The numbers game

[Better Late...]

Although some of these issues have been mentioned by other people, they are dotted around many different threads so I am starting a new one to draw them together.

* Total numbers... I agree with those who say it would spoil it to go above 5,000.

* "Extras"... Am I the only person who got the impression that at the bigger name gigs in the evenings, there were quite a lot of people who were never otherwise seen ? And that these people tended to be less chilled, less tolerant, more drunk in an antisocial (even on occasion mildly threatening) way ? Yes, it's possible that they spent all day in their tents and only came out to mosh after dark, but I did hear it suggested that it is quite easy, and regularly happens, for people to come in over the fence in the evenings.

* Number of ciggie/baccy outlets.... for my money, I'd prefer none, but I am not going to tread on the toes of those who clearly have the right to use such facilities. However, surely one outlet would suffice? To have more sits very uneasily with the ethical credentials of the festival, IMHO.

But it's a great little festival ('twas my first time) and I'm off to the website now to investigate being an early bird for 2010