The Big Chill? Anyone been?

[1mills]

Anyone ever been?

Looking at getting a day ticket for the Saturday due to Kanye West, 2 Many DJ's and Janelle Monae playing.

Already Janelle Monae being there means I won't have to miss Elbow at Glastonbury, which is a massive plus point.

Anyway day ticket is £82 with booking fees in comparison to £170 for the weekend camping. So when hotels and travel is put in it doesn't seem worthwhile to get a day ticket.

Plus Friday is Chemical Brothers, which will free me up for Saturday at Glastonbury.

Questions are

- what time do headliners play, normal 9-10ish (I know 2 Many Dj's are playing after Kanye's headline set so assume he's playing early)

- what is camping like there, will we be okay to get a spec if we are turning up at 8-9ish on the Friday evening

- how far is the camping from the arena? ie. Will it be realistic to get camped up quickly and rush for Chemical Brothers?

- would a day ticket with travel be plausible if we were going to be relying on taxis/public transport from the venue?

Plus also Warpaint on the Sunday saves me Glastonbury bother and means I get to see Rodrigo Y Gabreilla after missing last year for Stevie, plus Robert Plant & Band of Joy plus Femi Kuti will all be worth seeing.

Thanks in advance for any info.

[Badlands]

+1 on everything you said there. Seriously considering it as a second festival for the summer. Infact if I'd been unlucky in the resale I'd be booked up by now.

[eFestivals]

Questions are

- what time do headliners play, normal 9-10ish (I know 2 Many Dj's are playing after Kanye's headline set so assume he's playing early)

- what is camping like there, will we be okay to get a spec if we are turning up at 8-9ish on the Friday evening

- how far is the camping from the arena? ie. Will it be realistic to get camped up quickly and rush for Chemical Brothers?

- would a day ticket with travel be plausible if we were going to be relying on taxis/public transport from the venue?

I've not been for a few years so things might have changed, but....

1 the headliners play at around the 'normal' headliner time. I can't remember exactly, but they finish around 11. However, they sometimes have some DJ stuff on the main stage afterwards, so I guess that's how it'll work for Kanye/2manydjs.

2. you'll find somewhere to camp, but it might be on a steep slope. There's not a huge amount of flat ground there.

3. not sure how well you'd do with buses or taxis - it's in a pretty remote location for biggish towns with decent services.

[sparkythetortoise]

Firstly I should say that Festival Republic may well change things - as this is now their second year in charge, but in the last few years things have been as follows.

Questions are

- what time do headliners play, normal 9-10ish (I know 2 Many Dj's are playing after Kanye's headline set so assume he's playing early)

Headliners are on latish - in 2009 Orbital started at midnight, I think

- what is camping like there, will we be okay to get a spec if we are turning up at 8-9ish on the Friday evening

You should have no problem camping late on - they don't even open the sight until Thursday midday,

- how far is the camping from the arena? ie. Will it be realistic to get camped up quickly and rush for Chemical Brothers?

This is a small festival - you will be no more that 15-20 mins away from the arena, and crowds are laid back, so dont build up til the last minute

- would a day ticket with travel be plausible if we were going to be relying on taxis/public transport from the venue?

Public transport is poor - you can get to Ledbury easily, and then its two miles to the site. Even taxis are few and far between, so I would book one in advance if you're using them. Definately sort yourself out for the trip back, as you might get stranded, unless you dont mind 2 miles, it is a nice roadside walk - people do walk back and forth into town

I'm giving a miss after a few years of going, as the shift (mainly in music) is not my cup of tea. So I come from a perspective of being grumpy that its changed. However, if you dont remember how it used to me, and like the music thats on, then it should be good for you - other aspects of the festival - food, surroundings, people, are all pretty good

Hope that helps

I'm still having twinges of regret I'm not going this year

[1mills]

Thanks for the info.

Seems like a weekend ticket is going to be the way forward then I reckon from what you've both said.

I'd be quite happy with a 2mile walk, but think the missus might be flagging and always had a thing for booking taxis for these kind of things letting down.

[fraser_k]

If I wasn't going to Glastonbury I would be tempted, I personally feel Glastonbury missed out not getting Kanye to headline the Pyramid stage on Sunday night, I watched his full set from Coachella and it's nothing short of spectacular.

