Glastonbury_2011 Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I had a great time listening to the bands all weekend but I definitely won't be turning up to Leeds festival again. I was threatened with violence twice while at the festival, my friend had his belongings taken and the amount of drunken idiots around the place has turned me off completely. Not to mention that the whole place was dirty, smelly and felt really forced. Leeds was fun while it lasted but i'll be taking my business elsewhere from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Explosions_In_The_Sky Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 (edited) At 21 I also feel like I've finally outgrown it. Spanning 2004 to 2009 I've gone to 3 fests, and to bow out to Radiohead is enough for me. The problem for me is, it's hard to have a conversation there. Of course, you always get some decent people you camp near, and you can have a laugh and a muck about around the fire. However, Reading has always been (and this has always really irked me, even as a 16 year old) about arbitrary words being shouted out and nonsense communicative squawks. At times in the past it has been ok, but this year when yet ANOTHER group of pissed up 15 year olds decide to shout buttscratcher in your face, you sort of wonder what the hell your doing there. That, and the lineup for me continues to not really appeal. More and more new bands (I'm at that point in life where I seem to be falling off the pace with current music) and duff ones cluttering up the lineup. Also the price has hit it's limit. I've paid out around £450 or so in total for the weekend. I just can't justify that anymore when at times I find myself getting irritated by it. Still had a good weekend away and all . However, this year was the final nail for me. Edited August 31, 2009 by Explosions_In_The_Sky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glastonbury_2011 Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 At 21 I also feel like I've finally outgrown it. Spanning 2004 to 2009 I've gone to 3 fests, and to bow out to Radiohead is enough for me. The problem for me is, it's hard to have a conversation there. Of course, you always get some decent people you camp near, and you can have a laugh and a muck about around the fire. However, Reading has always been (and this has always really irked me, even as a 16 year old) about arbitrary words being shouted out and nonsense communicative squawks. At times in the past it has been ok, but this year when yet ANOTHER group of pissed up 15 year olds decide to shout buttscratcher in your face, you sort of wonder what the hell your doing there. That, and the lineup for me continues to not really appeal. More and more new bands (I'm at that point in life where I seem to be falling off the pace with current music) and duff ones cluttering up the lineup. Also the price has hit it's limit. I've paid out around £450 or so in total for the weekend. I just can't justify that anymore when at times I find myself getting irritated by it. Still had a good weekend away and all . However, this year was the final nail for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparticus Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 i enjoyed it, but i get what has been said, vast amount of punters now are people you'd expect to see on a "booze britain" programme. I went this year as after the initial disappointment the lineup sorted itself a bit and there was a lot of people i knew going, but there's loads of festivals that put on a lineup similiar to reading/ leeds, so i'll give those a crack instead. Saying that, i'll always keep the weekend clear, if tickets are as cheap on ebay leading up to the fest then pick up a bargain; otherwise don't fancy paying two ton to hear you what you what Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed O Briens Cat Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I fear I am in a similar boat. Been going since 2001 and the atmosphere has got steadliy worse. Camped in purple again and just like last year had to leave around 4am due to the 'angry mob' approaching. The word c**t really does not do justice to the bunch of pricks who pulled down a telegraph pole whilst setting fire to others singing 'Leeds is shit, leeds is shit'. Hard to say what causes it, lineup - perhaps, more kids on site- perhaps. My friend interestingly pointed out that this year was the first where it felt like there were more people there for the first time than those who had been before. Perhaps I am getting old and have outgrown it, but I am pretty sure up until around 3 years ago , whilst there was an atmosphere on the Sunday you did not have to fear for your posessions like it seems now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serginhowardinho Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 (edited) I've been to all the big festivals this year (Glasto, T, V, Leeds) and also a couple of smaller ones. I think each and every one of them had their own benefits - with the exception of Leeds. There are literally no aspects of the whole festival that hasn't been done better elsewhere. It has no USP. The line-up was unremarkable (other than Radiohead), the site is a disorganised shambles, the people are generally idiotic. Why are there no toilets down the left side of the main stage? Why are there so few urinals? Why was Florence Welsh's drummer getting pissed wet through? Why is the entrance to the Orange campsite a dry (and then increasingly wet) ski-slope? And the whole place literally stinks. As for the punters, i just can't understand why anyone would tolerate such inane idiocy ever again. The previous poster who criticised