bring back the freedom?

[strudders]

I asked this question on another thread earlier in week but I will ask it again here: Did any of you that went last year see any specific crack-downs on smoking weed? I've never had a problem in previous Glasto's, even the cops never seemed to care. I'm concerned about comments made by a few that they are cracking down on it.

[Paul ™]

As I said some of the smaller festivals are more appealing to me now as they have the edgy loose feel to them, Beautiful days was brilliant this year as was Bearded Theory and Alchemy, what made my Glastonbury this year was not the five days on site but the four days prior to that where 18 of us went to the solstice and then ended up in the Riffelmans on the Monday and Tuesday getting hammered.....

Edited October 13, 2009 by Paul ™

[eFestivals]

Strudders... I think you are only half right. There are a fair few people who lived the whole thing in the 90s, in the traveller scene, who are adamant that the 'brew crew' influx was part of the downfall. There's an excellent thread debating this somewhere on here. I'll dig it out when I'm back at a proper PC.

yup, the brew crew part is as relevant as anything else - their "f**k everyone" approach helped create the demand for something safer, however rose-tinted they might chose to view themselves.

[eFestivals]

My first was 86, my best was 94 by a country mile. By 2002 it was a "commercial" festival.

My first was also '86.

I'd say it was already a commercial festival by '94. By '95, and the Oasis arseholes influx of that year (which included mass touting in the car parks for the first time that I saw, before huge sections of fence was ripped down), what it had been was lost forever.

The festival had to evolve or it would have died, but I think it is fare to say its becoming just another festival, organised, run like clockwork but on a massive scale.

While I'd agree with where you're coming from with that, I'd still say that that's not the case.

The festival still accommodates a huge amount of 'worthless' (in commercial terms) aspects that it has no need to do on any commercial basis, as shown by their total absence from all of the commercial festivals. It's these aspects that continue to make it a beast very different from all other festivals, and long may those continue.

[eFestivals]

I asked this question on another thread earlier in week but I will ask it again here: Did any of you that went last year see any specific crack-downs on smoking weed? I've never had a problem in previous Glasto's, even the cops never seemed to care. I'm concerned about comments made by a few that they are cracking down on it.

Whatever anyone's personal take on these things, the festival is required by its licence to support the law to stay within the law. As such, it has to have a drugs policy, and it has to be seen to be enforcing that drugs policy to at least some extent.

This means, for example, that it can't go telling the security teams to ignore people smoking weed (and quite possibly for themn to act against people smoking weed), and it means that if security choose to act against someone smoking weed then the festival can't complain to the individuals or security companies that do.

All that aside, the problems I hear about tend to be of 'rouge' security personnel acting against people so that they can take their drugs for their own use (rather than for any 'official' reasons), and that they tend to take these actions against the younger attendees who they obviously feel will be an easy touch for their muggings.

[jameshunt]

....

All that aside, the problems I hear about tend to be of 'rouge' security personnel acting against people so that they can take their drugs for their own use (rather than for any 'official' reasons), and that they tend to take these actions against the younger attendees who they obviously feel will be an easy touch for their muggings.

[old fence jumper]

I agree precious.

I am guessing the OP wasn't going during the 90's when it was well seedy. I was young at the time and didn't really care that much personally but did hear some freinds had a major problem with dodgy characters mugging people.

Now I am older I must admit to prefering the safety of it all.

Peace.

[GlastoEls]

Glastonbury 2000 was my favourite - and first - but it was certainly very different to 2009. I shall never forget the massive, huge influx of people on the Friday night. Suddenly went from busy to ridiculous - with tents on each other, huge crushes etc. As a 20 year old I didn't think twice.

As a 30 year old, I for one prefer the 2009 organisation and "lanyard" direction. There's enough mischief at Glasto for me personally to worry about the loss of edge. If that's commercial, and I have to suffer 100,000 Kate Moss Hunter/cut off jeans clones, then fine with me. Doesn't stop the festival being beautiful from the Stone Circle at 1am, or my enjoyment of Dizzee Rascal.

Not better, not worse, just modern.

[old fence jumper]

Glastonbury 2000 was my favourite - and first - but it was certainly very different to 2009. I shall never forget the massive, huge influx of people on the Friday night. Suddenly went from busy to ridiculous - with tents on each other, huge crushes etc. As a 20 year old I didn't think twice.

