Glastonbury 2016

[Type R Tom]

My take on another very enjoyable weekend, 3rd on the trot for me:

Coldplay – not a massive fan but enjoyable and a good show. Barry Gibb was excellent, Michael Eavis awful and ruined the momentum. Tribute to Viola Beach was a nice touch but a little unnecessary. The LED wrist bands were effective.

Adele – only saw half as the stage was full and I got sick of the constant talking, anecdotes about the songs acceptable, taking a girl on stage for a selfie completely unnecessary and a waste of everyone’s time. Great (singing) voice though. We left to see Philip Glass Hereos Symphony which was disappointing but caught Blue Monday on the way through which was nice.

Muse – Only saw half but enjoyed what I saw, they are a good live band, look forward to watching again at home.

Fatboy Slim – great set pitched perfectly for the stage and time of day

ELO – amazing set, great orchestra and backing singers. One of the highlights for me

Madness, zz top, Wolf Alice & Foals – all enjoyable.

Beck – good set, knew far more than I realised.

Underworld – left Muse to see them, big mistake. Very much a “press play on the laptop” type set. Seem them a lot a decade or so ago but didn’t really do it for me, born slippy still fun though.

Roger Sanchez – very special set in Block 9 on Friday night, enjoyed every minute and another highlight for the weekend for me.

Arcadia – Great fun again and a brilliant show, recommend to anyone even not a dance fan.

Went to plenty more than that but can’t think right now, great weekend and role on October for ticket time again.

[Adam B]

Did my usual trick of partying to 4-5am and so missing the early slots, but highlights were Underworld, Foals, ELO and LCD Soundsystem (love a cowbell). Oh and Tame Impala

Edited by Adam B on Tuesday 28th June 17:23

[PurpleTurtle]

An eighth consecutive visit for me, had a great time.

I'm also in the 'Chris Martin is a massively overly earnest prick' camp, but I decided to give him one last try as I loved their first two albums. Huge mistake. He's just such a bloody whiner - no surprise that him losing any possible degree of cool ended with him shacking up with that mental bint Paltrow. Then he went and did the Viola Beach tribute and I felt like a terrible human, but he then follows it two tracks later with Stayin' Alive!!!! I was stood there thinking "hmm, just what I'd want to hear if my kid had been beheaded in a tragic road accident". Unfortunately the Pyramid crowd was so deep it was impractical for me to get across to the Acoustic or West Holts by this point, so I watched the full set. Oh, and that 'regular t-shirt over a long t-shirt' looks he wears all the time wasn't very good a look when I was at college in the 90's, and hasn't got any cooler as the years have passed.

Anyway, I digress. I had a bloody great time. ELO were the highlight for me - my Dad bought 'Out Of The Blue' in '77, growing up in Brum it was on heavy rotation during my childhood, so a real big tick on my musical bucketlist to see them. String section were a bonus easy on the eye treat, cor lumme!

Other than that, Mercury Rev were sublime up at The Park, dunno if their set made the main BBC coverage but it's on the iPlayer - I can be seen on camera having 'a Glastonbury moment' (tm) during Goddess On A Highway.

Met loads of great people around and about, but it pisses me off that our camp area always attracts some pilled-off-their-tits Scousers who think they are the next Tarby/Stan Boardman/John Bishop, being 'funny' at the top of their voices until about 6am. I know it's a festival and people are having a good time, but Arcadia/Block 9/Shangri La are there precisely for people who want to get fked up and make a noise, the rest of us that would like to get some kip ain't so impressed. It leaves me wondering if 'trying to be funny at every waking moment' is something they teach in the schools up there?

Getting out was a bit hairy - we were in an overflow field right next to a tarmac road so reached it relatively easy, but there were already people being tractored out at 8am yesterday morning.

[eastlmark]

only watched on TV but, for me, Highlights: Mercury Rev, PJ Harvey, Christine and the Queens (only saw the bit they did for the BBC maybe a full set would not quite be my sort of thing) and, hate to admit it, Coldplay.
Lowlights: ELO and Madness surely prime time tv slots could have been put to better use.

