Won't be going again.

[moshing]

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?

[scottt]

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.

[Englishdragon]

Ive given up with the people of Leeds festival.

Anybody that says you carnt not camp at leeds hasnt tried how easy it is. I gave up with the campsite on Friday and decided to drive home after the bands every night.

I left the car park at 11 every night. Straight out, Straight back in in the morning, back in the exact same spot and only cost me a full tank of petrol for the weekend (which is less than I spent last year stopping there)

I do think that the festival has changed a lot. When i first went in 2003 i would say it was about 45% Rock enthusiasts, 45% indie enthusiasts and 10% people who just went for the crack. This year I would say it was about 10% rock, 30% indie, 50% people purely interested in going for a piss up and 10% purely going to go "crazy" and cause havock)

If i go to leeds again it will be purely for bands and no camping, otherwise I shall be checking out other festivals

Edited August 31, 2009 by Leeds_Brett

[Matticus]

this thread sums up everything.

i for one hated the topshop/abercrombie haired kids/clones tearing shit up and clogging a once decent festival up with shit bands. if the line up next year was a well thought out, alternative line up, with very little input from radio 1, then i think all these idiots will piss off back to t4 on the beach or whereever they came from.

What also annoyed me was people behaviour. People act like dickheads at festivals. i understand that, but this year it was all to blatent and in your face. Some prick walked past and just causally took our flag pole and flag with him, while everyone was in our little circle. The smack that kid got round the head was harsh, but well deserved, as even when he got up he still didnt really understand what he had done wrong.

Also the fact that all the awesome bands that played, had tiny crowds was disheartening. But i know most people are retards so i dont expect them to listen to anything other then what zane lowe tells them too anyways

the sooner Radio 1 is unassociated with the festival the better

It makes me feel sad, but i think it might have to be my last reading too, which is shit for festival republic, as it seems most of the older festival goers are turning their backs on the festival, and these are the punters with the money

Edited August 31, 2009 by Matticus

[samc86]

Totally agree with everything said in here.

Since I have been going the atmosphere has taken a drastic nose dive in recent years, the kids seem to get younger and less bothered with the actual music. The antics and banter which goes on gets more disgusting and crude every time. Why do i want to wake up to people throwing shit in bags, urine in bottles and huge glass bottles at each other??

Oh yeah I forgot 'IT'S READING LIGHTEN UP'', horrible human beings ruining a festival I really loved and still enjoy the watching music side of.

[brighteyes]

Doubt I'll go again. Too many cretins, I'm sure I wasn't that immature when I was 15/16. The line-up wasn't very good either. Can't wait for End Of The Road in 11 days, that should restore my faith in festivals!

[markeee]

Totally agree with everything said in here.

Since I have been going the atmosphere has taken a drastic nose dive in recent years, the kids seem to get younger and less bothered with the actual music. The antics and banter which goes on gets more disgusting and crude every time. Why do i want to wake up to people throwing shit in bags, urine in bottles and huge glass bottles at each other??

Oh yeah I forgot 'IT'S READING LIGHTEN UP'', horrible human beings ruining a festival I really loved and still enjoy the watching music side of.

[Explosions_In_The_Sky]

hahaha yep, I saw some kids in purple throwing food at each other/other tents , along with bottles of well..I have no idea

it just seemed really childish to me AND dangerous, using a catapult to fire apples etc could really hurt someone

but people seem to think it's a festival so they can do anything and it doesn't matter as you said the old 'IT'S READING LIGHTEN UP' crap

Edited August 31, 2009 by Explosions_In_The_Sky

[markeee]

See the firework chucked in purple at around 1am last night? Thrown in the same area that first major fire was. Thrown right into another tent which went straight up.

[fakeplasticlung]

This was my second Reading. I went last year, and I felt that I enjoyed this year a lot more in terms of the bands I did see. Some great stuff. I also went to Leeds in 2004, which was a great memory for me as it was my first festival experience.

That experience is a lot different though to outings to Reading. I don't know if it is age and the fact that I have been to quite a few other festivals in my time, but I can't really say I want to go back. I'll be so happy in the memory that Radiohead put on such a good show. That will be a positive memory for me. However in some respects, although as a festival you'd expect people to be hoisted on the shoulders of their mates, there was this one girl who only seemed to take pictures of the crowd. Wasn't actually looking at the band. Which I would understand a bit more.

Also I got a rude reception when I put up my tent in white camp, not knowing that I had 'invaded' someones campsite. I don't think two tents make a campsite. Especially when they weren't even facing each other. Not great.

Not Festival Republic's fault though.

Edited August 31, 2009 by fakeplasticlung

[rockinthecasbah]

Camped in purple again and just like last year had to leave around 4am due to the 'angry mob' approaching.

