Glasto

[Messi30]

not necessarily true, plenty of music at Glastonbury I would have watched (and I have been before albeit over a decade ago) - Echo and the Bunnymen being one of my all time favorites. However Reading usually has more rock bands (not this year though) that is more to my taste.

Whats with the rolling of eyes?, whats wrong with only wanting to go for the music that I like?

Edited June 30, 2009 by Messi30

[thetime]

Whats with the rolling of eyes?, whats wrong with only wanting to go for the music that I like?

[VCK]

That may be why Reading edges it for me. I hotel it. Comfy bed, hot shower, decent toilet, nice curry, etc

[micawber]

omgz but taht not part 0f teh feztival spir1t!!1111one!!1!!1

Edited June 30, 2009 by micawber

[Lithium05]

I want to see bands, lots of them, good ones

[benissright]

I liked glasto. But i prefer reading.

What glasto has over reading, i dont care about.

What reading has over glasto, i definitely care about.

I want music, friends and beer. Reading delivers on all those fronts (for me). I can buy beer on site, in cans or even go off site. All of my closest mates go and the music is easier to get to.

And ive never felt threatened at reading, i genuinely find this "intimidating" atmosphere that everyone goes on about a bit of a myth. People burn shit etc. but maybe thats because i camp with another 10 21 year olds, who are over 6ft.

Also for the record. Glasto has a lot less space than reading. Reading has never had to close the entrance to the third stage at midday due to overcrowding. And the crowds for the bands are more intense and easier to get to the "pit" for. Plus i have never been woken up at 5am at reading by people being very loud. This happened every night at glasto.

[Duffbox]

I've got tickets for Reading this year; wish I had spent the money on Glasto instead tbh.

[robsadler]

i keep hearing about the 'intimidating' atmosphere at both reading and leeds but apart from a few idiot kids having a laugh i have never seen any trouble. nothing remotely threatening or dangerous in my previous 1 year at leeds and about 5 years at reading.

it is far safer and less intimidating than real life! where do you people live???

it bothers me far more walking through cardiff city centre in an evening than a weekend at R&L.

robx

[scottt]

i keep hearing about the 'intimidating' atmosphere at both reading and leeds but apart from a few idiot kids having a laugh i have never seen any trouble. nothing remotely threatening or dangerous in my previous 1 year at leeds and about 5 years at reading.

it is far safer and less intimidating than real life! where do you people live???

it bothers me far more walking through cardiff city centre in an evening than a weekend at R&L.

robx

[Bradders]

I love Leeds, been 7 times now. Just got back from my first Glastonbury and it is alot better. At Leeds you get one or two magic moments outside the music. Seeing something funny or dancing on the tables outside the bar. At Glastonbury you get those all the time.

[tylerdurden]

I was really regretting not going to Glasto this year based on the lineup but on reflection after seeing it on TV I'm very glad I didn't.

I always forget two vital things - 1) It is SO big and I really wouldn't like being at such a massive festival. 2) I think there is less emphasis on the music, which is great, but at this stage of my life I don't want that. I know they have a great, diverse lineup but the emphasis is much more on other things such as the shagri la field and trash city.

Edited July 2, 2009 by tylerdurden

[MJMilz14]

Also if you only want to go for the music, you can comfortably get between the Pyramid and Other stage in next to no time, the Dance Village is condensed into one area if Dance is your thing, and a lot of the nighttime spots (Shangri-la, Trash City, Arcadia) are all next to each other.

Only big stage that seemed to be a hassle to get to was the John Peel tent and even that isn't THAT far, I was just being lazy.

You can see half and half of bands (I saw the Ting Tings and Neil Young, and then after Neil Young had finished, the end of Bloc Party as well, who were still playing as I went past. Oh and my Cousin watched half of Blur and half of the Prodigy)

It's nigh on impossible to get lost because it's so well signposted, and you always have a pretty big landmark nearby. It's just great.

The only grumble I really had was that they didn't sell alcohol in quantities other than single denominations (one pint, or one shot, or one glass etc no bottles of vodka, or crates of beer) but if you bring that with you, your laughing.

[thomasowen]

You've never been.

Simple as that, you're opinion is just wrong, theres a huge emphasis on the music, with more bands playing than Reading, theres more emphasis to be put on in a bigger way. Shangri-La and Trash City are to blow your mind when the music's over.

You really don't notice the size, it never becomes an issue, your just grateful when its over that they fit it all in. I'm not rubbing it in or being a Glasto-bummer, because that I am not... But anyone who never went, should totally regret it. Particularly if they chose Leeds over Glastonbury.

