpaintings, showcased in some of the less fancy spots in town, plus installations set up in hidden parts of Vodnjan. An indoor art show will also exhibit the works of some of the local artisans. Artists exhibiting their works include Croatian sculptor Franco Manzin; underground, UK-based comic-artist Phlegm; street artist OKO from Croatia; Sam3, a wallpainter from Spain; Italian graphic designer and urban artist Giorgio Bartocci; Ukrainian wall-painter duo Interesni Kazki; graphic artist Ludo; NeSpoon from Poland; and Croatian illustrator Miron Milic. Below you can see the works of some of these artists (click on any image to enlarge).

Boombarstick - Eme
Eme

Boombarstick - Sam3
Sam3

Boombarstick - Giorgio Bartocci
Giorgio Bartocci

Boombarstick - RemedRemed

Boombarstick - Emilio Cejalvo
Emilio Cejalvo

Boombarstick - Franco Manzin
Franco Manzin

Local bands and artists will make up part of the musical element to the festival, which will also see international DJs and acts perform…with a few secret parties thrown into the mix too! Acts appearing include funky, punky hip hop outfit Debout Merci!; Croatian DJ Sisma; folk-poet Ardzen; French beatboxer Spleen; Brixton, London-based ska-gypsy band Drunken Balordi; swing/rock ‘n’ roll band Minima Social Club; and Croatian hip hop band Soundcheck Regaz.

As mentioned, Boombarstick will also host workshops during the Festival’s run, and these will be dedicated to local students although some will also allow entry to all. These seek to teach culture and explore creativity, whilst also establishing a connection between the people attending and some of the artists taking part in Boombarstick.

“Local heros” from Vodnjan will also be on hand, showcasing their tasty products – from food to oil and wine, and more!

It’s free to enjoy all the events at Boombarstick – how fantastic! If you can make it to Vodnjan in July, we’d highly recommend you visiting and joining in with this arts and music festival!

Accommodation for Boombarstick

For those attending the festival, there are a number of easy accommodation options available to you. An improvised campsite will be set up a short distance from the Festival; the site will have full facilites including toilets and showers, food and beverages, and will also provide tents to rent. Camping will be a great way of mingling with fellow festival-goers, allowing you to get to know each other!

It will also be possible to rent apartments and private accommodation in Vodnjan, for those looking to explore and experience the town a little better.

The above options can all be booked via the Boombarstick Accommodation page at www.boombarstick.com/. There’s a whole host of different packages on offer, including those that offer airport transfers, boat trips, excursions and a beach chill out day, so be sure to check these all out!

The above link also lists all the ‘extras’ that are available in addition to the Festival – from the aforementioned boat trips and beach chill out day, to a Cheese Appreciation Day and a Arts of Istria Tour!

Support Boombarstick

Boombarstick is a fully independent festival (and, as mentioned above, there’s no entry charge to any of the events), so if you’d like to help support its first edition and the great team behind it, check out their Indiegogo campaign: www.indiegogo.com/projects/boombarstick-street-art-music-festival. There’s a number of great perks on offer if you contribute to their campaign.

More on Boombarstick

For full details about the Festival and all of the artists and musicians taking part can be found on the official Boombarstick website. Do also keep with with the latest Festival news on their Facebook page!

Boombarstick 
3rd – 7th July 2013
Vodnjan (Digano), Istria
www.boombarstick.com

Join the contemporary dance festival – Dance and Non-Verbal Theatre Festival San Vincenti – in Istria this July!

The Dance and Non-Verbal Theatre Festival San Vincenti returns this July for another wonderful event! Now in its fourteenth year, this contemporary dance festival will take place from the 19th to the 22nd July in the very pretty town of San Vincenti (known as Svetvincenat in Croatian), which is located in inland Istria. A number of wonderful and varied performances of contemporary dance, physical theater, mime, circus performances and street art will take place, as well as educational seminars and workshops, with artistic groups from both Croatia and abroad both being featured.

Dance & Non-Verbal Theatre San Vincenti Festival Istria

The Festival was founded in 2000 by the Zagreb Dance Company, a contemporary dance group who have performed at many top events in Croatia, including the very famous Dubrovnik Summer Festival, one of the country’s most well-known events. The group have also performed at a number of festivals abroad, including events in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Korea and Egypt.

