"Festivals": the end of season debrief
- Thread starter Hollis
- Start date
boing! said:its an efestivals invasioin!
BOARD WARS!!!!!!
Not really, honest ..
bus said:does that make me a fifth columnist?
fantastic
lucky enough to have been to lots of camps/events this summer,earth first,dorkbot etc to make up for some mixed experiences at the music fests..
MUSIC festival wise..here is the good the bad and the ugly as i see it!
LATITUDE...in norfolk,stewarded for oxfam at this one,,,cant afford £100 which is now the average cost for music festivals
stewarding seems to get worse and worse as the years go by..the charities seem to ask more and more of you thats all ill say..for a big corporate festival this was not nearly so bad as i thought,there was no tacky advertising on site,no "heavy" security,the types of acts were fairly diverse and some left fieldish indie like the organ played.also enjoyed patti smith,antony and johnsons,tom verlaine,nicky wire was good for a laugh!
there was also loads for caberet acts and a literary stage,both decent too.
worst things about the festival-a very straight bland corporate type crowd.work as a steward included asking people to prove their age and keeping the drunk spolied "peaches geldof" style sprogs of the production staff from entering the backstage area on mummies orders, a real barrel of laughs..
TRUCK....small indie-ish festival in oxfordshire.not as left field as in the past scored freebie at last minute cos an aquaintance bailed out..
FRUITSTOCK...packed out! full of toffs! only went cos a friend was going who i havent seen in 5 years.we saw novelle vauge and norman j then left
UTHROPHIA...FREE FEST/FREE CAMPING associated with resonace fm...if you dont like free form /improv and wierd music generally DONT go..i like it tho and the site was within walking distance of a great beach
it was fun reading the opinions..for me next years plans include glasto,womad and/or reading (probably not all 3) but will deffo try working at "workers beer tent" next time..oxfam took the piss too much!
would also like to check out nowhere(aka european burning man) and lambeth county show
MUSIC festival wise..here is the good the bad and the ugly as i see it!
LATITUDE...in norfolk,stewarded for oxfam at this one,,,cant afford £100 which is now the average cost for music festivals
stewarding seems to get worse and worse as the years go by..the charities seem to ask more and more of you thats all ill say..for a big corporate festival this was not nearly so bad as i thought,there was no tacky advertising on site,no "heavy" security,the types of acts were fairly diverse and some left fieldish indie like the organ played.also enjoyed patti smith,antony and johnsons,tom verlaine,nicky wire was good for a laugh!
there was also loads for caberet acts and a literary stage,both decent too.
worst things about the festival-a very straight bland corporate type crowd.work as a steward included asking people to prove their age
and keeping the drunk spolied "peaches geldof" style sprogs of the production staff from entering the backstage area on mummies orders, a real barrel of laughs.. TRUCK....small indie-ish festival in oxfordshire.not as left field as in the past
scored freebie at last minute cos an aquaintance bailed out..FRUITSTOCK...packed out! full of toffs! only went cos a friend was going who i havent seen in 5 years.we saw novelle vauge and norman j then left
UTHROPHIA...FREE FEST/FREE CAMPING associated with resonace fm...if you dont like free form /improv and wierd music generally DONT go..i like it tho
and the site was within walking distance of a great beachit was fun reading the opinions..for me next years plans include glasto,womad and/or reading (probably not all 3) but will deffo try working at "workers beer tent" next time..oxfam took the piss too much!
would also like to check out nowhere(aka european burning man) and lambeth county show
fortunesfool
Tragic Hippy
Endorse It Indoors - a great day out/in (?), good beer, great bands in Pronghorn and The Beat and good company. Looking forward to hopefully making it to the christmas one
Wychwood - A surprise last minute one, just did a couple of days rather than camping. A great line-up, good food and the Tiny Tea Tent. Bar needed a bit of work though
Walcot Independence Day - Street party turned one day festival in Bath. My small review and some pics can be found HERE
Americana - A redneck dream, but very well organised little festival on Newark's Showground.
Beautiful Days - Not bowled away by the bands on offer, though Alabama 3 was a highlight of the summer. It was our first festival camping with the smally and therefore we missed quite a bit but it still felt like the fresh, creative and joyful festival I remembered from last year. Looking forward to the 5th anniversary next year
Wychwood - A surprise last minute one, just did a couple of days rather than camping. A great line-up, good food and the Tiny Tea Tent. Bar needed a bit of work though
Walcot Independence Day - Street party turned one day festival in Bath. My small review and some pics can be found HERE
Americana - A redneck dream, but very well organised little festival on Newark's Showground.
Beautiful Days - Not bowled away by the bands on offer, though Alabama 3 was a highlight of the summer. It was our first festival camping with the smally and therefore we missed quite a bit but it still felt like the fresh, creative and joyful festival I remembered from last year. Looking forward to the 5th anniversary next year
more debrief:
The Glade
Beautiful Days
Endorse It (more to come)
Electric Picnic
Get Loaded.
fill yer boots
The Glade
Beautiful Days
Endorse It (more to come)
Electric Picnic
Get Loaded.
fill yer boots
Idaho
continuity character
I went to a grand total of ONE festival this year. Which is probably slightly above average for me. Endorse it was top and I really want to go next year inshallah.
