gig in a field

[thejimbola]

Reading is basically just a campsite and an arena and with the increased capacity in recent years there has been less room and less to do outside the arena. Download has a much better atmosphere and much more space.

Never been to Glastonbury, but the fact that there is no separation between campsite and arena is a major advantage over everywhere else. For me the best combination of music, atmosphere and stuff to do is Download by a long way.

[Englishdragon]

no rivalsschool.

9 people died in a crush at roskilde festival 2000.

also the reason the big wall went up, to stop people getting in fee to keep numbers down.

[irons]

Its always been a strange decision to me, Peal Jam were the band playing during the crush so Heavier acts stopped playing?

[thetime]

Some people say it's life changing, I'd probably agree.

[thejimbola]

spot on, its changed me and my life that amazing weekend in 98.

[thetime]

I could say the same about Leeds 2002 though...

[irons]

I could say the same about Leeds 2002 though...

[rivalschools.price]

I could say the same about Leeds 2002 though...

[rivalschools.price]

Did something not happen with Guns n Roses at some festival too? I'm sure they were on just before Iron Maiden somewhere. Glastonbury still does some heavy acts, Spinal Tap last year for instance

Glastonbury's like no other festival. Even if there were no bands playing you'd be confused what to do there's so much going on. Some people say it's life changing, I'd probably agree.

[irons]

yeah in donnington in about 88-89.it was my first festival.believe it or not,guns n roses were on at about 4 in the afternoon.

[Ringo_Spar]

I suppose Glastonbury has loads of other things going on, you can kind of get a flavour of whats on offer by watching the tv show.

[thomasowen]

Sadly, I've read enough of your posts to believe that you're being serious!

Re: the original thread topic, "Reading just a big gig in a field". Reading is much maligned due to most of the entertainment shutting down quite early. Glasto (though I wouldn't single out Glasto as being the only festival that isn't a big gig in a field) has 24 hour entertainment.

24 hour entertainment, apparently, can cause some festival audiences to not feel the urge to create mayhem by burning shit, endangering people, etc., like they do at Reading. So there's another reason. Perhaps festivals that are just big gigs in a field attract immature audiences that attempt to riot because they are too socially inept to create their own entertainment.

The above can lead to the "big gig in a field" type festival lacking in a feeling of community, a vibe. Sunrise Celebration for example, no big name bands there last year across many stages, but a vibe and sense of community so strong that you wish that the rest of the year could be spent in that same field with the same people.

Edited January 17, 2010 by thomasowen

[irons]

Of course I'm being serious, I said a flavour I didn't say a recreation or an alternative. For someone who doesn't know what else glastonbury has to offer, than of course watching the Tv coverage will be a good place to get a general picture of what there is to do. They don't show you everything by any means but they introduce you to some different stages and fields and speak to some of the punters. Certainly enough so you get an idea of what is different between Glasto and other festivals in terms of what is on offer.

[thomasowen]

Fair point, but you're missing the stuff that Leveller's saying. You realy can't take in 5 days of wandering around a festival with 2 minute McClips. Have you ever seen the Park or Avalon stages on telly?, I doubt it.

Vampire babes swooping down from the ceiling at the Strip. Naked women in drug dens, so much that you have to hunt out.

[Vacant0]

Glasto is like a city in a field.

Think that sums it up really. A proper community. So much going on, I've been for the last three years and still haven't seen most of it really. Its far more of an experience than Reading, having no arena really is great, as is having 24 hour entertainment, really helps the atmosphere for a start. People have mentioned the diversity of the music at Glasto, with that comes diversity of people I think - people go to Glasto for many different things as opposed to Reading where everybody goes to see big bands on a couple of stages and get hammered afterwards. At Reading you're sort of being spoonfed bands - and whilst, ye, you can discover new bands there, they're likely to be pretty similar to bands you already like - at Glasto, with all the stuff you've never heard of before, you'll find something that you'd never ever have expected to like - and yes, I do love being spoonfed some of my fave bands n' all! but coming across random acts and genres as well as big acts I already know is a bit more special.

Reading is the first festival I ever went to so its always going to hold a special place in my heart and despite being too sick of the place - the 'rioting' because theres nothing to do after the bands and the constant feeling of being mugged with the arena and the prices - to go last year, I definitely do plan to go again. Didn't want this to be a Glasto is superior response at all - but you did ask...

As for other fests, other than Glasto and Reading, I've only camped at V - and its pretty much the same setup as Reading just a day shorter so can't really comment. Thought it was awful though, I'd take Reading's 'rioting' over V's soulessness and lack of bloody lighting every time.

Edited January 17, 2010 by Vacant0

[rachbon]

i can understand why people say reading/leeds is just a gig in a field but i don't really see it like that. although it does have it's bad points and i've been to better festivals, i'll probably go back this year cause i've had a great time the past two years. it is very diverse in that it has dance music aswell as metal and heavier rock. it is probably the festival that has the must suitable line up for me.

Glastonbury is a different sport altogether.

Edited January 17, 2010 by _rachelbon

[rexclark]

I'm quite happy to admit that Reading and Leeds are flawed festials and are slowly deteriorating, but they are good at what they do which is putting the biggest bands on. I really just can't stand the snobbery some people have towards festivals. Obviously Glastonbury is different and thye best but because you've been doesn't give you the right to look down on people who don't go.

[thetime]

Nobody is rex, thread starter wanted an opinion and that's what the got.

[rexclark]

Nobody is rex, thread starter wanted an opinion and that's what the got.

[Vacant0]

Fair enough but as someone who has been posting in these forums for a few years there is definately festival snobbery, I'm never going to say that R&L is the best festival in the world, of course it's not, in fact alot of it is absolutely shit but it is what it is and although it isn't shown on this thread there is alot of oneupmanship going on. It's like, if you haven't been to Glastonbury you know f**k all about festivals which is purely not true.

[thetime]

I'm failing to see that at all in this thread to be honest.

Edited January 17, 2010 by thetime

[rivalschools.price]

Fair point, but you're missing the stuff that Leveller's saying. You realy can't take in 5 days of wandering around a festival with 2 minute McClips. Have you ever seen the Park or Avalon stages on telly?, I doubt it.

Vampire babes swooping down from the ceiling at the Strip. Naked women in drug dens, so much that you have to hunt out.

[thetime]

rock bands anymore

[scottt]

Yeah you pretty much chose the one with the best bands, or go to Glastonbury for everything else, is how i always kind of saw it. If Glastonbury has youre favourite bands, then you are just very lucky.

[Kyelo]

If Glastonbury has youre favourite bands, then you are just very lucky.