What was it like in the olden days?

[Gwladboy]

This is one for the veterans as I've only been going to Glastonbury since 2011.

Looking at the variety of acts it doesn't matter who is on, or how relatively unknown they are, they will have tons of people who know who they are and want to see them because the information is all so much more accessible these days.   We no longer need a radio station, monthly magazine or mate to show us what to listen to, we can find our own stuff and other fans no matter how niche.  And if we see a name on the poster, we can listen to who they are online in seconds then go and see them.  That was a quick description on how the internet works for anyone not aware.

Q1.  So based on that, how was Glasto different before the internet?   Were there less smaller acts because no-one knew about them or did those acts have smaller stages/crowds?  Were the main stages more subscribed because that's who people knew about.

Q2. And, how the hell did people find each-other and meet up?

Q3. The druids - who were they and what were they doin'?

[CaledonianGonzo]

It was all fields.

[The Nal]

I remember when it was all motorways and luxury apartments. They've ruined it. 

[MilkyJoe]

It was better in those days apparently...

[Pinhead]

10 minutes ago, Gwladboy said:

This is one for the veterans as I've only been going to Glastonbury since 2011.

Looking at the variety of acts it doesn't matter who is on, or how relatively unknown they are, they will have tons of people who know who they are and want to see them because the information is all so much more accessible these days.   We no longer need a radio station, monthly magazine or mate to show us what to listen to, we can find our own stuff and other fans no matter how niche.  And if we see a name on the poster, we can listen to who they are online in seconds then go and see them.  That was a quick description on how the internet works for anyone not aware.

Q1.  So based on that, how was Glasto different before the internet?   Were there less smaller acts because no-one knew about them or did those acts have smaller stages/crowds?  Were the main stages more subscribed because that's who people knew about.

Q2. And, how the hell did people find each-other and meet up?

Q3. The druids - who were they and what were they doin'?

Q1. Better. People would be more resourceful and prone to getting to know each other rather than spending their festival face down in Instagram. There were less acts and stages altogether when I began going, however there were more 'unofficial' small stages that used to pop up everywhere, especially South of the railway line. I don't feel that proportionally, the smaller to headline acts ratio has changed significantly despite the increase in the size of the place.

Q2. Generally people used to organise themselves and arrange things better. They also used to use a huge dome-shaped concrete bollard in the meeting point bottom of Muddy Lane / beginning of Main Drag. This would be covered in scraps of paper and post-it notes with stuff like, "Dave, its Phil - meet me at Cider Bus at midday on Friday mate", and so on.

Q3. I think they often used to come down to the festival as they would have been at Stonehenge just days before. Many of the Stonehenge regulars used to hang around for a few days and go on to the festival when it began. Many lived locally in the area as well.

[shuttlep]

i have only been going  since 2004. but then not everyone had mobiles, and if you did there was no coverage. so it was pointless

 

we used to play again spread the rumour, make up one like Rolf Harris is a nonce (example) and spread it around and see if it came back to you.  you can't do that now with smart phones,.

[Homer]

Better - but more dangerous.

[fatyeti24]

Q1 -  it was a less mainstream festival, and so appealed to those who were into the counter-culture.  it wasn't as big, wasn't on tv, didn't have the blanket coverage it does now.  that was part of the attraction, and those into that scene/life would know the acts involved.  there were still big names though.

Q2 - as Pinhead says above.  maybe you'd lose mates and not see them again.  serendipitous exploration and discovery were more to the fore than perhaps they are today.

Q3 - "Priests, magicians or soothsayers in the ancient Celtic religion" accordng to Google.  At the festival they were probably just having a nice time like everybody else.

[SwedgeAntilles]

Hey everybody, an old man is talking! 

[Gwladboy]

Great response @Pinhead love the concrete bollard with notes thing.  Pre-internet I went to Thailand with my old man, we got split up and I ended up travelling with these girls to the other side of the country for a week.  Came back to Bangkok 12 hours before my flight back home, old man had my plane ticket and passport but no idea how to get hold of him and I only had £8 to my name.  Found the backpackers we stayed at the first night we got there, piece of paper on the door

'Jase, At Squeaky's Backpackers, Dad'.  