There is Glastonbury next year, but I wonder if I have had enough of huge festivals. The great thing about Endorse it was that it didn't have any of the endless trudging, queuing, milling in crowds, waiting, phoning, waiting, meeting, trudging that seems to be 50% of the Glastonbury experience.
There is Glastonbury next year, but I wonder if I have had enough of huge festivals. The great thing about Endorse it was that it didn't have any of the endless trudging, queuing, milling in crowds, waiting, phoning, waiting, meeting, trudging that seems to be 50% of the Glastonbury experience.
*Miss*Sparkle*
please, call me Sparkle
This year I've been to:
glade - fantastic, great weather, glowstick madness, and altern8.
o2 wireless - as corporate as I thought it was going to be. The flaming lips were great tho.
hyde park unity day - good food from the Hungry catepillar - huge box of veggie food for £2.50 Iration Steppas were loud but not on top form.
leeds festival - saw some bands, got drunk, danced in the mud, the usual really. Not going back next year tho.
still to go: Thimbleberry september.... it's gonna be a cold one - still looking forward to it mind.
And me too
glade - fantastic, great weather, glowstick madness, and altern8.
o2 wireless - as corporate as I thought it was going to be. The flaming lips were great tho.
hyde park unity day - good food from the Hungry catepillar - huge box of veggie food for £2.50
Iration Steppas were loud but not on top form.leeds festival - saw some bands, got drunk, danced in the mud, the usual really. Not going back next year tho.
still to go: Thimbleberry september.... it's gonna be a cold one - still looking forward to it mind.
bus said:hello entropized. gmaster8, hipster, dashboardlizard, perky and I will all be at thimbleberry too, but if you're who i think you are, you'll already know that
Should be brilliant, I'm really looking forward to it...such a great little festy!
And me too
*Miss*Sparkle*
please, call me Sparkle
bus said:is that *you* sparkle?
/off topic
yup... another one
there's another sparkle on here so I had to add additional stars which I now regret somewhat cos it makes me look a bit emo I think 
/on topic
I've had a busy summer!
Here's my lengthy list
Knockengorroch Spring, SW Scotland, May
Weather cold and wet mostly, but this was a new three day festival for me, set in the remote hills of South West Scotland, the site in a beautiful glen. Lovely Heather Beer from an independent Scottish brewery. Very friendly folks, lots of old school festival types with interesting vehicles, won prize for spotting someone with dreads AND a kilt within 15 minutes.
Lots of folkie and dancey acts, and a Pizza Stall which was a blatant front for an all night mega sound system. Chaotic and in a good way!
Kingston Green Fair, May
One day hippyfest in the lovely Canbury Gardens on the Thames. Rained a bit on and off, but absolutely brilliant all the same. New stall selling organic beer that was very popular. Saw Pama International for the first time, and after seeing them several more times over the summer I've become a fan ...
Strawberry Fair, Cambridge, June
My fourteenth, the biggest and best one day free festival, the first really warm and sunny day of the summer. Didn't have as much of a problem with the fire-creating brew crew crusties on the unofficial campsite as a few others did, and it was so much better to wake up on site and stay on site after the day was over. Best act : Broken Family Band. Fantastic ale tents and Green Corner.
SF happened at what was becoming a pretty difficult time in my life personally, but I'm not going to retospectively disenjoy the fine and wonderful Strawberry Fair because of that, because I had a great time!
Big Sexy Festie Party, Finsbury Park, June
Free one dayer with a very alternative/underground feel, in blisteringly hot weather. Highlights were the Inner Terrestrials, and the Solution Sounds tent.
Sunrise Celebration, near Yeovil, June
A decadently long five day festival (leading up to Solstice) organised mainly by the Glastonbury Green Fields crew and stallholders who had some spare time on their hands in this fallow non Glasto year. Really beautifully laid out and designed site (ID Spiral area was a wonderful chillout zone, mindyou EVERYWHERE was a chillout zone!). Near-disastrously low ticket sales, with crew heavily outnumbering punters, but the atmosphere was fantastic as was the weather, mostly. Could have done with some more acts (several pulled out for financial reasons) but Dreadzone and 3 Daft Monkeys among others put on some fine shows. Apparantly the organisers have been spared bankruptcy by a generous benefactor, and they hope to organise another festival for a different weekend in 2007. Best Tent : the Bimble Inn, an overgrown tipi with great beer and random acts, some surprisingly good.
Rinkydink kept popping up around the site with some great tunes and guest mini bands. World Cup Cafe on the campsite meant that I missed fewer games than I might have done.
My time slightly marred by my getting food poisoning from a stupidly dropped and picked up pizza slice on the last day.
Rise!, Finsbury Park, July
One day free anti racist festival organised by the Mayor of London's office. Desperately overcrowded and largely unpleasant around the site for that reason. Graham Coxon, the Buzzcocks and (especially) the Wailers put on some good shows, on the main stage, but I was relieved to escape the crowds at the end.
Lambeth Country Show, Brockwell Park, July
Also crowded, but a lot more space. Blisteringly hot weather both days, shedloads of Chucklehead Cider nice company, some good acts on the main stage that I only remember vaguely (the Twinkle Brothers stood out though ), and plenty of random interesting stuff to see around the site including the wonderful steam traction engines. A winner!
