Observations of Glastonbury 2019

Gregor Samsa

FTA69 wrote: »

Load of people I live with went there can came back absolutely rotten stinking, smelling like death. Not one of them had a shower in five days and apparently most people use wet wipes or something. Dirty yokes.

Looked like a shower of scruffs I wouldn’t be caught dead at it.

I remember a friend of mine brought his girlfriend to Féile once, a particularly wet year. We all rock up to the campsite, which was a sea of mud. We show our passes and stomp on in. After about 50 meters, we realise something is missing. We stop and look back. There she is, standing at the gate, in brand new red Converse and pristine white leggings, crying. We tried to encourage her, but she went home.

Some people just aren't built for the true pleasures in life.

Gregor Samsa

Gimme A Pound wrote: »

The technical term being "a hoor's shower".

A hoor's bath is just lashing on deodorant in the hope of masking it all. Wet wipes are a level of class way above that. In between the two, you have the old handful of soggy bog roll at the jacks's sink (assuming there are sinks). I'm partial to all three, depending on circumstances. But using a shower at a festival is a crime.

Guy:Incognito

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

i was responding to the first part of the post. the part that mentions presuming. You have taken me up completely incorrectly.

He may not be taking the piss but he does talk some amount of bollocks.

ohnonotgmail

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

He may not be taking the piss but he does tall some amount of bollocks.

on that we can all agree.

orourkeda1977

Do they still finger aul ones at these gigs? Like back in the day

blinding

orourkeda1977 wrote: »

Do they still finger aul ones at these gigs? Like back in the day

That doesn’t sound very White Middle Class / Upper Class ! Oh Er Missus !:eek:

rireland

refusetolose wrote: »

all the young people are listening to crap music

I'm not even 30 but all young people seem to listen to rap music nowadays. There seems to be a new kid on the block every month now. Big Shaq, Stormzy, Santana Dave, XXtencation, lil pump, meek mill, nas, j cole.

It's all a load of blibberish to me.

rireland

Deleted User wrote: »

I dunno, there's a sort of hipster "look at me, I'm so cool I listen to stuff that's not cool" vibe to it, you know?

You could see this last week with Westlife.

Gimme A Pound

blinding wrote: »

That doesn’t sound very White Middle Class / Upper Class ! Oh Er Missus !:eek:

Nah posh folks are the filthiest.

rireland wrote: »

You could see this last week with Westlife.

Hate that "quirky" ironic carry-on. It was the same with Take That. At least they have more talent than Westsh1te though.

Autecher

orourkeda1977 wrote: »

Do they still finger aul ones at these gigs? Like back in the day

If by 'they' you mean me then yes.

mfceiling

blinding wrote: »

The crowds are Very White and Middle / Upper Class . Don’t tickets cost £275 . Is this too keep the rif-raf out .

All seems slightly Racist really .

Bollix. There wasn't too many black people at Slane this year...So Slane/Metallica are racist? I've been to a few gigs in the Olympia and The Academy and there wasn't too many black people there. Tickets were affordable sooooo....Racist?

To the comment about young people listening to rubbish music nowadays I give you Lewis Capaldi. I rest my case.

TheIrishGrover

rireland wrote: »

I'm not even 30 but all young people seem to listen to rap music nowadays. There seems to be a new kid on the block every month now. Big Shaq, Stormzy, Santana Dave, XXtencation, lil pump, meek mill, nas, j cole.

It's all a load of blibberish to me.

These kids these days with their hippity hoppity and their Windzy or Stormzy and Jay-Zeds.......

topper75

phutyle wrote: »

Funny, because the last time I was there, we got chatting to a group of black lads at the Wise Crone café. They asked us where we were from. When we said Ireland, one of them replied "I'd never go to Ireland, there's no black people there."

Now if anybody wants to call that guy racist, you would actually be using the word correctly. He believes his race to be superior to the point where he actively chooses to avoid mixing with other races. That's how it's done folks.