[1mills]

If I wasn't going to Glastonbury I would be tempted, I personally feel Glastonbury missed out not getting Kanye to headline the Pyramid stage on Sunday night, I watched his full set from Coachella and it's nothing short of spectacular.

[fraser_k]

Is this available anywhere? Know it was streaming live on Youtube, but had forgot to check if it's available anywhere.

[LondonTom]

If I wasn't going to Glastonbury I would be tempted, I personally feel Glastonbury missed out not getting Kanye to headline the Pyramid stage on Sunday night, I watched his full set from Coachella and it's nothing short of spectacular.

[robith]

I'm tempted, mostly for Kanye and Electrelane. But £160 seems a lot of money

[StoneCircle]

We went in 2009, and despite getting free tickets last year due to a complaint I would never return. I sold the tickets at face value on eBay.

Far too many pissed up teens rioting, burning tents and being generally a pain for my liking. This may have improved as they no longer sell teen tickets.

Lack of lock ups for large items like beer etc meant there were loads of tent thefts. I was reading the Big Chill Facebook during the festival in 2010 and people there were very unhappy about the lack of security in the camp sites.

The Arena is nice enough and plenty of things to see, the Cider Bus there too in 2009 which at least improved the alcohol on sale. I believe this was its final year though. Be warned you will be searched on entry and all drinks are confiscated.

[gooner1990]

Been once in 2009, but nearly £200 seems pricey for the size of it. Saw virtually no police and lots of people were openly selling drugs, whilst nearly everyone was on something or other.

Quite friendly crowd where we were camped and made lots of friends over the weekend.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

I am in the Beyonce hate group for her headlining but I still think she would do a better job than Kanye , the only spectacular thing was his dancers. His entrance has to be one of the vainest things I have ever seen.

[lillypip]

We went in 2009, and despite getting free tickets last year due to a complaint I would never return. I sold the tickets at face value on eBay.

Far too many pissed up teens rioting, burning tents and being generally a pain for my liking. This may have improved as they no longer sell teen tickets.

.

[StoneCircle]

I have to say i think this is a bit of an unfair assessment. I have been for the last three years, and have gone with my parents (mid to late 50s). I didnt see any trouble at all with tent burning or teen rioting.

Edited April 20, 2011 by StoneCircle

[lillypip]

I call it a fair assessment when friends we went with lost their tent and all their belongings due to it being set on fire. I could go on but it is an experience I prefer to forget.

And I would say I am not alone in my opinion.

/index.php?showtopic=152146">http://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=152146

[bluejeans10]

Big Chill is 10 minute drive from where I live. I can tell you it is bloody beautiful both off and on site.

There are shuttle buses which run from Great Malvern and Malvern Link station as well as from Ledbury I believe.

I've previously bought student tickets for £120 which was a bit of a bargain, but unfortunately due to people abusing this system - claiming they are students without having required i.d on door - they have now removed student tickets.

There have always been a fair amount of young people on site as there are no music events that take place anywhere near herefordshire or worcestershire, and I generally found them to be no problem last year.

It's always been notorious for fence-hoppers so security was stepped up last year a bit excessively.

There are crimes at every festival, so don't think that the big chill is unfriendly. The majority are a really lovely crowd and the festival has still retained most of it's original ethics despite the corporatism over the last few years.

I camped in Red where there was a huge slope coming out of the arena - when you're intoxicated, it can be a mission and may be best avoided by camping in Purple, which is also a flatter walk back to the car and much less distance.

I'll pop in a few photos...

apologies about the wierd guy, but it indicates how huge the hill is!

and these glowing balls are amazing (they play calm instrumental music)

http://s638.photobucket.com/albums/uu103/sammhfsd/?action=view&current=105_0020.mp4

the last picture is a bit deceptive - the arena extends beyond that stage you can see to the left and there are another 3 or 4 main stages that way, as well as the cubehenge that glasto had.

Edited April 20, 2011 by bluejeans10

[1mills]

Thanks for all the info, was going to say I'm not keen on the whole tent burning etc.

Obviously seems to be a bit of mixed reviews, so obviously a few idiots about. Hopefully the security being upped will help .

I actually saw an interview with Melvin when researching before posting here in which he said last year was their first in charge, but they will be upping security for access into the event and in each campsite this year. Hopefully this will help for anything like that.

Cheer for the photos, looks a good venue, although the hill could be a concern if the weather doesn't work out

[1mills]

Double post

Edited April 21, 2011 by 1mills