Ashton Court, Bristol, July
Fine weather both days, enjoyed some of the acts but not the very in your face Orange (and other) branding and the overpriced day tickets. Seems to have lost so much its community feel and to have moved badly away from its local 'alternative' roots over recent years, but still good to meet up with plenty of Bristol folks. The Bath Ales were grand -- no problem with them being one of the festival's (many) sponsors. But I may give it a miss next year.
WOMAD, Rivermead Reading, July
My enjoyment this year (my ninth WOMAD) was severely compromised by the crime epidemic, far worse than in previous years -- my tent was invaded twice, and my day bag (with all my money, cards, phone, medicine etc.) stolen from the man arena on Saturday night, forcing lengthy, timewasting and stressful dealings -- while drunk! -- with the Police and First Aid tent. But everyone -- particularly 5co77ie, Tort and wiskey -- were supportive and people generously rallied round in true festival spirit (thanks for the cash loan Stig, saved my life!), and I picked up my spirits again on Sunday.
Had a pretty good time aside from all that. Weather mostly good. Beer (Bath ales again) excellent. Site as nicely laid out and alluring as usual. Lots of fine and varied acts especially Ska Cubano (the only time I saw them this summer).
But contemplating giving WOMAD a break next year and trying the Big Green Gathering instead for a new experience.
Fruitstock, Regents Park, August
Severely overcrowded, even more so than Rise! Annoying Innocent branding everywhere, toilets inadequate, sound quality dismal, litter by far the most disgusting in quantity of any festival I went to this summer. Pieminster did me proud for supper though! But I'm glad the fest was free, because you couldn't PAY me to go back next year.
Endorse It In Dorset, near Sixpenny Handley, August
My favourite festival of the summer.
Paradise for hippy vehicle spotting and crustie/alternative people watching, a large contingent of the punky pierced tattooed and dready alternatives of the South West showed up.
Will definitely return next time. Superbly organised in pretty much every respect as well. The beer, local, needs to be slightly better kept/served than it was, but it was perfectly drinkable ...
Beautiful Days, Escot Park, August
Had a great time (especially after a very relaxing week off in Exeter between Endorse It and this) but not really as good for me as the previous weekend.
Police roadblocks on the way into the site left a sour taste even though the car I was in wasn't pulled. The site is beautiful though, and I was with some excellent company in our hilltop camp. Saw some great acts including 3 Daft Monkeys (especially) in the second tent. Selector and Steel Pulse, both on the main stage were fantastic too. Pama International live in the Dance Tent and Dreadzone also in the Dance Tent, kicked up a storm with a top quality DJ set. Julian Cope was for me an arrogant self indulgent disappointment though. The Levellers were a good deal better than last year, if a little bit crowdpleasingly predictable in their song choices, that was to be expected really though. Local Otter ales were superb. Nice to see the Bimble Inn again even if at the bottom of a punishingly steep hill which stopped me visiting more than once. Agree with criticisms others have made of the toilets, water supply, and early shut down (on Sunday night though, my hippy friends who run the Mezzanine Dream music stall, had a small unofficial party to keep things going well after midnight). Mostly OKish weather, it never rained for long, at times it was actually warm and sunny. But chilly at night, the campsite fire was a welcome relief!
Important ETA -- How did I forget this -- Dylan Moran was an absolute fuckin scream -- brilliant performance!
<continued below, post 110>
Here's my lengthy list
Knockengorroch Spring, SW Scotland, May
Weather cold and wet mostly, but this was a new three day festival for me, set in the remote hills of South West Scotland, the site in a beautiful glen. Lovely Heather Beer from an independent Scottish brewery. Very friendly folks, lots of old school festival types with interesting vehicles, won prize for spotting someone with dreads AND a kilt within 15 minutes.
Lots of folkie and dancey acts, and a Pizza Stall which was a blatant front for an all night mega sound system. Chaotic and in a good way!
Kingston Green Fair, May
One day hippyfest in the lovely Canbury Gardens on the Thames. Rained a bit on and off, but absolutely brilliant all the same. New stall selling organic beer that was very popular. Saw Pama International for the first time, and after seeing them several more times over the summer I've become a fan ...
Strawberry Fair, Cambridge, June
My fourteenth, the biggest and best one day free festival, the first really warm and sunny day of the summer. Didn't have as much of a problem with the fire-creating brew crew crusties on the unofficial campsite as a few others did, and it was so much better to wake up on site and stay on site after the day was over. Best act : Broken Family Band. Fantastic ale tents and Green Corner.
SF happened at what was becoming a pretty difficult time in my life personally, but I'm not going to retospectively disenjoy the fine and wonderful Strawberry Fair because of that, because I had a great time!
Big Sexy Festie Party, Finsbury Park, June
Free one dayer with a very alternative/underground feel, in blisteringly hot weather. Highlights were the Inner Terrestrials, and the Solution Sounds tent.
