Glastonbury - the new V Festival?

[markeee]

hearing about V reminds of reading and leeds and how the people there behave like morons - setting fire to tents at Reading and burning telegraph poles at leeds..like seriously wtf

never seen any tent burning at glasto..just mindless damage at reading..saw it myself in 07 (not been since) probably to do with the large number of young people on site at reading/leeds - first time away from home..cant handle drink etc?

[Spindles]

@CheeseIsAmazing, don't let your age be an issue. some people might judge you, ignore them, if you alter your behaviour to accommodate them then you are giving up the chance to be your age and be happy.

At my very first festival I was watch Pop will eat itself, a bloke by me was going mental with his dancing and singing, some people were looking at him like he was a moron, you could see it in their faces, but I thought he looked like he was having a brilliant time and I joined him, soon others did and before long we were a thronging mass of mad dancing maniacs at the gig of our lives (we looked not dissimilar to the dancing man that is the logo of this site). This became what festivals were for me, a chance to give up pretension and having to suppress myself, a chance to go a bit wild (with consideration to others) and throw those limbs around, sing badly without caring that I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, because that IS fun.

@Markeee, my son and some friends come back from Reading today, will be interesting to hear their perspective (My understanding at this point is that reading 2012 was a great success with much fun had by all)

[markeee]

@CheeseIsAmazing, don't let your age be an issue. some people might judge you, ignore them, if you alter your behaviour to accommodate them then you are giving up the chance to be your age and be happy.

At my very first festival I was watch Pop will eat itself, a bloke by me was going mental with his dancing and singing, some people were looking at him like he was a moron, you could see it in their faces, but I thought he looked like he was having a brilliant time and I joined him, soon others did and before long we were a thronging mass of mad dancing maniacs at the gig of our lives (we looked not dissimilar to the dancing man that is the logo of this site). This became what festivals were for me, a chance to give up pretension and having to suppress myself, a chance to go a bit wild (with consideration to others) and throw those limbs around, sing badly without caring that I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, because that IS fun.

@Markeee, my son and some friends come back from Reading today, will be interesting to hear their perspective (My understanding at this point is that reading 2012 was a great success with much fun had by all)

[Spindles]

Well, if it helps I'm 41 and a friend who is the same age went this year (his first time returning to Reading since 1992) and had a great time.

I know what you mean about feeling older than the majority of the crowd, however I don't know if it stops me having fun.

I also don't get why they have to burn/smash everything up on the last night, it's a tradition I do not get and one that exists outside of Reading, but thankfully not at glastonbury (I saw it at Phoenix also, the only other non-glastonbury festival I have attended). I can't say if it happened again this year (it did last time I was at Reading in 2008) as those I know who went haven't mentioned it and I haven't had chance to interrogate them at length (but I will)

[markeee]

Well, if it helps I'm 41 and a friend who is the same age went this year (his first time returning to Reading since 1992) and had a great time.

I know what you mean about feeling older than the majority of the crowd, however I don't know if it stops me having fun.

I also don't get why they have to burn/smash everything up on the last night, it's a tradition I do not get and one that exists outside of Reading, but thankfully not at glastonbury (I saw it at Phoenix also, the only other non-glastonbury festival I have attended). I can't say if it happened again this year (it did last time I was at Reading in 2008) as those I know who went haven't mentioned it and I haven't had chance to interrogate them at length (but I will)

[Spindles]

With you there

My first experience of it was Sunday night at phoenix in '94, where I was awoken surrounded by security, told to pack up our tent and get in a landrover, where we were taken to the welfare tent. When we left in the morning and walked down the main strip it was lilke the aftermath of a war, with burger vans burned out, almost everything smashed up to some extent and the whole site appearing to be a smoking ruin.

I've never felt the urge to burn other people's stuff, to smash things up or to roam around with my top off with 8 mates singing "let's go fucking mental", people who do, however, seem to be regulars at some festivals regardless of generation. If they come to Glastonbury thankfully they either keep away from me or learn to behave. I expect it is the latter.

Edited August 28, 2012 by Spindles

[markeee]

With you there

My first experience of it was Sunday night at phoenix in '94, where I was awoken surrounded by security, told to pack up our tent and get in a landrover, where we were taken to the welfare tent. When we left in the morning and walked down the main strip it was lilke the aftermath of a war, with burger vans burned out, almost everything smashed up to some extent and the whole site appearing to be a smoking ruin.

I've never felt the urge to burn other people's stuff, to smash things up or to roam around with my top off with 8 mates singing "let's go fucking mental", people who do, however, seem to be regulars at some festivals regardless of generation. If they come to Glastonbury thankfully they either keep away from me or learn to behave. I expect it is the latter.

