Bearded Theory 2022

[idb]

Also really enjoyed our first time visit there. Refreshing to go to a festival where you do not seen even one idiot all weekend, everyone polite and enjoying themselves. We made a quick dash to the car after The Flaming Lips finished and was probably within the first few people to be leaving site.

As said above only minor niggles, but they could do with at least another block of toilets and also light them up at night a bit better.

[Fearless_Fish]

Anyone know what the holdup is leaving the disabled camping field? Not moved in half an hour and still only as far as the Pallet Stage 🙃

[amfy]

1 hour ago, BluePaul said:

Just back after my first BT.  Really enjoyed it - great set of headliners and some nice surprises down the bill.  Good choice of beers at reasonable prices (especially liked the little microbrewery stands) - but hasn't the price of festival food skyrocketed?!

Couple of observations - Woodlands is a beautiful location but really too small for a second stage, not helped by the number of camping chairs in use (see also Pallet Stage).  Also not convinced by fairgrounds at festivals - space would be better used for a big tent to act as second stage (as per Green Man) with the Woodlands a niche third stage (like the Courtyard at Green Man).

Campervan fields - could do with more toilets and water points really - but good and flat and firm.

But minor niggles - overall I loved it and would love to come back next year.

Really spot on.I am the same about fairgrounds. Kids love them but can do that anywhere and it potentially detracts from the festival experience for kids too. I know that if I had taken my nephew he would have been nagging me for the fair the whole time instead of enjoying the music, crafts and games that are unique to festival kids. I also wasn’t keen on it being my first impression, as I  walked through the gate, of a festival which has a very traditional hippy atmosphere otherwise. I too would go for a largish second stage where it currently is instead. Many small/medium sized festivals have a woodland stage further down the bill as it were.

I was disappointed that the specialist ciders were gone on day one, but other than that I couldn’t fault it really. I thought the loos were really good, queued occasionally but the queues moved quite well.

We were so fortunate with where we were parked up in the campervan field. Right opposite the showers and 20 yards in either direction from the toilets and the standpipe! The only downside was the chatting in the shower queue waking us each morning!

I really enjoyed seeing a few acts that I’d wanted to catch for some years and hadn’t. Flaming Lips were a brilliant finale.

 

 

[The Dawg]

Just arrived home after another corking year at BT, the weather was just about perfect. Love the Woodland Stage and Peter Hook, October Drift, Liines and last but not least (what a festival closer!) Neville Staples band.

Super friendly, great beer prices and a great small footprint so you can move around everywhere very quickly. See you next year. 

[DJL]

Agree with everything said really.

Like others, I don’t love the fairground, unless they make it a bit more unfairground Glastonbury-Esque - it’s not just that it’s a fairground it’s also a very generic one when other parts have had time and effort to look so amazing like… the pirate ship, one of my favourite stages anywhere.

As is Woodlands. Was a shame not see acts because of the queue but I only have myself to blame - once you knew the situation regarding queues you can plan around it.

The local beers, prices and the fact you can also BYO was great too - all contributed to the friendly vibe.

I also never thought karaoke could be a highlight of a festival for me but it really was - probably because Bearded folk are a talented and charasmatic bunch. Singing God save the Queen by the pistols in the jubilee week was a bold move but I was thoroughly entertained!

Great festival, we’ll be back.

[Pinhead]

Finally back. Probably checked all of your wristbands on here at some point as worked the arena gates... Yeah didn't mind the fairground in previous years (though some of it didn't see much use anyway), but I certainly wouldn't have grown it - it was much bigger this year I'd say.

Queues for Woodlands have existed in past years (I've had to manage them with security at times), but far more this year and yes - capacity estimates seemed a bit on the conservative side... Attendance has gone up from something like 10k to 15k this year so everything noticably busier!

Agree that they should consider another stage for the sort of bigger acts they are bookung on it now. But this would surely mean something will have to be sacrificed as space is tight and growth is limited by the river, road and available spare private grounds. An easier option might be to change the programming a bit to introduce more contention with other stages big acts and therefore pressure on it - often its the only stage running after pallet too so everyone crowds to it.

 

 

[Nobody Interesting]

19 minutes ago, Pinhead said:

often its the only stage running after pallet too so everyone crowds to it.

 

 

After the pallet every other stage is still running and mist keep going long after the woodland has closed too.

We looked at the queue for PH and decided to not waste time and went and found some excellent music elsewhere.

[Avalon_Fields]

Yes, agree with all that's been said.

The best acts for me were The Flaming Lips, and then Wilco Johnson & Misty in Roots

The Woodland stage is one of the very best stages at UK festivals and love being there (Liines a good find), but the queues undoubtedly the worst yet.

My friends, some have been to every one, were a little disappointed with the growing commercialism, prices and larger crowds. Obviously a million miles from the very first 'pallet' stage.

