Glasto

Best place to eat
Some lovely places in the Healing Fields, the choice is tremendous across the site though. I did enjoy a nice Indian Thali at one point and kept going back to a Falafel place too

Money spent
Ticket is about £235 plus a fiver booking fee
Parking at Worthy View was £40
Pod at Worthy View was £375 for a two-person
Probably spent £100 on kit and food drink to take with us
Food and drink there probably £100 – I could have easily spent nothing here but the wife likes to indulge just a little more than my fry-ups and soreen

Biggest regret
The old guard at Glastonbury does seem a bit marginalised as, admittedly, hordes of people like me just looking for a good time, dominate. I’d like to have spent more time with those whose worldview is totally different to mine to have learned something from them. There was ample chance to sit down with people for tea in their tipi or join in a free-spirited choir practising singing therapy. I’d like to do that more as Glastonbury seems one of the last bastions of the old free festivals spirit

Going back
If I can, although the glorious weather this time means if it’s wet and muddy in future I’d always be comparing it unfavourably

A few observations
Gazebos everywhere and absolutely massive tents, if I’d have been free camping I’d not have been happy with how much space some were taking up unnecessarily

Politics – don’t want to air any views but did enjoy that Glastonbury is a nakedly political festival; lots of earnest people around, some were very interesting to listen to at the Speakers Forum, Greenpeace and Healing Fields. I found some of the stuff I listened to here genuinely expanded my horizons, including a fun Q&A with Michael Eavis

There is a dress code that the bulk of the male twats seem to abide by: pastel-coloured chino shorts, garish or flowery dress shirt, unbuttoned, and a bandana across the forehead. You could set your watch by when these Charlies and Ollies would start up an “Oh Jeremy Corbyn” chant. I highly doubt it being meant as anything other than “bantz”, although the Guardian seemed to think this was a revolutionary wave cresting. It’s no coincidence that these types were also often the ones showing little respect for the farm, urinating on the grass next to toilets, throwing rubbish on the ground when the bins are metres away. I reported it to stewards when I saw it which made me feel like a killjoy but that really, really bugged me. It’s a completely hedonistic environment where anything goes except the one thing you’re asked to do is not make too much of a mess and yet ignorant people couldn’t be bothered to do even that

Lots of young women going braless, not sure if this is a new trend, for the most part they could have done with one

Being able to bring your own drink and food in with you wherever you go is fantastic! I got through a litre of Bisongrass Vodka on one day and it cost me not a penny, tasty stuff as well

Not just this, on the Wednesday, due to the hot conditions, volunteers were dishing out free bottled water and suncream. Suncream! That stuff practically costs more per gram than saffron, very grateful for this and another example of a festival being run for something other than just profit

Tune of the festival was unexpectedly “I’m Coming Out”! Heard it twice and really hammered home how context can have a huge effect on how I experience music. Chic played it to a huge crowd on Sunday afternoon where everyone had a carefree dance and sing along in the sunshine but hearing it in the smoky confines of the NYC Downlow it took on a whole different feeling, loaded with a whole other kind of significance, powerful stuff
 
Best place to eat
Some lovely places in the Healing Fields, the choice is tremendous across the site though. I did enjoy a nice Indian Thali at one point and kept going back to a Falafel place too

Money spent
Ticket is about £235 plus a fiver booking fee
Parking at Worthy View was £40
Pod at Worthy View was £375 for a two-person
Probably spent £100 on kit and food drink to take with us
Food and drink there probably £100 – I could have easily spent nothing here but the wife likes to indulge just a little more than my fry-ups and soreen

Biggest regret
The old guard at Glastonbury does seem a bit marginalised as, admittedly, hordes of people like me just looking for a good time, dominate. I’d like to have spent more time with those whose worldview is totally different to mine to have learned something from them. There was ample chance to sit down with people for tea in their tipi or join in a free-spirited choir practising singing therapy. I’d like to do that more as Glastonbury seems one of the last bastions of the old free festivals spirit

Going back
If I can, although the glorious weather this time means if it’s wet and muddy in future I’d always be comparing it unfavourably

A few observations
Gazebos everywhere and absolutely massive tents, if I’d have been free camping I’d not have been happy with how much space some were taking up unnecessarily

Politics – don’t want to air any views but did enjoy that Glastonbury is a nakedly political festival; lots of earnest people around, some were very interesting to listen to at the Speakers Forum, Greenpeace and Healing Fields. I found some of the stuff I listened to here genuinely expanded my horizons, including a fun Q&A with Michael Eavis

There is a dress code that the bulk of the male twats seem to abide by: pastel-coloured chino shorts, garish or flowery dress shirt, unbuttoned, and a bandana across the forehead. You could set your watch by when these Charlies and Ollies would start up an “Oh Jeremy Corbyn” chant. I highly doubt it being meant as anything other than “bantz”, although the Guardian seemed to think this was a revolutionary wave cresting. It’s no coincidence that these types were also often the ones showing little respect for the farm, urinating on the grass next to toilets, throwing rubbish on the ground when the bins are metres away. I reported it to stewards when I saw it which made me feel like a killjoy but that really, really bugged me. It’s a completely hedonistic environment where anything goes except the one thing you’re asked to do is not make too much of a mess and yet ignorant people couldn’t be bothered to do even that