[cheeseisamazing]

Like tbh i kinda get the burning tents thing its kinda satisfying setting fire to something, not saying i do i- waste of a fucking good tent! the thing is teenagers like going crazy yet also teenagers are also stupid and think throwing gas canisters into fire is a smart thing... ... and burning over peoples stuff is also just rediculous.

Ethir way last reading i went to 2011 and the year before it was like a police state on the Sunday night, i remeber starting a small fire to keep warm and having 10 security guards threaten to kick us out. fun times ¬¬

However i wish to tell you gentlement, no matter how many young people go to Glasto i doubt you'll see much tent burning, Why? because there's so much to do in the evening, imagine Arcadia, trash city, shangula as little play pens for teenagers to run around in, theres fire, lots of music and crazy stuff to do. Burning your tents seems ridiculous in comparison to the fun there...

I generally think the problem with reading is when the music goes off there's nothing to do. and thats why people run around doing crazy things. Don't get me wrong I'm not justifying their actions...

[Spindles]

Another good post, well reasoned. I had heard tales of Reading's new Sunday night regime, some say it is well over the top, some say that it beats waking up to your socks on fire, I haven't been back since 2008 to be able to comment with any authority.

I am looking forward to interrogating my son (20 today) and my mate (41) about their experiences at this year's Reading festival. The last time I went I saw some dickishness in the destruction of the Sunday night and 2 acts of random violence, but that aside I also spent 4 and a bit days onsite and met LOADS of brilliant randoms who had no issue with a peculiar looking late 30s (at the time) bloke plonking himself down and chatting in the festival way "where you from, who you seen, what have you enjoyed, what would you recommend".

Reading, for me, is a festival whose value is going up, whereas V is clearly a festival whose value is going down. Glastonbury is a festival whose value cannot be accurately measured in comparison as it is a different beast altogether. The more times you attend the less it is like another music festival, the more it is that other thing.

[Gnomicide]

i'm singing along and having a little bogey. Kinda irritates me when people give dirty looks for doing this...

[micawber]

Well, if it helps I'm 41 and a friend who is the same age went this year (his first time returning to Reading since 1992) and had a great time.

[MEGABOWL]

I'll trump that. 49 and just done my 7th Reading. As comfortable as old boots. Almost feels like home each year. I can understand some 20-30 year olds feeling out of place if they still view it as a 16-19 year old's festival. But I'm so way past that!

[Spindles]

When you say budget hotel, any chance of giving us some ideas on price? I'd like to return to Reading, removing camping from the equation makes that more likely, budget hotel even more so (depending on the definition of budget )

[micawber]

When you say budget hotel, any chance of giving us some ideas on price? I'd like to return to Reading, removing camping from the equation makes that more likely, budget hotel even more so (depending on the definition of budget )

[Spindles]

Thanks for the info That would make Reading possible for me, time to start saving/investigate costs of accommodation/transport for Glastonbury.

[markeee]

Like tbh i kinda get the burning tents thing its kinda satisfying setting fire to something, not saying i do i- waste of a fucking good tent! the thing is teenagers like going crazy yet also teenagers are also stupid and think throwing gas canisters into fire is a smart thing... ... and burning over peoples stuff is also just rediculous.

Ethir way last reading i went to 2011 and the year before it was like a police state on the Sunday night, i remeber starting a small fire to keep warm and having 10 security guards threaten to kick us out. fun times ¬¬

However i wish to tell you gentlement, no matter how many young people go to Glasto i doubt you'll see much tent burning, Why? because there's so much to do in the evening, imagine Arcadia, trash city, shangula as little play pens for teenagers to run around in, theres fire, lots of music and crazy stuff to do. Burning your tents seems ridiculous in comparison to the fun there...

I generally think the problem with reading is when the music goes off there's nothing to do. and thats why people run around doing crazy things. Don't get me wrong I'm not justifying their actions...

[Bobs]

I know this is an old thread but I went to v fest this year (free tickets threw work) and omg I have never been to a featival like it. More makeover/hairstraighting shops then anything else full off ppl who want to be seen then have fun. Girls had full faces of make up on and hair in pin curls ( festivals for me I never care how perfect I look) security points from camping to the village then the village

To arena we had our chairs confiscated and coffee that I bought from costa (yes there was a costa) before I went in. what am I going to do with chairs and coffee.

The clientele of the festival seems a lot more Chavey then Glastonbury no sorry when bumped in to no excuse me to get past just cut in the line when waiting for toilet.

