Boomtown 2012
- Thread starter little monster
- Start date
Grand weekend that. First time we've returned to Arcadia since I popped the question and finally got engaged at Glastonbury last year. Seem to have spent pretty much every night-time hour down Arcadia at Glastonbury over the past couple of years, so the spider arriving in Boomtown was a huge draw.
Thoroughly enjoyed it fwiw. Good site, good people (too many to mention really, but thanks for a great weekend y'all) and a fine selection of acts for the size. Weather helped too, as did the near novel feeling of being able to get across the whole site quickly.
Loved Crispy's menagerie of glowing animal masks, pac man ghosts and Bender costume. And the flaming mushroom clouds were pretty darn impressive it had to be said. Arcadia was noticeably smaller (no platforms from the stage, far fewer performers, no crackling lightning), but it also had some fine new additions - better lazers, eyes etc - and a tighter show. Few things better than dancing amongst that fire and madness.
Only downsides were the thefts - we continually found discarded bags and wallets, plus friends had tents robbed. And toilets and water provision were some of the worst of any festival I've been to, with precious little regular cleaning or topping up of sanitisers going on. Police and security were disturbingly intrusive - sweeping and looking into tents at more than a few opportunities, plus they seemed more concerned with scanning the floor and people's roll-up contents than tackling some of the more unpleasant crimes. And if I honest the music flagged a little for us on Sunday - too much frilly, well electronic show off build up and not enough continuity and heavy beat goodness in between the breakdowns. All became a bit disjointed and indulgent really, sapping some of the energy of the dancefloor.
But they were fairly minor moans in a fantastic weekend. Not quite as debauched and weird as the late night area as Glastonbury (which it's perhaps closest in feel to), nor can it understandably match the sheer scale, depth and wonder of that behemoth, but it's a temptingly easy-going alternative. Couldn't think of a similar sized festival that's come close so far.
Thoroughly enjoyed it fwiw. Good site, good people (too many to mention really, but thanks for a great weekend y'all) and a fine selection of acts for the size. Weather helped too, as did the near novel feeling of being able to get across the whole site quickly.
Loved Crispy's menagerie of glowing animal masks, pac man ghosts and Bender costume. And the flaming mushroom clouds were pretty darn impressive it had to be said. Arcadia was noticeably smaller (no platforms from the stage, far fewer performers, no crackling lightning), but it also had some fine new additions - better lazers, eyes etc - and a tighter show. Few things better than dancing amongst that fire and madness.
Only downsides were the thefts - we continually found discarded bags and wallets, plus friends had tents robbed. And toilets and water provision were some of the worst of any festival I've been to, with precious little regular cleaning or topping up of sanitisers going on. Police and security were disturbingly intrusive - sweeping and looking into tents at more than a few opportunities, plus they seemed more concerned with scanning the floor and people's roll-up contents than tackling some of the more unpleasant crimes. And if I honest the music flagged a little for us on Sunday - too much frilly, well electronic show off build up and not enough continuity and heavy beat goodness in between the breakdowns. All became a bit disjointed and indulgent really, sapping some of the energy of the dancefloor.
But they were fairly minor moans in a fantastic weekend. Not quite as debauched and weird as the late night area as Glastonbury (which it's perhaps closest in feel to), nor can it understandably match the sheer scale, depth and wonder of that behemoth, but it's a temptingly easy-going alternative. Couldn't think of a similar sized festival that's come close so far.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
The brown handbag in the urban camp was left deliberately! I couldn't be arsed carrying it so I bought a rave utility belt at a stall.
Sunray
Its sunny somewhere.
Arcadia and Bodyshop provided the beats for me. My only regret was giving in to sleep and not taking enough speed to see more than I did and fuck the after effects.
I have to go to Shambala and Bestival sound in the knowledge that they will not even come slightly close in all sorts of ways. Least they are free to get in.
I have to go to Shambala and Bestival sound in the knowledge that they will not even come slightly close in all sorts of ways. Least they are free to get in.
ddraig
kicking against the pricks...
ace! those beds were ace on the hill
we were camped not far from the lizard and pretty close to the last set of flags
bit of a hike up and down but had no trouble whatsoever and didn't hear of any near us
e2a - really good photos as usual
i seemed to have missed a fair bit!
editor
hiraethified
Takes great pics that Lumix, doesn't it? Top work!
EastEnder
Brixton Barnacle
Wicked festival once again, despite being unceremoniously robbed blind on the first night, that couldn't detract from the overall awesomeness of the event. Best festival, best location, best company, all in all, top notch stuff.
Some ropey photos:
Boomtown 2012
Some very, very ropey videos:
Some ropey photos:
Boomtown 2012
Some very, very ropey videos:
ruffneck23
front left
great pics
Clair De Lune
Apocalypse cocktails
Oh god, spotted myself dancing like a pillock in a sicknote vid now
ddraig
kicking against the pricks...
oh COME ON! linky?Oh god, spotted myself dancing like a pillock in a sicknote vid now
editor
hiraethified
Clair De Lune
Apocalypse cocktails
it's not really that bad, I am only cringeing cos I KNOW, I only dance at all if I am totally spanneredoh COME ON! linky?
I make my way forward from 2 mins 20 ish. Those lights are a very effective way of spotting myself in crowds I predict next year a lot more people will be glowing heh
EastEnder
Brixton Barnacle
Even assuming they seized as much as 10% of all the drugs there (which seems highly unlikely) that'd imply there was £1.3 million worth of drugs there. Assuming a more likely seizure rate of, say, 5%, that'd be £2.6million. Which would work out at £520 per punter. Explains the massive queues for the cash machines...
£130,000 worth???
is that their 'street value' calculation?
ruffneck23
front left
great set of pics Ed, been looking for some decent photos of the town and the hidden forest
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
Full photo report up now!
Oh that one came out brilliant
. Excuse me while I nick it for facebook! Cheers ed!
ddraig
kicking against the pricks...
ace! just working way through
ruffneck23
front left
yes i thought that about the lego men myself but due to amount and quality of the photos and how they have brought the buzz back 4 days later i thought id let it slide
editor
hiraethified
I've got a few others but that was by far the best. Feel free to purloin!Oh that one came out brilliant
Brixton Hatter
Home is south London mate
what a fucking mental weekend - it's taken me until now to recover and get on this thread! Great to see/meet many urbs there and spend time with friends. It reminded me of the Glastonburys of old....
There was great music wherever you went and some fanstically creative stuff, like a fire-breathing automated robotic dragon in the pub garden, but my main memory and favourite thing was this:
I'm not sure I will ever enjoy a festival as much as that....
There was great music wherever you went and some fanstically creative stuff, like a fire-breathing automated robotic dragon in the pub garden, but my main memory and favourite thing was this:
Just fcuking amazing: raving it up in a massive field with thousands of others and a huge sound system. Where can you go next? Flame throwers, fuck yeah!!!So sick of hearing all the amazing reports, gutted I missed it
Just look...
I'm not sure I will ever enjoy a festival as much as that....
