Festivals

[jesus_nightside_eclipse]

Been thinking about this quite a bit lately, but there's so many festivals these days, I imagine you could go from April to mid-September and go to a different festival every weekend. Even then you'd miss another two or three that were on at the same time, and there's a good deal of autumn and winter festivals that happen nowadays as well.

Anywho, what's your favourite festival, and why? Which are the best and worst you've ever been to? Which are you going to this summer, and which do you want to go to in the next few years?

My favourite was either Shamania 2007 or Download 2006, for Camp Lancashire and Metallica. Worst was probably Leeds 2005 just because most of the stuff didn't appeal to me, even if I got continuously laid while I was there! This year I'm working Green Man and Reading, and would like to get to either Damnation or the one Robbie just put up this afternoon.

[totalvictory]

I'm basically tired of them. They're (mostly) expensive corporate hellholes full of tragically-hip Tarquins and poorly-dressed Dereks with awful bands, sound and atmosphere. I can't wait for the credit crunch to hit harder and some of the lesser, more Johnny-Come-Lately ones to hit the skids.

The best I ever went to was ATP in 2005 because I saw Slint and met David Yow, or Charlbury River Festival because I got to hang out with Liam for a weekend. Worst was probably either Leeds, which were just teenage nightmare psychosis festivals, resplendent with burning toilets and inadequate facilities.

I like gigs. Tours and gigs. And clubs. I'd like to go to Brecon Jazz and maybe Cropredy, or one of the big European city ones that start in the evening and finish in the small hours. Or the Berlin Film Festival.

[victoria]

Went to two festivals the last two weekends. Wickerman and Kendal Calling. Both with no sponsors, both great value and great atmospheres.

[topcat]

Munich Beer Festival

Why: Beer.

[Gareth]

Festival 1: Probably nearly died during the headlining band on the last day
Festival 2 (a few years later): Same band are announced, headlining, on the last day

it was like fate was coming back to get me.

I'm probably too old for festivals now

[Tanye]

This year is the last year I'll go to Leeds, I wasn't meant to be going until I found out Metallica and Slipknot were playing. The toilets are awful and over the years its gotten more and more full of pricks. Plus there seems to be an awful lot of indie on over the last few years, which I am not a fan of. I wanted to go to Bloodstock but I couldn't get a ticket.
Next year I'd like to go to wacken or hellfest and bloodstock, anything thats got bands I like really.

[jesus_nightside_eclipse]

I've found that smaller festivals are better just because they tend to offer huge diversity and less ability for everything to **** up. Leeds 2005 had about 200 bands who sounded the same and everything went tits-up at every opportunity. Download, in my experience is run like a military regiment, and apart from bands running a bit late (which happens at every gig ever anyway), everything has always gone perfectly. The major problem I have with big festivals is a) more people = more wankers, and b) the huge amounts of sponsorship mean that you can only buy one type of everything, and everything is plastered with shit logos. The worst things are corporate tickets at the big festivals as well, at Leeds 2005 I think I saw more VIP wristbands than actual weekend camping ones.

[Hughie]

I think a few have been cancelled this year - just from looking at the festivals web sites. Not sure of the circumstances but there's only so much of an audience and you do get quite a few of the same bands doing the rounds.

I can't think of a single best one, but in recent years we enjoy the Beatiful Days festival in Devon. There's usually quite a lot of bands on that we like and we meet up with a lot of friends from all over the country.

No real worst ones. Kendal wasn't the best but given their budget and the conditions I don't want to be too hard on them! The early V festivals were okay but then went OTT corporate so I haven't bothered with them for years now.

I tend to prefer smaller festivals these days.

[ghost]

I'll go to Cornerstone one day.

[Dark-Cide Lorraine]

I don't know if the Radio 1 Big Weekend should be classed as a festival, but that would be my favourite. It's actually my only one, apart from Infest but that's all indoors.

I enjoyed every bit of it, even the bands that I wasn't really keen on. The sound, lights, tents, food, drink, everything was great.

[shed]

Bestival. No contest. It's a very laid back atmosphere, a massive variation of music all on very different stages. You can rave in hidden disco's within other tents, relax to some folk on a bandstand or get down to some Latin funk in a tea stall! The weather's great, Isle of Wight in early September. I suppose it can be a little expensive and time consuming travelling down there but you can get deals with National Express which ain't so bad if you're patient. The main stage has all the big acts on and some you'd never think you'd ever watch live.. Madness and Soul II Soul soundsystem last year to name two.. really enjoyed it. There's always a fancy dress theme which can get interesting. I never encountered any dickheads there, and you see a lot of the acts just walking around the site enjoying it. Howard Marks watching Madness with us was a highlight. Top bloke.

I would recomend it to anyone.

Or just go to any festival with anyone who went to Kendal this weekend. It will be dopeness.

[joe ersatz]

glastonbury the year bowie played (2000?) was the best ever weekend ever. ever. :)

[bigred]

glastonbury the year bowie played (2000?) was the best ever weekend ever. ever. :)

i was there for that! and it was my first proper festival!

NIN on the other stage where aces, as were the petshop boys!

The first download was a winner as was my first leeds.

[joe ersatz]

petshop boys were ok, but the sound on the main stage was a bit shit during the day. plus i was screwed on horse tranquilisers.

[Marsha]

reading festival 1994.......begging on the last day to get money for cigs! we made shit loads! hahahahaha skanks we were!

joe,did you go that year? i remember your lot being there i think - i was with andrew at the time! LOL

[Rach]

reading festival 1994.......begging on the last day to get money for cigs! we made shit loads! hahahahaha skanks we were!

joe,did you go that year? i remember your lot being there i think - i was with andrew at the time! LOL

I was there that year, it was ace, I got set on fire whilst watching RHCP and didn't notice until some guy started hitting me on the back :D

[joe ersatz]

never went to reading - the first proper festival i went to was glastonbury 98 (i think? the great mud year 2 anyway). that was amazing, but the trench foot and inability to be able to sit down for the whole weekend stops it from being in the top 2 or 3...

[Punkage]

Ive had some really great times at the Reading and Leeds festivals.

Download 2006 and 2007 were ace, 2008 was alright but it wasnt anything special.

Had an awesome time at Hellfest and the last two Gods of Metals.

I may only do one next year as I want to go to Japan on holiday, but we shall have to see.

[robbieBAYAREATHRASH]

me and sarah are now considering going to this!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/dudecore/playfastplagatsmall.jpg

**** me! it's all so fast!

yeah!!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/dudecore/Img1529.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/dudecore/Img1517.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/dudecore/747.jpg

[jesus_nightside_eclipse]

me and sarah are now considering going to this!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/dudecore/playfastplagatsmall.jpg

**** me! it's all so fast!

yeah!!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/dudecore/Img1529.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/dudecore/Img1517.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/dudecore/747.jpg

Let me know if you go man!

[Internets]

The Harvest Festival is my favourite.