Sunrise Celebration, near Yeovil, June
A decadently long five day festival (leading up to Solstice) organised mainly by the Glastonbury Green Fields crew and stallholders who had some spare time on their hands in this fallow non Glasto year. Really beautifully laid out and designed site (ID Spiral area was a wonderful chillout zone, mindyou EVERYWHERE was a chillout zone!). Near-disastrously low ticket sales, with crew heavily outnumbering punters, but the atmosphere was fantastic as was the weather, mostly. Could have done with some more acts (several pulled out for financial reasons) but Dreadzone and 3 Daft Monkeys among others put on some fine shows. Apparantly the organisers have been spared bankruptcy by a generous benefactor, and they hope to organise another festival for a different weekend in 2007. Best Tent : the Bimble Inn, an overgrown tipi with great beer and random acts, some surprisingly good.
Rinkydink kept popping up around the site with some great tunes and guest mini bands. World Cup Cafe on the campsite meant that I missed fewer games than I might have done.
My time slightly marred by my getting food poisoning from a stupidly dropped and picked up pizza slice on the last day.
Rise!, Finsbury Park, July
One day free anti racist festival organised by the Mayor of London's office. Desperately overcrowded and largely unpleasant around the site for that reason. Graham Coxon, the Buzzcocks and (especially) the Wailers put on some good shows, on the main stage, but I was relieved to escape the crowds at the end.
Lambeth Country Show, Brockwell Park, July
Also crowded, but a lot more space. Blisteringly hot weather both days, shedloads of Chucklehead Cider
nice company, some good acts on the main stage that I only remember vaguely (the Twinkle Brothers stood out though ), and plenty of random interesting stuff to see around the site including the wonderful steam traction engines. A winner!Ashton Court, Bristol, July
Fine weather both days, enjoyed some of the acts but not the very in your face Orange (and other) branding and the overpriced day tickets. Seems to have lost so much its community feel and to have moved badly away from its local 'alternative' roots over recent years, but still good to meet up with plenty of Bristol folks. The Bath Ales were grand -- no problem with them being one of the festival's (many) sponsors. But I may give it a miss next year.
WOMAD, Rivermead Reading, July
My enjoyment this year (my ninth WOMAD) was severely compromised by the crime epidemic, far worse than in previous years -- my tent was invaded twice, and my day bag (with all my money, cards, phone, medicine etc.) stolen from the man arena on Saturday night, forcing lengthy, timewasting and stressful dealings -- while drunk! -- with the Police and First Aid tent. But everyone -- particularly 5co77ie, Tort and wiskey -- were supportive and people generously rallied round in true festival spirit (thanks for the cash loan Stig, saved my life!), and I picked up my spirits again on Sunday.
Had a pretty good time aside from all that. Weather mostly good. Beer (Bath ales again) excellent. Site as nicely laid out and alluring as usual. Lots of fine and varied acts especially Ska Cubano (the only time I saw them this summer).
But contemplating giving WOMAD a break next year and trying the Big Green Gathering instead for a new experience.
Fruitstock, Regents Park, August
Severely overcrowded, even more so than Rise! Annoying Innocent branding everywhere, toilets inadequate, sound quality dismal, litter by far the most disgusting in quantity of any festival I went to this summer. Pieminster did me proud for supper though! But I'm glad the fest was free, because you couldn't PAY me to go back next year.
Endorse It In Dorset, near Sixpenny Handley, August
My favourite festival of the summer.
Couldn't put it better myself. Best moment : watching Chickenshed Zeppelin (playing non Zeppelin songs, including one by Johnny Cash!) in Henry's Beard Cafe at 2 am Sunday morning. And that random band playing an impromptu gig by the campsite toilets on Saturday. And Idaho's and PieEye's wonderful curries on Saturday evening. And the PROD/dance tent. Best acts on main stage : Pronghorn and RDF, with an honourable mention to Here and Now who turned out to be FAR better than a band of underground free-festival-veteran hippies who've been going for thirty-plus years have any right to be!Dubversion said:
Paradise for hippy vehicle spotting and crustie/alternative people watching, a large contingent of the punky pierced tattooed and dready alternatives of the South West showed up.
Will definitely return next time. Superbly organised in pretty much every respect as well. The beer, local, needs to be slightly better kept/served than it was, but it was perfectly drinkable ...
Beautiful Days, Escot Park, August
Had a great time (especially after a very relaxing week off in Exeter between Endorse It and this) but not really as good for me as the previous weekend.
Police roadblocks on the way into the site left a sour taste even though the car I was in wasn't pulled. The site is beautiful though, and I was with some excellent company in our hilltop camp. Saw some great acts including 3 Daft Monkeys (especially) in the second tent. Selector and Steel Pulse, both on the main stage were fantastic too. Pama International live in the Dance Tent and Dreadzone also in the Dance Tent, kicked up a storm with a top quality DJ set. Julian Cope was for me an arrogant self indulgent disappointment though. The Levellers were a good deal better than last year, if a little bit crowdpleasingly predictable in their song choices, that was to be expected really though. Local Otter ales were superb. Nice to see the Bimble Inn again even if at the bottom of a punishingly steep hill which stopped me visiting more than once. Agree with criticisms others have made of the toilets, water supply, and early shut down (on Sunday night though, my hippy friends who run the Mezzanine Dream music stall, had a small unofficial party to keep things going well after midnight). Mostly OKish weather, it never rained for long, at times it was actually warm and sunny. But chilly at night, the campsite fire was a welcome relief!
Important ETA -- How did I forget this -- Dylan Moran was an absolute fuckin scream -- brilliant performance!
