Glastonburys Crowd...

[sdaveak47]

Seriously whats the point....but i'm gonna bite anyway

Everyones been very even handed with their responses, but i'd like to add Sam seems like a right dick.

The original question was basic trolling "I'm going to glastonbury but worried it will be full of twats like you guys ?"

And for bashing Micheal Eavis whats that all about, of course the majority of the crowd will think he's sound, you might the odd person who "hates" him for booking x or y, but they'll be dicks too.

anyone who loves music would struggle to have a shit time at glastonbury (unless its f**king pissing it down non stop)

[TomfromStroud]

i) Like the whole "it's not about the music, 'cos we're all so effing brilliant you could just sit and talk to us all day and we'll keep you entertained, not the bands, cos we're just so interesting."

ii) And the whole love for Michael Eavis, like he's running this festival for your benefit, not his own bank accounts benefit, and his own pleasure. You all agree he picks the bands HE wants, does this not indicate he couldn't give a toss want bands YOU want? This website seems overloaded with (my just invented) cult that is the 'Michael Eavis Appreciation Society'.

Edited February 19, 2009 by TomfromStroud

[grumpyhack]

To me the joy of Glasto is that there is plenty of room for all types, ages and tastes. Talk to half a dozen people after Glasto about what they did and saw and you'll think that they went to totally different festivals.

Because of its size Glasto is a microcosm of society. In any crowd of 150,000 you will have the good, the bad and the ugly. But the spirit of the festival seems to bring out the good in most and with the help of the cider even the ugly look a bit better.

I've found Glasto to have some of the the most friendly, tolerant people you'll meet anywhere. An example was in the year of the Great Rains when people were flooded out and lost their tents and all their belongings. Many other festy goers rallied round and shared food, tents and general help.

To me it's like going through the back of the wardrobe in the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe stories. You enter the other world of Narnia where for a week you can forget the outside world and be who you want.

Yes, you've got the commercial world around the Pyramid but there are so many other areas that are very different. So explore, relax and enjoy.

[robith]

over-run with university students spending Daddy's money on their first fezzie.

[eFestivals]

so why was the second festival ('71 I think) free?

because a guy called Andrew Kerr (who I met last year), along with Bella Churchill, offered to cover all the costs.

[Crouchie]

And a pretty bus too...

[eFestivals]

was there ever any hope they would actually make money out of it?

I don't think that was ever the plan - I think they simply wanted to put on a free fest.

I s'pose they might have hoped the film would turn into a 'Woodstock'..

while we're on the subject, is the film available.. officially, on dvd?

yup, I have it here on my desk - it comes in a pack with the album too.

[srvman]

my response is that you are right mr thread man

however you are only right about a certain minority of people, the place holds best part of 180 thousand people, thats more than the town where i live and the site is bigger than where i live( btw i live in a lovely seaside town called bangor county down northern ireland, feel free to pop over ill buy you a cider) of course there will be some snobs, but with that there will be n00bs goths drunks emos druggies god worshipers hare krishnas its like glastonbury has its own community.

what sets it aside from the rest is you wouldnt feel out of place no matter what age you where cos it accomodates for everything.... i mean download is aimed at a particular genre as is V and Reading from my understanding, Glasto is only festival that just aims to attract people regardless of taste or heirachal standing....so yes sometimes we may sound like ooh its not about the music, but seriously, come July you will have changed your tune, i never really got that phrase until i went, now its my favourite phrase, i can remember alot of good music but more good times, and the general hilarity of the banter within the crowd ....

if glastonbury was just about the music i wouldnt have gone last year...but to be honest its the acts youve never heard of or know little about that generally bring fondest memories....

anyway that my 2 cents, hope you have a fantastic festival, have a cider or two....chill

[danbailey80]

Sam..Just to let you know..Have not read all the replies..But yes there is a snobby attitude on this forum, (as with any fan forum) but NO i promise you won't feel it at the actual festival. Such a massive place, different areas and feels..Please don't be put off

[eFestivals]

which album?

the Glastonbury Fayre one.

[TomfromStroud]

I don't think that was ever the plan - I think they simply wanted to put on a free fest.

Edited February 19, 2009 by TomfromStroud

[eFestivals]

Are you talking about the Andrew Kerr festival or the original glastonbury.

I thought Michael Eavis was always clear that he did the first one to pay off his mortgage.

the first fest was done hoping to pay off his mortgage.

Then he fell in with some hippies, and the rest is history.

[eFestivals]

all that might well be true, but it doesn't quite 'fit', that someone who was simply trying to make a profit would put on a free festival, then run it for years at a loss.. ?? no?

the '71 costs were covered by Kerr & Churchill, so no profit there (tho I guess he might have been paid for the use of the land).

There weren't any 'official' festivals again until '79 (just 'gatherings' on the farm - so no profit). The '79 fest was in aid of Children's World (Bella's charity), tho lost money - so no profit there.

From (I think it was) '81 the fest was run in a more professional manner so that he didn't lose huge amounts of money from then on, but continued as a good cause fund-raiser (for CND back then).

It's the fund-raising side that has inspired Michael to keep it going.

[eFestivals]

the re-release on cd of what was the original triple album??

I'll try and get it..

I've still got the original vinyl one... funny to think dvd's, (vhs's even) weren't around when the first album came out...

yup.

There's copies available via Amazon (I think I got mine direct from them rather than a reseller).

[Brizzle]

just because the majority of ppl on here are eavis lovers, doesnt mean the the other 175 odd thousand are!

no snobbery.

[robith]

I've only encountered snobbery at Glastonbury once, in my first time in 2007.

This group of "veterans" were camped next to us in this gigantic tent. They were constantly giving us jip about being "young" (I was 23 and the youngest of our group!) and how we didn't appreciate Glastonbury, all we did was see bands, not getting the true meaning.

Literally all they did was sit by the tent drinking strongbow. Anytime you came back for food - they were there. Come back after the headliners to get booze for wandering and dancing - they were there. Got back from partying - they were there. I can honestly say that I don't think there was any time when they weren't just sat by their tent and moaning about us.

The great thing about Glastonbury is that everyone there can experience a completely different festial. That's amazing.

[amfy]

That's weird - I find it's the youngsters that don't move!

Since I packed up smoking, the energy I have for Glastonbury is a revelation, and we are out and about all day & night. Every time we get back to our tent - there are the youngsters - still sitting there stoned!

I don't judge them though - when you're young it's fantastic just being off with your mates for the weekend. I love to see that, and I love the memories of that stage of my life it evokes. I love to join it, as you can at Glastonbury, and feel that age again for a little while, before I crawl under my duvet.

When you've had your own house for 25 years, it's not so much of a novelty to be off in a tent with your partner or mates - so the other stuff is a bigger pull. It's just different life stages, and I suppose from the post above, different lives.

[tazzyb]

Last year I was camped next to a group of about 10 lads mid to late twentys they sat round their tents day and night getting wrecked. Did think why pay for the ticket just go and randomly camp somewhere!

[bonny147]

It's a lovely place. Music for all. Other stuff too. Michael Eavis is Santa on holiday - you never see him at Christmas. But I don't like carrying my stuff in. But also it seems genuinely better natured than other (admittedly more commercial) festivals.