Alcatraz Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 (edited) I'm not really a voice of authortiy. I've only been to Reading for a day in 2006 so luckily I've never experienced the crap that seems to go on. But, could the organisers do better in terms of providing entertainment after the bands are done? Does the current site allow them to provide such things? I have to question those that say things about going because of the lineup, but lets be frank, this year's lineup was filled with bands that played pretty much every other major festival bar the headliners. Shafting the alternative sunday is clearly a sign for the future, they're going to keep providing the same crud as they've put out this year. Its in danger of self-destructing the way its going and I'd hope the organisers would get a kick up the arse if it got near critical. Stop going to R/L, experience the same bands elsewhere and send a message to the organisers. Edited August 31, 2009 by Alcatraz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micawber Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I'm not really a voice of authortiy. I've only been to Reading for a day in 2006 so luckily I've never experienced the crap that seems to go on. But, could the organisers do better in terms of providing entertainment after the bands are done? Does the current site allow them to provide such things? I have to question those that say things about going because of the lineup, but lets be frank, this year's lineup was filled with bands that played pretty much every other major festival bar the headliners. Shafting the alternative sunday is clearly a sign for the future, they're going to keep providing the same crud as they've put out this year. Its in danger of self-destructing the way its going and I'd hope the organisers would get a kick up the arse if it got near critical. Stop going to R/L, experience the same bands elsewhere and send a message to the organisers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcatraz Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 (edited) Great soundbite, but even if all the same bands played, say, Glastonbury, then there is no way on earth you could get around the site to see them all. More music means Reading is better value for me. Edited August 31, 2009 by Alcatraz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyjenni Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 But, could the organisers do better in terms of providing entertainment after the bands are done? Does the current site allow them to provide such things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micawber Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Aye I know, in fact I've read your reasons for going and its certainly something I'd be happy to do one day as I only really ever see 5 or 6 bands at Glastonbury. But surely "the party" needs to continue once the bands stop playing. Currently, "the party" to an increasing chunk of an R/L crowd seems to be acting aggressively. Its a music festival, why couldn't it be close to 24/7? Can someone remind me, the Reading site, is it quite near a residential area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkymunkey Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 Agree with all that too apart from the recycling initiatives. I spent quite a long time with Festival Republic's Sustainability Co-Ordinator at the festival hearing about all of the good work she's doing with her teams to try and tackle the problem. I was also with their teams this morning as they were heading to each of the campsites to try and salvage as much camping equipment/food etc as they possibly could. Try checking out http://www.readingfestival.com/info/index.aspx?id=409. Shame you have to dig into info menus to find all of this, they should make it a lot more prominent and promote it more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkymunkey Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 Great soundbite, but even if all the same bands played, say, Glastonbury, then there is no way on earth you could get around the site to see them all. More music means Reading is better value for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k1n60fthew0rld Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 (edited) In all honesty, I think it depends how much you let it bother you, look at this list of things that went wrong for our group: 1.) Got pissed on on Friday night --> actual urine, not rainwater 2.) Stolen £80 in YME@6 3.) 2 mates leaving due to illness 4.) Losing a bag full of food and clothes from a tent 5.) Snapping the tent on Sunday night 6.) Stolen mobile phone 7.) Milk emptied out all over our tent 8.) Door left open during the downpour on friday night Yet beyond all that, we all went with the attitude of, it's Leeds, shit happens. I think if we'd let all of these things bother us, and the annoying as f**k Tango ride in Orange Funfair, then we could all say we had a shit time. But we didn't, because we all rallied together and thought, f**k it, we're seeing 6 or 7 bands a day which we'd all buy tickets for outside the festival, we've got drink, and a solid group of us to have a good time. Our group were all first time festivallers and all celebrating GCSE results, we got drunk, we stumbled around the campsite at 5AM on Sunday morning, not getting any sleep at all, but to say that nobody spoke to us was a complete lie. I'd say we met a good 20 people up for a laugh, two of which stuck with us for the entire night, we met people across the path from us at the campsite, met people in the arena during the Kaisers, all with the attitude of lets have a good time. I don't understand how a casual chant of Buttscratchers gets people in such rage, it's light hearted banter, and sorry but why would anyone want to start a conversation with people deemed to have such negative attitudes anyway? So this was my first Leeds, and it DEFINITELY won't be my last. Edited September 1, 2009 by k1n60fthew0rld Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hearing_aid Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 4) it's not a festival, it's a big gig in a field with camping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkymunkey Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 I agree with pretty much everything you said apart from this. This comment really bugs me! It is a festival, its a MUSIC festival, whether it is good or bad. Blur in hyde park would be a big gig in the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Noise Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 When Reading was in it's hayday, prob 94-2002, you could not tell that under 18s were actually allowed in. It seemed to be uni-going age and up. This meant the majority of people had enough responsibilty to have a good time in a safe environment. You could go there, really let your hair down and