<continued below, post 110>
Mr_Flibble
Well-Known Member
Hello Peeps
This year I've done:
Wychwood - Didn't know what to expect of a festival on a race course. I was really impressed. The weather was fantastic, the vibe friendly, camping was on the flat and the line-up was superb. Mr Scruff, Dreadzone and Amadou and Mariam being personal highlights. Organization and layout all top notch. We liked it so much we purchased tickets for next year on the way out!
Cornbury - The setting was fantastic. This was our first visit to this lovely festival. On the negative side, the food stalls were on the short side, meaning getting a belly full was time consuming due to massive queues. For our family (pushchair in tow), the trek from campsite to arena - although scenic - was challenging over the rough ground. The lovely views did help us forget about the difficulties though. On a more positive note, Robert Plant, Hayseed Dixie and The Pretenders ensured that that our feet kept moving. Camping facilities were great too. After one of our group complained about a lack of loos, a new load appeared the very next morning.
Rhythm - My dad died when I was 20, but his musical tastes were captured in the line-up of this superb weekend of music. I saw the lineup and had to go. Jerry Lee Lewis, Jah Wobble, Arlo Guthrie, Donovon, John Otway, Hugh Cornwall, Roger Chapman, Nick AND Roy Harper. Geno Washington stole the show for me though. Great weekend and the first Rhythm festival was a corker.
Womad - I think this was our 8th or 9th Womad and we'd had the last few years off. I don't think we'll go back. Although inside the arena everything was a great as ever, the campsite seemed to be awash with people stealing from tents. It doesn't make you feel very safe. We don't take anything of monetary value to festivals, but our kids are priceless. Womad have had their security issues pointed out over previous years and it seems that they've done little to act on this feedback. Highlights for me were the fantastic people we met, Konono no1, and the Gotan Project.
Beautiful Days - Our 2nd trip to Escot Park was probably better than the first. OK, they had a problem with sorting the number of loos near the family camping and emptying them, but that couldn't overshaddow our weekend. The lineup wasn't as strong as last year, but Dohl Foundation, Subgiant, Steel Pulse, Chumbawumba (acoustic), Mark Saul, Young Blood Brass Band all did it for us! Probably the nicest vibe of the festivals we've done this year.
Hello to all of the fantastic people we met this year and looking forward to meeting you and loads of new faces again next year!
This year I've done:
Wychwood - Didn't know what to expect of a festival on a race course. I was really impressed. The weather was fantastic, the vibe friendly, camping was on the flat and the line-up was superb. Mr Scruff, Dreadzone and Amadou and Mariam being personal highlights. Organization and layout all top notch. We liked it so much we purchased tickets for next year on the way out!
Cornbury - The setting was fantastic. This was our first visit to this lovely festival. On the negative side, the food stalls were on the short side, meaning getting a belly full was time consuming due to massive queues. For our family (pushchair in tow), the trek from campsite to arena - although scenic - was challenging over the rough ground. The lovely views did help us forget about the difficulties though. On a more positive note, Robert Plant, Hayseed Dixie and The Pretenders ensured that that our feet kept moving. Camping facilities were great too. After one of our group complained about a lack of loos, a new load appeared the very next morning.
Rhythm - My dad died when I was 20, but his musical tastes were captured in the line-up of this superb weekend of music. I saw the lineup and had to go. Jerry Lee Lewis, Jah Wobble, Arlo Guthrie, Donovon, John Otway, Hugh Cornwall, Roger Chapman, Nick AND Roy Harper. Geno Washington stole the show for me though. Great weekend and the first Rhythm festival was a corker.
Womad - I think this was our 8th or 9th Womad and we'd had the last few years off. I don't think we'll go back. Although inside the arena everything was a great as ever, the campsite seemed to be awash with people stealing from tents. It doesn't make you feel very safe. We don't take anything of monetary value to festivals, but our kids are priceless. Womad have had their security issues pointed out over previous years and it seems that they've done little to act on this feedback. Highlights for me were the fantastic people we met, Konono no1, and the Gotan Project.
Beautiful Days - Our 2nd trip to Escot Park was probably better than the first. OK, they had a problem with sorting the number of loos near the family camping and emptying them, but that couldn't overshaddow our weekend. The lineup wasn't as strong as last year, but Dohl Foundation, Subgiant, Steel Pulse, Chumbawumba (acoustic), Mark Saul, Young Blood Brass Band all did it for us! Probably the nicest vibe of the festivals we've done this year.
Hello to all of the fantastic people we met this year and looking forward to meeting you and loads of new faces again next year!
clandestino
no llevar papel
Great first post, Mr Flibble. Welcome to the boards.
I only made it to bestival this year (just got back). The music was great (shit disco, hot chip, kid carpet), but the organisation was pants.
There were only one set of toilets on the campsite (so huge ques); not enough places to get food (huge ques); badly run bars which kept on running out of pint glasses (with huge ques); no running water; no security on the campsite site (all my stuff got nicked on the first night);
Its a shame because they really seem to be trying to build somrhting nice and its a great site.
There were only one set of toilets on the campsite (so huge ques); not enough places to get food (huge ques); badly run bars which kept on running out of pint glasses (with huge ques); no running water; no security on the campsite site (all my stuff got nicked on the first night);
Its a shame because they really seem to be trying to build somrhting nice and its a great site.