As a 30 year old, I for one prefer the 2009 organisation and "lanyard" direction. There's enough mischief at Glasto for me personally to worry about the loss of edge. If that's commercial, and I have to suffer 100,000 Kate Moss Hunter/cut off jeans clones, then fine with me. Doesn't stop the festival being beautiful from the Stone Circle at 1am, or my enjoyment of Dizzee Rascal.

Not better, not worse, just modern.

[mortosaurus]

*sigh* I still have my ticket from my first Glasto in '97. The face value is £87 and I purchased it from a record shop. No on-line registration and instant sell-outs in those days! I also remember the first year they put the fence up and sitting in the Stone-circle field watching loads of people jump over fence. Was so funny watching security trying to catch them all.

I think I pretty much agree with most comments on here. The festival has evolved and unfortunatly society dictates that it must be the way it is now otherwise Mr Eavis wouldn't be authorised to actually put it on. It is a shame though, i knid of miss the freer days, if not for the comedy ryhmes dealers used to shout whilst walking through the tents at night. (Personal fave was "Yes indeed, E's and Speed!"

[grumpyhack]

I prefer it since the fence. In a curious way you can be freer if you don't have to spend so much of your time checking your pockets. It also allows younger kids to go with a greater degree of safety.

I find people as friendly and welcoming as ever. Freedom is still mainly in your head.

[Mardy]

I don't have a problem with the fene really, the festival had to adapt to survive, and while I occasionally lament the hedonistic excesses of the early 90s, it's a much more pleasant, safer place to be now, and as I've turned into an old c**t in the intervening years, well it suits me perfectly.

I'm much more concerned with people not being alowed to walk around naked, and viscious security gangs going around who are a law to themselves. That's a totally different matter and one which, I think, is unacceptable. Last year, when I read and saw about that bloke not being allowed to wander round naked, yeah I realised that a large part of Glastonbury's freedom had gone, and i found it pretty depressing.

[jeffie]

I asked this question on another thread earlier in week but I will ask it again here: Did any of you that went last year see any specific crack-downs on smoking weed? I've never had a problem in previous Glasto's, even the cops never seemed to care. I'm concerned about comments made by a few that they are cracking down on it.

Edited October 20, 2009 by jeffie

[Insomaniac]

yup, the brew crew part is as relevant as anything else - their "f**k everyone" approach helped create the demand for something safer, however rose-tinted they might chose to view themselves.

[eFestivals]

Excuse my ignorance, but who were the brew crew?

they were an element of the ("new age") travellers - the don't give a f**k about anyone, f**ked out of their heads on special brew element.

[maninkilt]

Sad to say but true, lack of rules does not equate to freedom.

I have spent a good few years working in Africa (with aid agencies mostly, also MSF) and have seen societies with no rules, traditional ones destroyed and nothing to replace them. This does not bring freedom, quite the opposite, my ideas of freedom have been totaly changed by my experiences Anarchy inevitably winds up with one man (always a man) being free and everyone else in slavery.

I now think very differently whenever I hear someone describing a personal freedom or lack of, my considerations now always go to the other people who will have thier freedom curtailed by these actions.

We are social animals, we live in communities, to be totaly free you would have to be entirely alone.

[maninkilt]

Sorry if that was a bit heavy guys, just something that I feel very strongly about

[grumpyhack]

Sorry if that was a bit heavy guys, just something that I feel very strongly about

[whatmidlifecrisis?]

I have to add my comments. As is often the case on this forum the conversation provokes thought.....

I only started going in 08 and took my teenage kids (13 & 16 then). I would not have done this pre-fence, pre-registration, pre (as some put it) commercialisation. I would have happily gone on my own (or with friends) but not with my kids.

So freedom - for me right now freedom is the ability to go to the best festival in the world with my family and friends, having a great time in a safe environment, seeing some amazing things, meeting a diverse range of people, laughing with my kids at the naked stoner at the circle, dancing my feet off, spending quality time with people I love, letting the kids off the leash and finding their own 'Glasto moment'....I could go on and on (and often do!). If it was still the uncontrolled mess of the late 90's I would not be 'free' to do this.

Society has sadly changed and I reckon Glasto has changed just enough to hang-on to its original vibe and certainly its ideals without becoming V or TITP, etc. The day we hear "Now on the Lloyds Bank Stage is Seasick Steve sponsored by L'Oriel - because your worth it!" or they search you for Stella and Hob-Nobs at the gates is the day I will agree that Glasto is dead. But I really can never see that happening.

(will check out a few of the smaller fests recommended on here for next year though!)

Roll on 2010!

Peace.