Anyone get the sense the end of Glastonbury is nigh?

[zahidf]

not sure if its been mentioned yet, wouldn't the most logical thing be for the new site to have the festival for the falllow year? then, if it is a success, they can look at moving it permanently? or is that the plan?

[Pinhead]

If having another Eavis run festival somewhere else leads to Glastonbury getting a bit more low key and quieter then I am all for it. I'd like to see the other festival be the one where all the big name acts go and for the Pyramid to have acts more the size of those that currently are on the Other Stage. I've been to them all since 1993 and although I do like the expansion to the festival that's happened over the years (especially The Park), it does now feel to me really quite a massive beast. I'd like to see it get a bit smaller again. Maybe like it was in 1995. That was a classic year I felt. Having a viable festival alternative may help that to happen.

 

Contraction from its current size is a tricky issue though isn't it since the current size relates somewhat closely to the numbers allowed on site and therefore the amount of money that can be raised and promised to the home charities such as Oxfam, Greenpeace and Wateraid (and via their stewarding and fundraising operations on site), plus the size of contracts to contractors, plus the extent of some of the existing site infrastructure... I remember Eavis once saying that if he had to reduce his working profit and the contributions made to charities by the festival (say, as a result of not selling all the tickets one year like in 2008), he would strongly consider terminating the event. Once you have scaled up so far, its quite difficult to convince areas to scale back down again - who's area gets the chop - SE Corner? The Park? John Peel?

[Keithy]

Ah, good point - yes land has been added, though I'm not sure which areas. Someone mentioned The Park, or perhaps the Other field.

 

I'd presumed that the only land he doesn't own is some of the camping areas and everything outside the fence (ie parking). Anything that has a main stage on is his land (though I'm probably wrong). I presume he owns Worthy View too given the work that's gone into that?

 

My thinking generally was that if they didn't need car parks (ie coaches only) and reduced the numbers for camping slightly then the festival could carry on without the extra land albeit with a few alterations and some downscaling?

[stuartbert two hats]

Ah, good point - yes land has been added, though I'm not sure which areas. Someone mentioned The Park, or perhaps the Other field.

I seem to remember the area containing Silver Hayes is a late 90s/00s purchase, but I'm very shaky on that.  

[ltfckimbo]

Oxlyers is a shit part of the site alright.

Stayed there in the incessant misery of 2007 and it was that campsite as much as anything else that broke my spirit and made me take a few years off.

Wonder would it help if Oxlyers was removed as a campsite and another one added beyond Bushy Ground?

Surely very few people who stay in Oxlyers actually choose it out of anything other than absolute need?

 

Camped there every year since 2009 and absolutely love it, always had decent neighbours and its right in the heart of the festival. 

[efcfanwirral]

Contraction from its current size is a tricky issue though isn't it since the current size relates somewhat closely to the numbers allowed on site and therefore the amount of money that can be raised and promised to the home charities such as Oxfam, Greenpeace and Wateraid (and via their stewarding and fundraising operations on site), plus the size of contracts to contractors, plus the extent of some of the existing site infrastructure... I remember Eavis once saying that if he had to reduce his working profit and the contributions made to charities by the festival (say, as a result of not selling all the tickets one year like in 2008), he would strongly consider terminating the event. Once you have scaled up so far, its quite difficult to convince areas to scale back down again - who's area gets the chop - SE Corner? The Park? John Peel?

 

I'd get rid of the SE corner and halve the dance village, and move them to the second festival (not exclusively, as long as not at the same time you could have big stages and other bits like now). Then you'd keep the green aspect, the bands, setting, sacred space type bits in the current place. And I honestly think demand would split perfectly between the two, as loads go just to party in nightclub type venues, when loads go for bands / setting/ vibes / leaving the real world etc

Edited July 3, 2015 by efcfanwirral

[carlosj]

Oh maybe I'm wrong then.  As you were.  Don't trust me, I'm a toad.

 

I have a feeling from what Dee said about photographing from above the Park pre-festival, that it wasn't accessible, and I assume therefore that it's not the Eavis' land.

 

Toads are cool, as are newts. Raccoons wearing morph suits, now they're not to be trusted.

[___S_o_m_a__]

Toads are cool...

 

Who told you that!?!

 

[Pinhead]

I'd presumed that the only land he doesn't own is some of the camping areas and everything outside the fence (ie parking). Anything that has a main stage on is his land (though I'm probably wrong). I presume he owns Worthy View too given the work that's gone into that?