<continued from post 105>
Solfest, North Cumbria, August
Absolutely brilliant. No complaints at all apart from not quite enough choice of food, and that the local beers ran out for a time on Saturday, and on Sunday. Lovely site with panoramic views of the Solway Firth and the southern Scottish mountains in one direction, and the hills of the Lake District in the other. Endearingly chaotic campsite, the only one I know of at a festival where vehicles and tents are allowed to stay together, so a really nice old school feel all around. Selector were even better than at Beautiful Days, other highlights were Cara Dillon (who has a wonderful voice), 3 Daft Monkeys (again!), the Wonderstuff (unexpectedly excellent), Croft No. 5 (a brilliantly dancey/folkie Scottish band in Shooglenifty vein), and in the Dance Tent Templehedz and Eat Static (our camp was within easy hearing of the Dance Tent), and friends report that Techno Hippy (a lunatic DJ) had to be experienced to be believed as well.
Lots of all night entertainment including the fabulous Disco Du Fromage/Bedlam Boudoir, ran and organised by mad Brew drinking Northern nutters some of whom I knew!
The weather was the best lucky wild card, despite being chilly, and despite an appalling forecast, we missed getting anything worse than the occasional 15 minute shower. Whereas less than four miles away there were serious downpours!
Off the Tracks Autumn, Derbyshire, early September
Plenty of beer. Not enough choice of food. Great company, including some new faces (wiskey and dervish) as wel as the usual suspects
and it was great to chill with Mezzanine Dream friends again at their stall. Unique atmosphere at the lovely farmhouse. Weather on Saturday dreadful (mainly extreme gales), better on Friday and Sunday. Dreadzone brilliant, Transglobal Underground even better, Jah Wobble an acquired taste -- several of our party slated his set, but I was happy enough. Rave Barn had a weird mix of music but I had a fine old time in there.
Still to come :
Thames Festival, South Bank SE1, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th September, free.
Stokefest, Clissold Park, N16, Sunday 24th September, free.
New Festival Thread/List for next summer, January!!
Oh and Mr Flibble, welcome!
Solfest, North Cumbria, August
Absolutely brilliant. No complaints at all apart from not quite enough choice of food, and that the local beers ran out for a time on Saturday, and on Sunday. Lovely site with panoramic views of the Solway Firth and the southern Scottish mountains in one direction, and the hills of the Lake District in the other. Endearingly chaotic campsite, the only one I know of at a festival where vehicles and tents are allowed to stay together, so a really nice old school feel all around. Selector were even better than at Beautiful Days, other highlights were Cara Dillon (who has a wonderful voice), 3 Daft Monkeys (again!), the Wonderstuff (unexpectedly excellent), Croft No. 5 (a brilliantly dancey/folkie Scottish band in Shooglenifty vein), and in the Dance Tent Templehedz and Eat Static (our camp was within easy hearing of the Dance Tent), and friends report that Techno Hippy (a lunatic DJ) had to be experienced to be believed as well.
Lots of all night entertainment including the fabulous Disco Du Fromage/Bedlam Boudoir, ran and organised by mad Brew drinking Northern nutters some of whom I knew!
The weather was the best lucky wild card, despite being chilly, and despite an appalling forecast, we missed getting anything worse than the occasional 15 minute shower. Whereas less than four miles away there were serious downpours!
Off the Tracks Autumn, Derbyshire, early September
Plenty of beer. Not enough choice of food. Great company, including some new faces (wiskey and dervish) as wel as the usual suspects
and it was great to chill with Mezzanine Dream friends again at their stall. Unique atmosphere at the lovely farmhouse. Weather on Saturday dreadful (mainly extreme gales), better on Friday and Sunday. Dreadzone brilliant, Transglobal Underground even better, Jah Wobble an acquired taste -- several of our party slated his set, but I was happy enough. Rave Barn had a weird mix of music but I had a fine old time in there.Still to come :
Thames Festival, South Bank SE1, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th September, free.
Stokefest, Clissold Park, N16, Sunday 24th September, free.
New Festival Thread/List for next summer, January!!
Oh and Mr Flibble, welcome!
fortunesfool
Tragic Hippy
Hellooo! *waves*Mr_Flibble said:
Fuzzy
Hearts Cov
i only went to the green man festival this year. It rained a bit on the thursday night and friday morning but it wasnt too bad. the rest of hte weekend was great. it was a really lovely festival. not too busy, no scallies, car parks close to site, camping not too far from the arena, allowed to take your own cans in, reasonable choice of food and very clean toilets. the site was really really tidy on the monday morning when we packed up to leave as well which was pleasing. i'll definitly go next year.
Skim said:
Thankyou, thankyou!
I did see you at Lambeth Country Show though -- briefly!
I hope that too, but after what happened, it's very hard for me not to take a year off next year (and the BGG is a tempting alternative anyway). By 2008, when I might return to WOMAD, things will either have got so bad in 2007 that they'll HAVE to sort it out REALLY seriously for 2008 (or move site further away from a town that seems to have more than it's fair share of criminals), or they will already have sorted it.
Hope so by next year, for yours and everybody else's sake!
bus said:that's four people I know that have said they're considering not going back to womad...seems a shame that crime has become such an issue there
It was pretty shocking, I must say.