TheIrishGrover

topper75 wrote: »

Now if anybody wants to call that guy racist, you would actually be using the word correctly. He believes his race to be superior to the point where he actively chooses to avoid mixing with other races. That's how it's done folks.

Or he (maybe) incorrectly felt that he would not be welcome as he is under the mistaken belief that there are no black people in Ireland.

blinding

topper75 wrote: »

Now if anybody wants to call that guy racist, you would actually be using the word correctly. He believes his race to be superior to the point where he actively chooses to avoid mixing with other races. That's how it's done folks.

Sounds a bit like he is from some Black Klan .:eek:

rireland

Does there be much ridin going on at these?

Gregor Samsa

topper75 wrote: »

Now if anybody wants to call that guy racist, you would actually be using the word correctly. He believes his race to be superior to the point where he actively chooses to avoid mixing with other races. That's how it's done folks.

The black guys were with a group of white guys, he wasn't avoiding any races. The guy in question was the one who struck up friendly conversation with us. They were all from Bristol if I remember correctly. He mistakenly thought that Ireland was a pure-white and unwelcoming to black people as blinding thinks Glasonbury is. Ignorant for sure, but hardly racist in itself. He'd never (knowingly) met an Irish person before - I might as well have been North Korean to him. Ireland was just some foreign country that he knew nothing about.

Boxing.Fan

Gimme A Pound wrote: »

The technical term being "a hoor's shower".

We call it a Ballymun shower.

Boxing.Fan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI5tbQR-L60

One of the highlights of the weekend.

TheIrishGrover

So to move on from the race trolling from people who have never been there and to get back to the OP's post. It's family friendly in that it's not Oxegen and you do see many people with their kids. Personally I don't like that. Just because you CAN drag your kid around until the wee hours safely doesn't mean you should.
It is quite sad to see so many bone-tired kids being pulled around in carts who are bored and tired and just want to be home. Not in a tent but home.
It is safe: Put it this way, in other festivals I have been to in Ireland you are not allowed bring in deodorant spray 'cos little sh*tebags were using them as flame throwers and setting fire to tents. At Glasto, if the weather is cold, you could go up to little sheds and get bags of wood for a camp-fire (I didn't see them this year but of course not needed)
The focus is on the music and arts and not so much on getting absolutely hammered 2 days after your leaving cert. There are other festivals for that. You can and probably will get hammered at some stage but that's not the goal.
It is hippie but in the best sense in that they tolerate all and do not preach (Apart from the preaching areas ). I mean every second food stand is vegan/vegetarian but they are not vegan/vegetarian fascists about it.
There are drugs there of course and smoking grass is quite in-your-face so if you have a problem there it may not be the place for you (Personally I have no problem).

It's not utopia: When the weather is bad it's REALLY a tough slog. You are going to go 4 days (at least) without a shower. Your first time is VERY tough (I think EVERYONE at some stage during their first time thinks: "I'm done. If I could go home now, I would" Especially if the weather is bad. But you get over it). It is expensive. Especially the first time if you have to buy everything. Factor in about 1K. That would cover everything from ticket to transport, camping gear, booze, food, exchange rate. Everything.

But once you go, it's hard to not go again....

topper75

phutyle wrote: »

The black guys were with a group of white guys, he wasn't avoiding any races. The guy in question was the one who struck up friendly conversation with us. They were all from Bristol if I remember correctly. He mistakenly thought that Ireland was a pure-white and unwelcoming to black people as blinding thinks Glasonbury is. Ignorant for sure, but hardly racist in itself. He'd never (knowingly) met an Irish person before - I might as well have been North Korean to him. Ireland was just some foreign country that he knew nothing about.

OK - you were there so you have the edge on me in interpreting intent, but his reason for not coming here was a racialist one, if you are reporting accurately. I for one am amused, in the context of how lightly the accusation of same ("racist") has been thrown around in this particular forum on a regular basis when it is not warranted at all. This is most often done by aspiring middle class Irish who ape middle class people in other nations that may have some justified guilt.

