Glastonbury 2008

[Looby]

I think there are a number of factors. Yes the weather and ticketing have been a problem but you only have to look back over this thread and many others like it to see that issues such as rising cost, general vibe, paucity of late night entertainment etc have all played there part.

Of a group of friends at least 15 strong who go every year only 5 are going this year, and bare in mind we are all veterans of the 97 & 98 mud and the 2000 horror show. My experience is not unique either.

However I am seeing this as a positive thing. An opportunity for the festival to reasses itself and try and go back to what they do best, running a bloody great party, they are not a travel agent for coach parties etc etc.

As Geoff said there is loads to do after the main stages are finished and there has been lots more added in the last couple of years.

The atmosphere has been different the past few years, it's not as hectic as it was the first couple of years I went (99 and 2000). It is a shame that some of that has been lost but as has been said a million times the festival is a victim of it's own success. If they hadn't made the changes like the superfence we wouldn't have a festival at all so I personally am willing to accept the compromises. There were points during 2000 that were fucking scary, someone said (possibly on here) that it felt like another Hillsborough waiting to happen.

As for the ticket fiasco, it's a pain in the arse. Sunday was 2 hours of stress (for nothing as it turns out), See is a fucking shambles and this is only the start. We've got the hassle of actually getting the tickets delivered yet.

For all it's faults on the whole I think the registration is a good idea, why should touts make a packet out of punters? The downside is when people genuinely can't go or back out because of the weather they can't pass those tickets on at face value. That would definitely be something worth looking into in the future.

I respect the reasons of those not going but I hope (for my own selfish reasons) they are wrong and it's a brilliant weekend or I may join the refuseniks next year.

 

[Teaboy]

I respect the reasons of those not going but I hope (for my own selfish reasons) they are wrong and it's a brilliant weekend or I may join the refuseniks next year.

And I hope you have a wonderful time, it's great to see someone with such great enthusiasm for the festival still.

My hand has been forced this year by a stag weekend, but I was in two minds anyway. I hope it's a great weekend and everyone is on here raving about it again.

 

[Socket]

That's the thing: I don't think we'll be happy until it's perfect. It never will be, but it never fails to be a damned fine weekend.

 

[Looby]

And I hope you have a wonderful time, it's great to see someone with such great enthusiasm for the festival still.

My hand has been forced this year by a stag weekend, but I was in two minds anyway. I hope it's a great weekend and everyone is on here raving about it again.

I sound like William don't I?

It's quite a recent thing. I have been a no all year, wavering for a couple of months and only decided saturday night we were definitely going.

I can't be sat at home, watching everyone basking in sun having a lovely time without me.

 

[El Jefe]

I sound like William don't I?

Thankfully not

 

[Lysistrata]

That's the thing: I don't think we'll be happy until it's perfect. It never will be, but it never fails to be a damned fine weekend.

Agreed. So, this should be interesting. Last year I was with a group of about 50 people - this year there are six of us! I'm really glad there are no headliners I feel obliged to see.

 

[paolo]

Just a brief point about the combo coaches - they weren't done a whim. It was the only way (not increasing car traffic) that Mendip would agree to the expansion. The same number of normal tickets were available as the previous festival. The bundled coaches were run by Seetickets, who cobbled it together from various coach companies, and then failed to manage the departures. NX are running it this year, and they have a much better reputation for festival coaches.

I would rather take the train myself, but then again I would rather take the coach than not go at all.

But all of that is irrelevent to the non-sell out. There are still normal tickets available. Coach combos are not the issue.

The most common complaint here, I think, has been weather. I don't blame anyone for binning it after 2007. When I hauled myself up to the bus station, to get to CC, I just thought "right here, right now, don't even ask whether I'm coming back".

But a few months put things in perspective. The weather is always hit and miss. Taking a break won't change that. So either soldier on and hope, or give it up for good. The latter, for me, just isn't an option - yet, at least.

Roll on June indeed. I thinks this one could be a blinder.

 

[moose]

If I'd thought there would be fewer people I'd have registered

Actually, I think the availability of late-night stuff has been detrimental. At the risk of sounding like me gran, in the old days we really did make our own entertainment. The traveller's fields, Joe Bananas, and just dancing around shops was great in the late 90s, and wandering round to find a fire to sit at before that.

 

[Sunray]

If I'd thought there would be fewer people I'd have registered

Actually, I think the availability of late-night stuff has been detrimental. At the risk of sounding like me gran, in the old days we really did make our own entertainment. The traveller's fields, Joe Bananas, and just dancing around shops was great in the late 90s, and wandering round to find a fire to sit at before that.

I would say the lack of fires to wander round to has been in part due to torrential rain putting them out and the mud making camp sites even more treacherous than normal, unless you like being covered in mud from tripping over a guy rope.

