festivals report in the observer yesterday

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I think we are indebted to their input whatever class the original organisers were. Over the years millions of people have enjoyed Glastonbury either directly by attendance or via TV. That's not bad for something which started out so simply. Who'd have thought that it would help charities to the point of millions of pounds. Who'd have thought green ideas would later become part of the mainstream. Who'd have thought that a festival would become a national treasure.

[strummer77]

Really, everyone here is singing off the same hymn sheet. We all love the place.

Russy might be going over the top about it going downhill but we need people who are so paranoid about the place. It's a bit like that Nye Bevan quote about the NHS: "the NHS will last as long as there are folk left with the faith to fight for it.

The spirit of Glastonbury will last as long as there are folk left with the faith to fight for it.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I think we are indebted to their input whatever class the original organisers were. Over the years millions of people have enjoyed Glastonbury either directly by attendance or via TV. That's not bad for something which started out so simply. Who'd have thought that it would help charities to the point of millions of pounds. Who'd have thought green ideas would later become part of the mainstream. Who'd have thought that a festival would become a national treasure.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Your right, we all evidently do love the place. It's a lot of things to a lot of people. We are very lucky to have it. Even if I don't ever get to go again I feel blessed that I have experienced it.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I hope you are not trying to say that it is Glastonbury that has brought green issues to the forefront. I would not say it is a national treasure. That may be the image the BBC portrays but there are vast swathes of society dont give a shit.

[russycarps]

people say Stephen Fry is a national treasure, I say he's a c**t

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

people say Stephen Fry is a national treasure, I say he's a c**t

[Alcatraz]

bah mardy this thread is not the place for fair-minded argument and well-reasoned points!

OK, this is probably not going to do down well and is full of terrible generalisations but here goes...

what I dislike most about the festival now is that, lets face it, only pretty well off people can afford to go these days. And these people have certain demands and expectations. The posh camping, the branded food stalls, mobile phone charging, orderly queues to get in places. All this has come about because that is what the average glasto goer now expects. The festival is now catering to a different crowd than the people who didnt mind slumming it in the earlier years. I bet every single person who has been going to the festival for years knows people who no longer go due to the massive expense.

Edited April 4, 2012 by Alcatraz

[rexclark]

I don't see Glastonbury being more for the rich now. It's all down to priorities. At the moment I work for minimum wage and I only work 35 hours a week. I live in a flat with my girlfriend and have no kids. I get my money together to go to fests by saving and giving up nights out. I'm certainly not rich but when I go to a fest i like to take enough cash that I don't have to worry over the weekend. If I want a beer, I'll have one. If i want something to eat, I'll have it.

Obviously if you have a mortgage and kids then your priorities change but that goes for everything, you might have to give up going to the football or sacrafice a holiday. Festivals are too expensive but the price structure won't be changing anytime soon so we have two options. Either sacrafice some things in life to afford what we want or just don't go.

For me personally, I will always be willing to give up things through the year just so I can get one weekend away at a festival because to me it's completely worth it but then again if I eventually have kids my priorities will change and if I could afford to go then that's tough.

Edited April 4, 2012 by rexclark

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Ticket day is a great leveller. The system doesn't care how wealthy you are. If you don't get through you don't get a ticket. I suppose some might say that people with better IT kit may have an advantage, but don't know if this is really an accurate view.

To me the overall cost of Glasto can get a bit expensive eg travel, drink, bits and bobs. I tend to make savings on food costs by eating very little. However, I'd sooner pay those costs for the festival than going away on a weeks summer holiday somewhere. As Rex says, it's about priority.

[Mardy]

Nice post Rex

[abdoujaparov]

the first time I went was when it was free

[Ed209]

As Neil and a few others have said, its not glastonbury which is at fault for its change. Its the change in society. We're all being cloned by big corporations, cleaver advertising, and most importantly; social media and the "iphone generation". While in theory the internet age should be giving us a broader scope of knowledge, experiences and diversity, the truth is its done the opposite. Thanks for the outbreak of social media, people are just exploring and looking at exactly the same stuff as the hundreds of people they're connected with, and their connections, and everyone else. We rely on our internet buddies to supply us with what we should be listening to, reading and watching. We even experience our friends experiences through facebook. This destroys diversity. Not create it. We can't think for ourselves anymore, we're just slowing moulding into the same person.