Guy:Incognito

orourkeda1977 wrote: »

Do they still finger aul ones at these gigs? Like back in the day

Exclusively.

Gregor Samsa

topper75 wrote: »

OK - you were there so you have the edge on me in interpreting intent, but his reason for not coming here was a racialist one, if you are reporting accurately. I for one am amused, in the context of how lightly the accusation of same ("racist") has been thrown around in this particular forum on a regular basis when it is not warranted at all. This is most often done by aspiring middle class Irish who ape middle class people in other nations that may have some justified guilt.

You obviously have your agenda, and seem pretty intent on finding a racist black guy to somehow nullify accusations of racism against white guys, and I'm sure they're out there somewhere. But this isn't your guy by any definition or misdefinition. Good luck in your search.

Bobblehats

Back on track. I found them very approaching and always good for a khat

sabat

mfceiling wrote: »

Bollix. There wasn't too many black people at Slane this year...So Slane/Metallica are racist? I've been to a few gigs in the Olympia and The Academy and there wasn't too many black people there. Tickets were affordable sooooo....Racist?

At Public Enemy, De La Soul and Wu Tang in the 3 Arena a couple of months ago there was about a dozen black people out of several thousand...

mfceiling

sabat wrote: »

At Public Enemy, De La Soul and Wu Tang in the 3 Arena a couple of months ago there was about a dozen black people out of several thousand...

Hmmm...Are the aforementioned rappers racist? Were the tickets prices extortionate so as to make it an exclusively middle class "white only" affair? Or was the poster talking bollix? I'll let you all decide.

Bobblehats

sabat wrote: »

At Public Enemy, De La Soul and Wu Tang in the 3 Arena a couple of months ago there was about a dozen black people out of several thousand...

Is it always skin deep?

..you must look deep into the soul and I’ll think you will find there were many more brothers and sistas out there.

bodhrandude

On my bucket list, either working it or risking trying to buy a ticket, its the nightmare of nightmares trying to get that elusive ticket and the computer keeps saying no. Have done most of the Irish ones and a few Scottish as well, RockNess being a nice electronic rock festival with Loch Ness as the backdrop to the main stage area.

ToddyDoody

sabat wrote: »

At Public Enemy, De La Soul and Wu Tang in the 3 Arena a couple of months ago there was about a dozen black people out of several thousand...

Black watch 2019?

sabat

ToddyDoody wrote: »

Black watch 2019?

I thought it was noteworthy, although "heritage" hip-hop gigs here do usually have almost 100% white audiences-specifically 30 to 40 something scruffy, hairy, Carhartt wearing, stoner dudes.

ToddyDoody

sabat wrote: »

I thought it was noteworthy, although "heritage" hip-hop gigs here do usually have almost 100% white audiences-specifically 30 to 40 something scruffy, hairy, Carhartt wearing, stoner dudes.

The type of guy you want to bring home to your parents.

Discodog

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

And you would be wrong. Given the size of the place, the amount of acts (Music and non-music), the fact that it starts on Thursday and not Friday, the fact that you can bring whatever you wish in food and alcohol-wise, the fact that, if you so choose, you can not spend a single penny in there, it is great value.

An Electric Picnic ticket can cost you 205 Euro and then you are gouged once you leave your tent. The acts, while good, cannot compare with Glasto. This is because Glasto can pay more for the bigger acts.

For God's sake, one year I saw U2, Coldplay, Elbow, Beyonce, Tinie Tempah and had to miss The Chemical Brothers, QOTSA, the Kiaser Chiefs, Fat Boy Slim and Pete Tong because they were all on at the same time.

A band will probably get more for headlining EP than Glasto. Most headliners, at Glasto, end up losing money but they more than make it up with the coverage.