Still, the people are fantastic and I did this as a little summary of the place, I'm sure you all saw at least someone on here:

 

[incident]

The potential issue with putting a larger second stage at the other end of the main arena (ie where the fair rides are) is that you've then got to figure out what to do with Magical Sounds - it got moved over that side because the bass was impacting on the pallet too much. Can't see a way of fitting MS and two large outdoor stages into the Arena without some seriously annoying noise bleed, and I'm not sure that turning the woodland area over to MS would work either.

Personally I'd consider it a huge shame to lose the Woodland stage as it currently is in favour of something larger / more generic. Yes, it's small and so you might have to queue, but it's a genuinely cracking place to watch bands in a more intimate setting than you might usually find them.

[Beerqueen]

Yes great weekend again!  Echo what others have said about Woodlands and the Fair - I miss the Showcase tent and am sorry that hasn't been there for the last couple of times.  Getting in was a breeze - getting out less so - 50 minutes with engine turned off for a lot of it.  But that pales once it's over!  Also camping areas seemed tight for space though I wasn't sure whether that was just because we couldn't carry it any further!

I though Patti Smith was absolutely brilliant.  Also the Flaming Lips.  I enjoyed Frank Turner more than I thought I would and also thought Gaz Brookfield was fabulous in the Woodlands - it's been a few years since I've seen him and enjoy him much more as a solo artist than with a band behind him as you can hear the lyrics which are so important to his songs.  Welled up (not for the first time) at Better Man and then realised the woman next to me had as well and we shared a hug.  

And the new band I liked most were the Horse Puppets - great act with two equally talented lead singers, husband and wife whose surname is Bytheway which was odd when they introduced each other - that's Helen by the way and that's Paul by the way.

We'll be back next year!

[dotdash79]

First time attendees, really like the crowd and the mix of people. Not really my cup of tea music wise but I would go back.

loos we’re really clean, bars were decent and at a reasonable price and apart from the woodland stage queue, there wasn’t much queuing.

main issue was that if the camp site was slightly better managed then more people could have got in and that overspill one wouldn’t have been needed.  Some of the gaps between tents were silly, and we struggled to find a place on the Thursday evening. 

[Gnomicide]

Great weekend again, I'd Echo what's already been said, no real gripes apart from the Woodland queues. I hadn't been aware the capacity had gone up so much so I guess that explains it but it was annoying when you got in there and people were taking up so much space with chairs and blankets while others couldn't get in. 

Anyway, enough moaning, I had a fabulous weekend, not only the music and great (if a little chilly) weather but seeing festival friends I'd not seen for 3 years.

If you've got 11 minutes to spare, this is what I saw this year.

 

[Avalon_Fields]

Not much comment on Placebo, opinions? I love the band but much of the setlist was from the new album - which is great - but not necessarily an audience pleasing way to do a festival?

 

Also, did the Lips play some new songs? There were at least two I didn’t recognise, one quite long with a lengthy instrumental ending? Hoping there may be a new album coming.

[Nobody Interesting]

10 minutes ago, Avalon_Fields said:

Not much comment on Placebo, opinions? I love the band but much of the setlist was from the new album - which is great - but not necessarily an audience pleasing way to do a festival?

 

Also, did the Lips play some new songs? There were at least two I didn’t recognise, one quite long with a lengthy instrumental ending? Hoping there may be a new album coming.

Placebo did 19 tracks - I think 4 or 5 were from the new album and all those were really good.

With the size of their back catalogue it is impossible to do a set that pleases everyone. Personally I loved it all.

[Nobody Interesting]

1 hour ago, dotdash79 said:

First time attendees, really like the crowd and the mix of people. Not really my cup of tea music wise but I would go back.

loos we’re really clean, bars were decent and at a reasonable price and apart from the woodland stage queue, there wasn’t much queuing.

main issue was that if the camp site was slightly better managed then more people could have got in and that overspill one wouldn’t have been needed.  Some of the gaps between tents were silly, and we struggled to find a place on the Thursday evening. 

There has always been an extra camping field and it has always been left later to open - but yes, there did seem to be more large areas taken by single groups. Perhaps as many bought in all their own food and drink more than had previously been the norm?

[Rumblestripe]

Just got back up t' North (A1 closed near Rhetford) took me about six hours as against two and a half to get there. Grrrrr.

First time at BT but deffo not the last. Lovely vibe. Minor gripe first, the loos at the far end of the campervan field were disgusting pretty much all weekend.  Not the fault of staff, people should KNOW how to use the festival "Turdis" if they have been to a festival before, they are pretty ubiquitous but people plainly weren't pre-flushing before "dumping". 