Tuk-tuk over, beer, got ticket.  I suppose we just used to manage.

Can I just say that the story sounded seedier than it was, there was no sex-tourism, repeat no sex-tourism.

[eFestivals]

easiest answer:

if you want to get the best idea of what Glasto was like decades ago, go to Boomtown. 

It's the closest you'll get to it nowadays.

[maelzoid]

A friend brought the G 97 program to work last year for everyone to have a look at.

From one of our younger staff who has been to G the last couple of years... "God, 90s bands were ugly!"

That's what the internet has given you!

[Pinhead]

17 minutes ago, fatyeti24 said:

Q1 -  it was a less mainstream festival, and so appealed to those who were into the counter-culture.  it wasn't as big, wasn't on tv, didn't have the blanket coverage it does now.  that was part of the attraction, and those into that scene/life would know the acts involved.  there were still big names though.

Q2 - as Pinhead says above.  maybe you'd lose mates and not see them again.  serendipitous exploration and discovery were more to the fore than perhaps they are today.

Q3 - "Priests, magicians or soothsayers in the ancient Celtic religion" accordng to Google.  At the festival they were probably just having a nice time like everybody else.

Where is the counterculture today I wonder. Maybe its there and I just cant see it. Maybe its all gone to Boomtown as Neil says.

Incidentally, I'll be doing Boomtown for the first time this year - but as a steward! Everyone who has stewarded it before tells me its intense and unlike anything you have stewarded before.... 

[PretentiousThinkpiece]

My mum's convinced that it's better today than how it was back in the 80s

[rosssss224]

go to any smaller festival...?

[pie_and_a_pint]

It was a lot noisier, all the time - more soundsystems, more stalls played music.

The beer was a LOT cheaper than it is now

[Johnnyseven]

Q1.  The acts back in the 90's when I started going tended to be the big alternative bands of the day. They were big in the indie/alternative arena but that arena was not mainstream. Festivals were attended by people into that sort of thing (the counter culture as mentioned already). People who read the music press (NME or Melody Maker) would have heard about most of the bands playing as they would have been featured in them.

Q2. Simple - We would agree to meet at a certain place at a certain time, the ice cream van at the back of the Pyramid field was a favourite - but you can't get near it these days. We pretty much still do this though, I rarely use my phone to call or message as the signal generally isn't great.

The festival back then was very different to what it is today, it was a lot smaller and I knew a lot more of the acts on the bill. I don't remember there being much to do after the main stages have finished, but this may just be that I didn't know what else was happening - we used to go to the cinema field or sit around the camp fire.

 

Edited May 31, 2017 by Johnnyseven

[airwaves]

You had to walk everywhere - no monorail!

[rseamer]

I first went in 1994 (the year the Pyramid burnt down and the event was televised, I believe for the first time, which made a big difference to how the event then developed, especially once the BBC got involved.)

The main differences I remember are more alternative / counter culture / traveller types, and more naked people!

Musically I guess I just knew most of the acts I wanted to see from listening to the radio - there were probably plenty of acts that I knew nothing about but didn't bother seeing.

The 1st year I went I remember I had purchased my tickets a few weeks (yes just a few weeks) before by sending a cheque to Glastonbury and I picked my tickets up on the gate from a caravan!

 

[CaledonianGonzo]

Waaaaaay fewer holograms.  

In fact, the only one I recall was of Jeremy from off of The Levellers.

[Johnnyseven]

Yep there were alot more travellers and the festival had more of an edge, by that I mean an element of danger that seems to be missing these days. Oh and it was very easy to get in without a ticket, I managed the first 3 times I went.

Edited May 31, 2017 by Johnnyseven

[Wooderson]

Loads more "mud people" back in the day.

[EFC1996]

A few friends parents say they never paid for a ticket in them days. Oh what I'd do to be able to experience old Glasto 

[Gwladboy]

More robbing back in those days?

[CaledonianGonzo]

Ten years ago we had Steve Jobs, Bob Hope and Johnny Cash - now we have a bloke who bangs on about a Plastic Fox.