Reflecting on Glastonbury 2015

[acidstorm523]

Strangely one of my favourites. I didn't think the line up was great, but I had Chemical Brothers, which was one of their best sets they have ever done at Glastonbury, and Leftfield who were brilliant. Oh, and Patti Smith of course who had me in tears of happiness! It was the straightest I've ever been, so I remember it all, and did things I don't usually do, like go up the ribbon tower. I even caught the Ace of Spades :). So I had some real peak moments. 

[Guest]

My abiding memory of last years festival is all the little canisters of hippie crack lay strewn everywhere.

Oh and Nicky Blackmarket in London Underground on the Thursday night. Nearest thing to Step Back since Step Back. 

Edited January 4, 2016 by Guest

[Gnomicide]

4 hours ago, eastynh said:

My abiding memory of last years festival is all the little canisters of hippie crack lay strewn everywhere.

I thought It was way down on previous years.

[Woffy]

5 minutes ago, Gnomicide said:

I thought It was way down on previous years.

Agreed.

Even saw some young 'uns being embarrased into stopping doing it by being reminded by others nearby that that sucking on balloons until they giggled and got dizzy was best reserved for primary school kids with helium balloons at a 10 pin bowling party. 

[stuartbert two hats]

55 minutes ago, Woffy said:

Agreed.

Even saw some young 'uns being embarrased into stopping doing it by being reminded by others nearby that that sucking on balloons until they giggled and got dizzy was best reserved for primary school kids with helium balloons at a 10 pin bowling party. 

I like nitrous oxide.  I'm not much keen on the noise they make, so don't often indulge now.  Littering has never been an issue though - just put them straight back in the same bag they came out of when they were full.

[CaledonianGonzo]

Two Guardian journos include Mary J Blige in the their Best Gigs of '15, with Petridish saying it's the single best performance he's ever seen at the G:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/dec/29/best-music-gigs-2015-guardian-writers

[carlosj]

22 hours ago, Woffy said:

sucking on balloons until they giggled and got dizzy was best reserved for primary school kids embarrassing mum and step-dad with helium balloons at a 10 pin bowling party. 

Oops, guilty secret is out for us, those large number balloons are best for doing the pinky and perky songs, but I wouldn't bother at a festival.

[Hotchilidog]

I enjoyed it. Camped on my own but had friends camping elsewhere so was able to mix up rambling around on my own and socialising with a group. Musically I was not overly enthused beforehand but Patti Smith delivered one of my favourite Glasto sets ever, Mary J Blige who i would not normally give the time of day blew me away with her emotional intensity. Got on tv during Motorhead's set which was weird being texted by people at home who were watching it! I also got to perform a brief solo during John Hegley's set in the poetry tent which was my own Glasto moment.

Ended the festival with a rum cocktail in The Park at 2am monday morning with a good friend reflecting on what fine week it had been. There are many other memories I could add too.

Probably the most low key of the Glastonbury's I've attended (anything that beats 2009 will have to be special) but one of my most enjoyable ones. Staying with the group this year so that will provide a different dynamic for me, looking forward to it.

[PapaBentley]

Because of the Pyramid stage delaying the times by 30 mins, meant that it was probably the best day I have had at Glastonbury, I was able to fit in pretty much everything I wanted to see back to back all day. (Getting a little teary)

[Cheesey]

I had a pretty good time this year. Not the best but certainly not the worst. Ups and downs as usual.

Music-wise it wasn't that great for me, but it certainly ended on a massive high point with the Chemical Brothers.

 

 

[Cajk]

Hi guys this will be my first year at Glastonbury! I'm just wondering about lock ups, how big are they and how do you get into them? Do you have a key or do you hand your things to a person etc any info that will be useful would be highly appreciated ☺️

[CaledonianGonzo]

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/information/advice/property-lock-ups/

[carlosj]

9 hours ago, Cajk said:

Hi guys this will be my first year at Glastonbury! I'm just wondering about lock ups, how big are they and how do you get into them? Do you have a key or do you hand your things to a person etc any info that will be useful would be highly appreciated ☺️

 

4 hours ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/information/advice/property-lock-ups/

Cajk, the link is useful, but it doesn't give all the info. The lockups are big tents manned by charity volunteers. You queue at the entrance (a table blocking the door) hand over your items, which can be anything, fill in a form and keep a receipt to reclaim the item. That's it.