[markeee]

This was my second Reading. I went last year, and I felt that I enjoyed this year a lot more in terms of the bands I did see. Some great stuff. I also went to Leeds in 2004, which was a great memory for me as it was my first festival experience.

That experience is a lot different though to outings to Reading. I don't know if it is age and the fact that I have been to quite a few other festivals in my time, but I can't really say I want to go back. I'll be so happy in the memory that Radiohead put on such a good show. That will be a positive memory for me. However in some respects, although as a festival you'd expect people to be hoisted on the shoulders of their mates, there was this one girl who only seemed to take pictures of the crowd. Wasn't actually looking at the band. Which I would understand a bit more.

Also I got a rude reception when I put up my tent in white camp, not knowing that I had 'invaded' someones campsite. I don't think two tents make a campsite. Especially when they weren't even facing each other. Not great.

Not Festival Republic's fault though.

[hatman]

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.

[Matticus]

did anyone see the mob running round on saturday night taking peoples gazeebo's in yellow? and kicking peoples tents. I almost smacked a guy i was seriously overwhelmed with anger at what i was witnessing. i asked him where he was camped so i could come kick and trample his girlfriend in her tent, but then quickly realised he was most probably a virgin

[Explosions_In_The_Sky]

you need to get out to some of the smaller festivals - i would suggest the Wickerman in Scotland next year. more friendly and people actually come up and chat to you

[Budweiser]

hahaha yep, I saw some kids in purple throwing food at each other/other tents , along with bottles of well..I have no idea

it just seemed really childish to me AND dangerous, using a catapult to fire apples etc could really hurt someone

[Explosions_In_The_Sky]

Both of these were in purple 4 i think, i packed my tent up before Radiohead cuase i knew something would happen, they started beeing pricks at about 4 in the afternoon. I stayed up all night cuase i was scared to sleep.

Edited August 31, 2009 by Explosions_In_The_Sky

[Marshall]

did anyone see the mob running round on saturday night taking peoples gazeebo's in yellow? and kicking peoples tents. I almost smacked a guy i was seriously overwhelmed with anger at what i was witnessing. i asked him where he was camped so i could come kick and trample his girlfriend in her tent, but then quickly realised he was most probably a virgin

[funkymunkey]

this was the second year since 2001 that i would have missed had my mate not got hold of two guestlists. the lineup was appalling this year. me and my mate are both 26 year old proffessional djs (i'm in clubs and he's got a radio show) and there was a handful of bands that we really wanted to see. don't get me wrong there was enough to keep us occupied, but i wouldn't have paid for it. he was working some of the festival doing interviews and stuff, and i was on antibiotics so we decided not too camp and drive back to my flat in leeds, so i missed all the camping bollocks. but having camped every times before i'm glad i didn't. it just doesn't seem like fun anymore. i think the reasons why have already been covered by loads of people in this thread already.

the reasons as to why it's like that goes so broad it's hard to know where to start.

1) the music is f**king shite now. this isn't necessarily the festivals fault, but there is no heritage to this festival, no respect of rock/alternative history and lineage, and too many flash in the pan crap bands, rather than providing quality. the festival republic tent was so quiet most of the time, and the main tent was filled to the brim with idiots that have never been to a gig before. as jarvis once said "everybody hates a tourist, especially when they think it's all such a laugh, mmmm yeah". the press tent was full of people talking about "this band is gonna be massive" like phrases, when in reality they're just a bit gash. everyone's trying to second guess what everyone else will like, rather than nailing their colours to mast and saying "this band is f**king amazing". this is possibly due to the fact that rock/alternative music is a bit stale now. the kings of leon, whilst certainly not being a bad band, are much bigger than they ever should have been, due to ONE FUC.KING SINGLE!

2) the organisation is crap. there's few bins, no recycling initiatives, nothing that lets you get involved with the festival, CRAP SOUND on all the stages (especially the main stage), the walkways are too small, there's only one entrance, not enough toilets...more shit i'll remember in a bit

3) the crowd is so aggressive and unfriendly. possibly due to the above points, and partially due to too many people not going for the music.

4) it's not a festival, it's a big gig in a field with camping

Edited August 31, 2009 by funkymunkey

[Lithium05]

I was camped right next to the telegraph pole that was pulled down on yellow road 8, we got out of there as that was happening having already packed everything up.

The standard of the majority of attendees was dire this year. Awful people who seemed ready to kick off if you decline to give them a "spare" fag or beer. There were a few reasonable folk about most of whom could be found in the tent for FNM. -f anyone told you that he reckoned Alice in Chains would headline the R1 tent next year, that was me

The last night was a joke, it has become like a prison riot, more seem to join in every year.

