Glastonbury virgin! So...can you tell me what's the fuss about?

[lolbeck]

It was? When did it rain? I can never remember the wettenings ever.

In 08 I was dancing like a loon in the uber rain on the Arcadia Stage on the Thursday night...only thing that was upsetting me was my Hot & Spicy became Tepid & Nasty and forgetting to put me gaiters on cos my boots then stayed wet for the rest of teh fest. Doh!

I REALLY dont remember it raining last year except for the funny part when we were all in the CT tipi as the 1am storm started (and the air filled with screams! ) and then just getting caught in the 5am downpour but we were back in the tipi minutes later.

When did it rain before then? I recall a storm on Thursday while at the bus.

[grumpyhack]

Glastonbury touches emotions that no other festival can reach. If you cry at most fests it's because you are unhappy. At Glasto you can cry tears of unbelievable joy at some of the beauty of the world.

You will also meet some of the most thoughtful, friendly, caring people you will ever encounter. And it will change your life in a very positive way.

[disasterplan]

And it will change your life in a very positive way.

[beadfc]

You go to V for the bands, and you put up with the crap facilities, crap soundsystems, crap arena/camping/beer token practicalities because you really really really want to see the bands. You camp there (well just outside there) purely as a means to see the bands. If you're lucky you come home raving about the bands you've seen, if not you come home moaning about the chavs throwing pints of piss over your head or the queues for the loos/standpipes/beer tokens/food etc etc.

You go to [your first] Glastonbury wondering what all the fuss is about, possibly disappointed there aren't bigger 'name' bands playing and generally hopeful that it will be half-decent.

You get there, you think 'wow' and you never stop thinking wow. You immerse yourself in this city of half a million happy people in the rolling hills of somerset and you take home a thousand weird and wonderful memories. The bands become an afterthought. You miss a few you expected to see. You're too busy doing something you never knew you were even interested in. When the bands stop playing you seek out entertainment and boy do you find it. But not entertainment as you previously knew it. This is different. This is glastonbury. You are bitten by the bug and want to come back every year for as long as you're strong enough to walk.

[-H-]

You go to V for the bands, and you put up with the crap facilities, crap soundsystems, crap arena/camping/beer token practicalities because you really really really want to see the bands. You camp there (well just outside there) purely as a means to see the bands. If you're lucky you come home raving about the bands you've seen, if not you come home moaning about the chavs throwing pints of piss over your head or the queues for the loos/standpipes/beer tokens/food etc etc.

You go to [your first] Glastonbury wondering what all the fuss is about, possibly disappointed there aren't bigger 'name' bands playing and generally hopeful that it will be half-decent.

You get there, you think 'wow' and you never stop thinking wow. You immerse yourself in this city of half a million happy people in the rolling hills of somerset and you take home a thousand weird and wonderful memories. The bands become an afterthought. You miss a few you expected to see. You're too busy doing something you never knew you were even interested in. When the bands stop playing you seek out entertainment and boy do you find it. But not entertainment as you previously knew it. This is different. This is glastonbury. You are bitten by the bug and want to come back every year for as long as you're strong enough to walk.

Edited April 7, 2010 by -H-

[daley]

My first Glasto Also! I cannot wait! x

[LusciousLucy]

Pissed it down on Thursday, aye. Can't remember what time of day though, but there was a fair bit of mud about after that.

[Bradders]

There's no way anyone will be able to describe how much better it is. I've been going to Leeds Fest since I was 13, my Dad's been to Glastonbury and Leeds loads of times. I got my first Glasto ticket last year and he spent the whole time leading up to the festival telling me how much better it is than Leeds. I didn't believe him, I loved Leeds and couldn't imagine how it could be any better.

We left at 4am, got there at 8pm, utterly miserable thinking I'll just do Leeds next year and save the 16 hour trip. After lots of complaining about making camp in the dark, we wandered up to the flags/stone circle, had a sit down and looked over the site and realised it may actually be worth the drive after all

It turned out the be the best weekend of my life (and not just because of Blur!). I'm doing Leeds again this year, but I wouldn't have been too bothered if I hadn't got tickets. There's no way I'd have missed Glastonbury, Leeds just can't compare!

[lolbeck]

That wasnt wet or muddy. Go get yourself a time machine and experience 1998 or 2007 and then tell me it was muddy last year!

[ciderboy]

Hello, I'm new!

I've never been to Glastonbury before. I went to V last year (loved it) but I'm told that the Glastonbury experience is so much better. Can you please tell me a bit about it...your experiences etc.

[geztival_09]

hi im new aswell do you want to meet up and we'll find out together

oops,wrong thread

*wanders off to singles thread*

[TheAmalfiGlow]

I became a Dad in December 2008. Mates without kids asked "So, what's fatherhood like?". The only way I can describe it - and Glastonbury - is in two words.

Beautiful Madness.

I can't relate Glasto to V as I haven't experienced that event ...but I have seen a few others and Glastonbury just transcends music unlike any other festival. It's more like a movement; a way of life; an unspoken understanding. It's the bollocks. And very addictive too, possibly because it's difficult - if not impossible - to discover quite the same feeling anywhere else.