Tips:

Make a donation for the free service at some point over the festival.

Photograph your receipt and remember where that lockup is, so you don't wander round all of them. That receipt is pretty much all you have to be able to get your things back.

You can book in keys, passports, train tickets, money, but use bags and envelopes to keep small stuff together. The lockups don't supply envelopes. It's all secure from the public.

Book in stuff in separately if you're going to want only part of it back - eg if you book in 24 cans in one go, you'll have to take them out in one go even if you only want 6. It's one ticket per visit, and booking back in will need another ticket filling in.

 

[Spindles]

On 03/01/2016 at 4:38 PM, TiZuff said:

had a great time as always. even with chronic blisters and i could barely walk. still smile about the whole week a year on

2 pairs of socks mate.  I promise you that this will avoid blisters in the future, it removes the friction from the skin (and also stops that sock sliding down under the heel thing that sometimes happens with boots).

 

[tjamest]

Really enjoyed myself this year.

Was part of Camp solo and as Spindles has said in another thread it seemed to work pretty well for all. I spent most of my time  while out of the camp on my own through choice but it was great to have a chat, swap tales and share a drink/smoke round the fire etc when returning to base. As a Luddite without a phone it was also here that others on 'Secret Glasto' let me know about Frank Turner's Strummerville set and The Libertines.

Musically I enjoyed more on the Pyramid than ever before -  Alabama Shakes, The Libs, The Who, Burt Bacharach, Songhoy Blues and Patti Smith. Didn't see anything on the Other or John Peel, loved Steel Pulse on West Holts, Ibeyi at the Park and Gretchen peters in the Acoustic.

The Glade however was the real winner for me with stellar performances from Alabama3 and Public Service Broadcasting.

Found myself running out of steam by about 02.00 / 03.00 most nights so no massive late nighters for me, but at my age and fitness that was no great loss as previously I was really struggling by Sunday.

 

 

[Hotchilidog]

22 hours ago, tjamest said:

The Glade however was the real winner for me with stellar performances from Alabama3 and Public Service Broadcasting.

Thanks for reminding me about the A3 set. If they had asked me to compile a set list it would have been the one they played, an absolute stormer of a show.

[JohnnyMilb]

I thought that 2015 was the weakest I have been to -

 

Partly this was influenced by the compromises you end up making to stay in a group for instance I regret not sticking to my guns and seeing Jamie T.

We didn't explore nearly as much as we usually do - but these were all decisions I made whilst there - not a judgement on the festival itself.

 

BUT -

 

It felt like the most 'generic' of all the times I have been.  Lots of 'zany' (unoriginal) fancy dress - the crowd seemed to be dressed in generic festival wear.

 

I don't know - I bet if you took photographs without landmarks at Glastonbury and say V festival - you would not be able to tell the difference.

 

I know I sound like a festival snob - but Glastonbury has always had the edge on other festivals as it is genuinely different - but that difference is diminishing -

 

I also agree with a previous poster that maybe I need a couple of years off - the first time you see things like block 9 it blows your mind - but it is now expected and Shangri La has also been a little samey last few years - maybe if I took a break and came back there may be much more 'new' stuff.

 

Easier to say though than do!

[tjamest]

On ‎07‎/‎01‎/‎2016 at 4:07 PM, Hotchilidog said:

Thanks for reminding me about the A3 set. If they had asked me to compile a set list it would have been the one they played, an absolute stormer of a show.

Probably the best I've seen them over the last 15 or so years and first time I've heard them play Don't go to Goa for the long time. I'm still also choosing to believe that it was Mary J Blige that I had a little boogie with in the crowd.Things had got pretty hazy by then so in all probability it was my imagination, but she had recently been on the Other stage with Ronson so we can but dream..

