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Spain's Sinsal is the Best Festival in the World You've Never Heard Of

07 August 2017, 08:45 | Written by Sebastien Dehesdin
(Photos)
(Sinsal Festival)
Spain’s Sinsal remains the best kept secret in the festival calendar - less than a thousand people an idyllic island for three days, with a line-up that’s entirely secret until you arrive each day.
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Spain's Sinsal Festival couldn't be more idyllic: Three days of music on a remote island!
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The island - San Simon - lies in the estuary near the city of Vigo, Galicia.
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A region rich in history and nature, it lies close to the Spain/Portugal border.
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You can even visit the town of Tui and look out across the border dividing the two countries.
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Tui's 12th-century cathedral is one of the countries most beautiful churches.
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The region is famous for the Albariño grape, used to make some incredible white wines.
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Vigo also has a maritime history as a port town.
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Thousands of platforms on the Vigo estuary grow mussels, a local delicacy.
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Everyday a boat will arrive to transport 800 music fans a few miles up the Vigo estuary.
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The trip to the island is the starting point of a unique experience.
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The views on the journey are breathtaking.
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Venturing onto the island is usually forbidden.
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It’s reckoned that the island held as many as two thousand prisoners at any one time...
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...and the memory of this has shielded this place from any attempts at tourism.
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San Simon is actually an archipelago made up of two islands.
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They are connected by a stone bridge.
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The views off the island are as stunning as those within.
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The line-up so secret you only find out who's playing when you arrive each day.
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The boat arrives at midday each day.
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Musical discovery is as important as the island's visual reveal for the people who come to Sinsal.
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Alt-J, Angel Olson and Dan Deacon are among those who've played Sinsal in the past.
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This year saw DIY disco troupe Orchestra of Spheres alongside Columbia's Systema Solar...
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...and Best Fit favourites Anna Meredith, Bonnie "Prince" Billy and C Duncan.
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Bella Union-signed Holly Macve performed on the Sunday afternoon...
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...Tuarag bluesman Bombino entertained the crowds...
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...and Of Montreal closed the festival as the sun fell, with a 90-minute set.
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Music is based around four small stages; neat programming ensures there's constant performances.
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No two sets clash and when one band finishes, it's a stroll to the next stage in time for another.
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The festival's tiniest stage showcased some of the most eclectic music on the lineup...
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...including Portuguese guitarist Filho da Mãe.
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It's an all ages festival too, filled with families and kids.
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And despite the crowds, it's a safe and welcoming space at all times.
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The festival's commitment to sustainability is massive.
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Re-usable glasses and biodegradable currency minimize the festival's enivironmental impact.
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Sinal can't ever grow bigger than it is.
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That would threaten the island’s ability to ‘heal’ from the impact of the festival.
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It also helps that the festival takes place during the day rather than overnight.
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Many of the bands who play here say Sinsal is the greatest festival they've ever played.
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And the audience are unlikely to have such a well-curated experience at any another festival.
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The boat laid on by the festival returns to Vigo for about 11pm each evening.
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It gets you back to town just in time for the the bars to come alive.
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Accommodation is cheap and plentiful nearby - whether it's a hotel or Air BnB.
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The festival will return next year - probably in late July, say the organisers.
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Tickets for the whole three day are €100 but day tickets are also available for as little as €30.
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Find out more at festival.sins.al
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