Glastonbury

I lived in Glastonbury in the 60/70s and never took any notice of the Pilton festival as it is called by locals, apart from all the Hippies that appeared. I can remember T Rex was listed and friends went to it but it was not something of interest to most.
We were always amused at the folk who came to Glastonbury only to discover the festival is not actually there (still happens to this day).
My son and his friends went up to the Glastonbury Tor last night to listen to it, on still evenings the sound carries across the fields.

flappergirl

I was at the very first one. The Pilton Pop, Folk & Blues Festival. I live in Bristol so it wasn't far to go. Happy days.

When I lived in Cornwall I went to a festival but I’ve never worked out which one it was. I met up with some lads I’d worked with in Birmingham. For some reason I just decided not to stay and all I can remember is walking in the opposite direction to hundreds of people asking ‘ has it been cancelled’ to which I replied, ‘ no, I’m just going home’. I wish I could remember which festival it was. Or even how I got there. I must have hitched there and back because that’s how I used to travel back then.

Coldplay! Wow!

It’s only a weekend ,most young folk ,certainly from my neck of the woods wouldn,t be able to afford to go in person.They,ll gather in local pubs and watch while my generation will watch from our living rooms.I enjoy it every year it’s lovely to see so many happy faces

My friend and her husband have been going to Glasto every year since it started when they lived nearby. They are old hippies and usually one of them gets in free as they volunteer to be on a stall.

I think it is now so expensive to get in that it’s only the young with rich parents who can afford to go or older wealthy people.

I hate all the rubbish that they leave year after year including tents just bought for that one event. They just walk away and leave them.

I read that 99% of tents are taken home. And the rubbish is separated for recycling.

It is a complete pain in the butt to the locals ie anywhere near an artery road, lane or rat run including miles away. Tomorrow the roads will likely be unsafe, hung-over drivers too, in more ways than one

£360 for a full weekend experience. I reckon that is good value.

Going to the theatre or a gig works out far more expensive, hour for hour.

flappergirl

I was at the very first one. The Pilton Pop, Folk & Blues Festival. I live in Bristol so it wasn't far to go. Happy days.

So was I! I was just thinking how few people were there compared to today. In fact I’m pretty sure we sat for most of the acts. There were very few food outlets and I took loads of cheese, bread and cooked sausages for our group of 4 to eat. I remember the weather was sunny.

Ladyleftfieldlover

Just to say - I was at the IOW festival in 1970 where Hendrix played ! I was 17.

I went to the 1969 IOW festival where Bob Dylan played. I’ve got photos of him in his white suit. He was a long way off!
My mother never knew I’d been. She thought I was stayin with a school friend’s aunt, in Hampshire. No phone, but post cards sent from the mainland!

J52

Ladyleftfieldlover

Just to say - I was at the IOW festival in 1970 where Hendrix played ! I was 17.

I went to the 1969 IOW festival where Bob Dylan played. I’ve got photos of him in his white suit. He was a long way off!
My mother never knew I’d been. She thought I was stayin with a school friend’s aunt, in Hampshire. No phone, but post cards sent from the mainland!

I was too young, according to my Mum, but she choose to take us to Southsea beach for the day so I saw loads of people going, torture!

My husband and his mate hitchhiked to the IOW Festival and they got a lift in a refuse truck. 🤣🤣

J52

flappergirl

I was at the very first one. The Pilton Pop, Folk & Blues Festival. I live in Bristol so it wasn't far to go. Happy days.

So was I! I was just thinking how few people were there compared to today. In fact I’m pretty sure we sat for most of the acts. There were very few food outlets and I took loads of cheese, bread and cooked sausages for our group of 4 to eat. I remember the weather was sunny.

J52, I wonder whether we walked past each other! I hick hiked there with my then best friend and we took nothing except sleeping bags. You were better organised than me with the food. I remember there was a hog roast (or did I dream that) and scrumpy for sale but not much else. Yes, everyone sat on the ground to watch the sets. It was sunny but I think there was some fog one night.

I have one Granddaughter at Glastonbury, she goes every year, I was given a day ticket as a birthday present a few yrs ago, it certainly is an experience you don’t forget.

It was sunny but I think there was some fog one night

Yes on the last night. A good old Isle of Wight mist descended while Joan Baez was doing her set. It was very eerie.

paddyann54

It’s only a weekend ,most young folk ,certainly from my neck of the woods wouldn,t be able to afford to go in person.They,ll gather in local pubs and watch while my generation will watch from our living rooms.I enjoy it every year it’s lovely to see so many happy faces

It's not lovely to see all the rubbish they leave behind. What's the matter with them? Each year they're asked to take home their tents and rubbish but they don't listen.... yet are happy to preach re climate change and Just Stop Oil. Why are they not practising what they preach?

MayBee70

I read that 99% of tents are taken home. And the rubbish is separated for recycling.

The rubbish is sorted, it's true, but by paid cleaners, not the people who dump it.

Quote today: Event co-organiser Emily Eavis says it can cost up to £500,000 to restore the site to its original state each year. It is estimated that over 2,000 tonnes of waste - nearly 10kg per visitor - is left behind at each festival.

MG55

Loved today’s Glastonbury! There was an incredible eclectic range of music from artists I was not familiar with. Busy weekend with two more days of it. Plus the Euros. Wimbledon on Monday and the Olympics in a few weeks. Incredible entertainment on BBC and ITV.
Hopefully, the young child slept through it all. The ear defenders sound like a sensible idea. I like seeing young families getting out and about.

I love it on tv and try and watch as much as possible but would never dream of going there as I don’t do heat, crowds and noise.
As to a ten week old baby being there, no not great is it but hopefully the parents tried to keep him cool.It has to be said tho that some parents put their own wants well ahead of their young kids/babies.

Sparklefizz

Quote today: Event co-organiser Emily Eavis says it can cost up to £500,000 to restore the site to its original state each year. It is estimated that over 2,000 tonnes of waste - nearly 10kg per visitor - is left behind at each festival.

It does indeed cost that much, the whole site is litter picked, even cigarette ends, all part of the entry fee, £350? was the cost I heard, that’s around £3 per ticket.

Young children are common there is a crèche provided, there have even been births in the past. Medical facilities are
extensive on site, probably the safest place to be ill in Somerset

Volunteers are part of the clearing up team in exchange for a free ticket to the festival.

The clearing up routine is impressive and very thorough as it is then returned to farmland.

Sparklefizz

Quote today: Event co-organiser Emily Eavis says it can cost up to £500,000 to restore the site to its original state each year. It is estimated that over 2,000 tonnes of waste - nearly 10kg per visitor - is left behind at each festival.

I think she says they are aware of the effect the festival has environmentally but points out that it also raises a vast amount of money for charity. The people there would probably create the same amount of rubbish at home or on holiday somewhere that would end up in rubbish bins.