Belgium's finest trip-hop/rock group or England's finest beers?
I have a difficult decision to make.

I would like to go and see Hooverphonic in concert before the end of the year (and before the current singer leaves). However this will necessitate a trip to Belgium, as they never play in the UK any more.

However, when considering travel costs and accommodation, this is looking to become somewhat on the expensive side. Not to mention requiring me to be organised and make sure I've booked everything correctly.

And the same weekend that I might go out there, there is a beer festival within 30 minutes' walk of Ms Crow's flat.

What does OT think? Should I make the effort and take my last chance to see the current lineup of this group, or should I just go with the easier, cheaper option and go to a beer festival in my own country? I can't decide...

EDIT: I've decided. I've bought the tickets for Hooverphonic. (Assuming the Belgian woman on the phone actually understood my pitiful French and hasn't, in fact, put a large aubergine in the post for me...)
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 22 Oct 2008, 14:10, 7 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Right...
Can you afford to go to the gig?

If you can, do it.

If not, drown your sorrows in special beer.
( Cawl, Wed 22 Oct 2008, 14:16, Reply)

gig
Beer festivals are 10 a penny.

that reminds me must book a week off next may, for my annual holiday at the cambridge beer festival, tar!
(Halfy By light alone, Wed 22 Oct 2008, 14:18, Reply)

Do both!
Go to the gig and while you're there have lots of fantastic Belgian ale!

(Sounds like heaven to me- but then, in my opinion the Belgians brew the world's best beer.)
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 22 Oct 2008, 14:20, Reply)

Ta very muchly.
You've all confirmed what one side of my brain was thinking. If I can afford it, I might as well bloody do it.

Just looking into the cost of getting there: appropriately enough, if I try and go by ferry, I'll have to get the train to Hull.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 22 Oct 2008, 14:40, Reply)

You forgot to factor in something
You forgot to take into account the fact that Belgium is shite and full of Belgian people.

Stay at home!
(The Apeface Cherub is not a cunty-uber-cunt, Wed 22 Oct 2008, 18:40, Reply)

You neglected to add the 'Milton Keynes' factor...
...unless you meant london in which case I apologise
(The Oscillating Gibbon is eating curried squid, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 8:09, Reply)

^ Actually
the beer festival is in Southampton.

And it is a nice pub.

But I think Belgium is looking like the better option.
(LongJohnBaldry, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 9:37, Reply)