the 'sloganeering' rather than talking/chatting hit the nail on the head. The kind of penis-breathed arsewipes who think it's hilarious to throw full cans of lager at trees so they explode over passing girls ought to have their Stronbow rammed up their arses. The morons who piss all over their own campsites and shit in carrier bags on their doorstep ought to have their bloody noses rubbed in it. And those mongoloids intent on choking everyone to death on acrid tent fumes ought to be zipped into their sleeping bags and dipped in the tanks under the toilets. I know that there are rowdy idiots at every festival, but Leeds really plumbs new depths. I've always been slightly indiferent to the occasional dickhead as they are a minority. But there are so many of them at Leeds that it's difficult to ignore and impossible not to feel sympathy for those who have their experience ruined by some pathetic ingrates. Even though i live fifteen minutes from Bramham, there is simply no way i will ever attend for a full weekend again. An amazing line-up might tempt me back for an individual day, but they'd probably have to resurrect Jimi Hendrix for me to consider it. Edited August 31, 2009 by serginhowardinho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hulkamania Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I had an amazing weekend my 6th reading in a row but yeah at 20 years old i felt quite old for it all. If someone screamed buttscratcher we would just scream back "You're not funny", i know it sounds aggrecive but the look on their faces was priceless. My friend made a t shirt with "collecting cups is for c**ts" and "Shouting Buttscratcher is for Virgins". I think you can take all the screaming from the 15year olds tongue in cheek until the sunday night when they start destroying the shit out of everything before going back home to facebook. I have gone with the same group of mates each year and now we all go to uni and dont get to see each other its enough really just to chill out in the camp site, see the bands you want to see and still scream stuff at people, but a little bit more relevant than screaming bus w*nker... there are no buses in the festival children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomisnothere Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 buttscratcher screaming was annoying. i just don't get how people enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoTWire Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Stay in a hotel At 33 I should probably have out grown Reading about 13 years ago... but it is still a good music festival. This year though I felt it was very much missing the metal element, it always strikes me that metal fans bring a bit more maturity and a slightly more professional gigging nature to proceedings. Thousands of indie kids celebrating their GCSEs is all we had this year. Line up is going to have to be pretty different next year to make me go back.. Which is a shame as I've been going since 1994 and I very very much enjoyed the bands this year,.. just not the crowd. It isn't that I want to even see most of the metal acts, it is just the audience balance. Might be worth dropping a note to the better festival group or even Festival Republic and have your say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammy2211 Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Atmosphere is on decline every year currently, I'm not quite sure what it is but it felt that way to all our camp. Guess it's just because festivals are becoming more and more mainstream or something, I dunno. The thing that gets me now is how people change 'Cause its Sunday Night'. Its become part of the Reading tradition to most people now, alongside shouting bollocks, that on Sunday you smash shit up and burn tents. I don't really 'get' it. Saw alot more people leaving / packing early on the Sunday and wayyyyyyyyyyy more security / police on the campsite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VCK Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 It gets worse by the year. I still enjoyed myself of course, but the atmosphere just decreases by the year. Unless they get a quality line-up next year I'm gonna sack Leeds 2010 off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock_Lesner Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 And I thought I was the only one thinking all the above! I have been every year since 1999 and at the age of 30 felt too old, the whole GCSE theme as mentioned before is really annoying. That said I had an amazing time this year and saw more bands than i ever have in previous years - I feel this year was a good time to bow out and stop going for the weekend. Day ticket next year for me and i'll go try another festival for the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markeee Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 (edited) buttscratcher screaming was annoying. i just don't get how people enjoy it. Edited August 31, 2009 by markeee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifelessfool Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Aha i felt i had outgrown it at 17 and now being the 65 year old man stuck in 19 year olds body that I am, I have decided to make latitude my key annual festival. Where the only violence i encountered was anger at people standing up during the ballet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Song Simon Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 If you live anywhere near the Reading or Leeds site I totally recommend not camping, and getting the late train home once or twice to crash. You can still hang around with friends at night, you don't miss any music, but you're not forced to put up with the campsite 'experience' unless you choose to. There are plenty of friendly people around, but it feels like everyone keeps themselves to themselves now. Used to be that you'd have loads of conversations with strangers (and strangers stop being strangers as soon as you get talking to them!) in the Reading campsite, but now it's less common. