The fallow year

[Bill Syke's Dog]

I was at the Michael Eavis Q&A on Sunday at the Spoken Word tent and predicatably he was asked if he had any plans to retire to which he replied no however he acknowledged that his daughter was taking more and more responsibilty. It was her decision not to renew the Orange sponsorship deal this year costing GFL £400,000 (or so he claimed). He was also confident that the balance of old and new artists will continue to be maintained. His daughter, for example, was responsible for booking Paul Simon no less. It is unlikely that the quality of the security service will be improved. ME said that each year they are required to supply more and more (20,000 this year!) and there is not not enough goodwill in the world to rely on the charity sector alone and he therefore has to rely on private contractors some of whom he described as 'stupid and ugly'. Personally, I would like to see tickets allocated by ballot and weighted by age, region, loyalty, etc. similar to the London Marathon. Following on from one question that ME was asked I can safey predict that Pearl Jam will never play at Glastonbury.

[Monorail]

5 days works very well. Enough to do on Wednesday and Thursday, and more time to see the site, but any longer will mean most people will have to take over a week off work and I'm not sure the budget would really stretch without a noticeable difference in quality.

[redmosquito]

Following on from one question that ME was asked I can safey predict that Pearl Jam will never play at Glastonbury.

[Flange Basket]

What was the actual question and what was his response?

I don't understand the seeming reluctance to book them. Investigations have proven that the Roskilde incedent was not the fault of the band but was down to the weather, ground conditions, poor security and lack of communication. The bands ethos fits in well with the festivals as well as they all give time and money to worthwhile causes plus despite them getting minimal radio play they have a huge worldwide and UK based following.

And to top it all off they sre often described as one of the best live bands out there. Come on Eavis get it sorted.

[redmosquito]

not sure what happened at Roskilde but I saw them in NZ in 1997 and the mosh pit collapsed on itself and people were being crushed and the band stopped and Eddie Vedder explained what had gone on and that the gig would continue as soon as everyone was OK.

To be fair, the collapse was because a fight broke out between 2 rival gangs. I doubt thats going to occur at Glastonbury.

[budvar]

To be fair, the collapse was because a fight broke out between 2 rival gangs. I doubt thats going to occur at Glastonbury.

[Pinhead]

The site definately needs the rest! Typically the year off is a very positive thing and gives GFL chance to clear up any issues with the organisation of the festival. Over the years I have typically witnessed a transformed festival after the fallow year.

[redmosquito]

Depends if those Fennel Hell Men bastards show up...

My guess is that, as with RHCP and many others, Pearl Jam aren't really to ME's taste. I think the acid test on this is seeing if Foo Fighters ever turn up again.

[Bill Syke's Dog]

I can't remember the question about Pearl Jam exactly but it was quite straghtforward and his answer was based purely on his personal taste in music. He said something like ' I don't think they are right for Glastonbury do you?'. This subject also appears in the ME Q&A post.

[redmosquito]

I can't remember the question about Pearl Jam exactly but it was quite straghtforward and his answer was based purely on his personal taste in music. He said something like ' I don't think they are right for Glastonbury do you?'. This subject also appears in the ME Q&A post.

[DJL]

There must be a smarter way to do the whole leave no trace thing. Recycling points where you can get beer tokens for bags of sorted recycling (not landfill). It wouldn't need to be much, or even not financial gain. Entry to rabbit hole type areas, special guest shows or more speedy entry to late night areas with lots of recycling vouchers - for this I'd not only clear up my own stuff (I do anyway) but clear up for others too.

The green tent company ideas could be looked at too... Fields where people could pay extra to have a tent put up for them (so arriving later and getting a decent pitch becomes an option) but get some back if they give their tents back in full working order or a discount to get a tent the following year. The leftover tents could surely be used somehow... Rent a tent on arrival with a sizeable deposit which you get back if it comes back in working order? More people would be willing to come by public transport if they need not bring a tent.

Revamp dance area with more, better and more promoted late night silent disco type options. We were there for 3d silent disco and it was great... But completely dead as everyone had been told the late night area was the se. Get some biggish names with some great visuals playing silent discos in the dance area (fatboy slim, orbital, dj yoda etc). Give at theme and more character like shangri la etc.

Create more routes, or better publicised ones, between other and pyramid with fun things on the way. If you really have to see an artist on o e followed by the othern a forty five minute stumble stopping off for random fun beats a half an hour through major crowds and the worst of the mud to arrive at a bottle neck of the stage when they're is space elsewhere.

Late night area queues are necessary but they can learn from this year with the signs being more accurate and up to date, with better updates (for those that use it) on twitter, with some flexibility on opening the other entrances later if there are no queues rather than sticking to rigid timings. Or perhaps two smaller entrance systems one from top one from bottom.

Embrace the use of myhab/green tent companies outside the fest as long as they are legit and can follow through -if you are willing to pay, walk the hill of death etc for a shower then great it takes a few people out of the crushed camping areas, leaves less of a trace on the main site etc.

Oh and arcade fire obviously.

More of the site closed off on weds and thurs to protect it from mud before this point.

Edited July 4, 2011 by DJL

[goldfishboy]

I personally feel it was much better when Wed & Thurs were seen as good old fashioned camping days and peeps entertained themselves......

