Some general questions from a noob....

[Androoo]

Hi,

I'm a newbie to EoTR but not an newbie to festivals - I'm a Glastonbury veteran of over ten years, a Cropredy veteran of over twenty years and I've also been to Reading (yuk!), Big Green Gathering, Earth Spirit and more other small festivals than I can remember....

I hoped you could answer a few questions about EoTR so I know how to pack and what to do.

I've been advised that nobody hangs around the campsite much, so I won't need my big family-sized dome, the wee Eurohike will do. Is that right?

This is one of the festivals with a main arena isn't it? I *think* I'm allowed to take my own booze and food into the arena, as long as it's obviously not more than personal use, e.g. a bag with four or five cans and maybe a (non-glass) flask of spirits will be okay, no?

One of my party smokes 'herbal' cigarettes, is the attitude to this sort of thing quite relaxed (like at most other festivals)?

Is it advisable to take a camping chair into the arena, or does this just piss people off / isn't allowed?

Is there much to do at night time or does it all end when the DJs finish (after the bands)?

Any other tips gratefully received!

Androoooooo

[geofelgie]

Given it might be cold at night/early morning, you might find the bigger tent useful if there's a group of you but not essential.

There was a mix up on the Friday last year but other than that reasonable booze and food has always been fine, ps distance between arena/campsite is minimal, so popping back and forth is easy.

Asking questions about "herbal" cigarettes on a public forum is dumb, so I shall answer properly.... 42!

Camping chairs in the arena are evil and considerably less welcome than "herbal" cigarettes!

After the DJs/bands finish (at 3am) you could probably talk to me if you like, especially if you have a "herbal" cigarette, but no, there's not much to do, what were you expecting?????

[Androoo]

I was expecting the unexpected!

Was a serious question, some festivals are very lively all through the night and I've heard EoTR is a bit different and quite special - I'm very excited!

By 'herbal' cigarettes I was only talking about the legal nicoteen-free smoking mixtures available from certain legitimate tax-paying outlets - nothing more illicit than that (but such mixtures are often misconstrued as being something altogether different.....)

Thanks for the answers geofelgie! P.S. I take from your signature that you are into The Hold Steady; I'm mega-excited about seeing them again having seen them support the Counting Crows earlier this year and they were absolutely awesome!

[Elfy]

Is there much to do at night time or does it all end when the DJs finish (after the bands)?

[sadwitch]

It's very relaxed and chilled out. The big top has DJs on late and the Bimble (now Tipi) has sets going on pretty late and there's sometimes a campfire. People tend to go to bed at somepoint though rather than party all night, I attribute this to a relaxed atmosphere rather than party central, the fact it gets f**king freezing at night, and that people spend a lot of their time tiring themselves out watching bands rather than sitting at their tent ignoring the everything (a classic pastime at other festivals )

There was an arena of sorts last year though the year before it was only the main stage that was seperated by some oxfam stewards. It's nominal though and is just a wristband check- it doesn't feel like an arena.

I'm taking my chair because I'm a f**king cripple this year but mostly people sit on the floor, some lucky folk have those snazzy floor chairs (it took me a long time to track some down after seeing them there one year)

Herbal cigarettes? They would be the same as everywhere else I'd say i.e. illegal obviously... There's not a lot of security checks but then there's not a lot of people to check either...

[geofelgie]

Hold steady were fantastic supporting counting crows in brighton

[Sipperana]

Hold steady were fantastic supporting counting crows in brighton

[Insomaniac]

Welcome Androo, I think you'll like EOTR. Not much to add to what others have said but EOTR is a really nice chilled out affair. As mentioned earlier it's not an all night party as once the music stops there's not too much to do and not a lot of people up for partying. In fact some friends of mine got in trouble from security for staying up too late last year (they were having a singalong at the time so they weren't entirely innocent).

By all means take a chair but don't sit at the front of the stage in it. They're fine at the back of the stages, although I'm just another punter so have no authority on chairs really so do as you please