Festival review by : Steve

Glastonbury Festival 1999

Friday 25th to Sunday 27th June 1999
Worthy Farm, Pilton, nr Glastonbury, Somerset, England
£83

Having not been to Glastonbury for 9 years I certainly noticed a big difference, the emphasis being BIG!...in fact an additional 30,000 loved up party pixies. Although the official number was 100,000 this obviously didn't include the numerous 'fare-dodgers' that risked broken-ankles by jumping the fence. I recall enjoying the ambience of Stone-Circle field (a worthy retreat from the sprawling metropolises well below in the valley'O) being interrupted by the stamped of fence-jumpers, the anticipation on the faces soon turning into a naughty grin once they had achieved the assault, like naughty schoolboys.

In reflection I was overwhelmed by the shear size of this festival and somewhat alienated, whereby the only oasis of peace was by retreating to the greenfields. Venturing downtown was similar, if not more hectic, than shopping in Oxford Street, London the day before Christmas Eve. Anyway enough ranting on about the heaving masses, what about the music?........Simply too many good bands and not enough time to enjoy them, the most memorable being the rather more obscure acts like Mandagora (an eclectic mix of scar/reggae and trance), Afro-Celt Sound-System (Celtic Trance- who would have ever thought It would work?) and Banco-de-Gaia (what's with the drums and guitars eh?). As for the real stinkers, well the words 'Oakenfold' and 'Paul' come to mind, this guy is a real genius but alas he was a real disappointment and his mere offerings comprised of outdated and Tranced-up Indie songs to please the crowd, the inclusion of an MC simply put the final nail in the DJ's coffin. I walked off downhearted in search of the infamous Banana Joe's for some uplifting Trance tunes. Yet again felt despondent about the number of dodgy looking geezers, full of testosterone and attitude with pockets full a aspirin posing as ecstasy waiting for the gullible punters with their hard-earned 10'ers.

Alas I doubt whether I will return next year simply because it has become too large, too many people with too much attitude. But respect to Michael et al for the organization, what a logistical nightmare and thanks to everyone who pitched up in the green-fields since the spirit of the older festivals lives on there.