I hate Glastonbury, sure it's got a unique vibe but musically it's pretty darn conservative. Everyone knows the real music festival is Reading. Prince should headline that and put on a guitar show, now that would be something. Funny thing about Glastonbury theres always more trouble there despite it being a "hippy" festival.

WildheartXXX said:

Galstonbury may B a septic tank, but there is more life, unity and emotion than capitalist sh t holes than London. Don't knock it.

'dre

WildheartXXX said:

WHAT PLANET R U ON?!!!

Reading does have the better, more exciting 'large acts' but that's the point... Glastonbury isn't all about music. Glastonbury festival of Contemporary and Performing Arts is about the atmosphere, diversity of entertainment and arts and crafts first and foremost. U clearly either haven't been or if u did go did not venture beyond the 2 main stages.

The smaller stages have wonderful new bands. The whole festival full of theatres, experiences, activites, comedy, music, dance and the widest range of world cuisines shits all over Reading (which is just 1 field).

Seriously I do not mean to dig at u but if u haven't been u gotta go. My friend is a Reading festival diehard and always refused to go to Glastonbury. However he went last year and was blown away... he realised how much of a good time u can have even if the line up is shit.

I go to Reading to see bands, but that's it. That's all there is. Reading doesn't claim to be anything more. I never camp coz of the whole 'arena closes at 11.30 thing'. Glasto is 24hrs for 3 days. Hardly anything closes and there r no arenas u camp around the stages and fields and wonder where u like.

And as for more trouble... HELLO? Reading/Leeds? Riots? Bottle throwing? Never at Glasto. There's hardly any trouble when u put things in2 perspective. Glasto could swallow Reading 30 times.

Sorry 2 rant but Glastonbury is 1 of the best experinces some1 can have.

P.S. ...and i'm not a hippy. That's all a bunch of tree hugin' hippy crap!

.
[This message was edited Wed Jan 15 2:49:22 PST 2003 by nuthinbuttamuffin]

Right on, Muffinman!!!

Clearly, WildheartXXX has NEVER been (and I defy you to say otherwise!). Either that, or if you have been, you stayed in the main arena for the whole 3 days!!!

Reading doesn't even approach Glasto for diversity - Reading is a ROCK festival, with the occasional dance act thrown in - that's it. No more, no less. And, as muffin said, ONE field!!

Glasto is over 90 acres, takes 2 hours to traverse when its EMPTY and has the Pyramid (main) Stage (big names, international acts), the Other Stage (independents), the JazzWorld stage, the Dance stage, the Glade Arena, the Avalon stage, the Green Fields...it just goes on and on and there are different flavours in each area and even unexpected, not-on-the-schedule, obscure performances in various corners!

And, if you want, you can actually go for 6 days - I always get there Wednesday morning and don't leave until Monday/Tuesday - now THATS the full-on Glastonbury experience.
[This message was edited Wed Jan 15 6:37:47 PST 2003 by Mindflux]

Mindflux said:

U da man!

Well, we always go in quite a group and the more the merrier. If you wanna hook up before-hand or there, well you know my number!

Mindflux said:

Ive been to Glastonbury seven times and i just think most of the acts there couldn't give a shit how they perform. They go for the vibe. Only the small stages are interesting. The main stages suck ass big time. Full of dull indie rock shit. It's overrated. Glastonbury is a purely a money making enterprise masquerading as something more profound, it's a con, a scam, a place to be seen at.

WildheartXXX said "Full of dull indie rock shit. It's overrated. Glastonbury is a purely a money making enterprise masquerading as something more profound, it's a con, a scam, a place to be seen at."

and yet, he also said, "Ive been to Glastonbury seven times" - you mean you have spent over £700 (on ticket costs alone - assuming you didn't jump the fence but, regardless, you still went) to go to something so bad - you're a maniac!!!

Frankly, that sort of mentality somewhat removes any credence from your opinion!! You hate it, but haven't been able to stop going in a decade!!! Your statements would best describe Reading, if it had any choice of stages! Plus Glastonbury donates MOST of the proceeds to charity - you clearly know next to nothing about this festival and I'm afraid I do not believe for one second that you have even been near Somerset!!!

Mindflux said:

Believe me i've been to Glastonbury and get free tickets, strangely from a friend who works at Nottinghams Rock City, and yeah the smaller stages are wonderful but im talking about the main stage performances. It often seems like no one can be arsed. It's the "Oh its Glastonbury, everyone will be pissed or stoned so no need to really perform" It's the same every damn year. If it wasn't for the smaller stages it would be truly be the pits. Reading, yeah it is a rock festival, but musically the bands seem to care about putting on a good show. I can't remember the last time i was impressed with a main stage act at Glastonbury. Maybe i need more drugs..

WildheartXXX said:

Hmmm, I've enjoyed a number of mainstage acts. I thought Macy Gray was awesome (even as she yelled 'hello GlastonBERRY'). Bob Dylan completely entertained me. In spite of knee high mud and total sobriety Blur rocked my world...I'll admit the majority of my fun at Glastonbury has been the things I've found away from the stages, but I've seen MANY kick-ass performances as well...to each their own, eh?

On reflection, I was somewhat harsh with you yesterday, Wildheart, so I apologise - no hard feelings, eh?

I'm with you on the smaller stages being better, its rare that I venture to the main stage at all! And, of course, Glastonbury is not for everyone - each festival has its own character and will suit people differently, Glasto is just my type of festival I suppose. But then I also do a lot of outdoor parties with a group called Liquid Connective and they carry the same sort of vibe - horses for courses!

WildheartXXX said:

1. Reading = Indie Rock Shit big time. (apart from some good headline acts)

2. Most bands who play Glasto (and i've interviewed a few when working 4 Select Mag) give the festival massive respect and usually walk away wanting 2 come back.

3. The main stages in recent years have had some disapointing line-ups. Micheal Eavis has said they do not go 4 massive names sometimes to avoid all the tickets being bought by fans just wanting 2 see 1 band. Also some bands demand far 2 much money. Reading and Leeds can afford it coz they are a pure corporate money making machine! I'm not saying Glasto does not have that side to it, but at least it tries it's hardest to supply a wide variety of entertainment and quality places to eat and lets u take your own booze. Reading and Leeds charge far too much for shit camping facilities and disgusting over priced food, flat beer and crappy Camden style market stalls (or should i say stall singular).

4. A place to be seen at? I would say a place to experience. Any1 wondering around going 'hey man, yeah look at me. I'm at Glastobury... yeah' needs smothering with petrol and have lit matches flicked at them.

No disrespect WildheartXXX but I do think your wrong.

However I think we r straying from the point, which is Prince @ Glasto.

He is a master showman and a sublime musician. So what I do think we can agree on is that he would triumph at both Glasto and Reading... as long as the crowd give him a chance.
[This message was edited Thu Jan 16 2:08:39 PST 2003 by nuthinbuttamuffin]