The man himself - Michael Eavis
How wrong was I?
Who would have thought that just a couple of days later I would be praying for a little downfall? To say the tent got hot is an understatement. Sometimes it felt like a race to get to bed before the sun rose from hers because everyone knew, as soon as she appeared, it would be goodbye to any chance of sleep.
So aside from the heat (and we really should be grateful that we didn't have any heavy downfalls, after going through the pros and cons, I think seeing your belongings swim past you in a muddy field is a lot worse than a little sleep deprivation and a hunt for shade) it really was one of the most surreal, exciting, exhausting yet energising, fun weekends of my life.
If you ask anyone what Glastonbury Festival is like most people will come back with the same reply: there aren't enough words to describe the experience and that you really have to go to know exactly what it is like.
I will try my best to endeavour to do my job and deliver an overview of one of the biggest festivals in the world.
So, let's start as we mean to go on. Wednesday June 23. Day One.
The trouble with Glastonbury is the amount of eager fans it attracts. Fans who will sleep overnight in a car park in order to be at the front of the queue when the gates open at 8am! We weren't quite so eager but still got up at an ungodly hour to begin the journey down to the beautiful countryside of Somerset. Thankfully, by the time we approached Somerset the only traffic jams we were greeted with were up to Stonehenge, so we all had the chance to have a good gawp at the eerie tourist attraction.
Top of the big hill!
So, the coach dropped us off and the next step of the journey began. We carried our heavy loads on our backs through the sunshine to the place where we wished to camp, surrounded by annoyingly more well prepared campers who were carrying crates of beer and cider in wheel barrows. Suddenly my cheap bottle of vodka felt inadequate. Pennard Hill is a relaxed campsite away from the main stages (but still in easy reach) and is situated near the divine Greenfields which features the ultra relaxing Healing Fields. It is a goldmine for people seeking alternative therapy or a place for a little solace away from the growing and sweaty crowds. This was our haven when the heat got too much, when all the shade had been used by fellow hot and sweaty festival-goers, as there always seemed to be an eternal breeze blowing through.
So our tents were all set up and at last we could chill out. I found my self getting into the slowed down vibe and energy the festival seemed to inhabit straight away. Everyone seemed to be in the same mind frame, everyone was there for the same reason. Luckily our tent was situated near the entrance to the field that inhabits the much-loved Stone Circle, a place so chilled and with a staggering view of the festival. Only there you realise just how big the festival actually is.
The crowd at the Pyramid Stage
For the first night of Glastonbury, along with hundreds of others, we chose to watch the sunset at the Stone Circle whilst swigging from bottles of luke-warm alcohol. It was heaven on a plate and a surreal place to people watch! The crowds broke into hysterics when the infamous 'Green Police' (who patrol the festival grounds looking for people who wee in the bushes etc) suddenly appeared chasing after a drunken man who had just committed the said crime. It took them a good ten minutes to finally get him but mild hysteria erupted from the crowds at the man comically kept running.
An earlyish night was needed by all and it was a good thing we got those much needed hours of sleep as the following morning we were greeted with the blazing sun down on our tents. It was a race to the sinks to splash some water on our faces. Luckily, our tent was in a very short walking distance to the 'eco-toilets' funded by Water Aid. They were clean, yes clean, and even had toilet roll! I thought I was seeing things. This was like receiving a warm hug! I know, I know, it is all about getting back nature but first thing in the morning when you're bladder is full and your eyes are still half open you don't want to be greeted with toilet seats showcasing last nights bodily fluids, do you?
Thursday, June 24th
We started to explore. Overwhelming isn't the word. We ventured into the serene Greenfields and ate a cool vegetarian cafe whilst hearing the first strummings of a band in a cafe opposite, a woman then walked past us in just shorts - nothing else - and refreshingly no one batted an eye lid, we then made our way to the hospitality reception to get our Press Passes. We felt like naughty kids as we skipped on through to the backstage area behind the huge Pyramid Stage. Now, I know I raved about the 'eco-toilets' earlier but these toilets - oh my - they actually had flushes! I had forgotten toilets actually had flushes! They also had dispensable soap and sinks and mirrors! Once upon a time these things I had taken for granted, I had to stand back and take a moment to admire these genius inventions... maybe I already had too much sun!
