If you have checked The Tragically Hip website TheHip.com recently, you will probably have read something like this:
2006 European Summer Tour Dates Announced
[...]
Sat July 8
Brugge, Belgium – Minnewaterpark - Cactus Festival
The band also announced they are "in the process of recording a new studio album with producer Bob Rock. Once completed, we will be out on the road performing select shows in 
Canada, the USA and Europe this year. Be sure to check back with us online at www.thehip.com and look for more emails from us, keeping you absolutely up-to-date with the latest announcements and details."
The Hip site, by the way, is one of the many pieces of living proof that the web can create excellent leverage for some community building:
"[On the site] there are plenty of new features and content to keep you surfing for hours including a streaming media player, photo album, videos, news and The Hip Story Project – an interactive feature that gives you the opportunity to add your own content to the site. If you haven’t already done so, please take the time to add your own story about a favourite song, show, album or experience."
Before I forget: another, recently added band to the Cactus Festival line-up is Buffalo Tom. They're doing an exclusive Belgian concert in Bruges. Needless to tell frequent readers of this blog this really makes my day. So if you're in for a festival with great music, great atmosphere and great surroundings: let me know.
I'm letting you know: I'm in for that kind of festival, but unfortunately I have a date with Evil Jorg H.
Posted by: dirkd | May 24, 2006 at 08:58 AM
I'm just checking with the Monkey but she's been bugging me about going to a festival for ages so I reckon this could be a good excuse to visit. Depends on how writing up her PhD is going but I don't think she'll take too much persuading
Posted by: Sam Smith | May 24, 2006 at 11:13 AM
That sounds great, Sam. Just let me know if you come and when. We can arrange to meet up (I could show you around town). If, of course, you would want to :-)... Also, you can use our garden for camping. Or, should the weather be as it has been lately, the living room. We don't have a spare bedroom, though. Unless, I can convince the kids to sleep outside. Or convince their grandmother to take them for a weekend or so. Or... :-)
Posted by: Serge | May 24, 2006 at 11:18 AM
I'll probably be there as well, although I'm more interested in Gnarls Barkley and the Sunday program
Posted by: marc | May 26, 2006 at 12:58 PM
Marc: I already had a feeling you might be...
Posted by: Serge Cornelus | May 26, 2006 at 01:45 PM
I will be there. I absolutely love Cactus Festival, and this years program is fantastic in my humble opinion.
It's also great we can party on a little longer this year, music untill 1 o'clock :-)
Posted by: Jill | June 03, 2006 at 06:52 PM
What could I possibly add to that? :-) Enjoy!
Posted by: Serge Cornelus | June 08, 2006 at 01:16 PM