Embrace the Madness!

[Billy09]

That wasnt wet or muddy. Go get yourself a time machine and experience 1998 or 2007 and then tell me it was muddy last year!

[bigjontour]

I agree ! I think the moment I walked up to the top of flagtopia hill, on a sunny Wednesday evening with a rucksack full of beers with two of my best mates, got to the top and turned around ! It took my breath away!!! The sunset greeted by that cheer across the whole

site;-). What followed was the best 4 days of my life !!! The only thing that had touched the sheer joy and happiness of becoming a dad! I immidietly knew I coukd never miss another one! I truly cannot describe just how good a time I had ! The most diverse amazing mind blowing experiance ! And to be honest I ant see anything ever coming close again, the most friendly place in the world . ;-) come on June !!!!!

I remember the days when I looked forward to going to v every year.

I used to love going to v ! But I see being able to go to glasto as a privaledge .

it truly is a city that never sleeps , we used to have partys round burger vans at v cos that was the only place we could find music after 12:-( but shangri la and the late night areas will blow your mind!

Take it all in because you will be wishing your year away untill you can get back again ;-)

See you at the cider bus

[Harrow Strongbow Ciderman!]

This thread is brilliant and the excitement is contagious!

Been feeling a bit stressy and pissed off just lately so excitement levels for Glasto were flagging a bit...but after reading some of these posts has cheered me up no end

Only 11 weeks to go now!

EDIT: Oh yeah sorry I have nothing contructive to add to this thread

[Harrow Strongbow Ciderman!]

Just come back after the festival and let us know what the fuss is about

[Josepipe]

get off my damned planet

[Guest musiclove123]

Hello there Teajunky85

Glastonbury is like a love affair

[OneLittleFish]

If you've only experienced V/TITP/Reading/Leeds, you might not realise this untill you actually go to Glasto.

The original spirit of festivals was very much anti establishment and about non conformity, and also celebrating this, as if to provide a platform to kick against something.

Since the big breweries and the likes have taken over most commercial festivals, pretty much all aspects of this has been removed. You queue up to buy tokens to enable you to queue up again for one brand of their own watered down lager or cider, and you can't take your own in as that would harm their profits.

The bands are picked almost close to exclusively at many big fests on "Who'se got an album to plug" or "Who's on Radio 1" and the "festival circuit" is seen as a way to flog more CDs or digital downloads to boost the record companies dwindling profits. OTT security will enforce the highly restrictive rules to the letter.

Although many of the aspects of old Glastonbury seem to have been removed, there is still an anti-establishment element, especially away from the popular areas. You can see legends, newcomers, cabaret, circus, comedy. Bands will play totally secret sets, there's properly unique entertainment after bands, you pay in cash for a wide range of beers, ciders, ales, wines etc. etc.

You can help support organisations like Greenpeace, Oxfam, Wateraid and learn things totally new, and most of all, you can have FUN, without arsehole security telling you to put out your campfire or to either dump your can of beer or take it back to your tent.

Glastonbury is arguably the last remaining big festival in the UK (perhaps Europe) to retain the original spirit of a music festival, and once you've been, you'll learn that's totally priceless.

[sisterofmercy]

Everyone has pretty much said what I was going to say, but all you need to know is that Glasto makes my year. There's nothing like sitting in the Park area with a cold drink and some friends, or seeing the bizarre performing drag queens down at Trash City. Everything about Glasto is designed for you to enjoy and make it one of the most memorable experiences of your year/life/whatever. I am truly happiest when I'm there (though saying that I've yet to go to a really 'muddy' Glasto so that may change ).

[BuriedBones]

Glastonbury:

V is inexplicably popular, and full of vomit.

There are some people who prefer V to Glastonbury, but as you can see from my example, they're quite clearly mental.

[Runner]

Everyone has pretty much said what I was going to say, but all you need to know is that Glasto makes my year. There's nothing like sitting in the Park area with a cold drink and some friends, or seeing the bizarre performing drag queens down at Trash City. Everything about Glasto is designed for you to enjoy and make it one of the most memorable experiences of your year/life/whatever. I am truly happiest when I'm there (though saying that I've yet to go to a really 'muddy' Glasto so that may change ).

[Helsbels]

My first festival experience was V in 2008 and despite the weather (cold wet and miserable) I still had a great time - enough to book again for 2009. It gave me the taste for more and took the plunge and went to Glastonbury last year.

The two just don't compare - you can have a great time at both but Glastonbury is an experience I have been missing all my life - and I am of more mature years in age if not in mind.

At V2009 I had a great time but I kept comparing to Glastonbury - I felt more constricted, less freedom, less choice.

....and I never had to q for the toilet at Glastonbury.

I will never go back to V now and my only regret for Glastonbury is I discovered it too late in life.

[Runner]

I'm now 37 and my only regret is all the ones I missed out on.

[Runner]

Ooops, double post due to temperamental lap top !!!

Edited April 8, 2010 by Runner