The Park

[arcade fireman]

As far as I know (just going off looking around me) I was the only punter in the whole festival to be on the fence for both acts. Certainly the only one to be on the fence in front of the lead singer for both acts.

For Radiohead I checked my iPhone at about 1pm and saw it was heavily rumoured they would be playing. Got very excited but still met up with my friends to watch The Vaccines at 1450 on the Other Stage who were a bit poor really. Told them about Radiohead and they were desperate to see them but didn't want to come to the Park as early as me. Got to the Park a bit before 4 o clock as Jenny and Jonny were finishing. Got a spot on the fence straight after. However about half an hour later thought I really needed a pee, so someone on the fence held my spot, and I ran back and managed to get to the fence very easily.

I didn't really sacrifice very much at all - there were very few bands that excited me before Fleet Foxes/Morrissey (and they wouldve clashed directly with Radiohead anyway) so instead of milling round the site and catching bands I wouldn't have otherwise, I stayed and watched Warpaint and Big Audio Dynamite. Warpaint didnt really live upto the hype but really enjoyed B.A.D. and was great to see Mick Jones on stage. Radiohead were brilliant but it was definitely a show to be enjoyed closer in and one for the fans - there wasnt exactly a great deal of singalongs.

For Pulp I didnt have to change my plans at all - got there just before the start of The Walkmen and I was always going to see them and Tame Impala anyway. The Walkmen were great, Tame Impala were a bit disappointing but Pulp was quite simply one of the most brilliant gigs I've ever been to. Utterly sensational.

[MJMilz14]

Radiohead were not great really. Tim Wheeler coming on with Emmy the Great was a much more enjoyable suprise in the end

I dodged Pulp as I didn't fancy standing in the Park for hours to get a spot close enough to actually hear them, and missing other bands id liek to see. Plus il see Pulp at Reading anyway. Got to see the Brilliant Elbow instead

[arcade fireman]

These gigs worked well three or four years ago when they were actually secret but now everyone knows in advance who is playing so they may as well just put them on the list at the same time the other acts are announced.

[arcade fireman]

Radiohead Pyramid '97/Radiohead Pyramid '03 > Radiohead Park 11...soul or no soul that performance in the park wasn't a patch on their headlining performances...tourists or no tourists...

[Toilet Duck]

Radiohead had been mentioned but most of us didn't believe it for many reasons. Certainly everyone I spoke to on Friday was stunned they were playing, and when I got to the Park Stage early to get my spot for Radiohead, about ten people who were there for Jenny and Jonny/Warpaint ended up staying once we told them.

[Toilet Duck]

A completely pointless comparison.

Radiohead would never have turned up to the Park to do a greatest hits set. They came to road test King of Limbs stuff and as a special surprise to their fans.

[arcade fireman]

I got a text from a mate in Belgium saying Radiohead were confirmed...and he doesn't even pay attention to message boards...wasn't sure whether to believe him or not until I saw a sign at one of the info points saying, Radiohead Park @8...it was being advertised at the info points. Hardly a secret...

Edited June 29, 2011 by arcade fireman

[arcade fireman]

eh? I think the point was about whether a set at the park has more soul then a pyramid slot. It has a greater sense of exclusivity for those who are there (rightly or wrongly), but personally I thought Radiohead put a lot more "soul" into their pyramid performances at the festival...I thought they were pretty tentative...

[NikkiJ72]

The thing I find most annoying about these 'secret' gigs at the Park Stage is, to go back to the original point, that the whole area is FAR too small for bands of this size. The place turns into a very (imo) dangerous and overcrowded place where, half the time, they have to stop people entering because everything is at saturation point.

And I totally agree with whoever said it's more about having said you were there these days than anything else

[Glasto fan]

That's not true at all - Pulps gig was the most heavily rumoured but only if you'd played close attention to the rumours. Even on here in the run up there was still some uncertainty whether they'd actually play.

Radiohead had been mentioned but most of us didn't believe it for many reasons. Certainly everyone I spoke to on Friday was stunned they were playing, and when I got to the Park Stage early to get my spot for Radiohead, about ten people who were there for Jenny and Jonny/Warpaint ended up staying once we told them.

[arcade fireman]

Well I had heard both were playing by Friday lunchtime without actively trying to find out. I didn't mean anyone knew weeks in advance but a lot of people knew they were playing several hours before. I wouldn't imagine all those people rushed up there with absolutely no clue as to who was on. And last year when Biffy Clyro were playing the 'secret slot' people were arriving with special Biffy Clyro flags which had been given out on site. They knew exactly who they had come to see!

[Vanderlyle]

This whole thread must be some kind of joke. I arrived at 7pm on both days (after 7pm actually) and got great positions between sound tent and stage, with plenty of room around me. No idea why all these complaints coming in.

In fact it was the same for many gigs this year. Lots of space where it should be busy near the front. Probably because of so many oldies and 18 yr old girls who don't like using subtle, friendlt elbows.

[NikkiJ72]

Now there's three words you don't often hear said together: subtle, friendly elbows.

[Glasto fan]

When the secret gigs first started no-one knew who was playing until the band came out. Even if people only find out about it a few hours before that's enough notice to draw a pretty massive crowd.

[Guest blackcockerel]

I walked in and out of the crowd for Pulp several times and got back in fine down the right hand side

[arcade fireman]

When the secret gigs first started no-one knew who was playing until the band came out. Even if people only find out about it a few hours before that's enough notice to draw a pretty massive crowd.

[pehaw]

I'm a lifelong fan of radiohead. But i didn't have a radio or an iphone, neither did my mates, i don't know any industry types or journos and I didn't hear about it until 15 minutes before.

And I've said it many times on this board, and I'll say it again. The park is one of the worst stages at the festival for line of sight, and for sound quality. I really don't get whats so special about it.

[Badlands]

Found out it was Radiohead via a very unsubtle tweet from this place. Was actually at the Park for BAD and had a pretty good spot on the right hand side by the front of the stage. Left just before the end as I wanted to get down for Jimmy Cliff or Moz (went for Moz in the end..... doh!). Still didn't seem as busy when I was leaving as people have mentioned on here.