[Type R Tom]

eastlmark said:

only watched on TV but, for me, Highlights: Mercury Rev, PJ Harvey, Christine and the Queens (only saw the bit they did for the BBC maybe a full set would not quite be my sort of thing) and, hate to admit it, Coldplay.
Lowlights: ELO and Madness surely prime time tv slots could have been put to better use.

I know Madness aren't for everyone but what was wrong with ELO, the general consensus is that it was a good set.

[coopedup]

TV only but highlights for me were Coldplay, Adele, ELO, Squeeze and Muse. Really want to go next year, is 49 too old to start? Is it right that the tickets go on sale in October?

[Type R Tom]

coopedup said:

TV only but highlights for me were Coldplay, Adele, ELO, Squeeze and Muse. Really want to go next year, is 49 too old to start? Is it right that the tickets go on sale in October?

49 isn't too old if you're fit, it's hard work! The key is good quality gear, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad equipment. Oh and the ability to hold your breath for as long as you take to go to the toilet.

[marcosgt]

Type R Tom said:

eastlmark said:

only watched on TV but, for me, Highlights: Mercury Rev, PJ Harvey, Christine and the Queens (only saw the bit they did for the BBC maybe a full set would not quite be my sort of thing) and, hate to admit it, Coldplay.
Lowlights: ELO and Madness surely prime time tv slots could have been put to better use.

I know Madness aren't for everyone but what was wrong with ELO, the general consensus is that it was a good set.

Mmmm - If Madness are an acquired taste, I think ELO are moreso...

I've not seen their Glastonbury set yet, but even in period they were a bit of an oddity... (Not saying they didn't put out some decent stuff, but DEFINITELY not for everyone...).

80sMatchbox said:

New Order were set up to be my highlight before I went, but they were disappointing. Too many new songs combined with an out of tune Bernard didn't set the world alight.

Just goes to show, doesn't it. Different folks...

There were only 3 new songs (from a very well received album that some of the crowd would have heard - Admittedly the old standbys did seem to get the best reaction) and Bernard's ALWAYS out of tune! Nice to see Waiting for the Sirens' Call get an outing and some different arrangements on some well know tracks. Even Blue Monday sounded good on TV (probably helped by not being the encore where it's always rushed through usually...)

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 29th June 09:21

[PurpleTurtle]

Type R Tom said:

coopedup said:

TV only but highlights for me were Coldplay, Adele, ELO, Squeeze and Muse. Really want to go next year, is 49 too old to start? Is it right that the tickets go on sale in October?

49 isn't too old if you're fit, it's hard work! The key is good quality gear, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad equipment. Oh and the ability to hold your breath for as long as you take to go to the toilet.

I'm 44 and was with my mate who is 53, he's been going for years, no sign of stopping. I'd recommend it to anyone of any age who loves music. The bogs were the thing that stopped me going for years, but their reputation is really far worse than reality - I didn't go to a single 'bad' bog in the entire five days I was there. The long-drops work well, and from this year they have replaced plastic portaloos (prone to filling up then becoming unusable) with natural compsting bogs, where all the waste is collected in a wheelie bin. Need to empty the bog? A simple task of wheeling out a full bin and putting an empty new one in its place. Consequently they work really well, and don't smell.

The weather makes a big difference. I don't mind the rain, mud and filth per se, I can cope with it easily, but it just slows everything down so that getting around the site takes considerably longer. My first year 2008 was a dry one so I was able to explore the entire site, plus see loads of bands. You can't really get an appreciation of how much there is to see from TV.
You're obviously in the lap of the weather gods there, but I've been to far more dry than wet ones.

Good luck getting tickets - I have been lucky for many years in managing to get one (coach tickets this year, as they appeal to fewer people) but a mate has been trying for 10 years straight with no joy. I'm really going to try for him next year.

