Larmer Tree Festival

[mygosh]

Larmer Tree looks like they've really pushed the boat out this year for their 18th birthday ...The Levellers, Bellowhead, Eric Bibb, Orchestra Baobab, Tinariwen, Seth Lakeman and Taraf de Haidouks plus loads of my favourite acts. Mark Almond singing with Jools Holland ....that sounds intriguing!!

I see they only have 149 weekend tickets so I've just got mine!!

[Abstrakt]

Larmer Tree looks like they've really pushed the boat out this year for their 18th birthday ...The Levellers, Bellowhead, Eric Bibb, Orchestra Baobab, Tinariwen, Seth Lakeman and Taraf de Haidouks plus loads of my favourite acts. Mark Almond singing with Jools Holland ....that sounds intriguing!!

I see they only have 149 weekend tickets so I've just got mine!!

[Swindlebiscuit]

Two new members with one post each bigging up the same festival? Hmmmmmm

Still, Larmer Trees looks like a good fest (is it organised by the same folks who do The End of the Road?)

[monxton]

Two new members with one post each bigging up the same festival? Hmmmmmm

Still, Larmer Trees looks like a good fest (is it organised by the same folks who do The End of the Road?)

Edited April 17, 2008 by monxton

[madsue]

Well I was loathe to register and reply after Swindlebiscuits comment! But..........my first time at Larmer Tree, and after searching and searching for a forum I have found one!!!!!

[Swindlebiscuit]

Gotta say - Orchestra Baobab and Tinariwen will be brilliant...

[madsue]

It's not so much about who is playing.....I'm going because of the line up. But I have loads of questions which I can't find answers for on the official website. Hope someone here can help me!

I'm old, and live in Spain. I'm travelling on foot/bus/train to the festival, after flying into Bristol, so obviously weight is of the essence! I see I will have to walk from a crossroads, after catching a bus!! OK, fine. Is there anywhere near I can buy food, or will I be relying on the festival site for this. Is the camping actually on site, or do I need to carry everything for the day with me? Is there a "better" place to camp, bearing in mind I am on my own? I'm sure this is too many questions, but the only Festival I usually attend is Cambridge, and this year I want to be the ageing hippy before time runs out!!! Oh, and off topic, I will go on to Trowbridge after

[Swindlebiscuit]

It's not so much about who is playing.....I'm going because of the line up. But I have loads of questions which I can't find answers for on the official website. Hope someone here can help me!

I'm old, and live in Spain. I'm travelling on foot/bus/train to the festival, after flying into Bristol, so obviously weight is of the essence! I see I will have to walk from a crossroads, after catching a bus!! OK, fine. Is there anywhere near I can buy food, or will I be relying on the festival site for this. Is the camping actually on site, or do I need to carry everything for the day with me? Is there a "better" place to camp, bearing in mind I am on my own? I'm sure this is too many questions, but the only Festival I usually attend is Cambridge, and this year I want to be the ageing hippy before time runs out!!! Oh, and off topic, I will go on to Trowbridge after

Edited April 20, 2008 by Swindlebiscuit

[madsue]

Certainly is of help, thanks Swindlebiscuit!!!!!!

[Abstrakt]

Well - I can't help with the specifics about the Larmer Tree Fest itself, but I went to the End of the Road Festival last year and it's on the exact same site.

For me, the camping was great - very near to the action and very peaceful. It took me no more than five minutes to pop back to the tent and pick stuff up/drop it off.

In terms of shops and food - as far as I could tell there is basically nothing for miles around. There could be a local shop or two that others will point you in the direction of but a) I'm sure they'll be a car journey away and B ) they might just be newsagents!

At The End of the Road there was plenty of food and refreshment on-site. I guess that if Larmer Trees is a camping event, they MUST have a similar set up or their beloved customers will starve to death, or at least wave limply at Tinariwen before fainting from malnourishment.

Hope that's of some use! It's a really beautiful setting. I'm actually rather tempted to pop down for the Larmer Trees too!

[madsue]

Cheers for the info there abstrakt And I'll put a notice on the info board too!!!!!

[gratedenini]

Cheers for the info there abstrakt And I'll put a notice on the info board too!!!!!

[marooned]

I speak as a 15 time Larmer Tree bloke, AND was at the 2 End of the Roads so far!! Doesn't make me special, but I can speak with a view of both.....

Yes, they are set in the same location, but the peripheral things, i.e. shops, food outlets, 'global village', bars etc, are much more plentiful at the Larmer Tree Festival. Shame really - it's the only thing that let's the End of the Road down - certainly scores well on it's music offerings. I'm sure that'll improve over the years.

Unless, you can get off-site to visit Shaftesbury or Verwood, you'll be stuck on-site, so take loads of grub or loads of dosh to BUY grub. No bus service to either of the towns I mentioned - deffo a car ride!!

Camping, as said, is a stones throw (or a stoned walk) from the gates. The age make-up of both is a wee bit different - I certainly felt more Vic Meldrew than Vic Reeves at EOTR - Larmer Tree has toddlers AND Pension Types!!

Hard to choose between them - both great - LT can be really HOT - EOTR can be quite chilly (September innit).

[Swindlebiscuit]

I never really considered Larmer Trees before, but the more I hear about it, and the more I look into previous and current line-ups, I think I've been missing a trick all these years!

