End of the road festival 2008

[domjon]

Funnily enough just after midnight on Saturday night we were back at the campsite, there was three of us not being particularly loud but having a laugh and a posh young guy came up to us and asked if we could keep it down as his friends were trying to sleep. This was while there was a big racket coming from the Bimble Inn just 50 metres away.

[sadwitch]

I quite like the fact the camping is relatively quiet at this as unlike all the other festivals where I sit about all day I actually go and see bands all day at EOTR and so am knackered and so go to sleep at night. I don't begrudge other people making noise however and as people said you can hear the big top etc anyway. It's a festival so you've got to suck it up if you don't like other people's noise I'm afraid...

by the same token the "shhhh"-ing that goes on in the crowds- I find it hilarious. I'd warned my sister about it but she was shocked/entertained. Yes we all want to hear the music but if you want complete silence stay at home and listen on your headphones.

[RogerParticle]

That's tragic. I'm all for a chilled out vibe but that just takes the piss...he'd have got short shrift from us I'm afraid (in the politest possible way).

[domjon]

yep not much else you could do really I suppose...to be honest I hardly noticed the security all weekend so guess you were just unlucky.

[RogerParticle]

oops I misread your post beore, the hard security thugs were at 5am. For the posh guy who came and asked it keep it down just after midnight I just said "Smile, it's a festival" with a cheeky grin. He realised he wasn't going to get anywhere and walked away, before I even had a chance to suggest to him that I was going to go over to the Bimble Inn and tell them to turn the music off

yep not much else you could do really I suppose...to be honest I hardly noticed the security all weekend so guess you were just unlucky.

Edited September 16, 2008 by RogerParticle

[RogerParticle]

I quite like the fact the camping is relatively quiet at this as unlike all the other festivals where I sit about all day I actually go and see bands all day at EOTR and so am knackered and so go to sleep at night. I don't begrudge other people making noise however and as people said you can hear the big top etc anyway. It's a festival so you've got to suck it up if you don't like other people's noise I'm afraid...

by the same token the "shhhh"-ing that goes on in the crowds- I find it hilarious. I'd warned my sister about it but she was shocked/entertained. Yes we all want to hear the music but if you want complete silence stay at home and listen on your headphones.

[Donny Osmond]

Must have been another group then that were singing the Madonna songs as that went on for some time right in the middle of a fairly quiet area (i.e. 200m up the fence by the road) & people did seem to be getting quite annoyed so you'd definitely remember it. Generally I agree with sadwitch (wasn't it great to see Hefner doing the "hits" again!) it's a festival so you expect a bit of noise & I keep earplugs handy just in case - was about to stick them in when the Madonna mob got moved on. Maybe the thing to take from this would be to try and have quiet areas for people who are bothered & noisy areas for people who know they are going to be up all night?

In general I thought this year was on a par with last year. I thought the headliners were better last year (Yo La Tengo & Super Furries) but there was more depth to the line up this time. I liked the new larger Local & the late night choices between there and the Bimble Inn kept things going well. The food was pretty great - more choice and all pretty good quality & was great to meet the singer from Calexico by the rib shack late on Sunday. Had no idea who he was as I watched (& enjoyed!) The Mountain Goats - but he was a good guy & made me regret missing them.

Down sides - only really the confusion about the booze ban on Friday & wasn't too keen on the fenced off "arena" area as I liked the open feel of last year. Oh & agree about the re-using of the pint glasses - was a really good idea last year so surprised that had been ditched.

Edited September 16, 2008 by Donny Osmond

[sadwitch]

You have to realise that a lot fo people go to a gig to appreciate the music, not to chat with their mates.

[GTG]

Well, an end to all this cheery backslapping sort of stuff. I'm here to post about a major disappointment in the form of the non-appearance of an advertised performance, ie Kimya Dawson and Jeffrey Lewis. No explanation was offered for this and I feel entitled to demand a full refund of my ticket cost. However, as this happened in the Bimble Inn at 2.45 am on Monday morning and was the first disappointment of the entire weekend I am prepared to allow you some credit against this. Therefore, by my calculations, I owe you about a million quid!

