First Timer Not Impressed

[EasyUserName]

... the moment i felt it was ruined a little was the stone circle sunday evening watching the sun set. there was a group playing some instruments & dancing which was nice, but all you could hear was people having bloody laughing gas. a bit sad. ruined the moment for me.

[Bristol Boy]

Went for a walk one morning and saw the litter pickers - with bags only for the little metal things!

Impressed by how many there were - honestly, thousands of the little things!

[EasyUserName]

Loads of boxes for them - they are used for making whipped cream.

[desperateicon]

Went for a walk one morning and saw the litter pickers - with bags only for the little metal things!

Impressed by how many there were - honestly, thousands of the little things!

[Pauljoanss]

Maybe its my age but usually always spend the evenings at Pyramid stage. Have a chair (need it) but always fold up before the main act.

Friday U2 lots of space could almost choose where to stand, Sat Coldplay the same. But Sun afternoon for Paul Simon it was just impossible to even get in or out of the field. Suspect the numbers greatly increased from locals day tickets who spend most of their day at the pyramid. Girl/woman near me had two chairs (one for her legs) and a massive sun umbrella blocking the view. She sat all thro Paul Simon flosssing her teeth and playing with makeup stuff. Her little gang (25 to 30 year olds and very loud mouthed) also had chairs arranged to take up max space and all had no interest in PS. The usual path up the RH side of the field was unusable because it was covered with chairs etc. Would it not be a good idea to keep this path free in some way or other.

Was planning to see Pendulum later but decide could not face that field again. However could not resist walking the path at the back of the field while they were on and the whole field was rocking. They really get the crowd going.

Thinking maybe they should sell less tickets but then again there would be less money for acts. Just realised that from the £200 ticket price, Glast only get £160 after VAT.

[hotwaterbottle]

I HATE THE CHAIRS SO MUCH.

there were about 12 people SLEEPING on the floor infront of paul simon. I purposefully stood on their blankets because I'm an awful person and it infuriated me beyond belief!

[Vacant0]

Ye, you're just being pessimistic and negative.

[doubledutch]

I am Dutch living in the UK - and I met a Dutchman - thought that was random, but not unusual, fun though! And a German, an Australian, and some Danes. Also, as I was driving up the M5 / M6 today, plenty of cars travelling with Glasto stickers, so plenty of northerners too!

I have never understood why people talk over music that they attend - I have always been annoyed by this over the years, so that is not a recent phenomenon. And I always ask politely if those talking would be quiet during the music, most people apologise and go quiet. I can understand it up to a point at a festival as you position yourself for the act you really want to see ( but I really do not understand it at a one band gig - why bother going if you're going to talk over it.

I was very annoyed by a group of girls who just sat at the front of the Pyramid Stage, or faced the stage with their backs and talked, right in front of me as I was trying to enjoy an amazing performance from Don Mclean. They had obviously positioned themselves for Beyonce, 8 hours in advance.

The worst experience was during U2. I was on the 3d row behind the crash barrier, and 3 songs before the end a 6'4 drunk lad jumped on my back and tried to shove me and the others in front of me out of the way so he could be at the front. Being 5'10 and and quite sturdy I stood my ground, even though he really hurt my back - I am 55 after all and standing for anything longer than an hour plays havoc with my knees and ankles, and I had been there half an hour before Morrissey started. He then stood about 2 yards from me, and with his mate started to talk loudly over the music. I ofcourse leaned over and asked him politely if he could keep quiet till after U2 had finished. He ignored me but his mate came over and swore at me for daring to tell him to "shut up", quoting that he had the right to talk as he had been going to Glasto for the past 14 years. I ignored im, but when U2 had finished he came back and it all got very ugly. Luckily other people there supported me totally as did the security guards, and I could laugh it off, but not nice.

On a more positive note, 99.9% of the people I met were lovely, of any age, or background; as ever the enjoyment of just lying in the grass near the stone circle on thursday after a lovely mooch round the healing fields, to coctails in the Beach hotel, to seeing all the acts I wanted to see and eating some amazing food, having given my legs a great work out walking through the mud and getting a great tan as there was such a lot of sunshine too - I had a baLL!!!

[chris northwest]

I HATE THE CHAIRS SO MUCH.

there were about 12 people SLEEPING on the floor infront of paul simon. I purposefully stood on their blankets because I'm an awful person and it infuriated me beyond belief!