Back in the hospitality area I saw my first celeb, Miss Sadie Frost, no Kate Moss in sight, not yet anyway...
The legendary Boy George made an unexpected appearance that night. Many thought he would DJ, many got annoyed as he kept them waiting and waiting and even more so as he cockily said: "You don't know what I'm gonna do, do you?" to the waiting crowd. In the end he delivered his much-loved classics to an adoring crowd. A cool, quirky way to kick off Glastonbury.
Camping Friday arrived, 25th June.
Again we survived this day on a few hours of sleep as the sun hadn't let up and was back in action. The heat was too much, even in the shade from our gazebo it was still too hot as we were surrounded by hundreds of other tents. I tell you, it is a real obstacle course to get through the very closely pitched together tents late at night. Sorry to any hands or feet trodden on.
So today was the day when things really kicked off. I don't want to keep going on about the heat but it really did take alot out of you to go the Pyramid Stage etc so we always planned ahead knowing what we wanted to see.
That afternoon we ventured into the idyllic area of Croissant Neuf (which is now a family-favourite festival in its own right). The small enclosure had a real laid-back and serene feeling to it. We parked ourselves under the huge tent which was a haven away from the humidity. There we saw the heart-throb that is Seth Lakeman, a folk singer/fiddle player who got the impressive turn out erupting with delight when he came on stage. "Seth I love you!" was a common outcry.
The lovely stewards gave out much needed water as Seth played his way through his much-loved hits. The intensity came strong from with his passionate singing and fiddle playing.
From folk to rap - Snoop Dogg was a must-see! The crowds were heaving as we made our way towards the Pyramid Stage and we were greeted by the ultra skinny rapper swaggering across the stage. It was cool and people in the crowd seemed to be shocked at them selves as they knew more of his songs than they realised.
This was where we had our golden celebrity spot - the one and only Kate Moss. She cut a lonely figure as she ventured out of the backstage area on her own and into the crowd to see Snoop. In her de-rigeur of khaki jacket and hot pants she appeared to be what I had always expected but her hair was so clean! It was obvious her bed-head hair was the result of a clever blow-dry, hmmm Winnebago next time I think!
We were feeling our sleep deprivation so we had a nap and opted to miss the Gorillaz headlining set. Instead, we made our way down to the mind blowing fire show at Arcadia. We watched in pure wonderment as trapeze artists were dangled above us and got into positions that could have been featured in the Karma Sutra. Fire balls were then blown out of a peculiar metal structure that appeared to be a bit like an apocalyptic spider as DJ Kissy Sell Out played a string of mind-blowing tunes, which all in all made every ones heat beat harder and harder.
Shangri-la, a collection of crazy and quirky bars, was nearby. Here we saw one surreal bar after the other such as garage karaoke, a conga in a non-stop funk bar and a caravan which featured a run-down Victorian-style lounge finished off with poles for anyone who wanted an erotic dance.
Back at Arcadia it was an endorphin fuelled experience all round when we saw the mind-blowing band, The Correspondents. How to describe their music? A mixture of swing and funk with a big dose of hip-hop. The lead singer Mr Bruce showcased his extreme talent in scatting, singing and rapping to a crowd who were all agog. Boy, did that crowd moved.
Chase & Status were playing their set on a nearby stage which featured a crowd pleasing special guest Dizzee Rascal.
Saturday, June 26.