I think a double visit to Larmer Tree Gardens next summer might well be on the cards.

Yes, they are set in the same location, but the peripheral things, i.e. shops, food outlets, 'global village', bars etc, are much more plentiful at the Larmer Tree Festival. Shame really - it's the only thing that let's the End of the Road down - certainly scores well on it's music offerings. I'm sure that'll improve over the years.

Edited May 1, 2008 by Swindlebiscuit

[marooned]

That's interesting. I did think the choice was a bit limited at EOTR, albeit with some pretty nice stalls, as these things go (big fan of the Goan Fish Curry stand). I'm hoping they add at least a few more food stalls and perhaps an on-site "shop" style thing, like Glasto or the like, instead of having to rely on that little stand for cigarettes etc (not that I smoke, but the other half does)

The queue for the Pieminster truck was something to behold! And they'd run out of blimmin pies by the Sunday.

Does Larmer Trees cater for a larger amount of people? Or is it roughly around 5000, like EOTR?

[madsue]

Oooh good, more info Unfortunately I won't have a choice but to eat on site, as I will be walking and carrying (or rather pulling) my tent along behind me! Mind you the food does sound delicious, so no hardship to anything but my bank account!! I am there for the whole 5 days, and as I fly into Bristol on the Monday, I do have a couple of days to wend my way through the countryside.

Perhaps I should make a sign saying "madsue - please help", or do you think that would frighten would be picker uppers

[Abstrakt]

I never really considered Larmer Trees before, but the more I hear about it, and the more I look into previous and current line-ups, I think I've been missing a trick all these years!

I think a double visit to Larmer Tree Gardens next summer might well be on the cards.

That's interesting. I did think the choice was a bit limited at EOTR, albeit with some pretty nice stalls, as these things go (big fan of the Goan Fish Curry stand). I'm hoping they add at least a few more food stalls and perhaps an on-site "shop" style thing, like Glasto or the like, instead of having to rely on that little stand for cigarettes etc (not that I smoke, but the other half does)

The queue for the Pieminster truck was something to behold! And they'd run out of blimmin pies by the Sunday.

Does Larmer Trees cater for a larger amount of people? Or is it roughly around 5000, like EOTR?

[gratedenini]

Its amazing isnt --how you stumble across fests a that. Larmer Tree IS a bit special though... everything about it has a certain quality that makes it quite unique.

I do however abhor the fact that The Js have taken their ball back and withdrew the forum.... there was a good likkle community going on there which made the whole thing even more enjoyable imo.

den

[marooned]

As you know Den, I agree - the LT Forum was one of the (or even THE best) Forums around.

I don't think they took too kindly to the (pretty mild) criticism thay took after last year's festival - hence the 'we can't cope with all the porn attack' bollox they used as an excuse to 'bin' the forum.

And what have they replaced it with - an official site where the only 'punter input' seems to be taking part in daft polls, designed as a 'pat on the back' for the Festival AND J&J!!

We are, rightly, disconglomorated at the whole LT Forum affair...........

....but still a 10/10 Festival!!!

Edited May 7, 2008 by marooned

[gratedenini]

As you know Den, I agree - the LT Forum was one of the (or even THE best) Forums around.

I don't think they took too kindly to the (pretty mild) criticism thay took after last year's festival - hence the 'we can't cope with all the porn attack' bollox they used as an excuse to 'bin' the forum.

And what have they replaced it with - an official site where the only 'punter input' seems to be taking part in daft polls, designed as a 'pat on the back' for the Festival AND J&J!!

We are, rightly, disconglomorated at the whole LT Forum affair...........

....but still a 10/10 Festival!!!

Edited May 7, 2008 by gratedenini

[shugie]

Well we can all congregate here and say what the fcuk we want can't we.

Is this thread going to be our home for the next few weeks, or can we get the efest team to give us our own "LT" listing?

I shall ask.

[madsue]

Please do I for one would welcome it, cos I have to keep ploughing through the pages to see if there is anymore info I can take advantage of! Back from the UK now, and bought my tent folks! Nearly bought the OS map of the area, but saw that all the contour lines were so close together, I decided it was best not to know how difficult the trek is going to be for me till I get there!!!

[endoftheroadro]

Two new members with one post each bigging up the same festival? Hmmmmmm

Still, Larmer Trees looks like a good fest (is it organised by the same folks who do The End of the Road?)

[Medina]

No, we have no links other than the site to larmer tree.....and the toilets...

which begs the question why do larmer tree always win the best festival toilets award, when eotr never even get nominated.....its the same contract!

As for food and shops, the fact that we are a new festival and havent neccessarily pulled huge audiences in the past has been a factor for traders. It was also partly responsible for the sunday night issues last year (we told traders how many tickets we had sold, yet due to low turnout in the first year they under-catered)......still, as you say its a learning process.....and we hope you all enjoy Larmer tree, and perhaps give EOtr a try too!

[endoftheroadro]

I've been going to Larmer Tree for years - always enjoyed it - and went to End of the Road for the 1st time last year. Enjoyed that as well and will return this year. Strange to see the same site laid-out differently.

Guess the answer to the toilets questions might be due to (a) someone nominating LT but not EOTR and ( the same loos three months on have probably seen better days.