Backstage- any good?

[IRISHMANC]

Afternoon all, going to my second Glasto this year and for the first time with my missus. She's good friends with the lead singer of Doves and can get us access to the backstage, artists facilities. Any one had these before? Any good? She says there are much nicer toilets and loads of showers available, and Wikipedia seems to point out that the cheapest bar on the site is backstage.

[The Nal]

Afternoon all, going to my second Glasto this year and for the first time with my missus. She's good friends with the lead singer of Doves and can get us access to the backstage, artists facilities. Any one had these before? Any good? She says there are much nicer toilets and loads of showers available, and Wikipedia seems to point out that the cheapest bar on the site is backstage.

Edited April 29, 2009 by The Nal

[IRISHMANC]

What about this cheap bar?

from Wiki:

The restricted-access backstage compound is populated almost entirely by bands and their support crews. Ironically, its backstage bar is the cheapest at the festival, and hosts a number of charity functions and auctions.

[sifi]

I always thought it looked useful as a cut through between certain stages.

[r0cky]

Yeah, the cut through could be quite handy at busy times.

[TalkShow Bob]

What about this cheap bar?

from Wiki:

The restricted-access backstage compound is populated almost entirely by bands and their support crews. Ironically, its backstage bar is the cheapest at the festival, and hosts a number of charity functions and auctions.

[washwell]

I stayed backstage for a number of years between 1997 and 2003 thanks to a friend of a friend in the record industry. Has pros and cons - the bar is quite cheap, food not bad, and toilets ok. The cut through is very handy and a definite advantage. The atmosphere though is very 'luvvy' with media darlings everywhere - getting out to the real site is far more rewarding. In the late 90's it used to have a great atmosphere late at night, especially when Keith Allen/Joe Strumer were holding impromptu karaoke sessions - last time I went this seemed to have disappeared and it had become very corporate. Our friend of a friend has now left the business, and I've started taking the kids to Glasto so we camp in the family field at Cockmill which is really chilled.

My advice would be to use the backstage for its advantages - toilets and cut through, but spend the rest of your time out in the site !

[elfimaju]

I stayed backstage for a number of years between 1997 and 2003 thanks to a friend of a friend in the record industry. Has pros and cons - the bar is quite cheap, food not bad, and toilets ok. The cut through is very handy and a definite advantage. The atmosphere though is very 'luvvy' with media darlings everywhere - getting out to the real site is far more rewarding. In the late 90's it used to have a great atmosphere late at night, especially when Keith Allen/Joe Strumer were holding impromptu karaoke sessions - last time I went this seemed to have disappeared and it had become very corporate. Our friend of a friend has now left the business, and I've started taking the kids to Glasto so we camp in the family field at Cockmill which is really chilled.

My advice would be to use the backstage for its advantages - toilets and cut through, but spend the rest of your time out in the site !

[The Nal]

Sell outs

[washwell]

I would agree with this. Camping right slap bang in the middle of the site is pretty handy, with the ability to cut through being a real advantage. So that might swing it for me if I still was able to get backstage. I camped backstage 2002 to 2005 and the atmosphere is pretty poor - with the 'luvvy' comment above being spot on. Don't kid yourself that the toilets will better - they are for the first day and then get as bad as everywhere else. In my years of staying backstage I never saw any showers - I think this is wishful thinking. 'Celebrities' are thin on the ground - if having a leak next to the bass player from Yeasayer or passing the ketchup to someone who was once in the Bill floats your boat then you might enjoy it!

[joshwarrr]

Out of interest is the backstage are at glastonbury one backstage area that requires one pass? Or are there loads of areas each needing there own pass?

[robith]

I was backstage at Reading last year. I found it so funny.

All these people standing around preening about how important they were.

I just thought "You can't be that important because I'm here and I'm f**king nobody"

[joshwarrr]

I was backstage at Reading last year. I found it so funny.

All these people standing around preening about how important they were.

I just thought "You can't be that important because I'm here and I'm f**king nobody"

[5co77ie]

Out of interest is the backstage are at glastonbury one backstage area that requires one pass? Or are there loads of areas each needing there own pass?

[ukslim]

Out of interest is the backstage are at glastonbury one backstage area that requires one pass? Or are there loads of areas each needing there own pass?

[Mardy]

I was backstage at Reading last year. I found it so funny.

All these people standing around preening about how important they were.

I just thought "You can't be that important because I'm here and I'm f**king nobody"

[mouth]

i had backstage for the pyramid in 02 and 03, camped up in pennards but still used the pass for access, bar etc. dont see a lot but the facilities are handy, you might as well get it and use its facilities. not gonna cost you, go on enjoy it. i would if i had them again.

[cabstar]

Pretty boring around the Pyramid area, last year always seemed to be Pritchard from Dirty Sanchez getting leathered every day, don't think he even went to see a band, then Howard Marks seemed to be tehir all weekend too. Beer isn't that much cheaper, but the disco is good As has already been said full of media & luvvies.

Now backstage John Peel stage has a cracking bar, looks like an underground venue, with hardly anyone around. I think I saw John from Reverand & the Makers there & had a piss stood next to Ryan Jarman from the Cribs, now that is a story I will tell my grandchildren

Me: "Hey its Ryan from the Cribs"

RJ "Hey mate how you doin?"

Whilst shaking his pissed stained hand

Me "Yeah great" realises neither of us has cleaned our hands!!!!!

[Sam Crawley]

On that Glastonbury Julien Temple film in the extras stuff, there's a short interview with Noel Gallagher in which he says something along the lines of the backstage area being packed full of w*nkers and he prefers to slip out to the main areas if possible.

[5co77ie]

'Back Stage' camping won't be between the Pyramid and Other stages this year by the way.

[BinThereDrummedThat]

Never been backstage at Glastonbury before, but have been at other festivals and agree what others say on here. Its a pretty dull place.

There's the original excitement of going somewhere non-performers cant, but that quickly dies down.

At Latitude however its more cool - there are more "celebs" and bands hanging around as its alot more relaxed and smaller. You dont have the prats from the BBC trying to get an interview with every single famous person ever, or the horrendours tag alongs.

But get the passes, make use of them! Bars, toilets, showers and a short cut are probably the 4 main advantages, with no disadvantages to getting them!

[cabstar]

On that Glastonbury Julien Temple film in the extras stuff, there's a short interview with Noel Gallagher in which he says something along the lines of the backstage area being packed full of w*nkers and he prefers to slip out to the main areas if possible.

[TalkShow Bob]

Love it. spot f**king on.

[Paul ™]

Only worth using it for the short cut between Other and Pyramid stage

[Brizzle]

On that Glastonbury Julien Temple film in the extras stuff, there's a short interview with Noel Gallagher in which he says something along the lines of the backstage area being packed full of w*nkers and he prefers to slip out to the main areas if possible.