Avalon is dying

[Avalon_Fields]

8 minutes ago, CR77 said:

 we've got Shed Seven heavily rumoured for next year...

I'll add them to our line up page if you know it's a legitimate good rumour?

[CR77]

9 minutes ago, Avalon_Fields said:

I'll add them to our line up page if you know it's a legitimate good rumour?

 

Not sure if it's solid enough... but Shed Seven were asked directly on facebook if they were playing Glasto this year (ie 2024), and they said no, but that they were already in talks for 2025.  And I think they repeated this back in September too, but I can't find it.  Makes sense as they've had a number one album and are doing other dates around the festival, but not Glasto weekend itself.  (Also I have this irrational obsession with the fact that it's the 30th anniversary of the legendary 1995 Glasto, and that loads of bands who played that year should be playing in 2025 - Shed Seven were one of them!)

Here's the original post from May, posted by briddj:

[SticklinchJoe]

It's sad to hear that Avalon doesn't seem to be doing so well. It was one of my favourite areas, but that's going back a few years now.

[Avalon_Fields]

4 hours ago, CR77 said:

 

Not sure if it's solid enough... but Shed Seven were asked directly on facebook if they were playing Glasto this year (ie 2024), and they said no, but that they were already in talks for 2025.  And I think they repeated this back in September too, but I can't find it.  Makes sense as they've had a number one album and are doing other dates around the festival, but not Glasto weekend itself.  (Also I have this irrational obsession with the fact that it's the 30th anniversary of the legendary 1995 Glasto, and that loads of bands who played that year should be playing in 2025 - Shed Seven were one of them!)

Here's the original post from May, posted by briddj:

It’s worthwhile adding them, thanks for the info.

[Sawdusty surfer]

21 hours ago, Pinhead said:

An f**k remember when it was the tipi field now Genosys. When I first ventured up there as a nieve 21 yo into the SE it was a chap with a cocktail bar and loads of crusties and staff. Called the Weird Beard field and sometimes Roy's.

 

Yep, Roy Gurvitz, AKA Weird Beard AKA Roy The Boy. Pretty sure that his first cocktail bar in SE corner was '97 when he was in the field which is now Unfair Ground. Previous to that it was (crusty) crew camping. We were parked up there in '94.

 That set up is what evolved into Lost Vagueness, Roy being the head honcho.

 

Roy had been doing 'unauthorised' bars at Glastonbury for quite some time. I remember that he did The World Cup Bar in '92 which actually had a couple of TVs to watch the games. Unheard of back in those days.He has a history of running bars that predates that as well. He used to run bars at free festivals (when we could still have them, before the Public Order Act) where he usually used to sell Richard's Castle Wine, outrageously strong fruit wine made in Herefordshire.

 

Roy is still on the scene with a very sucessful and rather good big top/marquee etc hire company called Meerkat Marquees.

 

In the unlikely event that anyone hasn't seen it, there's a brilliant film called Lost In Vagueness which shows the rise and fall of LV. Absolutely brilliant viewing and shows how tame the SE corner is these days compared to 20 to 25 years ago. Watch and enjoy!

Edited November 7, 2024 by Sawdusty surfer

[Gnomicide]

9 hours ago, CR77 said:

 

Not sure if it's solid enough... but Shed Seven were asked directly on facebook if they were playing Glasto this year (ie 2024), and they said no, but that they were already in talks for 2025.  And I think they repeated this back in September too, but I can't find it.  Makes sense as they've had a number one album and are doing other dates around the festival, but not Glasto weekend itself.  (Also I have this irrational obsession with the fact that it's the 30th anniversary of the legendary 1995 Glasto, and that loads of bands who played that year should be playing in 2025 - Shed Seven were one of them!)

Here's the original post from May, posted by briddj:

 

I see your "in discussion" and raise you a 🤞 and a later 🤐

 

 

___________________________________

[Pinhead]

3 hours ago, Sawdusty surfer said:

 

Yep, Roy Gurvitz, AKA Weird Beard AKA Roy The Boy. Pretty sure that his first cocktail bar in SE corner was '97 when he was in the field which is now Unfair Ground. Previous to that it was (crusty) crew camping. We were parked up there in '94.

 That set up is what evolved into Lost Vagueness, Roy being the head honcho.

 

Roy had been doing 'unauthorised' bars at Glastonbury for quite some time. I remember that he did The World Cup Bar in '92 which actually had a couple of TVs to watch the games. Unheard of back in those days.He has a history of running bars that predates that as well. He used to run bars at free festivals (when we could still have them, before the Public Order Act) where he usually used to sell Richard's Castle Wine, outrageously strong fruit wine made in Herefordshire.

 

Roy is still on the scene with a very sucessful and rather good big top/marquee etc hire company called Meerkat Marquees.

