Will you be returning next year?

[SloopJohnB]

It is with heavy heart that after 12 straight Glastonbury appearances that I have decided to give it a miss next year. I found the whole thing draining this year. The mud, the size of the crowds and the fact that I had the family in tow all became a bit much.

Don't get me wrong, we had a fantastic time (despite a personal verbal assault on my wife and daughter by some vile person at the Pyramid stage during madness), but it is no longer for me. This year felt different some how.

 

Oh..  and yet again I missed the efests meet haha

[chrislfc]

My first one was in 2004 and I've been every year since apart from 2008 (got married so swerved Glasto that year).

Been in various different fields,starting off in Oxylers in a tent in 2004 & 2005, Hitchin Hill in 2007 and then the Dairy Ground 2008,09 and 10.

2011 onwards we've been in campervans and caravans and this year we hired a bigger motorhome as there were 4 of us and my caravan took the knock last year so wasn't suitable this year. We've been in West campers every year and always found it easy getting in and out as opposed to queuing to get out of the car parks for 7 hours on the Monday which was always a pain in the arse even in good weather. 

This year we couldn't get the motorhome until Wednesday so that was fine as we missed the Tuesday mayhem and also saved ourselves a day of Tuesday night Whisky drinking in the Campervan fields.

2004,05 and 07 were bad for mud and different levels of rain but i was a lot younger and a bit overawed by the whole experience so i cracked on regardless.

The 3 years camping in the Dairy Ground were fine If I remember rightly apart from the horrendous downpour for U2 in 2010 which pissed me off a little, we graduated to caravans in 2011 as waking up in a sweltering hot tent at 7am in the morning with the sun was killing me (oh what we'd give for those sunny mornings again) and up until this year I've been able to cope with the longer walks from the West Campers to the site but this year was something else as the ground was fucked before we even got going on Thursday morning and there was no chance of it regaining any hardness in just 3 days. 

I suppose it depends how old you are and how desperate you are to see your favourite bands up there on the big stages.

There's still 3 or 4 I'm waiting to see headline the Pyramid -  Fleetwood Mac, Stone Roses, Floyd/Waters, Led Zep, for example but I'm wondering if they will ever make it there. I feel sorry for people for whom this year was their first Glastonbury as I know it can be such a different festival running around in trainees seeing twice as many acts when the ground is solid and your worst hardship is somehow trying to get a tent peg in and out of the ground.

I've heard good things about those off site glamping areas were you get bussed in and out every day so that could be an alternative to a campervan if i ever go again as you wouldn't need to wait for a fucking tractor to tow you out of the field on the Monday.

So I think i'm leaning towards a year or 2 off now (wouldn't bother with Longleat) but then part of me is thinking that the weather can't be so bad every year, it's just not possible for it to always be so bad in June is it?

So I might just buy a ticket and then stick it back in the pot on cancellation day or May the 6th unless one of my above 3 or 4 acts gets the call.    

And just to finish on a positive note, the 3g and 4g reception was much better this year on 3 Mobile.

     

Edited June 29, 2016 by chrislfc

[Doug85]

I have finally resurfaced after what was undoubtedly the greatest time of my life at my first Glastonbury. The mud did not put me off at all although it made it tougher it all added to the experience. That moment of arriving and seeing everything in the distance will live with me forever but I have to say at Wednesday teatime I managed to get up to the hill at the park and have that Glastonbury moment that so many people speak of but that feeling of sitting at the top of that hill looking over the massive site of somewhere I thought I'd never get to go to was amazing and fair to say I was quite emotional. Add together all of the new friends I made and all of the good times I had with my mates along with all the music I can only ask myself why has it taken me so long to get that magical golden ticket? Without a doubt I will be trying to get a ticket again in October and every single October there are sales ongoing to try and grasp that amazing festival again. 

[NoBallGames]

Coming all the way from Colorado we will be back next year. This was our first Glasto and my favorite festival I've ever been at. It was super muddy but getting home to find most people saying it was the muddiest ever was both quite a shocker and a relief. If that was the muddiest EVER I can't imagine what good years look like as that was already so fun and doable. It required effort, and we changed a lot of plans because of it, but the magical moments were that much more magical. After watching the sun come up Saturday at stone circle then wandering down to the tepee field I come across like 8 people just dancing in the mud to a dude on a laptop with speakers was so sweet and highlighted just the resilient human nature. 