Therefore the counter-culture that existed in the 80s and 90s that was spawned from diversity, created in itself by our more isolated lifestyles, just doesn't exist in the way it once did. Hence festivals change.

that's my theory anyway

(I use 'we' losely - a term to describe society, rather than every individual, before people go, "that's not me!")

As for wellies. This year, for the first time, I spent some £s on a pair of really thick, top quality hiking socks to go with my £10 dunlops. Best money I have *ever* spent for a festival in 14 years. My feet were great by the end, when usually they are in shreds.

[abdoujaparov]

nope... it was free in '71

very, very, very freee

[grumpyhack]

I've been going on and off to Glastonbury since before it was Glastonbury (My festival going started with The Bath Blues Fest in 68 and the Shepton Mallet Festival in 69 which mutated into Glasto).

Over the years I've seen a lot of changes and I've changed too.

On reflection I much prefer the festival since the Superfence. Yes, it may have lost some of it's 'edge' but most of that edge was simply Scallys coming down and tent thieving.

It's now safer and has more variety than any other festival I've been to in the UK. You can spend a week doing and seeing amazing things without going anywhere near The Pyramid.

As for cost, it's less than a pint of beer or a packet of fags a day, so you choose your priorities. Three or four single gigs of the bill toppers like Springsteen or Paul Simon will also cost as much as Glasto.

I reckon for what you get it's still good value for money.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

As Neil and a few others have said, its not glastonbury which is at fault for its change. Its the change in society. We're all being cloned by big corporations, cleaver advertising, and most importantly; social media and the "iphone generation". While in theory the internet age should be giving us a broader scope of knowledge, experiences and diversity, the truth is its done the opposite. Thanks for the outbreak of social media, people are just exploring and looking at exactly the same stuff as the hundreds of people they're connected with, and their connections, and everyone else. We rely on our internet buddies to supply us with what we should be listening to, reading and watching. We even experience our friends experiences through facebook. This destroys diversity. Not create it. We can't think for ourselves anymore, we're just slowing moulding into the same person.

Therefore the counter-culture that existed in the 80s and 90s that was spawned from diversity, created in itself by our more isolated lifestyles, just doesn't exist in the way it once did. Hence festivals change.

that's my theory anyway

(I use 'we' losely - a term to describe society, rather than every individual, before people go, "that's not me!")

As for wellies. This year, for the first time, I spent some £s on a pair of really thick, top quality hiking socks to go with my £10 dunlops. Best money I have *ever* spent for a festival in 14 years. My feet were great by the end, when usually they are in shreds.

[Ed209]

I believe that if you put talc on your feet everyday of the fest it also helps. Your right though, good quality hiking socks are the way to go. Apparently worn with a thinner sock underneath they are the business. Better stop now before people think I've got a foot thing going on!

On the other bit - I still think people at Glastonbury (not the punters) are amazingly creative and not homogeneous at all. People have looked at the same stuff since time began. That goes for people recommending stuff to others too. Not too sure about diversity being in peril.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I just think we live in a culture that has its popular culture spoon fed to us, instead having to go out and actively find it/create it.

I agree that diversity in artists is incredible, but the diversity in the punter has diminished, and a festival is only as good as the people who attend it.

[Kyelo]

I just think we live in a culture that has its popular culture spoon fed to us, instead having to go out and actively find it/create it.

I agree that diversity in artists is incredible, but the diversity in the punter has diminished, and a festival is only as good as the people who attend it.

[Ed209]

What do you mean diversity of punter?

Edited April 4, 2012 by Ed209

[thetime]

Lets not forget the vast majority are not as obsessed over a weekend away as us lot.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Who knows? Sounded good

I guess I mean anything from their tastes and fashions to their social-economic background - in essence their individuality.

[theampersanddevil]

Good post rex.

all my fests and tickets are paid by my overtime. I am lucky that I have a job that does offer it. There are times when I get none for weeks or months on end, and when that happens I cut my cloth as my mum would say. I don't earn a hell of a lot, i put money into the credit union when i can and I save and save and save.

It appears to others that I'm out all the time, have a lot of festivals, trips and night outs. But then talking about the week of 12 hr shifts, nightshifts onto days 24 hrs later cos that extra day paid for my bearded ticket. well, it is kinda boring.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Lets not forget the vast majority are not as obsessed over a weekend away as us lot.

[Ed209]

Ah, but who knows the story behind every individual at a festival. A quick peek into anybody's life would no doubt be of interest. The person standing next to you could possibly tell you stories that you'd find amazing. They could be rich, they could be poor. They could be creative in more ways than being arty etc Who knows?