[HTP99]

PurpleTurtle said:

Type R Tom said:

coopedup said:

TV only but highlights for me were Coldplay, Adele, ELO, Squeeze and Muse. Really want to go next year, is 49 too old to start? Is it right that the tickets go on sale in October?

49 isn't too old if you're fit, it's hard work! The key is good quality gear, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad equipment. Oh and the ability to hold your breath for as long as you take to go to the toilet.

I'm 44 and was with my mate who is 53, he's been going for years, no sign of stopping. I'd recommend it to anyone of any age who loves music. The bogs were the thing that stopped me going for years, but their reputation is really far worse than reality - I didn't go to a single 'bad' bog in the entire five days I was there. The long-drops work well, and from this year they have replaced plastic portaloos (prone to filling up then becoming unusable) with natural compsting bogs, where all the waste is collected in a wheelie bin. Need to empty the bog? A simple task of wheeling out a full bin and putting an empty new one in its place. Consequently they work really well, and don't smell.

The weather makes a big difference. I don't mind the rain, mud and filth per se, I can cope with it easily, but it just slows everything down so that getting around the site takes considerably longer. My first year 2008 was a dry one so I was able to explore the entire site, plus see loads of bands. You can't really get an appreciation of how much there is to see from TV.
You're obviously in the lap of the weather gods there, but I've been to far more dry than wet ones.

Good luck getting tickets - I have been lucky for many years in managing to get one (coach tickets this year, as they appeal to fewer people) but a mate has been trying for 10 years straight with no joy. I'm really going to try for him next year.

The wife' friend has been going for years; manages to get tickets every year the jammy....., she is in her 50's and loves it.

[Matt_N]

FunkyNige said:

bexVN said:

Iva Barchetta said:

Also enjoyed the rather short piece shown by BBC of Fat boy slim set.

Dance music not really my thing but he just mashes it all up so well.

Yes I caught that. Wish they'd shown more, a favourite of mine (his chart peak was around my clubbing days!) He just loves what he does and he is expert at it

We saw that and thought the crowd looked a bit bored during a lot of it? Whenever he would drop in a small piece of one of his big songs most of the crowd didn't react when I think I would take that as a cue to go nuts! We were watching on the red button and it didn't seem like highlights. Enjoyed it though, I'm 34.

FBS set was pretty dire IMO and I say that as a fan of FBS for some 20 years.

Maybe I'm getting old (34 too) but I don't like the style of music he plays nowadays, he relies too heavily on samples (of his old tracks), endless repetitive loops and from his set at Glasto, even for him very abrupt mixes (which has never been his strong point anyway).

He's been using the same samples and remixes for years now, for instance why does Star 69 need a worse IMO remix? It's a great track that doesn't need to be messed with. That's probably why half the crowd looked bored.

He's never topped Big Beach Boutique 2 - 2002, some 250,000 people on Brighton beach, it was an amazing day / night.

[Type R Tom]

Matt_N said:

FBS set was pretty dire IMO and I say that as a fan of FBS for some 20 years.

Maybe I'm getting old (34 too) but I don't like the style of music he plays nowadays, he relies too heavily on samples (of his old tracks), endless repetitive loops and from his set at Glasto, even for him very abrupt mixes (which has never been his strong point anyway).

He's been using the same samples and remixes for years now, for instance why does Star 69 need a worse IMO remix? It's a great track that doesn't need to be messed with. That's probably why half the crowd looked bored.

He's never topped Big Beach Boutique 2 - 2002, some 250,000 people on Brighton beach, it was an amazing day / night.

If it had been on a dance stage at night I'd agree with you but for the time and location I think it was good. However compared to Roger Sanchez on Friday night in Block 9 he was pretty poor as a DJ

[droopsnoot]

I only watched a small amount of it on the TV - most of it is on after I've gone out to the pub, and I tend to not sit through long music stuff so I'd probably never watch it - I've got a Metallica gig from somewhere last year on the box, still not watched it.