What a magnificent event! Too knackered to sort me thoughts out as I've just got back after a night in London on the way back but more will surely follow. Enormous thanks to everyone involved in every aspect of me favourite weekend of the year.

[Jemma3]

We had a great weekend too. My highlights similar to many other peoples were Bon Iver, Calexico, Jason Molina, Devon Sproule. Also emjoyed Rozi Plain and The Pictish Trail in The Local. I liked seeing Laura Marling but the sound didn't seem as good as when she was at Green Man in August.

We had no problems with security and didn't expect it to be quiet at night - some of the conversations you hear drifting past your tent are fascinating!

I too preferred the more open feel of last year's arena and if it had been more open the muddy bits may have suffered a bit less from so many wellied and booted feet.

Can't wait to see who will be playing next year.

J

[Zanna]

some of the conversations you hear drifting past your tent are fascinating!

[Corporal Clegg]

Everytime I go to the Greenman Festival I think that's my favourite festival only to change my mind a month later after going to EOTR! I really can't decide between the 2 they are both excellent.

Few changes in layout for this years EOTR and generally I think it worked for the better especially having the bigger Local and Bimle Inn close to each other for ease of wandering between the 2 late at night. Spending the small hours in the Bimble Inn is such a laugh.

Musically solid as ever on the line up with my personal favourites being:-

Bon Iver

Mercury Rev

Richard Hawley

Dirty three

American Music Club

Sons of Noel and Adrian

Young Republic

Bog Log 111(I know he's only got one song but great entertainment!)

Very little not to like at this festival but agree with re-usable plastic cups seems such a waste.I don't understand the complaints about too much noise at night it's definetly the quietest festival at night that i've been to.

Anyway another triumph for Simon and Sofia and roll on next year.

[RogerParticle]

Yeah it's annoying if someone is being a total dick but you have to realise people at festivals like to chat to one another it's part of the fun. If someone's really titting you off move.

I could complain about all the little kids running around, wailing and demanding attention through sets I wanted to see but that would be massively unreasonable of me, it's part of the package.

Last year I had to intervene in a physical fight that started at Yo La Tengo* over some dick "shhh-ing" when a guy nearby turned to his girlfriend and quietly commented on the song being played.

[RogerParticle]

Must have been another group then that were singing the Madonna songs as that went on for some time right in the middle of a fairly quiet area (i.e. 200m up the fence by the road) & people did seem to be getting quite annoyed so you'd definitely remember it...... Maybe the thing to take from this would be to try and have quiet areas for people who are bothered & noisy areas for people who know they are going to be up all night?

[Swindlebiscuit]

Do you think "5am RogerParticle" has got his point across about how boring we all are going to bed before sunrise and how cool he is because he wants to stay up until his eyes explode yet?

[rootsy]

Do you think "5am RogerParticle" has got his point across about how boring we all are going to bed before sunrise and how cool he is because he wants to stay up until his eyes explode yet?

[marooned]

...well, if Rogers Farcicle ends up in the CamperVan field next year full of his 24/7 joviality I shall, personally, give him a huge 'Glasgow Kiss'.

AND - isn't it time EOTR had it's OWN FORUM...............

[RogerParticle]

Do you think "5am RogerParticle" has got his point across about how boring we all are going to bed before sunrise and how cool he is because he wants to stay up until his eyes explode yet?

Edited September 17, 2008 by RogerParticle

[Swindlebiscuit]

Well, MrParticle, you'll forgive me if I'm sometimes a little sceptical about these "I was assaulted by security" reports.

Obviously it happens on occassion and I'm not saying it shouldn't be reported through the proper channels etc.

However, as someone mentioned before, there does seem to be something of the "wot, me guv?" about your story. I can personally attest to people staying up beyond five (ahem, the buggers did keep me awake for a bit!) and as others have said, they had no bother from security when they stayed up into the morning.

