top4718 Â Â 838 #1 Posted June 27, 2009 Is Glastonbury the greatest music festival of our times or has it turned too commercial. Â The original festival had a bunch of bedraggled hippy types gathered around makeshift stages watching folkie acts. Â The modern equivelent is widely televised has cash machines on site, advertising etc and looks very corporate. Â Is Michael Eavis one of the most important men in music or a t***. Â You decide. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Phanerothyme   12 #2 Posted June 28, 2009 Is Glastonbury the greatest music festival of our times or has it turned too commercial. …  Is Michael Eavis one of the most important men in music or a t***.  You decide.  It's probably more complicated than that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
not wanted   10 #3 Posted June 28, 2009 It used to be a music and arts festival. I've not been for a few years but it seems to have lost some of it's arts edge. As for cash machines they were on site in 97 so they have been there for 12 years at least and 12 years ago cash machines were pretty much only available at banks, now they are in local cornershops, pubs, petrol stations, supermarkets, standing as strange kiosks on their own and everywhere else. Show me a part of mainstream music/sports/arts industries that isn't sponsored, supported by, in association with. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Funky_Gibbon   42 #4 Posted June 28, 2009 I'm distinctly underwhelmed by the line-up this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
purple_frog   10 #5 Posted June 28, 2009 I think a festival like glastonbury, more than many other festivals, allows the punters to get from it exactly what they choose. I've only been once (2007 - muddiest ever) and I tried to get as varied an experience as possible - all the different areas, the green fields, the small independent little tents, the randomness of 5am - and, to be honest, felt there were almost too many options. I LOVED it, but if I go again, I'll deliberately avoid the main stages for at least 2 of the 5 days, and stick to the more creative, hippiesque, unique side of Glasto. It is what you make of it - but no harm in having cashpoints, coz we all need food/drink! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Chris_Sleeps   10 #6 Posted June 28, 2009 The modern equivelent is widely televised has cash machines on site, advertising etc and looks very corporate. Point out one advert that isn't for a charity and i'll agree with you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
top4718 Â Â 838 #7 Posted June 28, 2009 Not particularly disagreeing Chris, just looking for opinions. Â I personally enjoy watching it and try and catch as much (on TV) as possible. Â Agree that this years line up was a little underwhelming and not happy with the BBC's covereage (show one song by some bands and endlessly repeat others.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
purple_frog   10 #8 Posted June 28, 2009 But it's not just about the headline acts, is it? Sure, there are heaps of other festies, if big acts are all you're interested in, but I always find that the fewer big-name-time-clashes I have, the more exciting, fun and relaxed my festival experience - more time to experiment (musically!), explore and open one's horizons to new things!  My disappointment with the BBC coverage is that it only shows the stages, with little coverage from the rest of the site - I'd much rather feel like I was *there*, rather than just watch acts on stage, knowing full well that the sound never works as well on the telly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
scottf   21 #9 Posted June 29, 2009 I think that people who havn't been only see it as this big corporate thing because of all the celebs there and the TV coverage which is . . . . well- frankly pathetic and it fails to captire the glastonbury spirit at all.  What you don't see is the sheer size of some of the fields that go no press whatsoever and the hundreds of independant people there all doing there own thing- for example the healing fields you can carve some wood if you like, have a massage, listen to someone read a novel, or simply just lay down in a nice big tent for a sleep surrounded by wind-charms.  glasto is far more than mud, drugs and hippys now and i for one thing michael evis should be knighted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Pipine   10 #10 Posted June 29, 2009 I've been going 12 years and it just keeps getting better every year. The sheer amount of bands, comedy, circus, craft workshops, scuptures and general time and effort put into the festival is phenominal. Its the most breathtaking sight to see the whole site from one of the higher viewpoints at sunset... and the spontaneous mexican wave style cheering that ripples round the site on the first night gives it an atmosphere like nothing else as you can feel the anticipation of the fun to come from every person on site. Its magical Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Warrior0911 Â Â 10 #11 Posted June 29, 2009 Its great i go every year Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...