Over the years the San Vincenti Festival has seen more than 150 Croatian and international dance groups perform 190 plus productions. The Festival’s aims to promote contemporary dance in Istria and Croatia for the enjoyment of both locals and visitors have clearly been realised, and the event has also helped promote creativity and inter-cultural dialogue.

Last year saw a full programme of events, with dance groups from Croatia (of course!), Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and France all take part. Performances included the circus show De pied ferme by Belgium group Wazovol; Animal by Spanish choreographer Daniel Abreu; and Sad Sam Lucky by Croatian artist Matija Ferlin, a piece that evolved from the Festival’s residential programme.

All performances take place in three venues in and around San Vincenti – in the Renaissance Square (where free performances take place); at the Art Centre; and also in the wonderful Kastel (Castle) Grimani. Tickets for performances at the latter two events can be obtained in advance via the Festival website, or on the day of the performance.

This year’s programme is due to be revealed very shortly, so stay tuned to the Festival website for full details: www.svetvincenatfestival.com.

Dance & Non-Verbal Theatre San Vincenti Festival Istria
In front of Castle Grimani

Dance & Non-Verbal Theatre San Vincenti Festival Istria
Renaissance Square

Festival Istria - PROmjene, Zagreb Dance Company
PROmjene, Zagreb Dance Company

Festival Istria - Fragments, LesSlovaKs
Festival Istria – Fragments, Les SlovaKs

Festival Istria - Memory of Water, Masa Kolar
Festival Istria – Memory of Water, Masa Kolar

Dance and Non-Verbal Theatre Festival San Vincenti
19th – 22nd July 2013
www.svetvincenatfestival.com

Gruhak - Flying High

Croatian band Gruhak at London’s 100 Club on 27th March

Those in London who are interested in enjoying a bit of rock – Croatian style – may be very pleased to hear that new young band Gruhak are to perform at the 100 Club on Oxford Street on 27th March 2013.

Gruhak at the 100 Club in London

With elements of Led Zepplin, The Doors, Pink Floyd and The Who, Gruhak are the first Eastern European band that compose their own music and lyrics for English speaking audiences. Having previously achieved cult status on YouTube – they were voted as “The Best Ever Classic Rock Cover Band” in 2010 – they are now branching out with their own material, which will be featured at this promotional concert in London. Their album ‘Make A Stand’ has also been very well received in the UK music press, acquiring a number of top mark reviews.

Tickets for the gig cost £13.50, and can be purchased online at http://www.wegottickets.com/100club/event/200243.

In the meantime, check out the band’s official website where you can stream songs from their album, or join the mailing list to get updates on future gigs, albums and free downloads. They also have a Facebook page – www.facebook.com/Gruhak/ – which is a great way to keep in touch with the band.

Do also check out their YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/gruhak – for live performances of the band’s own material, as well as some of their twenty famed live video covers. These videos really showcase their extraordinary live music talents.

For a limited time only (until 27th March 2013), Gruhak’s UK fans can download some material for free! The exclusive download link of ‘Make A Stand’ – Gruhak’s first album of their own material – is at http://db.tt/LQBtgT2d, whilst at http://db.tt/V1TjnGXy there’s audio of their famed music covers.

Gruhak - Flying High

Spread the word about Gruhak, and come enjoy their music at the London gig!

Gruhak
7.30pm – 11pm, 27th March 2013
100 Club
100 Oxford Street
W1D 1LL

The Raindance Film Festival comes to London this autumn – with a number of Balkan films

Raindance Film Festival

Europe’s leading independent film festival, the Raindance Film Festival, is now in its 20th year and is returning to London from 26th September to 7th October 2012. The festival has been listed by Variety magazine as one of the world’s top 50 “unmissable film festivals” – so make sure you come and enjoy the excellent line-up of films this year!

Featuring independent films from across the world, this year’s festival will also include screenings of a number of interesting films from the Balkans – from Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and Montengro.

Vegetarian Cannibal
Vegetarian Cannibal

Croatia’s entry is Vegetarian Cannibal – thought-provoking to the point of shocking, Vegetarian Cannibal is a riveting character study of a ruthlessly amoral gynaecologist aided by a society that prefers not to look too closely. The film will be screened on Saturday 29th September at 1pm, and Saturday 6th October at 9pm.