It seems to me that the vast majority had positive experiences with the security, so I'm inclined to think there's more to your story than meets the eye.

Maybe it's just your constant sarcastic "perhaps I shouldn't try and have fun" and "here's me thinking it's a music festival" etc attitude that just comes across as annoying, but if you're anything like your posts in real life then I'm not surprised people have been telling you to pipe down!

That said - if two goons did push you around, and you've reported it, then hopefully they'll be reprimanded and the chilled out atmosphere can only improve further at EOTR next year.

[geofelgie]

Ahhhhhhh.....calmed down and recovered a bit now. Fuller review:

Highlights:

The crowd - Far less rubbish on the floor, less chatter, people try and keep the loos ok, friendliest festival I go to by far.

Gossamer Albatross - start the cello/violin theme of the weekend in style

The Acorn - "So this is where white people come from". Intricate/skewed country pop.

Laura Marling - seemed as nervous as she was good.

Dirty Three - Is Warren Ellis the next evolutionary stage or the last?

Conor Oberst - Magnificent, chatty and fun.

The Miserable Rich - My top set of the Friday.

Absentee - reliably brilliant and new songs are a step up.

Noah and the Whale - The setting and the sun inspire them to the best performance I've seen from them.

Young Republic - Blinding set....and, yes, the new material is a lot better (I get to buy vinyl so i'm happy)

Bon Iver - Bewitching

British Sea Power - off form at Latitude, but on it here.

kurt Wagner - hangs it all on the line............

Mercury Rev - Seriously kicked ass

Two Gallants - every set I see is a highlight at this point and I'm a bit punchdrunk

Young Republic covers set - Like guilty pleasures with attitude!

Over The Wall - there had to be some miserable scots bickstards in here somewhere

Woodpigeon - ok the vocals need a bit more ooomph but the music is just gorgeous

Hey Negrita - possibly my highlight of the weekend!

Tindersticks - ok they are a bit "samey" but that just means it's all good

Mountain Goats - 15 songs about misery and child abuse, what could be wrong with that!

apatt - glorious nonsense

Denis Jones - I loved it but even harder to describe than apatt so I wont try.

All in all absolutely fantastic - got a sun tan, made some friends, forgot about life for a while. Just don't ask me to choose between this and Latitude - that'd be like picking my favourite testicle.

Edited September 17, 2008 by geofelgie

[Swindlebiscuit]

Anyone that's bought your early bird ticket for next year - did they add VAT on at the end to bump the price up to £105 per ticket, or is that just me?

[frogmanstar]

Anyone that's bought your early bird ticket for next year - did they add VAT on at the end to bump the price up to £105 per ticket, or is that just me?

[Swindlebiscuit]

Yes, they did

It's still a bargain for such a great festival, though

[sadwitch]

Do you think "5am RogerParticle" has got his point across about how boring we all are going to bed before sunrise and how cool he is because he wants to stay up until his eyes explode yet?

[RogerParticle]

Well, MrParticle, you'll forgive me if I'm sometimes a little sceptical about these "I was assaulted by security" reports.

Obviously it happens on occassion and I'm not saying it shouldn't be reported through the proper channels etc.

However, as someone mentioned before, there does seem to be something of the "wot, me guv?" about your story. I can personally attest to people staying up beyond five (ahem, the buggers did keep me awake for a bit!) and as others have said, they had no bother from security when they stayed up into the morning.

It seems to me that the vast majority had positive experiences with the security, so I'm inclined to think there's more to your story than meets the eye.

Maybe it's just your constant sarcastic "perhaps I shouldn't try and have fun" and "here's me thinking it's a music festival" etc attitude that just comes across as annoying, but if you're anything like your posts in real life then I'm not surprised people have been telling you to pipe down!

That said - if two goons did push you around, and you've reported it, then hopefully they'll be reprimanded and the chilled out atmosphere can only improve further at EOTR next year.

Edited September 17, 2008 by RogerParticle