Urban75 Home About Offline BrixtonBuzz Contact

Mighty Hoopla, Cross The Tracks, Wide Awake & City Splash festivals, Brockwell Park - discussion

I am very much looking forward to seeing Loyle Carner and Erykah Badu today....
I've not seen her live and maybe she shakes it all up but was listening this morning thinking that EB is more of a chilled afternoon gig rather than a late night headliner. Anyway, enjoy.
 
A friend says they're funnelling everyone past a sniffer dog on their way in and there's a "cursory body search and a handheld scanner."
 
A friend says they're funnelling everyone past a sniffer dog on their way in and there's a "cursory body search and a handheld scanner."

I saw nothing like that and wasn't even patted down.....they just waved a metal detector in front of me and allowed me through. My partner's bag was glanced in, but on the whole getting in was very simple. No dogs, no cops anywhere. I could have got booze and drugs in no problem if I'd tried.

As a festival it was a bit rubbish if I am honest. There were way too many people for the main stage to cope with, and there were way too many stages for anyone to really get to see many of the artists because they mostly clashed. The 5 acts I wanted to see most were all on at the same time, so I ended up seeing two only.

Everyone tried to cram in for Erykah, and the space just wasn't big enough. That coupled with the fact that millennials don't have any kind of gig going etiquette, which mean't lost of pushing, shoving, stomping and stamping over anyone and anything to get to the front, and when challenged would say stuff like 'it's a festival, what do you expect?' and 'no one's paid for a space, man' - which is fucking bollocks because the last time I looked going to a festival did not equate to check your manners at the entrance and it's everyone for them self. Then after getting that golden spot, they chat to each other through the whole set, because they don't really know who they are watching or any of the songs, but at least they can say today they were there.......wankers, the lot of 'em

There was loads of food, not too many queues. I was shocked bu the amount of bars, there were fucking loads, and again, no big queues, and where there were queues it took less than 10 mins to get served.....but there was also loads of smaller specialist bars selling craft beers, spirits, wine etc....tons of alcohol; people were glugging bottles of wine at a time like bottles of beer.

There was loads of drug taking, people just openly doing coke everywhere (...and coked up rude wankers are always a joy to be stuck in a field with). Maybe people needed the drugs because many of the artists were playing music that was more suited to small clubs than a field. There was lots of experimental jazz, soul, electronic music, which I really would have loved to get into in a different environment, but circus tents full of uninterested people wasn't the place for it.

Erykah was great, and Loyle Carner was great. Sons of Kemet and Mammal Hands were good, but they were perfect examples of bands that would have been fucking amazing in a small club setting.

For me it was too big, too many stages, acts, people, and (i'm gonna say it.....cos I am getting old) too much booze and drugs.

I remember a time when people went to see live music because they wanted to see and hear bands play. For lots of people these days it's a day out with their mates, the music is somewhere down the list after drink, drugs, chatting, eating and glittery make up. It's more about the experience of being somewhere than hearing something. I blame Brit Pop for this, because it was around then that people started to going to gigs to hang instead of caring about seeing the band.

Maybe it's just London. People are spoilt, and they act spoilt and entitled. I go to gig in other towns and cities and the atmosphere is much better.

Oh....areas where rain had made the ground very wet and muddy were cordoned off so people couldn't cause more damage.
 
Behaviour by main stage I agree was poor. People talking all through Moses Sumney and Erykah Badu. In tents more enjoyable and nicer atmosphere. Lee Fields, Children of Zeus and Obongjayar very fun and chilled enough to enjoy.

I thought drug taking was no more than expected for London festival. Noticeable that security who had finished shift and now in normal clothes were amongst those dealing. Attitude of male security towards particularly female festival attendees was very poor and mentioned by a few people.
 
I saw a bit of Obongjayer. I liked that. I need to check out more.

The atmosphere was better in the tents, I agree, but there were still groups of people bashing through, stopping for 5 mins, chatting, and then fucking off again because the music was a bit too challenging.

I actually really enjoyed the silly village green area where the daft games were happening. People were just having fun and larking about. It was a good. The hosts were a bit funny and a bit annoying in equal measures.
 
I didn’t go. And haven’t been to a festival for a long time. But the behaviour you describe doesn’t sound unlike anything I used to experience and was possibly part of, my memory fails me. I too would find it fucking irritating but I put that down to me getting old, grumpy and cynical. Those same kids snorting and talking during sets will in 10-15 years be making similar posts to yours methinks.
 
I didn’t go. And haven’t been to a festival for a long time. But the behaviour you describe doesn’t sound unlike anything I used to experience and was possibly part of, my memory fails me. I too would find it fucking irritating but I put that down to me getting old, grumpy and cynical. Those same kids snorting and talking during sets will in 10-15 years be making similar posts to yours methinks.

And using words like 'methinks' :p
 
Interesting thoughts. Being of the rave generation, I definitely went to festivals for the music, didn't care too much for eating, and didn't give a damn what I looked like, but I also reckon that I annoyed other people in all the ways people mention above.
 
I saw nothing like that and wasn't even patted down.....they just waved a metal detector in front of me and allowed me through. My partner's bag was glanced in, but on the whole getting in was very simple. No dogs, no cops anywhere. I could have got booze and drugs in no problem if I'd tried.

