How was 2025?

[noisenoiseandmorenoise]

The mackerel sandwich I had from Thyme & Tide was excellent and certainly not stale bread. I managed the weekend without going near a chip. 

Healthier options and more 'lunch' options would be good though I don't know what they look like aside from having a boots meal-deal stand.

[Olshansky]

yeah I had the cajun fish from tyme and tide on the thursday, feeling that it might be the freshest it would be all weekend lol.  It actually was delicious and one of the best things i had all weekend. 

 

[staffop]

For what it's worth:

 

EOTR 25

 

THURS

 

Arrived later than usual due to issues with the van, also carrying bronchitis and on meds. Set up and headed in, fearful of weather to come (which came and then some).

 

Off we go, gutted to miss Westside Cowboy (again), saw a bit of Youth Lagoon and a bit of Sharon Van Etten, but headed over to Folly for GetDown Services - how much fun was that?! (‘Shout if you’re from London… now everyone point and say f**k you’.) Bumped into Personal Trainer at the Folly Bar for a very drunken, funny late night chat. Great lads. Went for late night wander and ended up in Cinema tent (unusual new location, extra capacity welcome, worked for me) for Wild at Heart - loved the Lynch curation (and signage on the front)

 

FRI

Up and at ‘em (ish), home made bloody Mary’s in hand ( a recipe finely tuned over the years, don’t forget the sherry…), bacon roll from the bus and and off to the WG hedge for beautiful picking from Hayden Pedigo (who seemed genuinely shocked to be playing to so many people), loved his jokes about Amarillo and being able to see your dog three days later after he had run away etc, and then Daisy Rickman, who was sublime (drony, ancient folk, what’s not to like) - All Tomorrow’s Parties was a highlight. Weather was holding up well, scattered rain throughout though. Off to Woods for end of Rosali (lovely Americana) followed by Bug Club. Usually most excellent but felt like the outside/outsize space wasn’t conducive to their usual intimate chaos. Clashes already so as we missed Florist, COFFIN and Orchestra for Now. Saw a bit of Jackie O at Boat (disappointingly meh)

 

Broadside Hacks were great (with Mike Heron) but Lisa O Neill, wow, highlight of the festival. Berninger not so much….  Over to the Folly for the start of the secret sets. Couldn’t get into Adam Buxton’s novelty fun (as much as I love him usually) - may have been better in the front, Orchestra for Now passed pleasantly and COFFIN were fun. I’m now realising how fuzzy my memory is - hot cider may have been involved…

 

Bed late (usual smash burger), off to sleep in a lovely haze

 

 

SAT

 

Forecast looked bleak but we went back in praying to the sun gods. Worked for a bit then heavens opened. Had to give up in the end and beat a hasty retreat later in the afternoon back to the van to shelter.

 

Before then we had a great run at the Garden - Muireann Bradley (stunning 18YO Irish guitarist playing old time 20s country), Jerron Paxton, ancient blues from the soul, who played pretty much anything he could get his hands on including bones, and then Tyler Ballgame - wow, some pipes. Even Stuart Murdoch turned up for a song. Gutted Tyler Zimmerman had to pull out - was my must see.

 

Gave up as sodden so missed Jim Ghedi, Greg Freeman and Jasmine 4t, but had a nice snooze at the van listening to the heavens open then back in for the evening. Weather improved somewhat, mushrooms were taken, and fun mayhem ensued.

 

Note to self, don’t interrogate bemused Canadians’ about the origin of the Caesar and how to milk a clam…

 

Saw a bit of Ducks Ltd (jangly fun), over to Throwing Muses who were great (an uncommon trip into the murk of the Big Top), fancied Self Esteem who was amazing at GM last year but plumped for Viagra Boys. Holy f**k, were they good - smashed it, so much fun. Sports! Lovely that they donated their fee to Doctors Without Borders. Had a ball staring out the freaky witch in the trees too 😂

 

Secret sets here we come, easily distracted by shiny lights and interesting shadows on the way which meant we missed Tyler Ballgame…

 

Did see John Maus who was sh*t, just don’t get it (but that’s my problem obvs) , and baled before DAME AREA who I heard were good but probably not as much fun as wandering round the woods and the games area until 3am. Loved the super length snooker table. Only got 7 forks in the end though (I think 😂)

 

 

SUN

 

Weather held off and a lovely last day was had. BMs and bacon roll  in hand, saw second half of Shovel Dance (amazing) and the the sublime delights of Jake Xerxes,

 

Over to Woods for the end of Ryan Davis then Sylvie Kreusch and then Tropical f**k Storm. Playing order was reversed in our heads so slightly discombobulated by the ever excellent, but non aligned, listening notes from Sally. Clearly the weekend was catching up with us all…

 

Back to Garden for the very pleasant Katy J Pearson, then Sorry (Who’s this? Er, Sorry…? Who’s this? etc), finished off with BCNY, slow build but a great set overall. Walked past John Maus in the BT (again, WTF?) and off for final secret sets - Wu Lyf (used to be biggish apparently, meh), but bailed Tubs and headed back to my lovely van in my cups.

 

Another fantastic, albeit somewhat wet, weekend - see you next year x