Never again.

[AiiShotTheDJ]

yeah that might well be so, and if thats the case its a shame I wont get to enjoy them how they were! especially as the smaller festivals don't interest me!

[DarthSaul]

Yeh it is a shame if V carries on this way. That's why I fell in love with the whole "festival" scene - most people were chilled out round the tents with a bbq, a few cans, having a good chat with the neighbours and the tools were a bare minimum. Most people went for the music and you heard the crowd before you heard the band singing - I can remember in 07 people chanted "I've got Soul but I'm not a soldier" for the whole 40 minute gap before The Killers came on and there was a general happy, up-beat atmosphere around the place- it was buzzing in a good way. They used to do secret sets for example Foo Fighters done a secret set under the name 666 (or something similar) at 2 in the afternoon one year - then you'd walk past a stage and a random band would come on that wasn't scheduled, like The Script just after the release of The Man Who Can't Be Moved. I think Eminem was the straw that broke the camels back (I did watch Eminem and he was amazing!) but it's turned V in to something horrible in my opinion Smaller festivals don't really interest me either which means I'm forced ( ) to sample some of the other ones - Glasto is on my list next year as there is SO much to do and it's one of those "got to be experienced" things!

[AiiShotTheDJ]

That does sound good to be fair! Yeah I really want to try Glastonbury but im pretty sure its on during college times so I'll have to miss it next year

[Indie53]

This was my first V and im 16 but before you say anything I didn't drink at all, stayed in quiet camp and went solely for the music. I loved the weekend and saw loads of bands ive always wanted to see and just stayed clear of the dicks! I dont get why everyone is slating it so badly!

[SammyNHunter]

It seems a lot of people don't go for the music, they just go to fight and ruin everyone's weekend.

Too many dickheads bowling it around thinking they're a bit of a lad. Some of the girls were just as bad as the guys. Nothing happend to me or my group but I saw and heard enough.

Seriously, some people need to learn to handle their drink and drugs.

I think I might go to Reading or Glastonbury next year

[micawber]

Don't bother with Reading if your over 18 or have a mental age of over 12. There are even more nobheads there.

Didn't camp and only did one day as not too well. Don't think I missed much. V and Reading are now just post exam piss-ups. Mainly middle class kids as far as I can see - trying to act hard, knowing mummy wil rescue them if they really f-up. Feel sorry for the kids that are not complete douchebags - ruins it for them as well as old fogeys like me. Difference is I should knw better and stick to grown up festivals.

The teeny fad will fade, but will leave a trail of bankrupt festies behind them...

[mrtourette]

Reading used to be bad but they've done a lot of work to sort the problems out. Last year had the most relaxed vibe in a long time, although I don't know how much of that was down to poor ticket sales and cruddy weather.

[Benj]

This is pretty much the reason why I stopped going.

I first went in 97 and then also attended all but one V from 99 to 2008, over that period the crowd changed from mainly standard festival types, to Essex chav/ lout types, there to simply be seen and get pissed.

The atmosphere has completely changed, as has respect for the facilities, other festival goers etc etc.

Reading is a far more civilised place to be these days than V festival

[Essex_George]

As some have said it's not just V that is suffering from this. Glasto last year had loads of idiots/chavs which I think was due to the line up and the amazing weather the year before. I was at V this year at Chelmsford and what I just cannot understand are the dicks that throw full/half empty bottles about. My mate got hit square in the face by one which just missed his eye. What are this dicks thinking when they chuck these bottles about?

[Pothuthic]

This was my first V and im 16 but before you say anything I didn't drink at all, stayed in quiet camp and went solely for the music. I loved the weekend and saw loads of bands ive always wanted to see and just stayed clear of the dicks! I dont get why everyone is slating it so badly!

[Kris_lcfc]

I went Weston park for my 4th year running and again had no problems with a generally friendly atmosphere. All the horror story's I keep hearing about V keep coming from the Essex site. My workmates cousin went to the Essex site and after day 1 her tent had been raided and the sleeping bags were robbed. Just 3 girls on their own. It seems the cameras attract the noobs down there and I'm glad they stay there, else they'd be up here I think if Weston was televised.

[liam]

Yeah comparing Chelmsford V to Reading; Reading has done so much to sort these issues out. The increase in security and the visibility of them has improved immensely since the big problems seen around 2006/08. Security seems to be virtually zero around the V site.

