I'd always quite fancied going to Glastonbury, but never really had anybody to go with (mainly because my some of my friends aren't really into music and into the idea of festivals), and I wasn't brave enough to go it alone; but purely through the mutual love for a band, I have been lucky enough to have gained an amazing group of friends, who all live in various parts of the country.
After having been to Latitude for the last couple of years with one of these friends, the idea of going to Worthy Farm got mentioned, and after considering it for 5 seconds, I jumped at the idea, and we set about registering and keeping our fingers crossed that we got tickets. October 3rd came along and I was very lucky to get one!!
Last Wednesday came around REALLY rather quickly towards the end, and at half 1 in the afternoon, I departed London on a mostly empty (two seats to myself thank you very much) air conditioned coach. My friends were due to leave Manchester at 12, and we were all due to meet up at the bus stop. I arrived around 5o'c but the others were slightly delayed and didn't get in til after 6pm. Still, it was quite sunny, so it didn't matter too much. After putting our tents up, we took off for a walk around the site, and to get our bearings (and some FOOD). There wasn't really much entertainment going on Wednesday night, so we headed back to the tent early after a long day.
Thursday [WEATHER - HOT]: We woke up to more sun (how were we to know just HOW hot it was gonna get).. We got up and went for another walk before heading to the Queens Head stage to see the first band of our weekend - Two Door Cinema Club - who had everyone in the tent dancing & singing. In the evening, after heading back to our campsite, we discovered there was a campfire singalong, so we joined in, and it was there that we were informed to our amusement by the guy playing the acoustic guitar "its your festival, baby", which soon became our motto for the weekend!!
Friday [WEATHER - SCORCHING]: This was where the real fun began, as the big stages sprung into life. Three of us took off to the West Holts stage (formerly Jazz World), so I could go and see the awesome Matthew Herbert Big Band who I'd previously seen in October at the Barbican for the British Arts Council anniversary performance. Once again, he was joined by the fabulous Eska and the Goldsmiths Vocal Ensemble. Everyone should go see them, if you have the chance!! From there, we went and saw The Stranglers, who went down a storm. A little while later, two of us took off to the Orange Chill N Charge place (where it emerged that every adaptor that my phone needed, was either being used or didn't connect properly - GRRRRR), however I soon heard what sounded like live vocals from Ellie Goulding, I looked up and she was performing on a TINY little stage in the C'n'C courtyard to around 50 people, which was cool. A little while later, I went to what is a contender for my festival highlight - Mumford & Sons in the John Peel Tent. The atmosphere in that tent was electric. They were SO SO SO SO good. I left that tent feeling pretty damn euphoric, before later heading to the Pyramid Stage to see Gorillaz, who I had never seen before, but was looking forward to, as I'd heard that they put on a good show.
Saturday [WEATHER - THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR (at that point)]: At lunchtime, three of us went to see the Lightning Seeds, complete with a mass audience singalong of 'Three Lions'. We headed back to West Holts so I could sit and listen to the funky soul stylings of Phenomenal Hand Clap Band, who I'd seen at Latitude the previous year. My friends went for a wander, whilst I went to get the Henna tattoos that I wanted (Good Luck and Music on my inner wrists). I met them back at the tent. We then headed over to the Park Stage, where a surprise set by Biffy Clyro was due take place, they rocked the crowd as usual, and all went well til the very end when Simon Neil jumped off a speaker, hurt his knee and left in an ambulance. From Park, we went to the Other Stage to see the incredible EDITORS, in what was possibly their greatest Glasto set to date, finishing with the same pyro that nearly burnt my face at their Brixton Academy gig in March. This was the 11th time I'd seen them, and they never disappoint me. And from the Other Stage, we headed to see Muse, who were really impressive, and who in the encore brought on U2's Edge for a brilliant rendition of 'Where The Streets Have No Name' which got EVERYONE singing along.
Sunday [WEATHER - UNBEARABLE - HOTTER THAN THE DAY BEFORE]: The first band of our day was the fantastic Villagers. Having seen Conor playing solo acoustically at the beginning of the year, and with his band at Bush Hall last month, seeing them was an absolute MUST! We was told by someone the day before, that we really must head up to the Glastonbury sign up on the hill, so we did that next, and what an amazing view we was treated with when we did get up there (see above pic). Its in that moment, that you realise the full scale size of the site, and in that weather, it was a breath-taking view. We collectively agreed that we would be fools if we didn't head back up there that night, after the main headliners. Sunday afternoon, we went back to the Other Stage to see We Are Scientists, who had everyone dancing. When it came to which headliner to see, there really was no question in my mind that I was going to the Pyramid Stage to see the legendary Stevie Wonder (the other two were going to see Ash). I may have been by myself, but I was dancing around and singing along, there was no way I couldn't. We all met back up at the tent, and then took off back up to the Glasto sign as agreed, where we were amazed by the beautiful sight of twinkling lights, we stayed up there for an hour, talking about our day and the weekend, ultimately agreeing this was was the best way to end "our festival, baby".
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