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I've been going to festivals for almost 30 years. Glastonbury is the largest, most well organised, it's the highlight of my year.
2) What acts are you most looking forward to seeing out of those already confirmed?
None. I buy a ticket without knowing the lineup as I've always maintained the lineup is secondary to the experience. IA good lineup is a benefit, but a naff one will simply see me spending more times in the more interesting parts of the festival. I hope that a few more obscure bands that have played in the past are playing and will search them out. I try to avoid the busy stages when big names are on.
3) Do you feel Glastonbury has “sold out” with recent line ups, or are they booking acts they believe a majority of people will like?
Not really no... it's not 1970 anymore, society has changed, musical tastes have diversified and increasingly festival culture has entered the mainstream. Glastonbury still provides a unique take on the festival experience and treats it's attendees with a bit more respect than some larger corporate events. There are over 1000 acts on over the course of the festival there will always be something that sparks your interest if the main stages are not to your liking. Being able to bring our own drink and food and not being restricted into what areas of the festival I can take them is important.
4) Describe the Glastonbury experience in your own words
As a 43 year old it's strange, the day before we leave is the closest feeling I get to being a 9 year old on Xmas Eve. The feelings of excitement are exactly the same, I wake at 5am and can't return to sleep. Remebering and reliving some of those youthful experiences is a good thing I think, it stops me be a boring middle aged old codger.
5) Do you feel part of a community or something bigger when you’re at Glastonbury?
Definitely. it builds strong bonds between me and my friends. On site I feel more relaxed and more willing to venture out and try new experiences.
6) What are the best experiences at Glastonbury?
Getting there :-) Discovering something weird, wonderful and captivating. Discovering someone you didn't know was playing and it becoming the highlight of your weekend. Last year I was in the bogs in Acoustic Field with a slightly dodgy stomach. I heard the not -too distant sounds of The Beat (a band I grew up with and love dearly) and was quickly over to dance and groove and call for Thatcher to Stand Down :-) That made my weekend.
7) What are the worst experiences of Glastonbury?
Not knowing if I'll get a ticket and leaving the site on the Monday morning. The often terrible state some fields are left in is rather depressing. The return to normality and everyday society/work is horrible.
8) Do you feel Glastonbury is the best music festival in the world?
No because Glastonbury is a Performing Arts Festival NOT a Music Festival. I often only see a handful of bands, the older I have become the less the music is the primary focus of attending, it can be important but it's certainly not why I go. Community, friends, fun, relaxation and a sense of freedom not present in my everyday life is what I look forward to.
9) What advice would you give to any Glastonbury virgins?
Don't spend all your time at the main stages, don;t spend all your time watching bands, explore the smaller fields, take it easy, do one thing everyday you'd never dream of doing in the real world. Say hello to your tent neighbours, try and carry that feeling back into real life.
Any other interesting information or anecdotes then that will be fine.
Far too many to recount and far too many that would probably get me arrested :-) However, one year back in the 90s (before everyone and their dog had a phone... certainly not us) I went with a group who at the time were taking a fair amount of acid. During the course of one day we managed to lose everyone, including our driver. Towards the evening when it got dark we made our way to the 'Burning Man' field. Over the next few hours we were drinking and laughing and laughing very loudly (I have a rather loud and distinctive laugh, or so I'm told). Through the evening my friends started appearing from out of the darkness all saying they had heard my laugh from across the fields and in their befuddled stage it had acted as some sort of homing beacon for them. Watching them appear in our group relieved and overjoyed at finding everyone was aBy the time we watched the Burning Man go up in flames everyone had reappeared and life was good again.... all because I have a loud laugh :-)
Edited by Ponyegg, 11 April 2011 - 06:56 AM.
