Denmark's Roskilde Festival kicks off

06/29/2006 1:47 PM, AP


The annual four-day Roskilde Festival kicked off Thursday, with thousands of people pouring through the gates of one of Europe's largest outdoor rock music events.

This year's program includes Bob Dylan, Morrissey, Deftones and Guns N' Roses.

Nearly 160 artists and bands will perform on Roskilde's six stages during the festival, which mostly attracts visitors from northern Europe.

Organizers said all 79,000 tickets had been sold.

First held in 1971, the festival was inspired by the 1969 Woodstock Festival in upstate New York. Since then, people have flocked to the extravaganza on a farm field outside Roskilde, 25 miles west of Copenhagen.

Six years ago, the festival was marred by an accident. Nine young men were killed when fans pushed toward the main Orange Stage during a Pearl Jam concert. Security has since been improved.

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On the Net:

http://www.roskilde-festival.dk