Favorite/Worst Years?

[BlackHole2006]

Out of sheer boredom I've decided to start up a thread where people can share their best/worst years at the festival. I know there has been millions and millions of threads made like this before. But screw it. For me it goes a little something like this:

Favorite Year: 2009

2008 was my first year and I absolutely loved it, wanted to go back again as soon as I got home obviously. But 2009 was the year that I actually felt a real connection with the place. It was just me and my dad that year, and I missed my own prom to go (I believe there is a very cringe worthy thread on here of me debating on whether or not I should go to Glastonbury or my prom!), and even though there weren't any real stand-out performances that year (I missed Blur), I still remember wandering around a lot and absolutely loving the vibes and the whole atmosphere of the place. I remember Shangri-La on the Thursday was absolutely brilliant, wasn't too crowded and had an incredible atmosphere. Even though 2009 was a bit of a nothing year to some, it still has a very special place in my heart.

Worst Year: 2011

Even though I wouldn't consider there being any bad year at Glastonbury, 2011 is probably the worst year I've had. U2 put on a great performance I thought but the weather was up and down the whole way through and this really effected my mood. Also the fact that I kept on thinking to myself I'm not going to be back here for another two years now affected it a lot because I kept on trying too hard to fit everything in when I really should have been relaxing. A bit of a nothing year really.

Now it's your turn.

[The Nal]

I've been going since 2004, except 2008. 09 and 10 were special for a load of reasons. The weather, the lineups, the efests world cups were great and the expansion of the late night areas too.

07 was a bit flat for me. Weather was shite too. Rained a lot during the day. Just when it looks liked it was clearing up it started pissing down again.

Still loved it mind but gave 08 a skip as a result.

[Avalon_Fields]

Easy to identify 2004 as our worst year, got in late, wanted to camp centrally after feeling cut off in a camper van the previous year, ended up in the corner of a camping area just below the Glade, and adjoining the old Radio One set up. So all night it was mud oozing everywhere, awash with vomit (mine & others), and the tssssh boom boom mega-loud from Radio One. Sleep deprivation got to me eventually....

Best 2009 I think....but if you remember, you weren't really there as they say...

[BlackHole2006]

I've been going since 2004, except 2008. 09 and 10 were special for a load of reasons. The weather, the lineups, the efests world cups were great and the expansion of the late night areas too.

[Andeeroo]

Best: 2009. By a mile. Musically, Blur, The Gaslight Anthem (Bruce coming onstage is possibly my number 1 Glastonbury musical moment ever), Rolf, Tap. We had a good group that year, everyone was really into it. It was our 2nd year, and we brought along a couple of G virgins, so we felt like veterans of the place. In reality we weren't because we had seen fuck all of the site but we sort of knew what was happening and that anxiety of "what the heck is going on" was gone. Weather wasn't too bad after the thunderstorms on Thursday evening, but even that felt like an adventure. In summary, it was an incredible year for me.

Worst: 2010. This was the first year where I didn't really go with a group of people I know. I went with one mate, and a bunch of his mates so felt like a spare part. It was my first year working in a school so I couldn't go up until Friday evening. It took me until about 4pm on the Saturday to feel like I was a part of everything that was happening. The sun was unbearably hot, I struggled to enjoy anything on the outdoor stages so seemed to spend a lot of my time looking for shelter. Some bastard insect bit me and made me feel a bit odd. Having said that I still had a bloody good time.

This year will be the first year since 2009 I get to go up before Friday, albeit Thursday afternoon, but still, extra G-time!

Edited January 21, 2013 by billandben

[Mardy]

Best: 2010 The sun shone and shone and shone. My best mates were there, my folks came for the first time, we all had a fucking blast.

Worst: 2007 The fucking rain.

[pyramidsong]

best: 2011. first year i actually experienced the full pallette of what glastonbury has to offer, and by that i mean it was the first year i had a real glimpse of the nightlife. never have been able to think about other festivals in the same way after seeing arcadia/shangri la etc. i think i preferred the atmosphere at, say, 2009, but 2011 allowed me to watch wu tang clan, radiohead, dj shadow, the chemical brothers, pulp, bb king and one of the final streets shows all in the space of 3 days. other people cite it as their worst, but i feel that it was the first year i really experienced glastonbury in its entirety (well, as entire as you can be at such a large festival)

worst: 2010, because we had to arrive on friday and weren't there long enough, my friend was finding the heat a bit much and it didn't feel like as much of a saga

[Wooderson]

Another vote for 2009.

