Overcrowding and Sound

[EZYSEY]

First visit to this site since Glasto due to recovering on holiday in Turkey. Had an awesome time this year and saw more music than I have any of the other times i've been however we did have a massive issue with overcrowding. Thursday was ridiculous, We couldn't get in anywhere comfortably in the dance areas and didn't even bother trying Williams Green. Saturday night after the headliners was more or less a right off as well. We spent most of the night wondering from one stage to another hoping to be able to get in somewhere to have a decent dance.

 

Do we think something will be done next year to prevent overcrowding in the late night areas. At the moment the way I see it is you've got over 100,000 people trying to get in areas which cater for a quarter of that.

 

Also, for this first time this year i've had an issue with sound. The Heaven stage was bloody awful and Arcadia dropped its sound levels loads after midnight.

 

Not taking any of this away from the Festival though as we still had one of the best weekends ever its just something I would like to be improved maybe by increasing the size of the areas or opening more later. 

 

I proposed to my girlfriend as well this year Sunday night in front of Arcadia whilst 2ManyDjs played Blur-Boys and Girls.

[**claire**]

Congratulations on your engagement (I assume she said yes?!)

 

I don't tend to bother trying to get into any of the organised stuff on the Thursday night as it's always going to be a case of supply not meeting demand - I'm not sure how much they can do about that due to increased costs of laying more stuff on etc.

[JayBalls]

Thursday saw Slamboree on the Hell stage was there early and at the front so no probs either way, same goes for Arcadia on Saturday, left deadmau5 a bit before the end for a quieter journey up and spent the duration in the middle under the DJ booth again no probs with the sound or crowd, have to be a bit mindful of the timings of stuff to get the most out I think.

[Charm]

Haven't been for a quite few years and thought the whole site seemed overcrowded.

Didn't really go to SE corner at night but thought the main stage marching, that I tended to avoid, has spread everywhere all of the time. Why and where is everyone going so quickly. Seemed people weren't giving themselves enough time for taking it all in.

Felt like I was in slow motion compared to lots of people around me.

I suspect that people want to go around the site and SEE all the fun, rather than spending time in places and being the fun. This is what causes overcrowding in certain places.

Didn't spoil my enjoyment in any way, I'm not moaning, as I think we get a festival based on who we are, but I do feel a bit sorry for people who feel that can only look and not do.

Suppose that's the times we live in and the expectation of instant gratification. The festival will reflect this as it can only hold up a mirror to those that are attending. Nothing the organisers can actually do about it.

Charm x

[guypjfreak]

sound didnt bother me but the crowds in E ornor were silly wont be bothered about going there again ...i thought the new arcadia spot was good tho

[EZYSEY]

We were stood in front of the the rear speakers for both 2ManyDjs and Altern8 At Arcadia on Sunday and the sound noticeably dropped after midnight so moved on. Was the same when we ventured through past midnight on Saturday. Probably some sort of license restriction they have after midnight. Its a great spot but quiet high up so I guess the sound travels further.

 

SE corner was silly at times, Saturday night especially but the other dance areas were the same. Couldn't get into the WOW tent once. Andy C on the Hell Stage however was awesome.

 

It didn't really spoil it for me and i'll be trying for tix again in October its just something which I think needs to be addressed more so the overcrowding. Sound levels at festivals have and always will be an issue and for someone who goes to clubs where you get clear, quality and loud sound its more noticeable. The pyramid and other stage sound throughout the weekend i thought was brilliant we got pretty close for the Chems and I can honestly say it was the best live show i've experienced. The mushrooms might have helped. :-)

[Guest]

Fatboy Slim in the Blues was a disgrace. How no one got hurt in that is beyond me.

[mike86]

Fatboy Slim in the Blues was a disgrace. How no one got hurt in that is beyond me.

 

Biggest mistake by the organisers IMO. Having him on at that time, on a small stage, with no clashes. It was dangerous. 

[stuartbert two hats]

Biggest mistake by the organisers IMO. Having him on at that time, on a small stage, with no clashes. It was dangerous. 

They probably thought surely nobody still cares about Fatboy Slim!  He's played a zillion times!

[funkyuk]

I was in the SE corner at 4.30/5am sunday morning, and can never remember it being so busy so late (early) in previous years.... even when arcadia was still in the se corner.  it was a stroll through the one way, but shangrila was full, and the common and block9 was packed... queues to get in every venue. 

[Dan R]

My favourite night in the S/E corner was the Friday in 2011, the rain had put off a lot of people so it was a lot quieter. Actually got to explore the place and the people who had braved the rain were having an a brilliant time. Plus the mud added to dystopian chaos. Since then whenever I've been down there theres been queues for all the venues and I just got bored and wandered off. Always have a brilliant time elsewhere but the overcrowding does take something away.