And the main stage on Sunday evening was go-to-bed-early material. Not what you expect of that festival.
Mr_Flibble
Well-Known Member
Urban sounds a lovely place to camp <pitches tent> . I think as a result of some of the posts here, we might alter our plans for next year. Perhaps we'll do Endorse it next year without the nippers.
. I think as a result of some of the posts here, we might alter our plans for next year. Perhaps we'll do Endorse it next year without the nippers.Mr_Flibble said:Urban sounds a lovely place to camp <pitches tent>
*waves*
Why don't you do just that.
We might do Endorset next year. Seems silly not to as it's only 40 minutes up the road.
Dirty Martini
gets what he cant want
Only one this year: Lounge On The Farm, Canterbury, July. Great weather, good curry, music patchy, lots of local pub acts. But a great (unbilled) DJ, the Soul Jazz soundsystem, and The Dualers -- a local ska act from Canterbury, old mates of my sister's, who had a minor Xmas hit last year I think. Wasn't expecting much but they were fantastic, with a brilliant ska version of Fix You by the execrable Coldplay.
binka
!!!!!!!!!
Roskilde - the 1200km drive alone was worth it.
highlights - gogol bordello, george clinton, ruben ramos, mercadonegro, raconteurs, watching the world cup in beautiful danish weather at the skate park on a 20 foot screen (not to mention the worried look on the stewards faces at the thought of 1500 england fans starting a riot when we got knocked out)
lowlights - bob dylan being shit, driving all the way back sunday night - only took 25 hours
Glade
not really my thing in general, only went because my friends were. fanatastic weather and good company meant i still had a great time.
dpercussion
well worth the £2!
highlights - gogol bordello, george clinton, ruben ramos, mercadonegro, raconteurs, watching the world cup in beautiful danish weather at the skate park on a 20 foot screen (not to mention the worried look on the stewards faces at the thought of 1500 england fans starting a riot when we got knocked out)
lowlights - bob dylan being shit, driving all the way back sunday night - only took 25 hours
Glade
not really my thing in general, only went because my friends were. fanatastic weather and good company meant i still had a great time.
dpercussion
well worth the £2!
sherriff rosco
Mostly harmless unless catering is shut.
After having just woke up from the marathon sleep needed after Bestival. I`ve staed if I was working or not ( which makes quite a difference to how much of a festival I get to see!)
Big Sexy Festy Not working... All day with my daughter, hanging around the Bedlam stack meeting lots of old faces. It was a daring festy to put on but was pulled off superbly! I loved the punk tent it was like the Hackney Punks Picnic had been reformed! Didn`t get to see much on the main stage but poked my head into Solution for a while tho..
Highlight....my litl`un dancing on the stage too hard making Chris Lib`s records jump...oops
Camden Green Fair Working.... Nice sunny weather, didn`t get to wander much but did get some wicked coffees off the stall next to our mix position first thing on the load in ( small detail but was much appreciated!)...
Highlight...running our sound off of a Hydrogen Fuel Cell...full 5 k soundsystem and backline, and the only by product was distilled water FANTASTIC!
Cornbury Festival Not working... Fantastic time with loads of my other freinds with children. As said before the food stalls were a bit few and far between ( and V.PRICEY!) but we had a great time with the kids and my daughter got to make her own fairy wings which are her favourite thing EVER!
Highlight...Watching Robert Plant one day and then catching the World Cup Final at sunset the next day talking to my Italian friend who was back in Italy with about 200 peoploe watching the match as well ...bizarre!
Bug Jam...Working...Bit of an odd one this as it`s more about the cars and the racing than the acts / stalls etc. But did get to see some top fuel drag cars doing their thing and some seriously bling VW Beetles!
Highlight 1 ..the rain storm on sat afternoon. It was like the end of the world! Luckily we were in a big top doing the comedy but the rain was so hard/ loud on the tent that even with the PA up full you couldn`t hear the comedian! ( who was afraid of lightning and kept asking me if he could be electrocuted with a radio mic....I told him that I was in a lot more danger at a mixing desk than him !)
Highlight 2 The comedy compere who decided to pick on the " fat asleep folks" ( a few punters had brought their camping chairs inside to have a snooze). He handed out gaffa tape to the crowd so we could give them an impromptu waxing session...v.v.v.v funny!
Laburnum St Festival Working....bit of an odd day doing a stage in the middle of a Dalston st! V.V tired from working all the night before. Some good local acts and some v.v.moody teenagers causing the cops hassle but a lovely day out of the sun in my little gazebo ( I was not up for being boiled as well as deafened all day!)
Highlight...Getting to talk to the Hackney Pearly King and Queen before they opened the Festy!
Newham Mayors Show Working...another nice local festy. I was doing the music stage so had everything from the local school choir to a 13 piece reggae band to deal with! Food was good tho` esp the jamaican patties...yum.
Highlight..the reggae band on sun eve ( will have to remember their name as they were v.good !)
ARumdo Working...Not a great time at all! The weather was crap ( that Welsh thing of every kind of rain from mist to drizzle to torrential every 20 mins!) and the fact we were seriously noise restricted after the first night! This led to us having to move stuff inside the Manor House and meant v.v.long days and a lot of hassle.
