Festival review by : Lizzy O'Hara

Glastonbury Festival 1999

Friday 25th to Sunday 27th June 1999
Worthy Farm, Pilton, nr Glastonbury, Somerset, England
£83

Last updated: Wed 7th Aug 2013

After two groovy but very mud-lagged years, we were rewarded by a mud-free and even groovier Glasto. Instead of trench-foot we had dehydration and sunburn, and I didn't have to worry about having a tent that leaks because I didn't actually go back to it until Monday!

For once it was possible to explore the whole festival and so I only actually watched two bands (REM and Kula Shaker - both wowfabgroovy live but this is not a band review.)

The Green Fields were great as ever and much better when they are actually green and not muddy brown, although, as my friend was quick to point out, it's a metaphor - it never is! (note the sarcasm.)

The circus tent was good fun too, and I was called on-stage as an actual, bona-fide volunteer in the Space Cowboy's act. The fact that I was rubbish and dropped the juggling clubs doesn't enter into it.

The cabaret tent was very mixed - some acts were great (everyone shouting 'Rice!' at each other for days is called to mind) but some I found very bigoted and racist/sexist/homophobic etc. Rice! (you really had to be there.)

A great time was had by all in the cinema tent, where we stayed up all night insulting the movies in a very Mystery Science Theatre 3000 way. 'The Exorcist' was extremely funny, 'Blue Sunshine' scared the pants off us while at the same time making us laugh, and 'Performance' was very odd...

Anyway, Glasto always will rock. It has a special atmosphere that any amount of commercialism can't ruin (but it isn't that commercialised.) I can't wait for next year...