 

In the unlikely event that anyone hasn't seen it, there's a brilliant film called Lost In Vagueness which shows the rise and fall of LV. Absolutely brilliant viewing and shows how tame the SE corner is these days compared to 20 to 25 years ago. Watch and enjoy!

Interesting - didn't know about the World Cup bar. From '94 when I first went we all used to venture up there for some more 'off the wall' fun, though often would get hacked by crusties on Scrumpy Jack or whatever. Have seen the film (on Amazon) - it seemed to end with Roy looking a bit direction-less so pleased he's got another business up and running. He was certainly a legend to work with by the looks of it. I did see him once around LV (might have been in the Church). Loved his love/hate relationship with Michael.

 

[Olshansky]

Avalon would be the perfect stage to pick up some of the would be williams green acts.  would also help it freshen up I think. 

[Ayrshire Chris]

Get Skinny Lister back on the Avalon.  Can’t beat a bit of punk folk to get the tent rocking. 

Edited November 16, 2024 by Ayrshire Chris

[mjtko]

First-timer in 2024 here. I spent more time at Avalon than I was expecting to -- I thought the line up was pretty eclectic as I kinda expected it to be more folky overall, but the bookings were very solid and I really enjoyed the vibe.

 

I get that it might have changed a fair bit over the years and is now a bit more "just another stage with a screen" though; agree that some of the acts felt a bit out of place there -- has it started to become booking overspill?

[Skip997]

Maybe time to resurrect this thread.

 

My opinion as to why is far too controversial and likely to annoy to many. 

[Someoni]

Sorry, should I post my question in here?

[Skip997]

Just now, Someoni said:

Sorry, should I post my question in here?

Just thought it may help to separate out the Avalon discussion 

[Superscally]

24 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

Maybe time to resurrect this thread.

 

My opinion as to why is far too controversial and likely to annoy to many. 

If it's true, I would love to hear it.

[Skip997]

1 minute ago, Superscally said:

If it's true, I would love to hear it.

It’s nothing but my personal opinion about the acts booked in general and the vibe and atmosphere. 

It’s a subjective opinion and therefore not “true” to anyone but me (and anyone who may agree)

[stuie]

4 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

It’s nothing but my personal opinion about the acts booked in general and the vibe and atmosphere. 

It’s a subjective opinion and therefore not “true” to anyone but me (and anyone who may agree)

 

that's not really controversial.. just tell us your opinion like you normally do 🙂 

[Skip997]

4 minutes ago, stuie said:

 

that's not really controversial.. just tell us your opinion like you normally do 🙂 

I used to look at the line up pre festival and wonder if their remit was to book the worst and most annoying acts they could find. Their specialty if you like 

 

Edited January 24, 2025 by Skip997

[Quark]

Wouldn't go that far, but I definitely find there's less on there that I want to see than there used to be

[stuie]

5 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

I used to look at the line up pre festival and wonder if their remit was to book the worst and most annoying acts they could find. Their specialty if you like 

 

 

Some would call it fun, but as you correctly said before posting, it's subjective.

 

I just read the beginning of this thread and you already posted in July last year 🤣

 

Quote

 

It’s among the most annoying venues on site.

Get rid and replace with camping 

 

 

[Gnomicide]

1 hour ago, stuie said:

 

Some would call it fun, but as you correctly said before posting, it's subjective.

 

I just read the beginning of this thread and you already posted in July last year 🤣

 

 

 

😁

 

As we know, Skip hates anything that isn't some form of electronic, repetitive 80s shite. If he doesn't like it, it should be banished from the site. 

 

Having said that, I'd hate Avalon to go, it was for a very long time my favourite area but over the last few years it has changed somehow. I saw nothing there last year, considering the amount of time I used to, this is quite the change. It's gone more towards heritage act than the folk and punk that usually made up its lineup. Avalon Cafe is a massive loss, especially on Wednesday and Thursday, all in all, it needs to take a step back but getting rid of it would seriously piss me off.

[Someoni]

It definitely has the nostalgic lore feel to it, and it does still get busy from what I gather 

[Superscally]

1 hour ago, Skip997 said:

It’s nothing but my personal opinion about the acts booked in general and the vibe and atmosphere. 

It’s a subjective opinion and therefore not “true” to anyone but me (and anyone who may agree)

Fair

[CaledonianGonzo]

Last year was the first time I watched any acts there for about a decade.

 

OK, it was Toyah and Lulu, but nevertheless.

[AlanFish23]

Avalon is great. I have always loved spending time there and seem some great acts over the years.

[nikkic]

Seen one band there in 10 festivals. 
 

Hobo Jones And The Boys (which felt like a right of passage). 
 

Love the space and often go there for food/a drink/to chill, but bands wise there always seems to be other options clashing and Avalon misses out. 

Maybe that’ll change as I get older.