Glastonbury Festival Glastonbury Festival 2000

I've read a variety of opinions, so I thought I'd put in my 2 penn'orth.

I arived on site on the Saturday before, and spent that weekend employed in heavy manual labour in order that I might get in legally without paying (last year I was a performer, and I've done litter picking before now as well). Went home to Bristol on Sunday, and came back on site on Thursday, relieved to find that none of our tents had been nicked.

The field we were in had portaloos, but luckily the next field had long drops, so I used them. When I first went to Glasters the long drops were the only loos they had, I much prefer them to the plastic cubicles; they smell less for one thing, and the ventilation means they are more comfortable.

The festival seemed less hectic than it sometimes does, which has to be a good thing, though it still had huge crowds of mostly happy people.

I managed to see quite a few bands, and unusually for me I even went to the big stages a few times.

Highlights included Cardiacs - one of the best sets I've seen them do, despite their diminished number, Rolf Harris, Gong, Headmix Collective, Otway (loved his use of the theramin), and (bizarrely) The Wurzels. I missed a few bands I wanted to see including Shooglenifty, Nik Turner and Dark Star - but still managed to see Arthur Brown, Baghdaddies, Stackridge, Blue Airoplanes, Jools Holland, Joolz, Atilla the Stockbroker, Ladymith Black Mambazo, The Wailers, Chumbawumba, Tarantism, Kangaroo Moon, The Egg and loads more.

Over all I thought it was a pretty good Glastonbury - not the best I've been to, but not the worst either.

It could have done with more camping space, though part of that problem is the huge number of people coming in over the fence. I also agree that it is far too commercialised these days - less so than many festivals (Reading, after all, is now called Carlsberg) but still more than is ideal.

I'd also like Michael Eavis to rethink his ban on morris dancers - I saw some in 1992 and I thought they definitely added something to the festival. And the Fez Heads who Arabella booked for the Theatre field definitely have a morris element to their act - fine chaps that they are.

review submitted by
Chris Luxford