Festival review by : Ian

Glastonbury is fast becoming another "event" in the British season, alongside such delightful occasions as Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and Henley, but only for those who really feel like slumming it of course. Why else did I see so many people carrying fold-up chairs, reading the Guardian and talking on their mobiles? I was frankly amazed to see daily and Sunday newspapers on sale - surely being cut off from the outside world is part of the appeal.

I really wish I'd been going in the 80's (Glasto 2000 was my third) when it was less crowded and more interesting. There's just enough "festival spirit" still there to see what it must have been like - especially if you tear yourself away from the main stage (Travis - yawn) and get down to the Avalon or Green fields.

For God's sake the Corrs played last year, surely the beginning of the end. If only it had been muddy, well, during their set anyway.

Although I paid for my ticket all the interesting people I met had come over the fence. In fact the only people who seemed prepared to speak to strangers had come over the fence. Perhaps the atmosphere would be better next year if the ticket price were reduced and the security beefed up.

But then I went to V99 last year too, now there's a festival firmly in the corporate grip of The Man. Glasto still has a considerable way to slide.

Review submitted by
Ian