As a festival it was a bit rubbish if I am honest. There were way too many people for the main stage to cope with, and there were way too many stages for anyone to really get to see many of the artists because they mostly clashed. The 5 acts I wanted to see most were all on at the same time, so I ended up seeing two only.

Everyone tried to cram in for Erykah, and the space just wasn't big enough. That coupled with the fact that millennials don't have any kind of gig going etiquette, which mean't lost of pushing, shoving, stomping and stamping over anyone and anything to get to the front, and when challenged would say stuff like 'it's a festival, what do you expect?' and 'no one's paid for a space, man' - which is fucking bollocks because the last time I looked going to a festival did not equate to check your manners at the entrance and it's everyone for them self. Then after getting that golden spot, they chat to each other through the whole set, because they don't really know who they are watching or any of the songs, but at least they can say today they were there.......wankers, the lot of 'em

There was loads of food, not too many queues. I was shocked bu the amount of bars, there were fucking loads, and again, no big queues, and where there were queues it took less than 10 mins to get served.....but there was also loads of smaller specialist bars selling craft beers, spirits, wine etc....tons of alcohol; people were glugging bottles of wine at a time like bottles of beer.

There was loads of drug taking, people just openly doing coke everywhere (...and coked up rude wankers are always a joy to be stuck in a field with). Maybe people needed the drugs because many of the artists were playing music that was more suited to small clubs than a field. There was lots of experimental jazz, soul, electronic music, which I really would have loved to get into in a different environment, but circus tents full of uninterested people wasn't the place for it.

Erykah was great, and Loyle Carner was great. Sons of Kemet and Mammal Hands were good, but they were perfect examples of bands that would have been fucking amazing in a small club setting.

For me it was too big, too many stages, acts, people, and (i'm gonna say it.....cos I am getting old) too much booze and drugs.

I remember a time when people went to see live music because they wanted to see and hear bands play. For lots of people these days it's a day out with their mates, the music is somewhere down the list after drink, drugs, chatting, eating and glittery make up. It's more about the experience of being somewhere than hearing something. I blame Brit Pop for this, because it was around then that people started to going to gigs to hang instead of caring about seeing the band.

Maybe it's just London. People are spoilt, and they act spoilt and entitled. I go to gig in other towns and cities and the atmosphere is much better.

Oh....areas where rain had made the ground very wet and muddy were cordoned off so people couldn't cause more damage.
Yeah, I'd go along with most of that.
 
I’m not much of a festival goer but have been to loads of gigs at the Academy over the years and there’s definitely more talking through the acts now. I can’t see why people pay £30 plus to chat to their mates.
 
A diffferent atmosphere today I feel. Less druggy. I am having only juice and coffee today. Enjoyed Charlotte Gainsbourg and James Holden. Lot of nice people. Less my kind of music today.

Talked to neighbours yesterday, many noise complaints and some antisocial, urged all to make reports, but not an overall negative feeling to festival. Very interesting chat with long term resident who felt worry about festival but also that a vocal social media minority were determined to complain no matter and may give bad impression of our community.
 
I live nearby and can't hear it , it must be crap?

Was in the park earlier having a coffee, wasn't big sound or anything, all very pastoral with police horses clopping around .
 
I remember a time when people went to see live music because they wanted to see and hear bands play. For lots of people these days it's a day out with their mates, the music is somewhere down the list after drink, drugs, chatting, eating and glittery make up. It's more about the experience of being somewhere than hearing something. I blame Brit Pop for this, because it was around then that people started to going to gigs to hang instead of caring about seeing the band.

I like to think U75 has a hold on reality. People have been getting trashed at festivals since whenever. Quite what Britpop has got to do with this I've no idea. Fine if you want to refer to internet / smart phones et al.

People were getting wankered and chatting at the Beaulieu jazz festival nearly 60 yrs ago....
4323478.jpg
 
Odd how I thought exactly the opposite of the crowds across the two days: yesterday was lovely and chilled with a really nice atmosphere, whereas today felt far more druggy. Was also loads busier, right on the cusp of feeling oversold.

It appears from Twitter that they closed big aircraft hanger type stage just before tonight's headliner due to overcrowding... lots of very angry tweets.
 
Many locals annoyed by political nature of opposition even with sound complaints. A few neigbours saying would never vote green or "liberal" "democrat" again.
 
Many locals annoyed by political nature of opposition even with sound complaints. A few neigbours saying would never vote green or "liberal" "democrat" again.
The main opposition campaign was not political and Thurlow park labour were against it also.
 
Odd how I thought exactly the opposite of the crowds across the two days: yesterday was lovely and chilled with a really nice atmosphere, whereas today felt far more druggy. Was also loads busier, right on the cusp of feeling oversold.

It appears from Twitter that they closed big aircraft hanger type stage just before tonight's headliner due to overcrowding... lots of very angry tweets.

Honestly, the number of people on Friday seemed like the right number, there were too many people there yesterday. The organisation of getting to the Hangar was poor, there shouldn't have been one main entry and exit point and was poorly planned to the point of being dangerous. Four Tet essentially being the sole headliner at that tent was silly.

All in all a disappointing day yesterday, given how much fun I had on Friday.
 
This thread makes me chuckle. Because of what a cool hipster I am and, like, always have been, I went to Field Days like ten years ago when they were in Vicky Park, and the organisation was always shit, there were noise restrictions that meant it was too quiet, and it was always full of 'millennials' before that was even a thing, behaving as described. It was alright though.
 
Back
Top Bottom