The State of Shock
The State of Shock

Slovenia has several entries at the festival, including The State of Shock – a film set in 1986 Communist Yugoslavia where socialist worker Peter falls into a shock-induced catatonic state after winning ‘Worker of the Year’. 10 years later he awakens to a radically different world, where everything he once knew is now history. This will be screened on Friday 28th September at 3.30pm, and Sunday 30th September at 5.45pm.

Shanghai Gypsy is a love story a love story about four generations, narrated by gypsy king, Lutvija Belmondo Mirga, whose business goes bad after the downfall of Yugoslavia. He must decided whether to protect his own family or sacrifice his personal happiness for business ambitions. Screening on Tuesday 2nd October at 8pm.

Good Night Missy tells the tale of Hannah and Sam, a young couple with a house, a wonderful daughter and well paid work. Then the comfortable family routine starts cracking because of lies, a lack of trust and jealousy… Showing on Thursday 4th October at 1.15pm and Saturday 6th October at 8.30pm.

Serbia’s entries include Loveless Zoritsa (joint with Poland/Cyprus and Greece), which is being screened on Friday 28th September at 5.45pm and Monday 1st October at 3.15pm. Is Zoritsa a serial killer or just a girl bearing an extraordinary curse?

The Practical Guide to Belgrade With Singing and Crying
The Practical Guide to Belgrade With Singing and Crying

The Practical Guide to Belgrade With Singing and Crying (Serbia, Germany, France) is a contemporary romantic comedy about the trials of finding the right person – told through four completely different love stories. Showing on Saturday 6th October at 6.15pm.

All films are to be shown at the Apollo Piccadilly Cinema (19 Lower Regent Street, SW1Y 4LR) in Central London You can book tickets either online on the Apollo Cinemas website or by calling 0871 224 0242.

Full details about the festival and a listing of all films to be screened can be found at www.raindance.co.uk.

Raindance Film Festival
26th September – 7th October 2012
Apollo Cinema
19 Lower Regent Street
SW1Y 4LR

Dodgeball Supercar Rally

Dodgeball Supercar Rally comes to Croatia!

This year’s Dodgeball Supercar Rally – which kicks off in London on 26th June – will be making its way down Croatia’s gorgeous coastal roads for the first time ever!

Dodgeball Supercar Rally

Bringing together some of the world’s finest and rarest cars, the Rally makes an annual visit to Saint Tropez in the South of France after navigating a scenic route through some of the prettiest parts of Europe. This year, the route will first take in a country chateau in the Rhone Valley; a drive through Italy (and a stop at Ferrari’s factory), including a night in Venice; heading through Slovenia on to the stunning Croatian coastline (including a stay in a beach hotel); and a cross-Adriatic ferry over to Ancona and a drive on to Rimini before reaching its usual final destination. The last part of the Rally will see the drive to St Tropez for the opening party of the VIP Rooms, as well as viewing the FIA GT Championship & The Blancpain Endurance series and the opportunity to race around the Paul Ricard track.

Dodgeball Supercar Rally

For those interested in entering, the fee is £3,250 per person, based on two sharing – although if you’re in possession of a supercar, that’s seems like very good value! The price includes everything on the rally, including 5-star accommodation, lunch stops, ferries, parties and more.

Full details about the Dodgeball Supercar Rally can be found at www.dodgeballrally.com.

Echo Festival (22nd-24th June in Makarska) releases its line-up!

We know that we whet the appetites of many of you party animals out there with our previous post on the brand-new-for-2012 Echo Festival that’s taking place in Makarska on the weekend of 22nd to 24th June – and we’re sure that many of you have already got your ticket orders in.

But here’s more good news – Echo Festival have announced their line-up! Names on the bill include Koreless (Live), Pariah, Midland – who are all appearing on the Simply Stage – and Inxec, Droog and Cozzy D., who will be on the DJ & Sound Stage as well as many, many more – plus further names that are to be announced in due course.

Echo Festival Flyer Line Up

There will also be showcases and daily beach parties from the likes of Krankbrother, Creche, Moody Disco, Simply Vinyl and more.

Oh, and – as if this wasn’t enough good news – there are still tickets available for £35 for the weekend (which is truly mind-bogglingly good value) for only a short time more, so do make sure you and your friends snap them up soon.

For full line-up details (as announced so far) and other information on the festival and to purchase tickets, please go to www.echofestival.com.