Secret Set Joys

[Euphoricape]

I don't class the 'TBA' sets as secret. Everyone knows who's playing well in advance and they are always absolutely rammed. Kasabian this year at Woodsies was a joke, couldn't get anywhere near the tent.

[stuartbert two hats]

22 hours ago, StoneCircle said:

I saw Fatboy Slim play Maceo's staff bar in Block 9 in 2013, a friend not at the festival was watching out on Twitter for any secret sets.  There were only about 100 people in there. A password was needed to get in (we weren't staff) and we took a guess at Eat Sleep Rave Repeat and it worked!  🎧😂

I remember that year, I was off the festival and trawling the socials sending any tips to @fatyeti24. Can't remember if he got in for that one, but I certainly enjoyed the challenge of trying to find the sets..

 

In hindsight, a dry run for SecretGlasto a couple of years later (it actually started in 2014, but I wasn't involved then)

[StoneCircle]

1 hour ago, stuartbert two hats said:

I remember that year, I was off the festival and trawling the socials sending any tips to @fatyeti24. Can't remember if he got in for that one, but I certainly enjoyed the challenge of trying to find the sets..

 

In hindsight, a dry run for SecretGlasto a couple of years later (it actually started in 2014, but I wasn't involved then)

 

There were 6 sets over the weekend. Apologies it's a bit blurred, I took a photo of someone's T-shirt with all that the venues. 

 

Edited November 23 by StoneCircle

[stuartbert two hats]

33 minutes ago, StoneCircle said:

 

There were 6 sets over the weekend. Apologies it's a bit blurred, I took a photo of someone's T-shirt with all that the venues. 

 

I've just remembered what happened (I think). I sent him to Maceos, but he couldn't get in because I didn't know there was a password until he was back at camp!

[Porcelina]

Think I accidently caught some of three of those - WOW was absolutely rammed so we prioritised Rabbit Hole, which was pretty great. Back in the day before secret sets spread like wildfire.

 

Thom & Johnny in 2010 was unbelievable, as was Wolf Alice in Williams Green the week their debut album came out. 

 

One I never see referenced is Warpaint on a tiny corner stage of the Greenpeace in 2014. Must have been about 30 of us there at most.

[StoneCircle]

4 minutes ago, stuartbert two hats said:

I've just remembered what happened (I think). I sent him to Maceos, but he couldn't get in because I didn't know there was a password until he was back at camp!

 

I got one of the words wrong but they let us in! I said Drink instead of Rave. Mixed it up with King Crimson's - Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream! 😂 Is @fatyeti24 married to Joyce? 

[stuie]

Why do I keep reading the title of this thread as 'Secret Sex Toys'? 😂

[CantWaitForGlasto22]

Vampire Weekend’s secret set on the Park in 2019 was special - a teenage kid was camping with his Dad in the tent next to us. He was wearing a VW t-shirt and we spoke to them on the Sat morning on our way to it - he hadn’t known they were playing Sat as well as Sun on Pyramid but they raced down there with us. Was a big fan. He ended up being one of the kids at the front who got to pick a song during the secret set ❤️

[gfa]

28 minutes ago, CantWaitForGlasto22 said:

Vampire Weekend’s secret set on the Park in 2019 was special - a teenage kid was camping with his Dad in the tent next to us. He was wearing a VW t-shirt and we spoke to them on the Sat morning on our way to it - he hadn’t known they were playing Sat as well as Sun on Pyramid but they raced down there with us. Was a big fan. He ended up being one of the kids at the front who got to pick a song during the secret set ❤️

That's what its all about

[-TLR-]

the only one i've been to was The Futureheads on the Blazing Saddles stage.

 

no idea what year it was, but Blazing Saddles was pretty much my favourite place in the whole festival and used to spend a lot of time there... then The Futureheads came on.

 

i dont like them, i know one song (which is a cover anyway) and i certainly would not have gone anywhere out of my way to see them... but they were freakin' awesome and it was just a small crowd and a great vibe and just great fun.

[tarw]

On 11/22/2024 at 2:30 PM, Monty Pythagoras said:

Olivia Dean Strummerville this year was good. She basically just took requests for 45 minutes.

Not busy either due to the fact that almost everyone else on site was at Shania Twain then Avril.

A really intimate secret set. 
 

[Woz101]

On 11/22/2024 at 2:21 PM, Festival Sounds Podcast said:

Wasn’t a secret, but Hot Chip lead singer Alexis Taylor in the Crows Nest this year was a gift. Stumbled in looking for shade from the afternoon sun 

I saw this too! Told him after that he'd made me cry and he was very gracious. 

[Johndenis]

Was he singing on his own?  With a guitar or keyboard?  Hot Chip songs?  I've seen Crows Nest appearances by relatively famous musicians openly advertised on their board, I assume the trek to the top of the hill deters many.  But I love it.  @woz101 @festival_sounds_podcast

[Fleetwood_Mac_And_Cheese]

This year, was having a moment to myself in the sensory tent and checked the Glastoleaks twitter to see Arlo Parks was about to play on the BBC Introducing stage right next door in 10 minutes, proper boosted my mood! 

[mufcok]

The Killers JP & The Libertines Pyramid are very fond memories. Kasabian took me by surprise last year as well.

 

Pulp & Radiohead I watched from afar (one from the hill, ffs) in my first year but they were borderline dangerous on The Park

[Festival Sounds Podcast]

On 11/25/2024 at 2:49 PM, Johndenis said:

Was he singing on his own?  With a guitar or keyboard?  Hot Chip songs?  I've seen Crows Nest appearances by relatively famous musicians openly advertised on their board, I assume the trek to the top of the hill deters many.  But I love it.  @woz101 @festival_sounds_podcast

You can just see a lady on a harp in the background. Only Hot Chip song was Boy From School. Was magic

[PiratePete]

Nick Mulvey in a yurt in the Tipi Field, not sure what year - maybe 2019? I've got a few videos of it somewhere, but it was absolutely magical. 

[Talcroft]

Thom & Johnny on the Park 2010 remains my favourite ever. 

 

Do the Morningside sets on Stonebridge count as secret? Always a nice way to dance off the hangover. 

[MrHew]

Sometime mid 2000s I was near Leftfield and heard Damien Rice start playing a secret solo set. I was a massive fan at the time so legged it in there, it was great.

[homesick]

Mystery Jets at the Rabbit Hole in the early hours in 2019

[Avalon_Fields]

Best recent secret set for me was The Mary Wallopers at The Crow’s Nest 2023. I’d trudged all the way up on hearing the rumour, but hardly anyone was there with 20mins to go, but they came on and there was plenty of singing and dancing. They’d played to a big crowd in the Acoustic earlier, but I don’t think there was more than 50 or so here.

 

Biggest act seen (headliners) was Mumford & Sons at the old Strummerville, much better than on a big stage.

[wro_lap]

If we're counting the big TBAs then Foals at the Park might be the most special gig I've ever been to. They were at the peak of their powers, rammed setlist, mega crowd, and they're simply one of the best live bands around. Incredible all round