Lots of young women going braless, not sure if this is a new trend, for the most part they could have done with one

Being able to bring your own drink and food in with you wherever you go is fantastic! I got through a litre of Bisongrass Vodka on one day and it cost me not a penny, tasty stuff as well

Not just this, on the Wednesday, due to the hot conditions, volunteers were dishing out free bottled water and suncream. Suncream! That stuff practically costs more per gram than saffron, very grateful for this and another example of a festival being run for something other than just profit

Tune of the festival was unexpectedly “I’m Coming Out”! Heard it twice and really hammered home how context can have a huge effect on how I experience music. Chic played it to a huge crowd on Sunday afternoon where everyone had a carefree dance and sing along in the sunshine but hearing it in the smoky confines of the NYC Downlow it took on a whole different feeling, loaded with a whole other kind of significance, powerful stuff

top review
 
At one point in the Unfairground there was an old punk rapping nonsense to a nosebleed Techno backing track while his partner shook and vibrated along to an audience of about 10 of us.

Sounds remarkably like Sleaford Mods ;)

Nice review
 
Going back
If I can, although the glorious weather this time means if it’s wet and muddy in future I’d always be comparing it unfavourably
It's fun in the mud too, honestly :) Although maybe not for your pregnant wife
 
MAW at Genosys Sunday evening was great, played a NYS set, KD said on twitter they have it recorded, so should get to hear it again at some point.

Goldie played a great 92-94 rave set on Sat night at Arcadia. few dodgy mixes aside, he dropped so many classics, egyptian empire, valley of the shadows, bukems music, inner city life. few thousand men and women of a certain age proper cutting shapes. Big smiles all round. Hardcore really will never die.

Sunday night Fabio n Grooverider n GQ at Arcadia was good too, big crowd, could barely stand by this point though, literally out on my feet, nodding more than dancing.

Caught abt half of Sasha n Digweed, really good, sound in the glade is amazing, I wish they held parties there every wkend.

Other things I saw/heard of note, besides the dance music ;
Radiohead, no finer band on the planet surely ?
Lorde is fantastic, watched with my 9yr old daughter, we both loved it. A pop star with substance.
Thundercat can play the 6 string bass like he's ringing a bell. So much groove.
Stormzy.... if I was 20 years younger I'd be bang into that. An actual UK hip hop scene, love it.
The Kidz field and the Green Kids field are amazing, the best day out a child can ever have. f*** disneyland.
Caught Sister Bliss playing Insomnia, never gets old, ppl running into the tent, big smiles.
The BeeGees are one of the finest British songwriters ever.
Chic are amazing. Everybody f***ing dance. So many tunes. Nile Rodgers is up there with Prince and Bowie for me.
I spent 6 nights at Glastonbury and it wasn't enough. I had my phone stolen and it didn't spoil it. I watched Katy Perry with my daughter on my shoulders and we both cried because there is no better feeling in the world than dancing to loud music in a field with thousands of other people. I ended up on stage in the theatre field wearing a daffy duck mask and it was no way the weirdest thing that happened to me all week.

And it didn't rain (much).
I don't think he has ever been that good at mixing to be honest..
 
True, not that bothered when he has done what he has to be fair, there was a rumour when he did the first EM that rob playford mixed it for him, but who knows, and cares too much?
yeah, he's prob due a pass seen as he's come so far, but I bet he uses the sync button when he DJ's tho ;)
 
Thought I’d jot down a few thoughts here partly as it will help me remember what I got up to but also will hopefully be of some interest / usefulness. It was my first time at Glastonbury and the vastness of the festival means this is a very narrow experience of what happened over the 5 days. Apologies for the long post, I’ve tried to break it up a bit by using Spotlight’s tell us how it was format:

Dates you were there:
Wednesday 21st June – Monday 26th June

Where you stayed:
Worthy View, which I thought was well worth the extra expense. For those that might not know Worthy View is an official, offsite pre-erected camping field, up the hill from Strummerville. My excuse for staying there should anyone look down their nose at me for not free camping is I was with my wife who is over 7 months pregnant so we were happy to spring for something that made our lives easier. And it really did – the hot showers were fantastic, parking was very close to the Pod that we stayed in so lugging all our kit in and out was quick and easy, lock on the door and lots of staff so felt secure, clean flushing toilets, quiet at night / early morning so slept really well and felt refreshed for the next day’s revelry, lots of space in the Pod for our kit. The walk up and down the hill each time isn’t much of a slog at all even when I was very much worse for wear.

Didn’t do much of a recce of the normal campgrounds but Pennard Hill looked a nightmare, absolutely rammed from Wednesday early afternoon. Some poor devils that pitched their tents right next to the main thoroughfares (Arcadia and Other Stage) also got a serious trampling at busy times which would have massively pissed me off, so very glad I didn’t go for that.