Michael Eavis was on the BBC this year explaining the booking process. It's why it's taken time for newer American acts to headline, their agents expected the usual mega bucks. The reason for the move away from rock is Emily, who's now taken over from her father.

The charity aspect of Glasto was always there - Michael is a methodist This has always been a big factor in support for the festival.

ToddyDoody

Discodog wrote: »

Glasto.

Very Ross O'Carroll-Kelly.

topper75

phutyle wrote: »

You obviously have your agenda, and seem pretty intent on finding a racist black guy to somehow nullify accusations of racism against white guys, and I'm sure they're out there somewhere. But this isn't your guy by any definition or misdefinition. Good luck in your search.

The guy's basis for not coming here was skin colour. He said it out loud. I'm not sure why you would interpret that as anything other than racist. What am I missing?

Gregor Samsa

topper75 wrote: »

The guy's basis for not coming here was skin colour. He said it out loud. I'm not sure why you would interpret that as anything other than racist. What am I missing?

I guess you're missing the actual definition of racism. He didn't want to come to Ireland because he thought it was unwelcoming to, and therefore devoid of, black people. You seem to have a big hangup on race, and I really can't help you with that.

TheIrishGrover

Discodog wrote: »

A band will probably get more for headlining EP than Glasto. Most headliners, at Glasto, end up losing money but they more than make it up with the coverage.

Michael Eavis was on the BBC this year explaining the booking process. It's why it's taken time for newer American acts to headline, their agents expected the usual mega bucks. The reason for the move away from rock is Emily, who's now taken over from her father.

The charity aspect of Glasto was always there - Michael is a methodist This has always been a big factor in support for the festival.

Well, you are right. What I meant by that was that they would get the bigger acts. I know Springsteen declined initially (A few times apparently) due to the fact that he would be paid less. Until they sent him a video about why he would be paid less (Much going to charity, intentional lack of corporate sponsorship etc.)

So, as an addition to the OP's post:

To those who have been. How many would NOT go again? (And if not, why?)

Personally, I will certainly go again. But it can be a hard slog in bad years. It is not cheap. But it is fun and safe. You meet people from all over the world and discover acts that you would never give a chance to otherwise.

And if people want to continue the "Race" debate, maybe open another thread. Everyone who has been there has confirmed that, in their more knowledgeable position, it is NOT racist. But some people seem to be insisting that it's racist based on TV coverage. The conversation is going around in circles like a panto "It is" "It isn't" "It is" "It isn't"

Gregor Samsa

Not wanting to trigger topper75 and blinding any more, but I found this amusing in light of earlier comments:

Irish Times review of Stevie Wonder:

And while I like when he organises a girls-versus boys singalong, I feel like the decision to lead a thousand Irish people into a chant of “Say it loud, I’m white and I’m proud” was a bit misjudged. (It causes a lot of us to wonder, for the first time in their lives, if it would be more impolite to disobey Stevie Wonder or to chant what amounts to a white pride slogan.)

blinding

phutyle wrote: »

Not wanting to trigger topper75 and blinding any more, but I found this amusing in light of earlier comments:

Irish Times review of Stevie Wonder:

Stevie wonder is just taking the Pi$$ Now;) . I suppose being at white shows comparable in Colour to Klu Klux Klan Meetings is bound to have funny affects

topper75

phutyle wrote: »

I guess you're missing the actual definition of racism. He didn't want to come to Ireland because he thought it was unwelcoming to, and therefore devoid of, black people. You seem to have a big hangup on race, and I really can't help you with that.

Hangup?
You make it sound like it was ME that didn't want to come to Ireland!:D

The black guy was a racist. By any definition. It's OK to say that. It happens.

TheIrishGrover

topper75 wrote: »

Hangup?
You make it sound like it was ME that didn't want to come to Ireland!:D

The black guy was a racist. By any definition. It's OK to say that. It happens.

