This year, tickets to the recently wrapped Way Out West Festival in Gothenburg, Sweden–which featured international heavyweights like Charli XCX, Chappell Roan and Iggy Pop–sold out earlier than ever. With no tickets left, the FOMO (fear of missing out) kicked in hard. People started saying they’d give up just about anything to get one. And donating a kidney topped the list. A classic festival phrase we’ve all heard (or said): “I’d give my kidney for a ticket.” Well, this time you actually could. Kind of.
In an unexpected move, Way Out West–in collaboration with MOD, More Organ Donation–decided to give away a limited number of festival tickets to people who sign up to Sweden’s national donor registry. While the fest is obviously not harvesting organs at the gate, the point is serious: organ donation saves lives. Sign ups to the Donor Registry have decreased by over 30% in recent years. And if Way Out West’s sold-out status can help shine a light on that, that’s music to our ears.
“We know people would do almost anything to get into Way Out West,” said Kimmie Winroth, festival manager at Way Out West. “This time, you can actually do some good. It’s the most meaningful festival ticket you’ll ever get.”
In Sweden, this is done through the National Organ Donor Registry, operated by Socialstyrelsen. And by joining it, you’re not just saying you’d give a kidney for a ticket, you’re showing you truly support organ donation–by being willing to donate your organs after your death. That action could save a life in the future.
Creative agency behind the initiative was NORD DDB, Stockholm.