The Headliners were all pretty damnably excellent, with the possible exception of Dreadzone who left me cold (probably just-not-my-thing). Not a Placebo fan so not "that" familiar with their stuff so didn't really notice the new songs, but really enjoyed them. Patti  Smith was superb, especially the last half dozen songs. I feared for the set when she read the poem but one poem in context is fair enough and she performed it with passion. I had flashbacks of watching Art Garfunkel in the Acoustic Tent at Glasto and having to put up with interminable "poems" of his between songs... Flaming Lips just put on a perfect show and to end with fireworks removed that awkward "encore or not" moment.

Highlights, many, Dirty Old Folkers in Maui Waui were hilarious, we managed to get into Woodland from Patti Smith just in time for "Love Will Tear Us Apart". Incidentally, at the head of the queue there was a guy getting medical attention who looked unconscious, the stewards assured us he had been seen by a doctor who had put him in the recovery position. I trust he was OK? Anyone know? Baka Beyond in Magical Sounds were great. The Hives were brilliant and great entertainers. Dubioza Kolektiv, wonderful. So many great sets. Frank Turner, Ferocious Dog, Misty In Roots, the Doonicans, I could go on...

Thanks to everyone there; working, volunteering or just being a "good festivaller".

Peace out.

Edited May 30, 2022 by Rumblestripe

[CurlyPutz]

Same as all the previous first timers that have posted. We had a cracking time, queues didn't bother me as we just found something else. Food prices caught me by surprise, Glastonbury gonna be expensive but otherwise a lovely festival, great people and a cracking atmosphere all weekend long. 

Feel a tad outta practice after a 3 year break but fork me it good to get back at it. See you next year bearded people. 

[Pinhead]

Shift patterns meant I saw less this year than usual but oh well - luck of the draw. No agro except one of our team got smacked at the road crossing. Think one medical emergency got airlifted offsite as well. Had more missing people than missing kids this year too.

[dotdash79]

11 minutes ago, Rumblestripe said:

Dirty Old Folkers in Maui Waui

We accidentally wandered in just before was going to stay for a couple of songs and stayed for the whole set. 
 

I was the person who refused to singalong. 

[Rumblestripe]

17 minutes ago, dotdash79 said:

We accidentally wandered in just before was going to stay for a couple of songs and stayed for the whole set. 
 

I was the person who refused to singalong. 

BOOOOOoooooo... 🤣

[WS_Jack_III]

My snapshot of the weekend.

Few thoughts, signal was the worst it's ever been on the site. Woodlands queuing seemed grim for those who had to do it, It was such a long queue for Peter Hook and all I could think was those poor souls at towards the back had no hope of getting in.

 

Speaking of the woodlands, must be one of the best areas at any festival in the UK, unfortunately the sounds is still terrible there.

 

*edit

 

I only got there 8pm Friday night due to work and was gutted that all those nice flavours of cider had gone, was surprised that booze price seemed pretty much where it was a few years ago, the food on the other hand does seem to have crept up. I was expecting price hikes as with everything else at the minute.

Edited May 30, 2022 by WS_Jack_III

[bertieb73]

37 minutes ago, Pinhead said:

Shift patterns meant I saw less this year than usual but oh well - luck of the draw. No agro except one of our team got smacked at the road crossing. Think one medical emergency got airlifted offsite as well. Had more missing people than missing kids this year too.

The medical emergency that prompted the air ambulance was due to a chap suffering acardiac arrest in the campsite. Fortunately my girlfriend who is medically trained and a off duty paramedic were camping nearby and were able to perform CPR. The onsite medical team were also quickly present and were able to bring him back. We have had positive updates on the chaps recovery at Derby Hispital.  We'll done to all the medical teams plus the first responding campers.. Hope the chap continues to improve health wise. 

[bertieb73]

2 hours ago, Gnomicide said:

Great weekend again, I'd Echo what's already been said, no real gripes apart from the Woodland queues. I hadn't been aware the capacity had gone up so much so I guess that explains it but it was annoying when you got in there and people were taking up so much space with chairs and blankets while others couldn't get in. 

Anyway, enough moaning, I had a fabulous weekend, not only the music and great (if a little chilly) weather but seeing festival friends I'd not seen for 3 years.

If you've got 11 minutes to spare, this is what I saw this year.

 

Cheers for the video. Helps jog the memory bank! A great weekend and my 8 year old loved it for his first festival.. He is already talking about next year... 

[Beerqueen]

45 minutes ago, dotdash79 said:

We accidentally wandered in just before was going to stay for a couple of songs and stayed for the whole set. 

I find that happens a lot at Maui Waui.  That and the SE Tea Tent are my go to "hmm what should I do" areas.  There's usually something worth seeing at one or the other.

[dotdash79]

53 minutes ago, Rumblestripe said:

BOOOOOoooooo... 🤣

Don’t mind songs about pedos, but singalongs are a no.