Highlight...Seeing the Extraordanaires in the Speigeltent ripping up some serious rock`n`roll!
Electric Gardens Working..Didn`t get out of the second stage on either of the days! So no idea how the bands were on the main stage ? Was busy but not very well organised ( again in it`s first year tho?) the catering was APPALING ...non-existent and overpriced!
Highlight ...Freq Nasty`s dj set on Sat night, tearing up reggae , breakbeat and electro fantastic...made the Plump dj`s look like exactly what they are..two blokes from the local boozer playing crap records!
Bestival Working... Just got back but I`ve gotta say it was my favourite of the whole year! The weather was great , the crowd fantastic. I even sneaked off of work to go see the Stranglers and arrived for the opening chords of "Peaches" ...perfect! As said before on here tho`..the toilets were WRONG! We even had two backstage but they were useless by evening as people were blagging in just to use them? Obviously it was way busier than last year and hopefully it`ll be sorted by next year.
Highlight...gotta be the fancy dress costumes on Sat there were so many people dressed up it was great! Band wise it`s gotta be Hot Club de Paris, never seen them before but they wer v.v.funny and v.v.good.
Only Stokey Fest to go..................phew
.p.
Big Sexy Festy Not working... All day with my daughter, hanging around the Bedlam stack meeting lots of old faces. It was a daring festy to put on but was pulled off superbly! I loved the punk tent it was like the Hackney Punks Picnic had been reformed! Didn`t get to see much on the main stage but poked my head into Solution for a while tho..
Highlight....my litl`un dancing on the stage too hard making Chris Lib`s records jump...oops
Camden Green Fair Working.... Nice sunny weather, didn`t get to wander much but did get some wicked coffees off the stall next to our mix position first thing on the load in ( small detail but was much appreciated!)...
Highlight...running our sound off of a Hydrogen Fuel Cell...full 5 k soundsystem and backline, and the only by product was distilled water FANTASTIC!
Cornbury Festival Not working... Fantastic time with loads of my other freinds with children. As said before the food stalls were a bit few and far between ( and V.PRICEY!) but we had a great time with the kids and my daughter got to make her own fairy wings which are her favourite thing EVER!
Highlight...Watching Robert Plant one day and then catching the World Cup Final at sunset the next day talking to my Italian friend who was back in Italy with about 200 peoploe watching the match as well ...bizarre!
Bug Jam...Working...Bit of an odd one this as it`s more about the cars and the racing than the acts / stalls etc. But did get to see some top fuel drag cars doing their thing and some seriously bling VW Beetles!
Highlight 1 ..the rain storm on sat afternoon. It was like the end of the world! Luckily we were in a big top doing the comedy but the rain was so hard/ loud on the tent that even with the PA up full you couldn`t hear the comedian! ( who was afraid of lightning and kept asking me if he could be electrocuted with a radio mic....I told him that I was in a lot more danger at a mixing desk than him !)
Highlight 2 The comedy compere who decided to pick on the " fat asleep folks" ( a few punters had brought their camping chairs inside to have a snooze). He handed out gaffa tape to the crowd so we could give them an impromptu waxing session...v.v.v.v funny!
Laburnum St Festival Working....bit of an odd day doing a stage in the middle of a Dalston st! V.V tired from working all the night before. Some good local acts and some v.v.moody teenagers causing the cops hassle but a lovely day out of the sun in my little gazebo ( I was not up for being boiled as well as deafened all day!)
Highlight...Getting to talk to the Hackney Pearly King and Queen before they opened the Festy!
Newham Mayors Show Working...another nice local festy. I was doing the music stage so had everything from the local school choir to a 13 piece reggae band to deal with! Food was good tho` esp the jamaican patties...yum.
Highlight..the reggae band on sun eve ( will have to remember their name as they were v.good !)
ARumdo Working...Not a great time at all! The weather was crap ( that Welsh thing of every kind of rain from mist to drizzle to torrential every 20 mins!) and the fact we were seriously noise restricted after the first night! This led to us having to move stuff inside the Manor House and meant v.v.long days and a lot of hassle.
Highlight...Seeing the Extraordanaires in the Speigeltent ripping up some serious rock`n`roll!
Electric Gardens Working..Didn`t get out of the second stage on either of the days! So no idea how the bands were on the main stage ? Was busy but not very well organised ( again in it`s first year tho?) the catering was APPALING ...non-existent and overpriced!
Highlight ...Freq Nasty`s dj set on Sat night, tearing up reggae , breakbeat and electro fantastic...made the Plump dj`s look like exactly what they are..two blokes from the local boozer playing crap records!
Bestival Working... Just got back but I`ve gotta say it was my favourite of the whole year! The weather was great , the crowd fantastic. I even sneaked off of work to go see the Stranglers and arrived for the opening chords of "Peaches" ...perfect! As said before on here tho`..the toilets were WRONG! We even had two backstage but they were useless by evening as people were blagging in just to use them? Obviously it was way busier than last year and hopefully it`ll be sorted by next year.
Highlight...gotta be the fancy dress costumes on Sat there were so many people dressed up it was great! Band wise it`s gotta be Hot Club de Paris, never seen them before but they wer v.v.funny and v.v.good.
Only Stokey Fest to go..................phew
.p.