[BlackHole2006]

Another vote for 2009.

[ICGenie]

Best: 2010 The sun shone and shone and shone. My best mates were there, my folks came for the first time, we all had a fucking blast.

Worst: 2007 The fucking rain.

[Guitargeek]

Best: 2011. As pyramidsong said above, first time I really explored at night. Didn't see a pyramid headliner, saw 2 in both my previous year ('09: Neil and Blur, '10: Gorillaz and Muse) and actually didn't see a headliner on sat to stroll around the late night area off my tits. Spent a lot of time wondering around on my own, despite a few mates there. Met some awesome people. Really felt a connection with the place.

Worst: I don't think it would be fair to say to '09 and '10 that one was my "worst" glasto. I probably enjoyed '10 a bit more (felt more at home, plus the whether) but '09 was my first time experiencing the magic and I absolutely loved it.

[abdoujaparov]

too hard...

Best: 1994 and 1995 were both memorably good years..perfect weather, good company. 2007 was one of my favourites as was 2009. On balance, probably '95

Worst: 1998 - had just split up from long term partner. Went on my own...shit weather and massive over-indulgence mood altering substances led to very unhappy me....

eta - 2002 was one of the worst too - just because it was so fucking dull compared to what had gone before!

Edited January 21, 2013 by abdoujaparov

[Ed209]

Been to every one since the fence. Best 2009, everything aligned perfectly, mates music drugs banter weather.

Worst easily 2007, for the obvious reasons. It really was a shitty year.

[guypjfreak]

worst 98 pissed down line up not to good they sprayed shit into the dance tent and i lost it on acid

best year 2009 niel young set the best EVER at glasto [ next the Radiohead 97 ] only thing was i smashed my ankle on way back from Arcadia

[abdoujaparov]

i lost it on acid

[Wooderson]

On paper '95 is the definitive I think. Didnt Jeff Buckley play that year? Percy and Pagey? Helluva year.

Edited January 21, 2013 by Wooderson

[FloorFiller]

On paper '95 is the definitive I think. Didnt Jeff Buckley play that year? Percy and Pagey? Helluva year.

[Wooderson]

i watched Jeff Buckley's entire set on Youtube the other day. so fucking good. what i would give to have been there

[FloorFiller]

hmm i just had a look for it again and now can't find it. maybe it wasn't Youtube 'cause i can only see the recording on there... i watched it somewhere!

[fatyeti24]

best ones: 94, 97, 98, 99, 00, 08, 09, 10, 11

i haven't been to any more.

[hoils]

Best - 1992. Primal Scream, The Orb, The Shamen and 808 State headlining the NME stage. Insane amounts of all night raving everywhere on site (with not a queue to be seen), sunshine.

Worst - 2011. A festival with it's heart ripped out. With added mud.

[Bisque]

Only been to two but...

Best 2010

My first & after putting off going for so long (sticking to the local Reading) I can't believe my stupidity. I honestly thought the two festivals were comparable. Everything was just so jaw droppingly brilliant! Great organisation, plenty of taps, the sheer size/scale, the amount on offer to do & the variation of acts playing. I fell in love as soon as I sat down in front of the Brothers bar & my mate gave me a reassuring "cheers". Enjoyed the weather & the football on Wednesday too.

Worst 2011

Was really excited to finally get to show my best mate around the site to see as much as possible so that he could experience the the jaw droppingness that the festival provides. Unfortunately the weather wasn't great & the mud drained me of energy on the Thursday. Gutted I didn't get to show him around as much as I would have liked but he'll be going again.

[eFestivals]

On paper '95 is the definitive I think.

nah .... '86 & '87 were waaaay better.

And not full of Oarses-loving knobheads.

[denwyn]

Worst 2011.... Arrived Tuesday night,tents set up in bloody downpour, really poorly Thursday / Friday,suspect food poisoning from dodgy Glastonbury vendor. Had to go home Friday afternoon. Lesson learnt..Stay away from the food areas. Taking own food this year. Best 2009....Neil Young

[russycarps]

My favourite: 2003

My most off my head: 1995

Hardest work: 1997

Best single day: Sunday 2000

Worst: 2011

Most ordinary: 2002