 

[moose]

Aaah, giveover about the weather - it's not so bad

 

[Sunray]

Aaah, giveover about the weather - it's not so bad

Couple of Glasto's back I would have agreed with you Moose and joined in slagging off any one for complaining about a bit of mud.

I think we can all agree, last year was a little more than a 'bit of mud'. I feel bad somehow for admitting that an endless sea of mud got to me, but it did.

 

[Looby]

Couple of Glasto's back I would have agreed with you Moose and joined in slagging off any one for complaining about a bit of mud.

I think we can all agree, last year was a little more than a 'bit of mud'. I feel bad somehow for admitting that an endless sea of mud got to me, but it did.

And me.
I was quite impressed that I didn't fall over though. My mate went to Womad and managed to fall over everyday. On the last day she was so pissed off she took her boyfriend with her.

 

[Socket]

I fell over several times a day last year, without spilling a drop of cider.

WOMAD was even muddier. We left on the Saturday for fear of the van becoming irretrievably stuck. Still, I finally got to see Peter Gabriel.

 

[Gerry1time]

It's odd, i've hated the mud beyond belief at times, but last year didn't really mind it too much. I think it's cos my expectation now changes when it goes muddy, and i just think sod it and set myself up in the comedy tent, where there's loads of space to sit down, with some cider for a bit. One evening i did walk all the way over to the dance stages from the greenfields to see iration steppas, but treated that as the mission it was and just ambled slowly over there with plenty of time for it. Otherwise i just stayed based around the greenfields, which can feel kinda cool and countrysidey when it rains anyway.

The only real bugger was that so many of the beer tents have swopped from burrow hill cider to brothers. Love burrow hill, can't stand brothers, and don't drink beer. So when i fancied a drink, i had to mission it a bit across to the cider bus to stock up. The main road down from the greenfields was kept relatively mud free though, so that wasn't too bad.

Damn, am making myself excited just thinking about all the different parts of the festival. It's gonna be good i reckon.

 

[madamv]

I fell over several times a day last year, without spilling a drop of cider.

WOMAD was even muddier. We left on the Saturday for fear of the van becoming irretrievably stuck. Still, I finally got to see Peter Gabriel.

I saw him at Glastonbury in 94. Or maybe it was 93?

I did the falling over with a hand only in the mud. Ewww.

Hope its lovely and sunny all weekend for everyone and a fab time is had by all.

*and sparklefish misses me, just a tiny ickle bit*

 

[Looby]

I saw him at Glastonbury in 94. Or maybe it was 93?

I did the falling over with a hand only in the mud. Ewww.

Hope its lovely and sunny all weekend for everyone and a fab time is had by all.

*and sparklefish misses me, just a tiny ickle bit*

I'll miss you loads.

 

[William of Walworth]

Thing is people just don't want the buses. They represent poor value for money and a major major hassle. Last year it was all a bit 'it's your only chance to get to the festival so live with it'. Well it looks like a lot of people have reacted accordingly.

I'm with what Sunray said earlier about that -- the combined train packages look (in the absence of knowing too much detail anyway ) a LOT more attractive. And more environmentally friendly as has been said .....

More trains, flexible discount heavy trainfare packages, people being sure well in advance that they KNOW they've got a secure train seat to and from, what's not to like? Fear of coppers with their dogs at Castle Carey station possibly, but there's ways round that

 

[William of Walworth]

As Giles says above, the 'selling out in a few hours' is a recent and not especially welcome phenomenon. Not sure what your point is.

Agreeing with Giles and El Jefe about this. Ultimately, the somewhat slower sales don't really matter, and look like they're ending up less stressful for many people ....

They'll be sold out in the end anyway, so no bother.

There are rumours elsewhere that registration might reopen for a limited window of time, but no sign of the confirmation of this that was expected today but which I don't think happened.

 

[William of Walworth]

My favourite year but was pretty crazy!

Mine too with the probable exception for me of Heatwave 1995. But yeah, 2000 was scary as fuck at times

It is said (estimates vary) that there were as many as 250,000 or even a bit more on site in 2000 .... can believe it! Ulp!

And the last year of unfettered multirigger Travellers Field soundsystem craziness. I had a ball up there , but 17 K rigs kicking off 24 hours for 5 or 6 days was taking the piss a tad and was never going to be repeatable. Neither was the free for all for gatecrashers.

 

[Socket]

I think they'll release the full line up first (apparently brought forward to 1st May) and see how things go before considering re-opening registrations.

This is pure unfounded supposition based on spending the day discussing Glastonbury on half a dozen forums and in no way meant to be taken in the slightest bit seriously!