forget about the outside world with like-minded people and this used to work. Sunday night used to get a bit hairy but people knew where to draw the line between having fun and being a public liability. Now it seems to aim itself at the GSCE results audience, and people who's only relationship with the music is through songs they like on Radio 1, rather than having it as a real interest. Fair enough, it's not aimed at me anymore. I understand this when I go along and try to make the best of it. But everything from the size of it to the prices,to the majority of the audience is utter garbage compared from what it used to be. After 7 years of saying it's my last one, next year will really be a one-dayer for me at the most. It's yours now, kids. You've made it your own. Make the most of it but remember, you really missed out big time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg_I Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 This was my 10th year in a row at Leeds and apart from the younger crowd (which is probably me getting older anyway), more trendier Radio 1 bands and the arena seeming generally busier, I didn't really notice any different to other years. Certainly not in terms of atmosphere or intimidation. Maybe because I'm 6'3 with long dreads I don't exactly look an easy target but none of my friends had any trouble either. There did seem a lot of kids who didn't really give a crap about many of the bands but the vast majority were just out to have a good time and certainly didn't ruin it for me. There's ALWAYS trouble on the last night, the exception being 2006 I think, Muse headlined the last night anyway whichever year it was, when there was a torrential storm that made lighting fires impossible. This year was probably the least trouble I've seen apart from that year. I was camped in orange which has seen it's share of trouble the last two years I've camped there. And as for people getting stuff nicked, again, this is nothing new. When will people learn to keep their valuables on their person at all times?? It's one of the first rules of camping at Leeds. I did hear of more thefts this year, but my thoughts are that is was mostly festival virgins who were naive enough to leave their stuff lying about unattended and expect it to still be there hours later when they returned. I'm not in any way condoning the crime, but part of the responsibility is for the festival goers to look after their own stuff rather than expect the organisers to be able to identify and kick out any scallies before they have a chance to nick anything. Incidently, my mate accidently left my car window open on the wednesday and it was still there, with all it's contents, on saturday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomdsjames Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 While I didn't encounter any trouble, I did feel quite old this year which I really shouldn't - I'm only 20! The group we were camped with were all 17 year olds celebrating first year of A lvls. They were up all night long (the sun had usually come up before they went to bed) and could hear arguing/throwing up all night. I actually heard someone doing Pokemon impressions. With the exception of Sunday I pretty much just went to bed when I got back to camp, I feel old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rseamer Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 Haven't been to Reading for a number of years, and having just read all the negative feedback has reinforced my views on why I stopped going. For those who have decided enough is enough - 2 suggestions 1. Write to or email Reading Council who issue the license for the festival. Explain your concerns (particularly if they relate to public safety and / or the protection of children, which are two of the main stated aims of the licence) Ask the Council to consider your concerns in relation to conditions on the licence for the 2010 event. Surely the banning of fires has to be a strong consideration for next year ?? 2. Go to another festival. Leave Reading to those who like it the way it is - in the long run I suspect it will be its downfall. One year someone will get killed / seriously injured and then who knows what will happen. There are still LOADS of brilliant festivals out there, try something different. The year after I stopped going to Reading I went to Bestival which has now become a regular of mine every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 It's yours now, kids. You've made it your own. Make the most of it but remember, you really missed out big time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyx Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 It dawned on me how much the festival had changed, when the tent for Faith No More was practically empty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rexclark Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 I've been to every Leeds bar one and it definately is deteriorating. I don't think it was any worse this year than it has been for the past five but that could've just been I was camped in an ok bit. I don't think there's much the organisers can do apart from try not to attract annoying trendy kids who are only there to see the big bands and cause trouble but they won't do this as it makes no sense financially to them. I still really enjoyed myself this year and I'll probably end up back next year but I really hope the organisers take a long look at there booking policy and perhaps try to attract a better mix of crowd rather than the late teens/early twenties bracket they go for just now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Boots Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 (edited) Best Reading I've been to ... out of the last 4 years. Needed more toilets and less queuing on the way in, but apart from that I cannot complain. Had an immense weekend. Edited September 1, 2009 by Dirty Boots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big_ted Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 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...
