Greenelk

Agree with @Ben7amin_ on pop ups in general these days, but if you want a less stress putting up experience (and also taking down compared to the larger pop ups) I've had this inflatable one recommended a few times. It's pricey, but if you're going to be using it alot, looks bloody amazing - https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/4-man-inflatable-blackout-tent-air-seconds-4-1-fandb/_/R-p-302837?mc=8648382&c=sand (and gives an excuse for some tent porn)

Went to see the Stranger Things Prequel. If you like the tv show, it's an excellent origin story, and the actress that plays Joyce is amazing at nailing Winona's mannerisms. My son hasn't watched it on tv, but really loved the play, and is now going off to binge the lot. Got tickets for Sheridan Smith in Opening Night for later in the year, a musical, with songs written by Rufus Wainwright, so could be very interesting indeed

Sorted for Glastonbury and Bearded. My travel companion missed out on the latter, so still watching the page like hawks to see if we can get him a spot. Priority is an absolute god send isn't it. First time in years I'd been almost relaxed about sorting being in the fields!

We've seen them countless times, venues big and small, right down the front for the John Peel set, nearly always great live (we'll brush over that first Pyramid headline slot) - took one look at £133 for o2 level 1 seats and the wife and I both went, "that's a no". Their stage set is hardly the most over the top and expensive either. Sadly, this just feels like greed

They were dropping them at weird time as well though. A load of people (including 2 of my friends) got them at 11pm one Thusday night before the "official resale". The other odd thing was on that night, ArcTangent was switching between sold out and available every few minutes, I'm guessing as a way to discourage page monitors as they were pinging constantly

1 group out of 5 for us

I'm helping friends, 5 groups trying, 1 successful so far, and they have been the only ones to get off the holding page.

Might as well get this started

SOLD 2 spare tickets for The Boo Radleys & Cud at Islington Academy on Saturday 4th November. Face value £29 each, looking for £40 for the pair if anyone interested

Looks like slagging a big crowd off has done wonders for Royal Blood - tickets still available for their Electric Ballroom gig which would have sold out very quickly a while back Royal Blood - Electric Ballroom

I'm in my early 50s and hit my 20th anniversary this year with my 16th festival, which was also my first volunteering. Was also a very different feel for me after my wife decided that 10 was enough for her and bowed out (hence me giving volunteering a go). Found the night shift pretty challenging, needed better footwear to tackle the shifts and then going out, and the "blackout" tent I treated myself too turned out to be an oven (now replaced with a F&B), so was fully broken by the end of it all after 7 nights on site, but I've still got some more in me. All being well will be back volunteering again in 2024.

Is Wilderness one of the Oxfam festivals that doesn't have a night shift. I saw something in one of the WhatsApp groups saying there were a few? I'm off to WOMAD next week to get my second volunteering badge. Did Gate D at Glastonbury this year, and found the Wed overnight shift pretty hard going, with nothing happening at all for the last 3 hours (will take a speaker next year), but in general really enjoyed the experience (my ankles, not so much)

Cheers, do we know why?

When did Will Varley get replaced by The Lottery Winners?