Highlights
(in loose order)

Napalm Death ruled! Drew the biggest crowd I saw at the Truth Stage in Shangri-La, the bulk of whom were clearly just curious and didn’t get it so were either disgusted or bemused. There was a solid contingent of nutters down the front though having a whale of a time, loved it, powerful and divisive, just as they should be

NYC Downlow – went a few times, great fun and felt significant even though you could view it as something of a theme park attraction for nice, middle-class people to safely dip into another culture and be able to feel good about being adventurous and tolerant. I saw it as a bloody good party but it’s definitely been discovered. There were queues round the block to get in even when the London Underground and Genosys outdoor section were practically empty

The whole South-East corner is incredibly imaginative and the music right up my alley whilst still being diverse. Some of the most fun I had was exploring here and coming across someone performing on an unexpected, little, tucked-away stage. At one point in the Unfairground there was an old punk rapping nonsense to a nosebleed Techno backing track while his partner shook and vibrated along to an audience of about 10 of us. It was the kind of visceral, challenging thing I’d never get to see outside of Glastonbury but here I was exposed to it. They were a highlight and so was the marching band dressed up in full regalia yet all playing the kazoo. I found it amazing that all those people would go to all that effort for what is a one-note joke to me and stick through with it, much appreciated

Hacienda Classical, preceded by a moving minute’s silence, very nostalgic although some of the old guard are showing their age! Hooky still looks good though and him breaking out the bass for “Blue Monday” was magical

Radiohead were hypnotic, their musicianship and tightness as a band was remarkable although we headed off before they busted out their big hits in the second hour, needed to get away early for…

Arcadia – fantastic production. The structure itself was smaller than I expected though which I teased the wife about as she’d been banging on about how it was the best thing ever before we got there. Dusky were good. The Metamorphosis show was the pinnacle, I felt sorry for Jackmaster having to follow it on the Friday; he seemed to think a left-turn was needed straight after so came in with some upbeat vocal house which may have partly caused the mass-exodus. Returned here a few times, TQD and Noisia played some bass bangers on the Saturday which fit the vibe well

Sasha & Digweed – came to the Glade a couple of hours ahead as saw that many of the tents and stages were overflowing (Lovebullets!) and was desperate not to miss out. This meant being in a packed out crowd for Gorgon City, who are very popular it seems, can’t for the life of me work out why, and Way Out West who were in warm-up mode. Spine-tingling stuff when Alex and John were introduced as I never thought I’d see the day, anticipation was ramped up when I noticed that Tony Andrews was personally in charge of the Funktion 1 for the set (beast of a soundsystem setup for an outdoor stage). And it was… good, maybe even great but certainly not mindblowing. Sasha had all the big moments, some of his patented extended builds and mixes were vintage stuff, even drawing applause from Diggers at one point but John seemed to settle into playing the rhythmic recovery tracks after Sasha took the roof off. I really wanted this to floor me, it was a cracking set but looking back I came away a touch disappointed. It’s been said previously that maybe Glastonbury isn’t the place to see the acts you’d pay to see on their own terms elsewhere, I’d agree with that

Barry Gibb followed by Chic was just a wonderful way to spend a sunny afternoon, highlight of this was being able to sing-along to “How Deep Is Your Love” word-perfectly, to my great surprise, despite not having heard it in years and years

The wife loves Moderat, I see them as a latter-day Depeche Mode (a good thing), which I didn’t expect having only really heard Marcell Dettmann’s beast of a mix of “Bad Kingdom” previously

Why have I not heard more about the Temple in the Common area?! Fantastic venue, if I ever get to go back I’ll be focusing a lot more time here

We spent a lot of time in places I never expected to. The Healing Fields are full of interesting people with different perspectives; I loved the Speakers’ Forum and the passionate, well-informed debates I observed in there; there’s a huge area devoted to circus (The Black Eagles were particularly impressive), there’s comedy (never thought I’d get to see “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” alumni doing genuinely funny improv, there’s actors bowling around engaging you in surreal conversations, workshops in all kinds of activities and thousands of other things to see and do, loved it!


Great read, i wish i could put it all into words like that haha
 
Napalm Death ruled! Drew the biggest crowd I saw at the Truth Stage in Shangri-La, the bulk of whom were clearly just curious and didn’t get it so were either disgusted or bemused. There was a solid contingent of nutters down the front though having a whale of a time, loved it, powerful and divisive, just as they should be
 
It's fun in the mud too, honestly :) Although maybe not for your pregnant wife

Glad to hear it and by 2019 she'll be back to fighting fit, we'll be able to sling the kids on their grandparents and have a right good go at it
 
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Usual 35+ mins staring at the hold page. A repetitive strain injury from over use of the refresh button followed by the tears when the next internet page i see is the sold out page. Great.
 
A friend got mine, and I got through myself aswell managed to get 6 for my mates.

We managed to get a total of 20 between us, though 3 of them where coach tickets earlier this week, 12 of our group missed out though, fingers crossed for the resale.
 
Fair play that’s a great success rate. That’s the first time I’ve been unlucky today. None of us got any. Not sure whether to endure the resale or go elsewhere. See how it goes after recovering from this morning.
 
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