On the plus point the site was flater then glastonbury roll on 2013 xxx

Edited September 3, 2012 by Bobs

[eFestivals]

my first festival was 2010 Glastonbury, and yes although recent, there has been a massive change in culture since then to the point that Glastonbury 2011 was just no where near as good as there were too many 'scene kids' moaning and booing, the atmosphere was off.

really, that's your imagination, or your lack of observation on your first visit. It's been full of scene kids since at least 2003, if not earlier.

[fatyeti24]

I'm gonna have to be humbly honest, it's only a matter of time before Glastonbury becomes like this. Well, not exactly like V, V saw the market was missing the 'shite' music scene for the hair straightening girls, and the 'reem' people (if that makes any sense at all?), and have milked it superbly well, keeping with their rock music in too, with the likes of Stones Roses, Noel and quite a few good bands this year, they know this 'fad' will only last a few years so can't completely sell it out!

However, the people who go to V (I went in 2010, the music was great, the people, were not) are just whats wrong with Festivals nowadays, my first festival was 2010 Glastonbury, and yes although recent, there has been a massive change in culture since then to the point that Glastonbury 2011 was just no where near as good as there were too many 'scene kids' moaning and booing, the atmosphere was off. I had to specifically go anywhere the old vibe was still at and that was hard to do!

After this year, i've been to Isle of Wight and Leeds, Isle of Wight was great, Leeds was errrr a disgrace. I just fear the worst for Glastonbury next year. I don't want it to be ruined.

Overall, maybe i'm just a snob, but at 20, I'm not saying i'm a miserable old bastard, even though i feel like one, i just think they need to make a effort to try and get it back to it's roots! Just for people who really do appreciate Glastonbury, who would go regardless, and if the lineup wasn't the best, would get on with it and not moan for Cher Lloyd!

Less Scousers in their North Face, trying to be 'hard' is a start , and yes i am from Liverpool.

Rant Over.

Bring Back The Monorail!

Edit: Oh, and Seeing people at V tweeting in makes me ill, and then seeing them come back and go 'Glasto next', just makes me sad.

Edited September 3, 2012 by fatyeti24

[Bisque]

I'm all for Glastonbury have popular acts. Adds variety & you get to see the odd guilty pleasure ie I want to see Pixie Lott there next year. Tbh I don't see the V crowd being able to hack a whole 4/5 days in the wilderness & (I'm hoping) this summers festivals being hit by bad weather & the mud last year will put them off. Plus they won't have a clue of how to best wangle the system for a ticket on t-day.

I blame the TV coverage. 2010 was my first year, the weather was incredible, people were really into it, really did open my eyes to the possibility of what you can get up to on a long weekend in the countryside. I think TV coverage attracted a different type of folk wanting in on "GLASTOOOO!" action but not being quite prepared for it (let alone that mud).

As for Reading, I've been since '05 & I very much believe the riots, tent burning & canister explosions are well gone. Reading attracts preppy middle class teens, they might leave a load of shit behind but they wouldn't want to ruin their chinos or brand new Vans burning bog roll hung over the campsite lights. This years Reading was peaceful, had an almost relaxing atmosphere in the campsite & the yoofs were a lot more sociable & engaging than in previous years.

[Essex_George]

I have been to Glastonbury 3 times since 2009 but I went to V in Chelmsford this year. Didn't camp mind you but did go both Saturday & Sunday. Saw some great bands, Shed 7 & Stone Roses being the highlights. I am in my 30's and I did see a fair amount of idiots, not just the kids. Seemed to be alot of people my age just being drunken tw@ts! I thought last year at Glastonbury the crowd was full of idiots, but I think that was because I spent alot of time around the main stages as couldn't be bothered to walk anywhere in all that mud!

[LondonTom]

Less Scousers in their North Face, trying to be 'hard' is a start , and yes i am from Liverpool.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

As for Reading, I've been since '05 & I very much believe the riots, tent burning & canister explosions are well gone. Reading attracts preppy middle class teens, they might leave a load of shit behind but they wouldn't want to ruin their chinos or brand new Vans burning bog roll hung over the campsite lights. This years Reading was peaceful, had an almost relaxing atmosphere in the campsite & the yoofs were a lot more sociable & engaging than in previous years.

[fatyeti24]

Which is a point, why is there always so many scousers around at festivals?! even at reading which I presumed they would all be at leeds, there was plenty about!

[rexclark]

My first Glasto was 2010. I saw a man using a lathe whilst wearing nothing but an apron in The Greenfields. A lathe, whilst basically naked. I doubt we'll be too close to V Fest anytime soon.