[Flange Basket]

the best thing about the Weds and Thurs before was the sitting around and not doing much, the calm before the storm, tonking your way through your beer supplies before a single band had played, having a wander, making your way up to the stone circle where people would serenade you with impromptue, and sometimes pre organised, sing alongs or dumathons. Having a wander to the Brothers bar and not having to wait an hour for a pint. Sussing out the good food places. Picking over the stuff in the stalls. Generally soaking up the relaxed vibe. Helping your neighbours pitch, in the dark, by shining a light in their eyes, rather than at the bit they're struggling with and apologising by inviting them to join you round your campfire.

Thats what Wednesday was about. Now its about getting there and finding an area bigger than a postage stamp to pitch the tent.

[ThomThomDrum]

I liked this too, but there's no going back now. People will continue to arrive early, and will want to be entertained. There was some truly ugly overcrowding at the things that were on, particularly on the Thurs. I think the best solution is either to put more stuff on for Weds and thurs, or at least to move the action to areas that can cope with greater numbers. Not sure if this would be possible with the current licence or whether it would need to be amended

[gooner1990]

I've only been going post-super fence, but even in my first two years it was all very "laid back" when you arrived.

2004, 6 of us arrived weds pm about 6 ish, pitched up in acres of space in Top Webbs Ash, and it certinaly had more of a Reading Festival feel to the campsites as everyone mingled, traded beer and drugs and chatted shit till the early hours.

Same again in 2005, we camped in Kidney Mead, arrived mid-afternoon on Weds, got loads of space for 15 of us.

But since 2007, it seems different, having to arrive earlier and earlier each year just to get a half decent spot, this year we ended up in Dairy despite getting through the gates at 10am weds.

I do wonder whether it's just a change in the "youth" that turn up expecting to be entertained. Our camp age range was 19-31 this year.... defiantly noticed the younger lot moaning that there wasn't enough entertainment on the first day, whereas old hands and other experienced festival goers with us were happy for a campfire or wander up to the stone circle.

I think someone else mentioned on another thread that a lot more people are now turning up and saying "entertain me" rather than creating the entertainment themselves.

[fatyeti24]

I know........its a shame it will not go back to them sort of days, but one can dream/wish/hope.......

[DJL]

Classic gigs on via headphones late at night - reading a showing nirvana 92 this year... if I had the option of a video of pulp or radiohead headline slots on about half midnight, 1 ish on a big screen with headphones I'd feel less of a need to go the south east corner. Or you could have djs mixing classic glasto moments, one night pyramid, one night other one night best of the rest, adding in loads of Chris Martin, type quotes about it being the best fest in the world, footage from all around the site and those gigs.

You could avoid queues of people getting headphones you could buy them beforehand... £20 for a half decent set which can also be used with iPods etc, can pick up worthy fm during the day, can be used the following year, branded, even to tie in with the artist playing (orbitals having headlights etc). It would need a big push but better late night options could make it so much better.

[ThomThomDrum]

im pretty sure i recall the festival being told to put on more entertainment Wed/Thur in the review that followed last years event.

having said that, i do agree with you. maybe the old Wed/Thur vibe is another thing we'll just have to reminisce over. things change i suppose.

[Tuska]

I still believe the issue stemmed from the festival being advertised as 5 days instead of 3. Even as far up as 2007 we arrived late enough on the Wed and the gloaming was in the air and we still had loads of room to pitch our tents and that year there was about 20 of us. No way could that happen now..........

[guypjfreak]

a ski lift up the hill of death and cardiac hill [up to and past row mead and big ground]

i reckon they will retarmac all the roads and put new ones in also more steel walk ways especially around the markets i saw a few traders going made trying to stop those trucks with the wood chippings in so that people could get to their stores ......

and how much better was that compared to bloody straw great idea that one MR E

the one thing i hope they dont do is chop that last pyramid tree down i forget wot year it was but i was gutted when they chopped down his friend and turned it in to a seat

[Sawdusty surfer]

the one thing i hope they dont do is chop that last pyramid tree down i forget wot year it was but i was gutted when they chopped down his friend and turned it in to a seat

[markeee]

no need to change anything in my opinion!

[DeanoL]

Also, the tickets have a bar code on it, I think next time they should sort of assign tents to tickets when you get in, so when you walk in with a tent, you give them your ticket and they flag you in the system that you have a tent (e.g scan your ticket as they do now for fake ones but have a Tent/No Tent database) so is not going to take that much longer at all to flag your tent/ticket.... on the Monday on the way out they should have a scanner for your ticket, if it shows you came with a tent but dont have it with you then you either pay a fine or go back get your damn tent, obviously if you have a massive tent for 8+ people then just 1 person in the group gets flagged and is therefore responsible for it.

Would probably cause more queuing but I am happy to queue knowing people are taking their crap with them.

[Kyelo]

Quite simply there is no way to change it. Much like binge drinking in this country it has become part of our culture to waste and get things hugely cheap. I even know people who park on double yellows and just pay the fines, people couldn't give a sh*t anymore about 'community' or the enviroment.

Glastonbury will never be able to change this unfortunately. It will take generations and dwindling resources before the farm sees any difference.

[Uh-Oh!]

Personally, I would like to see tickets allocated by ballot and weighted by age, region, loyalty, etc. similar to the London Marathon. Following on from one question that ME was asked I can safey predict that Pearl Jam will never play at Glastonbury.