Glastonbury 2007

[Fargar]

Just watched

video with Michael Eavis. Could anyone explain to me what hes talking about when he speaks about the festival loosing its respect?

Was there a particular issue that plagued the festival that year? I can only imagine the potential environmental issues involved.

Edited May 15, 2011 by Fargar

[just like heaven]

Watched the interview and all I can guess is that the weather was so so bad (and it was, dont let anyone tell you different, there were hay bales being dropped around the main paths disappearing in mud within half hour), that people (buying tickets) werent interested anymore. That and the killers, you couldnt hear a thing.

[Fargar]

Did it affect the attendance in 2008?

[A-Rob]

Yeap in 2008 tickets did not sell out quicly like previous years.

[HurrahBrother]

AKA Drizzelfest. But more than one festival suffered that year.

Near constant drizzle.

Yes, and poor sound at the pyramid.

[Fargar]

As far as the rain was concerned, was there anything else they could have done really?

I can see the how the sound would be a major f**k up, was it really that bad and did it last the duration of the festival?

I assume Big G still sold out in '08, even if it did take longer than usual? I got the impression from the video in the OP that something very specific tarnished Glastonbury's reputation. But now Im getting the impression they just took their eye off the ball, organizational-wise.

[StoneCircle]

It rained most of the time, everything back at the tent felt damp and cold. It took twice the amount of time to get anywhere and I am pretty sure the stalls ran out of wellies!

100's of tents etc were abandoned, some due to a misunderstanding that the festival would collect them and send them where needed. The rest due to them being too wet for people to go to the trouble of taking them down and carting them home.

We left on Monday about 5pm having done 2 trips to the car, nothing had moved since our first trip. So there were people sat in their cars thoroughly pissed off as the site was gridlocked, some had signs saying how long they had sat there without moving, eating, drinking etc which the longest we saw was 12 hours! And ironically the sun had come out at last!

We were parked in W23 at the top of the field so very near the exit in our 1967 MK2 Jaguar who can be very temperamental, who is called Drusilla, I ran ahead as we joined the queue out asking to be let in as no way would the car have coped with a long stop/start exit.

Thank you to the kind souls who let us in and make a quick departure! Sadly we no longer bring Drusilla to Glastonbury as she is too old to queue and has a tendency to spit her water out!!

PS Just remembered the rest of the journey was no better, as we got closer to home in Sheffield, the city had flooded - badly, and the M1 was closed. We eventually made it home at 2am on Tuesday morning !!

Edited May 16, 2011 by StoneCircle

[mcolbert]

2007 was the worst since I have been going from 99.

Horrible

[mjcolbert]

Ah, the real me.

It was horrible and I said I would never go back, It was that bad. It tested the faith.

I did go back though and will be back again this year.

[StoneCircle]

Ah, the real me.

It was horrible and I said I would never go back, It was that bad. It tested the faith.

I did go back though and will be back again this year.

[ukslim]

Did it affect the attendance in 2008?

[Ponyegg]

2007 was the first time back for me since the mid 90s. It took until Sunday night for it to finally get to me. Friends had gone down to the Pyramid field, I was back at camp desperately trying to keep warm (it was wet AND cold) and steadily sobering up... never nice :-). When the came back I greeted them all with Hot Chocolates which I believe was one of the highlights of the weekend. When we got back tot he van we had to get towed out by a tractor (I think, it's all a bit fuzzy now) but then proceeded to spend the next 8hrs+ waiting to get out. About three fields were all emptying into one small track (near wehere W33 is now). That said, a hot bath, cup of tea and some food soon had me planning the next year the following day :-)

[phillyfaddle]

2007 was bloody awful - worse than 05's flash flooding, as that was just one mega downpour. It just rained and rained and rained. And then rained some more. The mud was alive I swear, especially around the main stages - though it was kinda fun watching people trying to negotiate it Thank God for waterproof trousers. We left on Sunday night (bit of a q, but not too bad) and I had to stand in a bin liner to take off wellies and trousers in one go before getting in friend's car. It did put off a lot of people, which affected the 08 ticket sales....but people obviously have short memories!!

[Ron Burgundy]

2007 was the only year I have been before. I am venturing back this year in the hope of better weather. I hope it's not me that is cursed, but if it is, apologies to everyone!

To be honest though, even though the weather was awful I still loved every minute of it and have some great memories like arcade fire on the other stage and randomly walking past a stage as chas and dave came on.

[hazey_jane]

My other half says it was brilliant and his favourite. It was also his first and it didn't put him off going again.