[5co77ie]

2 minutes ago, tjamest said:

Probably the best I've seen them over the last 15 or so years and first time I've heard them play Don't go to Goa for the long time. I'm still also choosing to believe that it was Mary J Blige that I had a little boogie with in the crowd.Things had got pretty hazy by then so in all probability it was my imagination, but she had recently been on the Other stage with Ronson so we can but dream..

the best I've ever seen them that set was incredible - I'm not sure the 2nd encore was intended - I could see the band walking away, then they heard the crowd and came back

[russycarps]

23 hours ago, JohnnyMilb said:

I thought that 2015 was the weakest I have been to -

 

Partly this was influenced by the compromises you end up making to stay in a group for instance I regret not sticking to my guns and seeing Jamie T.

We didn't explore nearly as much as we usually do - but these were all decisions I made whilst there - not a judgement on the festival itself.

 

BUT -

 

It felt like the most 'generic' of all the times I have been.  Lots of 'zany' (unoriginal) fancy dress - the crowd seemed to be dressed in generic festival wear.

 

I don't know - I bet if you took photographs without landmarks at Glastonbury and say V festival - you would not be able to tell the difference.

 

I know I sound like a festival snob - but Glastonbury has always had the edge on other festivals as it is genuinely different - but that difference is diminishing -

 

I also agree with a previous poster that maybe I need a couple of years off - the first time you see things like block 9 it blows your mind - but it is now expected and Shangri La has also been a little samey last few years - maybe if I took a break and came back there may be much more 'new' stuff.

 

Easier to say though than do!

You're right, much of the festival is just another british music festival with all the usual whoppers that go along with it.

But there are still just about enough areas which are utterly unique and magical and cannot be found anywhere else, and that makes it all worthwhile

The SE corner is NOT one of them!

 

[tjamest]

45 minutes ago, 5co77ie said:

the best I've ever seen them that set was incredible - I'm not sure the 2nd encore was intended - I could see the band walking away, then they heard the crowd and came back

Was that when they played  Don't go to Goa? As mentioned earlier it was all a little hazy by then.

They seemed to a lot more dancy / ravey than normal and just caught the vibe of The Glade perfectly.

[DareToDibble]

I've only been to the last 2 years, with 2014 being my first. I think I'm still in awe of the place and have become one of "those" people that comes back and tells anyone that'll listen how amazing it is and how much better it is than other festivals.

I preferred 2014 but it's hard to say if that was due to the line up or the fact it was my first time at the festival.

My highlight of 2015 was definitely Lionel Richie. The sun was out, laying on the hill in the sun with my mates waiting for him to come on... for him to then put on one of the best sets i've seen. Loved every second of it.

I think I made the mistake of getting to Shangri-La too early in 2015, I got there just as Chemical Brothers were ending so it was pretty quiet, felt like we got around it all a bit too quickly. Does anyone have any tips for if there is a best day to go? Or is it all about the time you get there?

A highlight from 2014 was going in the Piano Bar. Not that I was a massive fan of it inside... just the time we had put in to finding it and then queueing to get in felt like a bit of an achievement! (Even if I did slip in the mud just before getting in... covered!)

Our group has gotten bigger year on year, I think we have about 16 coming this year. Which is good and bad as it's unlikely I'll ever be on my own watching an act but trying to get tickets for everyone is a nightmare!

Can't wait for this years festival - just the wait for the line-up to start coming through in drips and drabs.

[Wow-wys-buzzing]

Literally, first Glasto last year, wow. What a place, just incredible, all I can think about most of the time ahah, keep trying to explain to people who havent been why they have to go. So good! 

[Steel city camper]

16 minutes ago, Wow-wys-buzzing said:

Literally, first Glasto last year, wow. What a place, just incredible, all I can think about most of the time ahah, keep trying to explain to people who havent been why they have to go. So good! 

That's all I've done for the last 6 months , I had a quiet spell around Christmas but now I'm well and truly obsessed again . Can't wait to pull off my drive and start the journey !!

[Wow-wys-buzzing]

3 hours ago, Steel city camper said:

That's all I've done for the last 6 months , I had a quiet spell around Christmas but now I'm well and truly obsessed again . Can't wait to pull off my drive and start the journey !!

Same!! so looking forward to it!