[Lithium05]

this was the second year since 2001 that i would have missed had my mate not got hold of two guestlists. the lineup was appalling this year. me and my mate are both 26 year old proffessional djs (i'm in clubs and he's got a radio show) and there was a handful of bands that we really wanted to see. don't get me wrong there was enough to keep us occupied, but i wouldn't have paid for it. he was working some of the festival doing interviews and stuff, and i was on antibiotics so we decided not too camp and drive back to my flat in leeds, so i missed all the camping bollocks. but having camped every times before i'm glad i didn't. it just doesn't seem like fun anymore. i think the reasons why have already been covered by loads of people in this thread already.

the reasons as to why it's like that goes so broad it's hard to know where to start.

1) the music is f**king shite now. this isn't necessarily the festivals fault, but there is no heritage to this festival, no respect of rock/alternative history and lineage, and too many flash in the pan crap bands, rather than providing quality. the festival republic tent was so quiet most of the time, and the main tent was filled to the brim with idiots that have never been to a gig before. as jarvis once said "everybody hates a tourist, especially when they think it's all such a laugh, mmmm yeah". the press tent was full of people talking about "this band is gonna be massive" like phrases, when in reality they're just a bit gash. everyone's trying to second guess what everyone else will like, rather than nailing their colours to mast and saying "this band is f**king amazing". this is possibly due to the fact that rock/alternative music is a bit stale now. the kings of leon, whilst certainly not being a bad band, are much bigger than they ever should have been, due to ONE FUC.KING SINGLE!

2) the organisation is crap. there's few bins, no recycling initiatives, nothing that lets you get involved with the festival, CRAP SOUND on all the stages (especially the main stage), the walkways are too small, there's only one entrance, not enough toilets...more shit i'll remember in a bit

3) the crowd is so aggressive and unfriendly. possibly due to the above points, and partially due to too many people not going for the music.

4) it's not a festival, it's a big gig in a field with camping

[hatman]

I was camped right next to the telegraph pole that was pulled down on yellow road 8, we got out of there as that was happening having already packed everything up.

The standard of the majority of attendees was dire this year. Awful people who seemed ready to kick off if you decline to give them a "spare" fag or beer. There were a few reasonable folk about most of whom could be found in the tent for FNM. -f anyone told you that he reckoned Alice in Chains would headline the R1 tent next year, that was me

The last night was a joke, it has become like a prison riot, more seem to join in every year.

Edited August 31, 2009 by hatman

[funkymunkey]

I was camped right next to the telegraph pole that was pulled down on yellow road 8, we got out of there as that was happening having already packed everything up.

The standard of the majority of attendees was dire this year. Awful people who seemed ready to kick off if you decline to give them a "spare" fag or beer. There were a few reasonable folk about most of whom could be found in the tent for FNM. -f anyone told you that he reckoned Alice in Chains would headline the R1 tent next year, that was me

The last night was a joke, it has become like a prison riot, more seem to join in every year.

[funkymunkey]

I agree with all of that.

[kyjenni]

this was the second year since 2001 that i would have missed had my mate not got hold of two guestlists. the lineup was appalling this year. me and my mate are both 26 year old proffessional djs (i'm in clubs and he's got a radio show) and there was a handful of bands that we really wanted to see. don't get me wrong there was enough to keep us occupied, but i wouldn't have paid for it. he was working some of the festival doing interviews and stuff, and i was on antibiotics so we decided not too camp and drive back to my flat in leeds, so i missed all the camping bollocks. but having camped every times before i'm glad i didn't. it just doesn't seem like fun anymore. i think the reasons why have already been covered by loads of people in this thread already.

the reasons as to why it's like that goes so broad it's hard to know where to start.

1) the music is f**king shite now. this isn't necessarily the festivals fault, but there is no heritage to this festival, no respect of rock/alternative history and lineage, and too many flash in the pan crap bands, rather than providing quality. the festival republic tent was so quiet most of the time, and the main tent was filled to the brim with idiots that have never been to a gig before. as jarvis once said "everybody hates a tourist, especially when they think it's all such a laugh, mmmm yeah". the press tent was full of people talking about "this band is gonna be massive" like phrases, when in reality they're just a bit gash. everyone's trying to second guess what everyone else will like, rather than nailing their colours to mast and saying "this band is f**king amazing". this is possibly due to the fact that rock/alternative music is a bit stale now. the kings of leon, whilst certainly not being a bad band, are much bigger than they ever should have been, due to ONE FUC.KING SINGLE!

2) the organisation is crap. there's few bins, no recycling initiatives, nothing that lets you get involved with the festival, CRAP SOUND on all the stages (especially the main stage), the walkways are too small, there's only one entrance, not enough toilets...more shit i'll remember in a bit

3) the crowd is so aggressive and unfriendly. possibly due to the above points, and partially due to too many people not going for the music.

4) it's not a festival, it's a big gig in a field with camping