 

My thinking generally was that if they didn't need car parks (ie coaches only) and reduced the numbers for camping slightly then the festival could carry on without the extra land albeit with a few alterations and some downscaling?

 

I'd be surprised if he owns the land Worthy View is on, right on the opposite side of the valley. He does I think however run the operation there rather than that particular landowner. As you suggest, much of the hired but necessary land is consumed around the perimeter of the festival for car / campervan parking, and various crews / stewards. Thus, reducing that will perhaps make the biggest contribution to reducing the fees going to those landowners, though at the behest of those facilities. It might be possible to consolidate crews better, however car parking might have to go....

[blackred]

I think removing car parking will have an impact on overall ticket sales, people are very attached to their cars.

[Space Shanty]

Camped there every year since 2009 and absolutely love it, always had decent neighbours and its right in the heart of the festival. 

 

Fair play.

I wouldn't want to do it again.

It's a big area so I know there are decent bits to it, but the location, coupled with the poor sanitation, noise and stories of mass thefts make it just about the worst place to stay IMO

[Keithy]

I think removing car parking will have an impact on overall ticket sales, people are very attached to their cars.

 

One way to reduce the age of the average festival goer; coaches are predominately used by the younger generation based on my experience. Less cars also reduces the traffic management costs.

Edited July 3, 2015 by Keithy

[jeffie]

Has anyone any idea (Neil/Scottie?) when this announcement is due to take place?

 

        

[eFestivals]

Has anyone any idea (Neil/Scottie?) when this announcement is due to take place?

 

        

 

there's nothing to announce, there's no firm plans in place. It's something being looked into now.

[Quark]

Who told you that!?!

 

I should not have looked at this after a lunchtime pub visit.

[Kanye's Cock]

found the SE corner a bit of a drag this year. not sure whether it's just me becoming bored of something I've seen so much of, or whether it is getting a bit worse. but found it all a bit dull.

[Starchild771]

One way to reduce the age of the average festival goer; coaches are predominately used by the younger generation based on my experience. Less cars also reduces the traffic management costs.

Not our coach, we had a lot of older folks.

[jeffie]

there's nothing to announce, there's no firm plans in place. It's something being looked into now.

 

Ah cheers Neil, I must have misread.

[JBarbour]

found the SE corner a bit of a drag this year. not sure whether it's just me becoming bored of something I've seen so much of, or whether it is getting a bit worse. but found it all a bit dull.

 

This year for me was the best time I've had at SE corner, considering how many times done it and I've worked in Shangri La in the past. It clicked for me this year. Spent more time in each venue 

[Field Commander Jefferson]

If it is forced to move then these landowners that are digging their heels in for more money will be kicking themselves when left with nothing...

They will look back and suddenly realise how good they had it...

[Matt42]

We're hearing strong whispers that Emily & Nick are seriously considering running a festival away from Worthy Farm in the near-ish future.

As far as we're aware tho, there's nothing firmly in place at the moment, so we'll have to wait and see how this pans out.

Don't really know what to think about this...

I definitely feel that Glastonbury has got too big... Far too big and its growing every year. Is there even a site like this that could satisfy it? Broken into two festivals smaller? I really don't know!

I really hope Glastonbury does not come to an end...

[jeffie]

Just occurred to me (sorry if it's been mentioned before) that we could be talking about a Reading/Leeds type idea here?

 

Two festivals, albeit smaller, one at Glastonbury, one somewhere further North?

[Matt42]

Just occurred to me (sorry if it's been mentioned before) that we could be talking about a Reading/Leeds type idea here?

Two festivals, albeit smaller, one at Glastonbury, one somewhere further North?

I think that would work quite well, if both are about 100,000 in capacity they could shift more tickets - more people could come and it's less intense on the site?

[Space Shanty]

I think that would work quite well, if both are about 100,000 in capacity they could shift more tickets - more people could come and it's less intense on the site?

 

Good in theory but they would need to find an equally iconic site up north for them to be able to sell it, surely?

I suppose it depends how many people are more interested in the music alone than the whole essence of being at 'Glastonbury'

[O'Doyle Rules]

I know there is the big issue with the state of the festival, but they half clean it up quickly.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/festivals/glastonbury/webcam

 

Take a look at the webcam!

Edited July 3, 2015 by O'Doyle Rules