[sophlamb]

I went this year knowing it will probably be my last one because I'm going into teaching, and I thought I was ok with it. Now that I'm home I'm gutted and hope I manage to go again in the future!

[Tommy101]

I honestly think I will try and get tickets for every year of my life that I am physically able. Sure the festival experience may change, I may migrate to a tipi/caravan but one of the things I love about the festival is how accessible it is, and how much it changes year on year. I don't think I could ever get tired of it.

[InDaGreen]

If not for the cost of travel to the UK from LA, heck yeah. 

The camaraderie, variety of experiences, singalongs, appreciation of such a wide swath of musical styles and performers - Glastonbury more than lived up to my expectations.

[FuzzyDunlop]

A fortnight ago I "definitely was not going in 2017"

Now.... I'm shitting over October's Ticket Day!

[oneeye]

Just been watching BBC highlights.... changed my mind, of course I'll be trying for a ticket come Oct 2nd?; what was I thinking ffs

 

Edited July 3, 2016 by oneeye

[BlackHole2006]

On 29/06/2016 at 1:07 PM, JanieM28 said:

I feel for you, Dusty, with the continuing rain.

While I'm at it, may I just say what a pleasure it was to find you up at Croissant Neuf. Your wonderful welcoming table and chairs is now my new safe haven as well as the WH backstage bar. 

My only wish for next time would be a bar! Why is your green fields area dry?

There is the Fluffy Rock Cafe, near Green Futures, that sells strong and cheap cocktails that are in no way watered down. Also the Permaculture Area has a bar that sells craft ciders

 

[sime]

If I get a ticket, yes I will be back next year. I had a great time, especially on Thursday where I spent all my time at Williams Green from the Miles Davis film onwards and Sunday where I had a right adventure seeing bands. The highlights of which were PJ Harvey and The Selector. Good times! The mud just added to the adventure for me. I do feel for all the people who came by car and camper van though. That sounded rough.

[grumpyhack]

Yep - tickets permitting.  I didn't visit many of the usual places this year because of the heavy going, so it will be great to stroll around a bit more again next year in the sunshine.

Looking at the poll results, the traffic jams, queues and mud don't seem to have put many off.

Mind you the poll results to the In/Out vote on here are pretty much the same percentages as the 'will you be going again?' question so maybe there could be a surprise Glexit.

Edited July 3, 2016 by grumpyhack

[glastonburynoodles]

Without a doubt

[Lucy92]

If I manage to get tickets I will definitely be back next year. This year despite the mud was so magic! It's my favourite place on earth and it's what I look forward to every year.

[pman]

I will most definitely be back for as many years as the festival will have me. I've done the litter pick for several years and been as a punter also. Hot wet mud I don't care. It is probably one of the biggest free-est gatherings you can experience in the UK and the day when my summer won't include walking down from Tom's field and across the site will be a sad day. The fest has been in my life since '99 and it always fills me with hope that my dreams and fanciful goals are completely do able. Just have to make them reality before real life sucks you in!  Without that nigh on a week of absolute unbounded relentless freedom not sure what I will do really?

P

 

[GlastonBowie]

Yes

Edited July 3, 2016 by GlastonBowie

[rubenz]

If the muddy conditions do put any one off from going next year then I reckon that will be balanced out by a load of new people who want to go having watching Adele and Coldplay on the TV.

[EasyUserName]

Just now, rubenz said:

If the muddy conditions do put any one off from going next year then I reckon that will be balanced out by a load of new people who want to go having watching Adele and Coldplay on the TV.

The BBC coverage makes it look so less muddy than I recall!

[Deaf Nobby Burton]

22 minutes ago, rubenz said:

If the muddy conditions do put any one off from going next year then I reckon that will be balanced out by a load of new people who want to go having watching Adele and Coldplay on the TV.