[Bubblepopelectric]

See, I didn't mind the chairs. We bought chairs as at one point there was nowhere to sit due to all that mud, and was desperate for a sit down and jacket spud. We were knackered! But we sat on the edge of West Holts just chilling, enjoying the lunchtime music and soaking in the atmosphere. We didn't use them for long, then they went back in the tents.

But what really did piss me off was right in the mayhem of Chem Bros set, I almost fell over backwards over this chair. A bunch of girls used it for their 'stuff', and didn't seem to worry about someone breaking their necks on it.

[chemicalsuk]

The chairs at the pyramid stage always seems a lot worse on a Sunday. Just wondered if that's down to locals getting Sunday tickets and parking up at the pyramid to see the big acts.

Could be way off as have met locals previously at Jazz world enjoying Quantic etc on a Sunday ticket.

Edited June 27, 2011 by chemicalsuk

[richardwilson84]

Just got back (f**king top week)

had a flick through the emails, found one from t in the park (went there last year) and thought thank god I went Glasto instead of here. If you like being treated like a 14 year old child, by all means go here, but this was the e-mail:

Flares

On a more serious note, we need to warn you that flares (the bright, burning, health and safety disaster, not the denim variety) will not be tolerated in any way this year. They are completely banned from the site, and if you are caught in possession of one, the police will get involved and it will be treated as seriously as being found in possession of fireworks. You have been warned.

A friendly reminder of the other banned items:

CHILLLLLL OUT! it is nice to see children 5-16 are allowed in the campsite and the arena though, nice buggers

[cincoveces05]

Don't really understand the Scouse thing, I thought it would be really bad before I went, but the only 2 I spoke to were a couple of girls at The Beat Hotel on Saturday.

Literally EVERY SINGLE group of knobheads I saw/heard were from London, maybe because it's such a populated city you have to be louder to get yourself heard of something, but it seems like half the people from London would rather the attention was on them than the bands (and they can't handle their ale well, at all)

[stephandabbey]

Well I was a Glasto virgin too and found I had a love hate relationship with it!

Loves - most of the people, the anything goes idea, amount of things to do, music, chill out areas

Hates - a small minority of people,the rain and mud, the sheer amount of people and the dangers this posed in bus areas

As for the chairs thing, I sat in a chair at every opportunity. Always at the back and out of the way unless it was very quiet. I was courteous of others and did not mind folding it away when it got busier. However, there is no way in hell I was going to sit on the floor in mud nor in the middle of a rubbish dump, which is exactly what it was by Sunday. Maybe if people picked up their own rubbish, people wouldn't need blankets nor chairs to enjoy the music!

However, like other posters have said, I personally enjoyed the quieter areas most and found I had a better experience away from the main stages! (except Don Mclean...... He rocked my socks!)

[loverlea]

As for the chairs thing, I sat in a chair at every opportunity. Always at the back and out of the way unless it was very quiet. I was courteous of others and did not mind folding it away when it got busier. However, there is no way in hell I was going to sit on the floor in mud nor in the middle of a rubbish dump, which is exactly what it was by Sunday. Maybe if people picked up their own rubbish, people wouldn't need blankets nor chairs to enjoy the music!

[Martin Ashford]

It really struck me this year how much younger the audience is getting. I'm also convinced that the girls are outnumbering the boys. There just seemed to be an awful lot of girls in the 17 to 23 bracket. I did witness some silly behaviour but considering how many thousands of youngsters were there it was nothing compared to what you would see in any city centre on a Saturday night. It still feels extraordinarily safe just about everywhere.

[Bristol Boy]

The usual path up the RH side of the field was unusable because it was covered with chairs etc. Would it not be a good idea to keep this path free in some way or other.

[Wab]

I never went in the late 70s 80s and 90s and could have by age. There is much sentiment here, which is ALL good - however, who would attend if the biggest grossing bands in the world were not billed....don't all fall-away at once:)and therefore the festival would be very different, no amazing DJs, bands old festival people, and on and on. My week..end was thus (in no particular order): Spongle (DJ set), Coldplay, U2, Spirit of 71 House Band, Billy Brag and the leftfield tent, Biffy, Dreadzone:) a few walks, the pulling that young ladies wellie out of the mud for her moment, the wiggle in the Beat Hotel moment the times at the camp with our group moments and that corn-on-the-cob with chillie butter moment. Yes getting in can be tough and after doing three runs to the car on Sunday so that my family could carry-on enjoying their day there is an element of no pain no gain, I hear what you say but I really can't odds it. Now I am knack*red and going to bed.