Also I fondly remember a group of 16 year olds similar to the many that are mentioned here being thrown out of the Reading campsite for pointlessly burning things, literally grabbed by their earlobes and led away in front of everyone...more zero tolerance is needed at V.

[Benj]

Yeah comparing Chelmsford V to Reading; Reading has done so much to sort these issues out. The increase in security and the visibility of them has improved immensely since the big problems seen around 2006/08. Security seems to be virtually zero around the V site.

Also I fondly remember a group of 16 year olds similar to the many that are mentioned here being thrown out of the Reading campsite for pointlessly burning things, literally grabbed by their earlobes and led away in front of everyone...more zero tolerance is needed at V.

Edited August 22, 2012 by Benj

[eFestivals]

It is still full of idiots though.

It certainly has them, but it's far from full of them.

And they're incredibly easy to avoid - just avoid the idiot stages.

I've seen nothing idiot-like at Glastonbury for years. Seeing idiot like stuff at other big fests is far more likely I'd say.

[Essex_George]

I went Weston park for my 4th year running and again had no problems with a generally friendly atmosphere. All the horror story's I keep hearing about V keep coming from the Essex site. My workmates cousin went to the Essex site and after day 1 her tent had been raided and the sleeping bags were robbed. Just 3 girls on their own. It seems the cameras attract the noobs down there and I'm glad they stay there, else they'd be up here I think if Weston was televised.

[Kris_lcfc]

That is utter rubbish. I have been to the Weston site once and once only. More knobs there then you can shake a stick at. Just take a look at that video of a girl taking a piss in the middle of the crowd at one of the stages. Sure essex V has problems with idiots but Weston has in my experience got a far worse problem.

[Essex_George]

Am just going on my experiences and what I've heard about the other site and what's been written on here. The women pissing is trampy but you telling me there's a major festival site in Britain where every woman uses a portaloo

[AiiShotTheDJ]

There probably isnt but at least they try and do it behind a bush (no pun intended!) or something and not out in the open.

[fairy_]

Am just going on my experiences and what I've heard about the other site and what's been written on here. The women pissing is trampy but you telling me there's a major festival site in Britain where every woman uses a portaloo

[phil the shrew]

Don't think Glastonbury is without its problems. Some of the larger camping areas get rowdy and also get targeted by groups of lads stealing stuff from tents. The dance village can also get a bit Iffy at times

Where Glasto is better than V is its a much bigger site and you can get away from the crowds in greenfields, Caberet area etc.

Generally I think security at festivals is a bit too lax - festivals should allow free spirits but fights, abuse of other festival goers and damaging property goes too far and needs cracking down on or festivals will just be like city centres on a Saturday night

[Essex_George]

Don't think Glastonbury is without its problems. Some of the larger camping areas get rowdy and also get targeted by groups of lads stealing stuff from tents. The dance village can also get a bit Iffy at times

Where Glasto is better than V is its a much bigger site and you can get away from the crowds in greenfields, Caberet area etc.

Generally I think security at festivals is a bit too lax - festivals should allow free spirits but fights, abuse of other festival goers and damaging property goes too far and needs cracking down on or festivals will just be like city centres on a Saturday night

[mrtourette]

It's a good point about security, nobody wants a group of meatheads patrolling the site looking to abuse their powers but a lot of the time the campsite volunteers aren't ever going to step in and stop anything.

[Kris_lcfc]

It's a good point about security, nobody wants a group of meatheads patrolling the site looking to abuse their powers but a lot of the time the campsite volunteers aren't ever going to step in and stop anything.

[Spindles]

It certainly has them, but it's far from full of them.

And they're incredibly easy to avoid - just avoid the idiot stages.

I've seen nothing idiot-like at Glastonbury for years. Seeing idiot like stuff at other big fests is far more likely I'd say.

[Essex_George]

I'm going to agree with this.

I'm a glastonbury regular now, I used to go back in the day, stopped going after 2000 (which was a bit hairy, particularly for me) and am now back every year.

There are more selfish, idiotic people there each year lately, but this is representative of society as a whole. I have a policy of, if the people in the crowd around me are dicks, move. I don't try and get to the most popular place at the most popular time, so I'm not caught in a crush with idiots and I don't camp on pennard hill.

I was really saddened reading about some people's experience at V, although not totally surprised, based on some things I have read over the years. I would just say that this year perhaps there is a higher percentage of dicks nationwide and this is being represented in our festivals, just like in our town centres and on our streets. It will pass and it isn't entirely the fault of V.