Definitely this. Anecdotal I know but having gone back to work a couple of people I work with have said they definitely want to go next year. It's all based on watching Adele and Coldplay on TV. I know for a fact if they had any concept of the mud they'd not even entertain it. Exactly as you say though, for every person put off by being there, there is at least another who wants to go after watching it in TV.

Edit: Although the majority of the people inspired by Adele/Coldplay on the TV won't be properly organised when it comes to buying tickets  , the people I reference at work will probably forget to register and if they do register they won't have a clue what to do on ticket day.

Edited July 3, 2016 by Deaf Nobby Burton

[crocodiles]

45 minutes ago, Deaf Nobby Burton said:

Definitely this. Anecdotal I know but having gone back to work a couple of people I work with have said they definitely want to go next year. It's all based on watching Adele and Coldplay on TV. I know for a fact if they had any concept of the mud they'd not even entertain it. Exactly as you say though, for every person put off by being there, there is at least another who wants to go after watching it in TV.

Edit: Although the majority of the people inspired by Adele/Coldplay on the TV won't be properly organised when it comes to buying tickets  , the people I reference at work will probably forget to register and if they do register they won't have a clue what to do on ticket day.

As u  say a lot of people asked me about it as it was our first many say I couldn't think of anything worse equally as many want to go.  But I don't expect then to register . I'm torn I am sure I will be trying to persuade my wife to go again but a lot on next year and maybe stretching finances to far ....Saying that I will try and find away . 1st time one of the greatest experiences of my life and I'm not a youngster 

[rubenz]

Can everyone please keep info about T Day date and the registration process under their hats until we all have tickets.. 

[Curlygirl]

This year was my 6th in a row and by far the worst for the mud. I have just experienced the best Glastonbury ever. I brought a newbie. None of my regular glasto buddies got tickets so all of my focus was on her. She was up for everything and didn't moan once. Glastonbury broke us both but I have lost count of the number of Glastonbury 'moments' we each had. It was so special that HELL YES we will be trying for tickets in October and God help my friends and family if I don't get them!! 

[Madyaker]

Absofuckinglutely. This was first Glastonbury and after years of watching on TV it was supposed a once off, cross it off the bucket list type thing. Turns out it's not something you can just do once. It's not cheap travelling from Ireland but well worth the money and hassle.

Edited July 3, 2016 by Madyaker

[Charm]

20 minutes ago, Madyaker said:

Absofuckinglutely. This was first Glastonbury and after years of watching on TV it was supposed a once off, cross it off the bucket list type thing. Turns out it's not something you can just do once. It's not cheap travelling from Ireland but well worth the money and hassle.

My newbies were bucket listers too and they are already talking about next time. 
Charm x

[Levitz]

On 29/06/2016 at 1:00 PM, Dr Glasto said:

I'll be there next year - absolutely no doubt about it (as long as everything goes to plan!)

I thought this was a brilliant year. There surely could not have been a better place for political solidarity in the face of the referendum result. I felt so much love and community spirit in Leftfield, it was truly inspiring.

As for people criticising the organisation of the festival - I wish you could have seen how much was going on behind the scenes. It was remarkable that the festival even went ahead. Loads of crew members pulled an all-nighter on Tuesday to get things ready after everything was put behind schedule due to the weather in the run-up to the festival. 

The logisitcs of putting down chippings etc when the festival is in full-swing is a complete nightmare, but this was done with minimal disruption to the event. 

Security managed to control numbers in the South-East corner (with the help of stewards) so that it never actually reached dangerous levels. This was being very carefully monitored at all times (I was on the radio channel) to keep people safe.

The whole thing runs like a military operation and whilst there are always going to be some issues with an event this size, it really is extremely well organised. I seriously don't know how they pulled it off this year - total kudos!!

As for the weather - it was actually pretty great during the festival. Mornings were cool enough to get a lie-in, mostly dry and sunny in the afternoons/evening = winning! Yeah the mud was the worst its been since 2007, but there are SO many more places to sit now then there were then, plus it never got too deep to put a chair up so all good with me. 

Oh and PJ Harvey!!!

 

 

 

Really glad we made the effort for the Leftfield this year, really made me feel better about things and King Blues were great....