Second time going to Glastonbury. The first time was twenty years ago; For some reason I never wrote much about it at the time although I did have some photos; It’s a struggle to remember much about it after such a long time and because we definitely drank a lot more that time. Plus so much has changed since then anyway.

Anyway, here’s some random thoughts and comments on things this time round:

  • Actually took my film camera. Think I may broken my film camera without even getting through a roll of film :(
  • I said up front I was quite happy not to drink (much) and be sober (ish) and just get “high” on Glastonbury itself. Sounds incredibly lame, but you can actually do it. I did have some beers in the end but mostly drank alcoholic free stuff and still danced like a loon. There is no need to feel self-conscious at Glastonbury.
  • It’s a two part lottery: First is getting tickets and the second is seeing who you want to see.
  • As much as I’d love to believe Glastonbury is attended solely by those who believe in its ethos it stands to reason with that with that many people there will be knobheads, tories and people who voted for Brexit; However, people are still openly anti-tory and even though we ended up in situations full of coked up idiots where things could have gone sideways nothing ever actually kicked off. Most people are wonderful people.
  • It’s too much in a way.
  • My family are just completely incapable of travelling light.
  • The Latino tent looked like the most fun ever… both times we rushed past it to the South East corner. Regret missing that.
  • You will regret things.
  • Probably the ideal scenario for attending is as a single person who thinks the entire line-up is shit. Because that way you aren’t going to miss anyone you wanted to see and what you do see will be awesome.
  • Trying to see anything on Thursday is pointless. Too many people and no big stages open so everything that is open is rammed. Not really sure what’s best to do on Thursday. Perhaps non-music things? Cinema? Probably that will be rammed too. Perhaps it’s just best to do sight seeing things (stone circle, etc).
  • Best night for Shangri-La is Wednesday evening. It wasn’t finished, but that was the night with the best atmosphere there.
  • Sticklinch was good. Quiet. Best time for showers is at the end of the night before going to bed. 1am to 4am, etc.
  • Sometimes things you think are going to be good aren’t and things you would have skipped are great.
  • Nothing is that far apart in theory, but it makes sense to have an hour gap in between things you want to see so you can get there at busy times and more than that if you want to get there and get near the front.
  • There was all the crap in the run-up about the old male headliners, but we ended up seeing 12 female or female led acts to 12 male ones; Counting the male acts we intentionally saw.
  • It is a victim of it’s own success in a way.
  • Secret sets are pointless in my opinion.
  • DJ sets are overrated. There are for sure good ones, but there are a lot of rubbish ones for the good ones. Disclaimer: One of my favourites from the weekend was a DJ set.
  • It needs more capacity info signs. They do have some “Area X is busy, seek alternatives”, but it needs something that gives the percentages for areas and stages so you know not to bother.
  • Silver Hayes has the best designed stages. And needs to become a late night alternative to the South East Corner.
  • Glastonbury is basically a drum and bass festival dressed up as anything but that.