Squeeze were great, I thought - only one song I hadn't heard of, but it was still good. ZZ Top were quite plodding - I know that's their style of music, but I was hoping the live environment might jazz it up a bit. Couldn't figure out why their bass player was playing a keyboard with one finger for most of the tracks, then a proper bass, then back to the keyboard. ELO were very good, but very similar to their performance at Hyde Park in terms of set selection. Madness were pretty good too, not a favourite band of mine by any means, but watchable.

[marcosgt]

I was just searching iPlayer for Glastonbury sets and a recent search term "Brian Pern" popped up.

Now THERE is an episode I can't wait to see!

M.

[Lotus 50]

Type R Tom said:

49 isn't too old if you're fit, it's hard work! The key is good quality gear, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad equipment. Oh and the ability to hold your breath for as long as you take to go to the toilet.

I'm now in my early 50s and, apparently, this was something like my 14th time there... Going in a camper van and avoiding the tent fields is your friend, even if it does mean you have to trek a bit further to get on site. Had a great time this year despite the mud - and it very definitely wasn't the "muddiestevah!".

[marcosgt]

Just watched the much vaunted ELO set, can't say it lit my fire.

They're competent musicians, but (as in their heyday) there's not a lot of excitement.

I can imagine it was a lot more fun if you were there, live music always is!

I did enjoy St Etienne's set though, I'm going to try and go and see them now. (ETA oh, and there's a bonus, they're doing a Foxbase Alpha 25 year mini-tour in October - Ticket booked! )

M

Edited by marcosgt on Thursday 30th June 08:26

[eastlmark]

Type R Tom said:

eastlmark said:

only watched on TV but, for me, Highlights: Mercury Rev, PJ Harvey, Christine and the Queens (only saw the bit they did for the BBC maybe a full set would not quite be my sort of thing) and, hate to admit it, Coldplay.
Lowlights: ELO and Madness surely prime time tv slots could have been put to better use.

I know Madness aren't for everyone but what was wrong with ELO, the general consensus is that it was a good set.

Its an certain age thing, there was a period in the 70's when music and all around it got really exciting, yet turn on the radio and all you could hear was ELO, Bee gees etc, as you can tell, never quite got over it.

[Ultuous]

Type R Tom said:

49 isn't too old if you're fit, it's hard work! The key is good quality gear,

I thought you were extolling the virtues of good quality Marching Powder or Disco Biscuits to power through the weekend to start with (it's been a long day!)

(With you 100% though - my only 2 Glastonburys were 97 & 98, which put me off for life having got soaked to the bones on both occasions - due largely to being an ill-prepared youngster!)

[80sMatchbox]

Ultuous said:

Type R Tom said:

49 isn't too old if you're fit, it's hard work! The key is good quality gear,

I thought you were extolling the virtues of good quality Marching Powder or Disco Biscuits to power through the weekend to start with (it's been a long day!)

(With you 100% though - my only 2 Glastonburys were 97 & 98, which put me off for life having got soaked to the bones on both occasions - due largely to being an ill-prepared youngster!)

Speaking of which, I did see a lot of people off their face, more than in previous years. Far more than at Reading, but then the dance scene isn't so prominent there.

Regards age.. I went to see St Etienne, and they said a big hello Nancy(I think) who was at her first Glastonbury....at 70. So never too late!

I remember going years ago, the time when it flooded, probably about 10 years ago. A good mate comes out of his tent, with cords, a jumper and a pair of trainers on..not the best outfit for a raining, muddy Glastonbury.
Last weekend, there were people there without wellies on. Crazy, anything else just isn't suitable for wandering around and not getting muddy.

[dave_s13]

Christine and the Queens on iplayer is awesome if you a bit of French midget dance action.

I could actually go for free next year in th medical tent, a colleagues been doing it for years. I really just just say yes and go for it really.