EDIT: To anyone thinking it might not be for them, or unsure about trying it... DONT! It makes it easier for me and mine to get tickets

Edited July 2, 2009 by thomasowen

[ArcticMonkeysUK]

My opinion is not wrong because it's an opinion Jackass - and I've never visited Iran but I don't think that would be my cup of tea either .

When I say there is less emphasis on the music, I mean that that music is only one part of Glastonbury whereas at Leeds it is the major part. I know nobody who goes to Reading or Leeds for anything other than the bands (and perhaps seeing friends) but I know of people that go to Glasto and see maybe one or two bands. It's easy at Leeds because all the bands I have enjoyed that and the previous year are almost guarenteed to be there and I am able to see them all without risk of a clash or not being able to get around stages in time, plus the view is great because it isn't as big and the sound is ussualy good (unlike what I have heard about Glasto) so Leeds is great for my needs. I know there are a lot of different and fun acts at Glasto but tbh I would rather spend the money I save on that on smaller, equally out there festivals rather than one massive, over populated festival as well as Leeds which has become a kind of tradition.

Edited July 2, 2009 by ArcticMonkeysUK

[thomasowen]

How do you know its overpopulated you havent been? Going on other peoples say so again?

Ive been to both leeds & glasto and i for one can tell you that its no where near cramped like leeds is.

[ArcticMonkeysUK]

What is it? 180,00? That's too big for me. Too far to walk, and I'd be too far back watching a performer. I have never found space a problem at Leeds.

[thomasowen]

Never did at Glasto either - seriously its not that big its all quite relative cos it isnt an arena like leeds everything is built around the stages etc rather than all penned off into campsites that take 20-30 mins to reach the arena (Brown Campsite at Leeds for instance)

Seriously give it a go then give it your opinion.

[ArcticMonkeysUK]

I will give it a go one day - I've never been anti Glasto, I was planning on going there for my first festival but that was the off year so I chose Leeds instead and I liked it so didn't see the point in going to Glasto in 07 (plus that lineup was awful). Right now I am very happy with Leeds as it has everything I want from a music festival.

[howlin_pete]

Easier to get down to the front for bands at Glasto too, other than for the big bands if your there 15-20 mins early you can pretty much walk within the first few rows. I always am initially disapointed with the Glasto lineup too, and while Reading always seems to have at least one band I'm dying to see, Glasto offers more variety so between the two I get a good balance.

It's seriously missing some heavier bands though, although Eavis apparently does have his reasons which I really don't agree with, but it is his festival after all

[MEGABOWL]

Doing both this year having done both in the past and my comparison is that with Glastonbury it's hard work due to the size of the place, but you get out what you put in. If you just stay at the main stages a lot of the time you could be at any major festival, but if you make the effort to get out and about it's a different experiece to anything else, and there's also far more chance of stumbling upon something new and/or different.

I'm looking forward to Leeds as an easier companion festival-lite. Like it's kid brother in comparison. I'll probably actually see more bands at Leeds and my time can be planned more exactly, it won't take the same effort and will generally be more laid back.

They're both great in different ways. Generally I would say Glastonbury tops any major festival except of course it doesn't cater well for heavier music.

[serginhowardinho]

Doing both this year having done both in the past and my comparison is that with Glastonbury it's hard work due to the size of the place, but you get out what you put in. If you just stay at the main stages a lot of the time you could be at any major festival, but if you make the effort to get out and about it's a different experiece to anything else, and there's also far more chance of stumbling upon something new and/or different.

I'm looking forward to Leeds as an easier companion festival-lite. Like it's kid brother in comparison. I'll probably actually see more bands at Leeds and my time can be planned more exactly, it won't take the same effort and will generally be more laid back.

They're both great in different ways. Generally I would say Glastonbury tops any major festival except of course it doesn't cater well for heavier music.

[rexclark]

I'm definately going to try to get Glasto tickets next year for the first time as I feel when I'm watching it on TV i'm missing out. I also feel that the Reading and Leeds line-ups now are more aimed towards a younger crowd. There seems to be less older bands playing and alot more flavour of the month acts on the bill whereas Glasto has a much broader range of acts.I've been going to Leeds since the first one when I was 17 but every year there are less and less acts playing I'm interested in seeing. I'm still goin to go this year and I'll have an amazing time but It will take something quite big to attract me back next year but If I don't go I'll really miss it.