[BlackHole2006]

Fatboy Slim in the Blues was a disgrace. How no one got hurt in that is beyond me.

 

That was terrible. I had to walk through Silver Hayes to get to my tent and because everyone was standing around waiting for Fatboy Slim it took me hours to get through.

Edited July 17, 2015 by BlackHole2006

[frostypaw]

Gotta say I fully agree - too much draw for too few venues. You build a reputation for the best late night clubbing nightlife of any festival in the country and those people will come in their tens of thousands

I'm amazed at people's tolerance of queueing, though I guess that's also why so many just wander straight through - it's certainly meant i've never seen inside the majority of it after night, did a few was just a dark club :/ lost interest.

[Swine_Glasto2014]

I too noticed it felt alot busier this year. The Pyramid on Friday afternoon was rammed like I've never seen it for the first couple of acts.

Shangri-la, just don't bother anymore.

Sound... As far as the nightlife goes out of SE Corner, w*nk

[shoptildrop]

I too noticed it felt alot busier this year. The Pyramid on Friday afternoon was rammed like I've never seen it for the first couple of acts.

Shangri-la, just don't bother anymore.

Sound... As far as the nightlife goes out of SE Corner, w*nk

I'm sure there were more people as tried to go to Pyramid for Alabama shakes and got caught in crowd crush for James bay finishing (didn't know times had changed), I actually ended up having a panic attack and seeked solace in the Cornish arms, which was probably a good thing as heavens opened shortly after...

I was so upset with myself for panicking but it was just awful and made me a bit more nervous all weekend, I didn't enjoy this year as much because of it

[Badlands]

The Sunday was pretty manic trying to get to the Pyramid around the time Hozier finished. Spent 20 minutes pretty much stood still at a bottleneck near the haloumi cone stand. 

[Uh-Oh!]

_{Fatboy Slim at The Blues bar was monumentally stupid, went past it trying to get back to tent and the place was ringed by security guards preventing further people from getting in. Said at time Fatboy needs to be given Other Stage Sunday night slot} Edited July 19, 2015 by Uh-Oh!

[stuartbert two hats]

_{Fatboy Slim at The Blues bar was monumentally stupid, went passed it trying to get back to tent and the place was ringed by security guards preventing further people from getting in. Said at time Fatboy needs to be given Other Stage Sunday night slot}

Seriously, is he still that popular? Surely not??

[Bisque]

I didn't find anywhere overcrowded this year tbh except for Bastille doing that secret set in William's Green but I was outside the tent standing on the round seating area so got decent sound.

[Uh-Oh!]

Seriously, is he still that popular? Surely not??

You doubt the Fatboy!

[stuartbert two hats]

You doubt the Fatboy!

I know he's still really popular, but Other Headliner? Really? He's not even a recording artist anymore and his tunes sound pretty dated to me.

I'm heavily influenced by the fact that I have no idea why I used to like him, but I still don't reckon he's a Other Headliner. I wasn't there at the Blues, so I don't really know - maybe Sonic headliner. Is he actually more popular now than a few years ago? Seemingly from the crowds reported.

[tweed1981]

I know he's still really popular, but Other Headliner? Really? He's not even a recording artist anymore and his tunes sound pretty dated to me.

I'm heavily influenced by the fact that I have no idea why I used to like him, but I still don't reckon he's a Other Headliner. I wasn't there at the Blues, so I don't really know - maybe Sonic headliner. Is he actually more popular now than a few years ago? Seemingly from the crowds reported.

not disagreeing with you, I feel the same, but eat sleep rave repeat was release in the last couple of years was it not? So he has fairly recently still been a recording artist, and it was a pretty big hit.

[stuartbert two hats]

not disagreeing with you, I feel the same, but eat sleep rave repeat was release in the last couple of years was it not? So he has fairly recently still been a recording artist, and it was a pretty big hit.

I'd forgotten about that, but wasn't it just a single though? Well he does still seem to be a pull either way.

[jonodillieono]

I know he's still really popular, but Other Headliner? Really? He's not even a recording artist anymore and his tunes sound pretty dated to me.

I'm heavily influenced by the fact that I have no idea why I used to like him, but I still don't reckon he's a Other Headliner. I wasn't there at the Blues, so I don't really know - maybe Sonic headliner. Is he actually more popular now than a few years ago? Seemingly from the crowds reported.

He headlined Sonic last year and it was rammed. He's still a recording artist I think, I couldn't name any of his recent songs though, the last I remember was one with Diplo.

He really shouldn't headline the Other Stage but I'm sure he's more popular with the Glastonbury crowd than Deadmau5...

[Mardy]

he's pretty much where he should be, I think. He's not current enough really for the other stage, and not big enough. He's happy where he is, no reason to change it up