Personally, for me, Saturday night at the Pyramid Stage was the perfect mix of pop, funk and rock. Shakira, Scissor Sisters and then Muse. For anyone with an eclectic taste in music this was the place to be and the crowds proved this to be true. After jostling our way through the crowd, my friend aptly dressed in a tiny pink tu-tu and my self in a white gypsy dress, we got ready to shake our hips to the sounds of Shakira. She didn't disappoint and it was good to see a diverse mix of people enjoying her worldly sounding music. The men in the audience couldn't take their eyes off the big screens as Shakira, all long blonde hair and very natural make-up, popped her hips and rolled her taut stomach to her hits. We were all relieved as the sun said goodbye for the night, setting behind the stage as Shakira belted out her unashamedly Latino 'Hips Don't Lie'.
Scissor Sisters were up next, with the rumour that Kylie would be making an appearance being confirmed meant their set was very much anticipated. The excitement was palable in the crowd. The Sisters brought funk, soul and infectious tunes to the stage and when Kylie was brought on the atmosphere grew so intense. Performing the disco-tastic, Any Which Way, Kylie looked happy and natural up on the Pyramid Stage. The stage had waited a long time for the pint-sized pop princess to make an appearance. It had been five years since she pulled out of headlining at the festival because of her breast cancer. Only Kylie knew just how it felt to be up there performing, looking beautiful and sounding fantastic. The crowd were very much behind her.
Muse, oh Muse. I had never heard them live before, I am a fan but their sound I have to admit does aggravate me after a while, and I had been told by friends who are huge fans that they are the best band live. And yes, I agree they are the best band live. Period. My God - how do three guys make so much noise? Matt Bellamy, the lead singer (who had new A-list girl friend, Kate Hudson, watching from the sidelines) do it? His voice, his energy, his dark charisma and those hands, how do they move up and down the piano so melodically yet so fast?! Lucky Kate is all I can say.
The highest point came when The Edge joined them on stage to perform the heart rendering, The Streets Have No Name (U2 were meant to headline but Bono has had to have a back operation so they pulled out).
Sunday, June 27.
To say we were sleep deprived was an understatement and on top of that I woke up with the worst sore throat of my life. The dryness of the fields along with the dust that was erupted by vehicles driving through the festival ground had done wonders on my chest. It pretty soon became clear it was more of a case of tonsillitis as it was proving difficult to talk. My self and weary friends surrended ourselves to the happy hippy haven that is the Sauna. The sauna area amongst the tipi field is a secret shade haven with a canopy running along the edge and a sauna, showers and plunge pool. It was worth the five pound entry fee for the shade alone, we ended sleeping through till four in the afternoon. The only drawback is naked bodies of any size and shape, I say just embrace it, go with the flow - it is Glastonbury.
After getting ourselves together we made our way back to the Pyramid Stage for the final night of music. I was dosed to my eyeballs with neurofen and my handbag was full with tissues. Not exactly how I envisaged my Glastonbury experience.
Faithless were a knock-out act performing all their famous hits mixed with their more obscure, one after the other. Having previously interviewed Sister Bliss I knew how special it was for them as a band to be back on the Pyramid and before the legendary Stevie Wonder. Rolo had the crowd in the pit of his hands as he delivered his words of wisdom above the sympth sounds from Sister Bliss. The only thing I would say is that the set would have had more intensity had it been performed later at night rather than a sunset. But hey, who is going to turn down warming up the crowds for Stevie?
Stevie Wonder. A man who I have wanted to see perform all my life. In interviews his charisma oozes out of his pores and this still came across in front of the thousands of people that had gathered to hear him perform his greatest hits. Funny, charming, flirty, he had the audience wrapped round his little finger. He and his band looked like they were having fun which brought a true connection between band and audience. When the world renowned chords of Superstition were heard the audience erupted and all you could do was dance.
A goose-bump moment wrapped up the funk-tastic set with Michael Eavis coming on stage for the final song. Stevie and the crowd sang Happy Birthday to him and thanked him for 40 wonderful years.
Here's to the next 40... to a festival that is surreal, outrageous, hard-work, creative, mind-blowing, contagious, harmonious and most importantly an experience to share with your friends that will only bring you closer together.