It really was my least favourite of the 6 I've been to so far, partly cos of my friend acting up on the Sunday night but I was just sick of the constant drizzle. I thought I'd never feel dry or warm again

[Fargar]

I can imagine the rain and muck being one thing, I'm not sure the organisers could have done 'out about that, but some of the stories on here about general access too and from the site!! 8hrs to get out! 12hrs to get in!! f**k me.

Has access significantly improved? I can't see how you can make a remote part of the country more accessible. Or was it a case that the rain just overwhelmed the situation and there was nothing the organisers could have done about it?

[Greenelk]

It was a soul destroying year, and the first (and only to date) time part of me was glad to leave the site. Looking back, still had a fantastic time, but took me longer to realise it! Agree with phillyfaddle, worse than the floods of 05.

[snipe]

I'd lost everything in Pennards in 05 but 07 was worse by far. Also happened to be the year we had our biggest group ever with plenty who swore off ever coming back as a result which made it worse. Spent so much just hunkered in a massive communal tent drinking which could have been done in any field. These days looking back the good memories shine through a bit better but there were some short tempers towards the end and I'm amazed everyone still talks to each other.

Only reason myself and a few others braved 08 was it was so easy to get tickets. Glad I did as the last two years have been some of the best. Numbers are slowly ramping up again though are group is still half what set out in 07 (several other halfs being in the never again brigade).

Edited May 17, 2011 by snipe

[michael eavis' beard]

The weather was a nightmare in 2007. Must admit that there's a side of me that enjoys a bit of rain but that was a joke.

Going back to what the OP said about respect though...think there was a lot made at the time about the quality of the headliners. Arctic Monkeys only had 1 album and Killers had just released their 2nd. Think they were viewed as lazy bookings. Add that to the poor sound and probably wasn't a great year for the 'critics'.

Personally I had a ball!

[HurrahBrother]

It was the first year of the see tickets coaches as well. Which was a shambles going back Having to hang around in the rain at some 5 in the morning waiting for a coach which no one was sure where it would be leaving from. At least mine was on time and had made preparations for muddy travellers (they put plastic sheets over the seats and handed out boot covers as you boarded). Others found theirs was 2 or 3 hours late (with no toilets, water or even a tea van) and then got told "your not coming on my clean coach like 'that'".

I remembered that the rain actually stopped for Gogol Bordello, but started again as they left the stage!

[r0cky]

I'm slightly ashamed to say that Glastonbury 2007 broke my spirit. I managed to enjoy myself through to Sunday afternoon, but after that it just became a slog. My clearest memory is being in the rain, in the dark, on the Sunday night, faced with the prospect of trudging back to the tent through the mud, each pace a struggle, and wondering whether I'd make it.

Edited May 17, 2011 by r0cky

[duggie20]

Of the past 4 years 07 was one of my favourite's Gogol Bordello, Kasabian, Bjork, Paul Weller and i don't think i have stage hopped so much since that year even with the torrential rain. The worst part about it for me was getting so hot in my waterproofs and all my money sticking together but apart from that a great year.

[clarkete]

2007 was bloody awful - worse than 05's flash flooding, as that was just one mega downpour. It just rained and rained and rained. And then rained some more.

[JennyJohnson]

Yep, that was the year it took us 9 hours to get out of the car park.. then a further 3 to get home. At least the roads were quiet by that time! Was a pretty miserable year as I remember, still didn't make me hesitate getting tickets for 2008 though

[youareagoat]

2007 was a slog but i did have a really good time. Highlight had to be !!! in the glade, one of the best sets i've heard in 9 glasto's.

The constant rain, mud and the ever increasing sea of brown sludge really wore you out. Out of the 10 friends that went that year eight have not been to another one since. It really killed the love for them. Idiots, i say!!! Since 2007 i think glasto has just got better with each year. The late night areas that have developed really keep the party going, i discovered Arcadia last year and was blown away by it. Dancing like a loon right below the stage, looking over the whole field going mental during the lighting people and the giant fire laser orgasmatron.

Back to 2007, my lasting memory is of me and my little sister outside the john peel tent in the mud on sunday afternoon. A forklift then came and took a number of bins away which left a 3m by 3m patch of that rarest of commodities at G2007. Green grass! The purest green and no mud...and it was all ours. It was great to be able to sit on the floor, rest those legs, fresh pint of cider and listen to some tunes. I then ruined it all by dropping my last bit of weed into the surrounding mud!

Edited May 19, 2011 by youareagoat