 

[William of Walworth]

Lost Vagueness and entertainment were pretty much mutually exclusive in my experience. The best late night stuff for me was always in the cafe bars and slightly whiffy bars. There seems to be less of that now.

Things will change this time up that way quite a lot I expect, with everything Joe Rush/the Mutoid Waste and Trash City thing/Chris Tofu/Continental Drifts seem to be planning. LV had got tired and samey and Roy had pissed off Michael Eavis and various others several times too often, I wasn't too surprised at all that LV were sacked to be honest. I'm looking forward to the new arrangements

 

[Sunray]

Mine too with the probable exception for me of Heatwave 1995. But yeah, 2000 was scary as fuck at times

It is said (estimates vary) that there were as many as 250,000 or even a bit more on site in 2000 .... can believe it! Ulp!

And the last year of unfettered multirigger Travellers Field soundsystem craziness. I had a ball up there , but 17 K rigs kicking off 24 hours for 5 or 6 days was taking the piss a tad and was never going to be repeatable. Neither was the free for all for gatecrashers.

That was my 1st ever Glastonbury!

Twas hot and insane in many many ways. Great great time I had, with some very scary moments indeed. How about the 5 guys with the largest mag lites storming through peoples tents. Some scally coming over to show me his collection of knives. The fantastic acid visuals and the Chemical Brothers at their finest moment. Oh and the crush at the bridge between headliners. That was

 

[William of Walworth]

I sound like William don't I?

Thankfully not

There's no need for that. Is there?

Actually, sf is expressing similar opinons to mine about this ...

 

[William of Walworth]

That was my 1st ever Glastonbury!

Twas hot and insane in many many ways. Great great time I had, with some very scary moments indeed. How about the 5 guys with the largest mag lites storming through peoples tents. Some scally coming over to show me his collection of knives. The fantastic acid visuals and the Chemical Brothers at their finest moment. Oh and the crush at the bridge between headliners. That was

Myself and friends were spared almost any of the tent robbing shit in 2000, but some of those other images ring type bells .....

 

[Tort]

If they are going to re-open registration they'd have to do it pretty soon as they need to get all the details finalised a good 6 weeks before the festival in order to get photos on tickets, printed & posted. There is absolutely no way they are going to sell those 25,000 coach package tickets now & they can't sell them as ordinary entrance only tickets because that would contravene the license condition which allowed the increased numbers last year. Personally I think they'll probably just take it on the chin, realise they've fucked up on several fronts & book a few mega-acts for next year to bring the crowds back. The prospect of having 30,000 less people there this year really is quite appealing. Now if they could only get rid of all the moody security goons then they might just have a half decent festival on their hands again.

 

[Socket]

It'd be lovely to have some more breathing space but I think the increased numbers were less of a problem with overcrowding than the weather conditions herding everyone into a third of the space we'd usually fill.

 

[William of Walworth]

It'd be lovely to have some more breathing space but I think the increased numbers were less of a problem with overcrowding than the weather conditions herding everyone into a third of the space we'd usually fill.

Exactly, my take is that complaints about 'overcrowding' last year were unjustified when attributed to the extra numbers alone rather than to the much more important mud-compression factor ...

In a dry year, with more spreading out space, 30,000 extra can be accomodated easily, given that the site has expanded and continues to anyway.

 

[William of Walworth]

Now if they could only get rid of all the moody security goons then they might just have a half decent festival on their hands again.

I believe what several people tell me and Flip it seems had a really bad time at their hands in the Dance Village, but I have to say I noticed nothing of this ... did you??

The only security types I had any dealings with (very very few) were actually OK what little that I could see. Quite friendly even!

But sounds like there were dodgier moodier types too. Some got unlucky I guess.

 

[Sunray]

I really don't think its better or worse for the 30,000 people Tort.

On a site that massive, no rain, place will be a pretty chilled. Piss it down and its suddenly packed as fuck.

 

[Sunray]

Sun, Rain and Human nature.

In response to someone talking about the atmosphere lacking that crazyness at Glastonbury. I really think this is entirely driven by the weather and there is little people can do about it.

My second Glastonbury rained on the second day. Not enough to make much difference really, but it was hard showers and lasted for about 1/2 a day and then the sun came out. That rain was enough to dislodge something from the atmosphere, once the sun came out there was near physical lifting of mood around me. I was standing in the Avalon field. Once the sun dried out the site and it was clear it was gonna stay dry, the place regained that energy again.

I was watching some David Attenborough thing from the jungle in some downpour and all the chimps and gorillas were sitting holding these huge leaves over their heads. Birds were sheltering in trees, small mammals hid in burrows. Sheltering from inclement weather is something we do naturally.

We are beyond instinct, so you can skip through the rain and mud if you want. Mentalists aside, it doesn't change the fact, standing in the rain pisses you off. That's not good for festival atmosphere.