[EasyUserName]

Last year there was definitely a path marked by flagpoles on that side. This year it was a complete bottleneck. We tried to get out that side during 2DCC and struggled badly with the congestion. Once past the mass it was fine. Definitely a problem area when two popular acts follow one another.

[Funkungfusion]

Super fence went up in 2002! There's your answer. Don't get me wrong, it's safer now, so all good. But the downside is, the majority of the people that made Glastonbury what it is today are basically priced out of the gig. Only white middle classes can afford it! It's safe, clean and it is what it is! good or bad? Up to you. I love the place personally, but my heart sank when I met Rufus queuing for a double espressso at the chip van complaining of the noise! Loved West Holts this year though

[mj2004]

It does definitely depend on whereabouts you go and who you seen as to what sort of festival experience you have. There are mini festivals within a festival at Glastonbury! No one person will have the same experience because there is SO much going on and tbh I think you could just stay in one place the whole time and have a fab time

Me, had I been there this year I would have spent most of the weekend in the Dance Village and probably only ventured out for Coldplay, hubby said he probably would have spent most of it at The Park but thats only based on what we heard on 6 music and watched on the TV and read on the app and our personal preferences.

The year I went was the 2 months of rain in 2 hours, at first I wanted to go home because of how bad the weather was but we made the most of it and I hope I get the chance to go in 2013.

[grumpyhack]

I think I must go to a different Glasto to many. I've never encountered irritating behaviour - maybe I'm just too chilled to notice or because I no longer try to fight my way to the front. This year, as always, I met a lovely bunch of friendly, considerate people, all trying to make the best of a pretty muddy site.

Overall I found my commitment to Glasto tested by the weather. I noticed a lot of people leaving before the end of the U2 set which I don't think was a reflection of U2's show but simply because they'd become so wet and cold.

Getting around was a lot harder this year because the mud added weight to my boots - so that may be one reason why a lot of people just settled for one place like The Pyramid.

Had it not been for the companionship of our group it would have been a fairly challenging experience. I even have a friend who's worked at Glasto as a pharmacist with Festival Medical Services for years who decided to leave early on Sunday morning because she'd had enough of the mud.

I also felt that there wasn't a really good anthem band to bring the fest to a close (don't jump on me QOTSA or Beyonce fans). It sort of fizzled to a finish instead of ending on a high for me.

There were upsides as compensation - lovely sun at the end and discovered some very promising bands to watch for the future and, yes tickets permitting, I'll be back for 2013.

[richardwilson84]

Super fence went up in 2002! There's your answer. Don't get me wrong, it's safer now, so all good. But the downside is, the majority of the people that made Glastonbury what it is today are basically priced out of the gig. Only white middle classes can afford it!

[amfy]

Getting around was a lot harder this year because the mud added weight to my boots - so that may be one reason why a lot of people just settled for one place like The Pyramid.

[Ohinever]

I really didn't want to spend all weekend at The Pyramid but the weather did exactly that to us! On Saturday we left our chairs at the tent because we didn't want to be the chair people, but ended up buying a couple of chairs on the way to The Pyramid when we worked out that due to the mud AND heat, we would definitely be at The Pyramid all day. My mum was really struggling, getting stuck in the mud at every step was not only hard on her knees but actually panicked her. By half way through Saturday we knew our festival was going to consist of having the chairs out at The Pyramid. Mum knows she won't be coming again, she will be 71 by the next one and this year's weird weather conditions told her that it won't be happening again for her.

We set up on the hill towards the back of the field. We tried to be considerate because I know I have been irritated in the past by people who just set up like they own the space, but actually, when you've got a chair and people climb over you all day without ever saying excuse me, or thank you, the other side of the coin feels a little different. At the time Paul Simon was on, we couldn't have moved our chairs because although we could see how busy it was, it was too hot for my mum to stand for more than a few moments. However, if anyone had actually ASKED us to move, we probably would have found some kind of compromise. No-one asks though - they just barge you, climb over you, loudly exclaim how annoyed they are with you to each other as they pass, and generally act like the arses they are claiming others to be.