Gotcha. Everyone can be racist. Moving on.....

bodhrandude

Guys can we get away from the ethnic argument and talk about some of the music performances, memories and the like as its getting tiring.

branie2

I've never been to Glastonbury

blinding

branie2 wrote: »

I've never been to Glastonbury

Good chance you are Black . Black people don’t go there for some reason . In the audience anyway .

branie2

I'm white

blinding

branie2 wrote: »

I'm white

Are you sure ? Its mostly Black people that do not go to Glastonbury !;)

TheIrishGrover

Folks, maybe we should just ignore the trolls.

Baggly

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

Folks, maybe we should just ignore the trolls.

Mod

Excellent advice. Everyone take it and get back on topic or cards will fly.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Mint Sauce wrote: »

OP, do you watch Glastonbury any other years? Over 200,000 attendance this year, over 2,500 acts. Glastonbury is not just big, it's massive on an almost City scale.

As for Kylie, she was on in the Legend Slot on the Sunday afternoon, same slot has been played by Johnny Cash, Lionel Richie, and Stevie Wonder. Granted she was not great, but there was plenty of other acts on, at the same time, on other stages.

That sounds like my own personal hell.

The older crowd doesn’t surprise me, OP - I’ve heard it referred to as Middle Class-tonbury.

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

And you would be wrong. Given the size of the place, the amount of acts (Music and non-music), the fact that it starts on Thursday and not Friday, the fact that you can bring whatever you wish in food and alcohol-wise, the fact that, if you so choose, you can not spend a single penny in there, it is great value.

An Electric Picnic ticket can cost you 205 Euro and then you are gouged once you leave your tent. The acts, while good, cannot compare with Glasto. This is because Glasto can pay more for the bigger acts.

For God's sake, one year I saw U2, Coldplay, Elbow, Beyonce, Tinie Tempah and had to miss The Chemical Brothers, QOTSA, the Kiaser Chiefs, Fat Boy Slim and Pete Tong because they were all on at the same time.

I’m so sorry. Are you okay?

TheIrishGrover

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

That sounds like my own personal hell.

The older crowd doesn’t surprise me, OP - I’ve heard it referred to as Middle Class-tonbury.



I’m so sorry. Are you okay?

Haha. Well, it was p*ssing rain that year and I had a small bit of shade so I wasn't moving .

As for the 200,000 people. It's so spread-out that it's not as claustrophobic as you would think. You can choose to go as close or as far at each stage as you want. Sure, you can go right up the front and be wedged. But you can also choose to sit further back in your chair with a few drinks. Typically, when at the Pyramid, my group tries to be between sound tents at the front edge of the tent. It's tight there at times but it's not like you can't move. You can move around and, as the act goes on, even dance around if that's your thing. It's not as wedged at that point as it looks.

You got to remember: That is 200,000 over many MANY stages. So, example: Saturday night all at same time(ish) you had:
Pyramid: The Killers
Other: Chemical Brothers
Park: Kate Tempest followed by Hot Chip
West Holts: Wu-Tang Clan
John Peel: Sean Paul
Acoustic: Keane followed by Hawkwind
Avalon: Ibibio Sound Machine followed by The Cat Empire
William's Greene: Deptford Northern Soul Club
Left Field: KT Tunstall

And many more things going on all over the shop. So it's not like you have everyone in the one spot. I wouldn't let it put you off unless you are VERY phobic.


The only time it gets a bit oppressive is after headliners. Everyone walking to the next place at the same time can be a bit tight. But you just gotta find the alternative routes or go elsewhere or just chil out with a beer for 15 mins and yer grand.

Bobblehats

Glastonbury is a lot like life you’re either attracted to crowds regardless or you’re not. You either get sucked into the clusterf*ck of an impossibly large crowd that surrounds the main stage “like bacteria binding together” or you find yourself being rejected by it and wandering the lonelier stall ridden streets looking for some left of fields dive stage in order to to find a quiet corner and drownd your sorrows