oxfordreading Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 'ello, first time posting, but been reading through so felt i'd throw in my tuppence worth. overall, great weekend, but there were a few things which pissed me off over the weekend. Obviously there are a fair few issues over the camping etc. I was in Y1, near the fire tower. before I start on the fellow campers, I'll start with some of the staff. Early on saturday morning I (and probably everyone else) was woken up by 2 of the campsite staff shouting rubbish through megaphones at about 7am. They were told to shut up numerous times by people around them but somehow kept on thinking they were funny. I expect even their own mothers don't love them. Our camping area was near the path that went from the middle of yellow to purple (i think it was purple) an to be fair it was fine all weekend until the sunday night. In the next field just over the hedge a tent fire was started, and then some clever c**ts thought it'd be funny to throw the fire extinguisher on there. this led to the evacuation of the field, which in due course led to our field being flooded by all that fields capers. it was mainly genuine people who were worried about their friends/stuff, and thats cool, but there were a few who were complaining that the fire staff were ruining their 'fun' by not letting them into the field, where this extinguisher would've killed someone. The f**kers then decided to join in with all the people near the big fire in yellow a bit away from my tent. on the way though they were dragging empty tents from the ground in our field and throwing them on the fire, regardless to what possessions were inside. I had my tent open just so no shit came my way but had to stop people getting into the tent next to me (4 people we didnt know before the festival but turned out to be excellant folk) twice. What surprised me more was the fact that the people going through the tents near mine were girls aged no older than 18. It was obviously a case of a first-time-away-lets-go-mad type affair. When the fire was put out in yellow the people descended onto our field and started lighting fires about 10m from my tent, and at points I couldn't see the tents next to me or breathe due to the thick black smoke. At 2.30am me and my mate decided enough was enough and packed up and trekked across the site just to get away from it. Also, which pissed me off about this too was the people attacking the police/fire brigade while driving through the site. One vehicle definitely had its window taken out by someone. I've never been so glad to see my house as I was on monday morning. The arena was much better in its organisation this year. Less stalls meant there wasn't as much of a crush as their has been in some years. The only time there was trouble was after Them Crooked Vultures, where obviously a lot had piled into the nme/r1 tent. On the way out there was a big crush to one side where people were trying to get in for YM@6. There were some around me shouting for help as they were being physically crushed, and despite calls the emergency exit from the arena wasn't opened. I felt it should've as some people were getting hysterical and panicking a lot. What are these exits for otherwise? But overall, yeah a lot less of a crush around the arena The entrance to the arena, maybe increase the size a bit to stop the crush there too? Over 18s wristbands. Good idea, but the size of the queue (we queued about 1hr 30mins) was bad enough, but to get into the marquee and see just 2 points of wristband collection was a bit stupid. Plus it was about a million degrees in their with no access to water. I've been going since 2003 now and this year there was definitely a shift in the age range of the people attending. The amount of people in those "leavers 09" school hoodies was immense in number. I've got no problem with young people going to festivals and enjoying the bands they want to watch, and you have to expect a certain amount of immaturity from them, as they are young. But sometimes they should realise whats acceptable and whats not. At one point Someone near me was breaking glowsticks and then spinning them around to let the liquid fly around. I was not the only one to get this in my face and some girl near me had to get go for medical attention as she had some in her eyes. Whats not acceptable outside the site in real life, is not acceptable in it. The bars. The bar queueing system on one side of the arena was excellant and worked really well. Hopefully they'll bring that in for all main bars next year. The entance sign also made an excellant meeting point now you can't use the "i'm near the bloke with the welsh flag" one. what else, um, the food. Pricey as always but you have to expect that. The ladies in the baguette van to the left just after entry were amazing and friendly and made me the best festival food ever . Cheese, bacon and onions smothered in ketchup. could do with one now! The lack of the metalish day doesn't really affect me too much as its not my sort of music, but I think there could be more to cater for those with those tastes. Plus, however scary and evil people think metal fans are, i've never met one at a festival who is a c**t. always got time for a chat and a laugh. Band wise, i enjoyed myself and watched who i wanted and when, getting a good view all round. Even liked chilling by theintroducing stage too when passing and saw a few good bands there as well. A lot of the line up is obviously going to be nme/radio1 heavy, and i think this has led to the age range of people attending now. I though I'd walked on the set of skins at some points. Overall, yes, great festival. Got to see radiohead, got to hang out with friends, met new ones too. Next year, make the 18s wristband thing bigger with more staff, make the entrance bigger, have a queueing system for al bars and stop people shouting "alan, Steve" in my face all weekend and i should be fine. Oh yeah, lets hope for a biblical storm on the sunday night to stop f**kers burning everything near me, and keep the flag ban! I'm only 5ft 7 so I want to see the stage again. Phew. time to put the kettle on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FluffyBeanie Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 I've spent the last 20 minutes reading this thread and it has made me sad. I have just booked tickets for Leeds 2010 having got sick to the back teeth with V being chav-tastic. Sounds like Leeds is just as bad, if not worse. Surely someone must have something positive to say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxfordreading Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 its still good, just theres a few things that need to be ironed out still. Don't let this put you off sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micawber Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 I've spent the last 20 minutes reading this thread and it has made me sad. I have just booked tickets for Leeds 2010 having got sick to the back teeth with V being chav-tastic. Sounds like Leeds is just as bad, if not worse. Surely someone must have something positive to say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mancunianlegend Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 I've spent the last 20 minutes reading this thread and it has made me sad. I have just booked tickets for Leeds 2010 having got sick to the back teeth with V being chav-tastic. Sounds like Leeds is just as bad, if not worse. Surely someone must have something positive to say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joniosity Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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