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serginhowardinho Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 If you live anywhere near the Reading or Leeds site I totally recommend not camping, and getting the late train home once or twice to crash. You can still hang around with friends at night, you don't miss any music, but you're not forced to put up with the campsite 'experience' unless you choose to. There are plenty of friendly people around, but it feels like everyone keeps themselves to themselves now. Used to be that you'd have loads of conversations with strangers (and strangers stop being strangers as soon as you get talking to them!) in the Reading campsite, but now it's less common. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moshing Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I am far to old to be at festivals now (an acient 36 years old) but I still enjoy Leeds. I agree that the amount of kids getting drunk and stupid is increasing but I just avoid them (not always possible I understand). There are hotels if you don't want the campsite stuff at all or the quieter camsites. I don't think there is a problemn in the arena. I will be going next year and I am sure I will still enjoy myself but each to their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markeee Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I used to like the camping experience ..only recently not had such a great time while camping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reni Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Tried to add to my "green credentials" this year and went by coach.Coach park at yellow campsite end .This means that you're pretty much limited to camping at that end due to distances.Camped in white this year and it was a bloody nightmare!!!Drugged and pissed up youngsters running riot all night. And what's with the Relentless Dance tent thumping until 4 o'clock in the morning??? It's almost on the white/yellow campsites.Why not keep the latenight stuff to comparative lower key(Gaymer's karaoke tent etc) and keep the thumping stuff in the arena itself.The distance should make a difference to the campsites. I still reckon that the "camping experience" is important and should be encouraged.Going by coach detracts from this and IF I,m back next year it'll be by car so I can use the tried and trusted brown camping. Oh yes and the arena seemed particularly rammed this year.....nah won't be going next year...well let's see the line up first!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moshing Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Oh yes and the arena seemed particularly rammed this year.....nah won't be going next year...well let's see the line up first!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Song Simon Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 It's not an option to do this at Leeds: £17 a day for the coach or £25 for a one-way taxi trip to Leeds city centre. Combine that with a taxi from the city to your house and it starts to get prohibitively expensive. The only way you can get back to Leeds for a reasonable price is to drive yourself which means no drink/drugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceman80 Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Lightweight.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one-armed scissor Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I feel the same. I think if it wasn't for the one-off performances like Marmaduke Duke & Spinnerette I wouldn't want to go to Leeds fest again next year. I camped in Green this year and it was more relaxed than the usual areas I've camped in before, but the trek to the arena is ridiculous! the main stage is just over the fence from Green, so why can't they have 2 entrances and save people time? The crowd this year for me was summed up during Kaiser Cheifs - rammed full of tw@heads! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pink_triangle Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 In the past I have gone blindly regardless of line up, next year unless there are some bands i love in the first announcement I will give it a miss. I also think the atmosphere has gone downhill. People put this down to "chavs" but i have observed peoplefrom all classes and fans of all genres acting like idiots over the weekend. I just dont find people throwing drinks and running around naked funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 my last camping Reading too, same reasons perfectly summed up by those above. I'm 39. There are too many kids and the majority of the line up attracts them. the scattering of older bands means people will just get day tickets to see them or for the decent younger bands it's just not worth bothering with they play other good festivals anyway. I enjoyed this year but there are alternatives now. This was my 20th full weekend of Reading in a row and back then Reading seemed to be the greatest festival ever with the greatest line ups but not now. I will be back for the odd day if the line up is decent enough. I hope that is the case I don't want to give up completely part of me will always be attached to the festival. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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