BBC and Glastonbury

[BrumJim]

Can anyone explain to me the obsession the BBC has with Glastonbury ? The BBC webpage has 13 separate articles about the festival on it's front page and that doesn't include scrolling left and right. I understand it is popular, I even went in the mid 1980's, but honestly, does the majority of the population care, or even know it is on ? I find it peculiar to say the least - does the BBC hold shares in the company that runs it or something ?

210,000 attendees, which equates to roughly the size of Reading, although it has been as big as Nottingham. Doesn't matter if you like it or not, it becomes the 24th biggest population centre in England for a weekend (not The Weeknd, they've never played there).

 

[Bonefish Blues]

210,000 attendees, which equates to roughly the size of Reading, although it has been as big as Nottingham. Doesn't matter if you like it or not, it becomes the 24th biggest population centre in England for a weekend (not The Weeknd, they've never played there).

And the densest, of course

 

[ianrauk]

I try to watch as much as I can on tv. I love the whole experience and the sheer amount of different styles of music that are highlighted either with full sets or snippets. There's a lot I really do like and there's a lot that I don't, but doesn't stop me watching it.

Highlights for me this year so far
St Vincent
Gary Numan (Immense)
Chic
The Prodigy
Biffy Clyro
Raye

A bit of a let down
Rod Stewart
Weezer

Just didnt like
CMAT
Libertines
The 1975

I'll be catching up with a lot more on IPlayer

 

[CarbonClem]

I've enjoyed a few things so far, haven't seen much as the weathers been so nice, but thumbs up for -
Maccabees
Neil Young
Kneecap
I last went in 2022. I try each year but have been unlucky with tickets recently. We had a good run by working on a stall so did several years on the trot. Always a great weekend.

 

[Time Waster]

My partner had it on a lot. She has never been to a music festival so was asking me questions all the way through the sets. She also kept flicking through the channels with Glasto on mid set. She also kept complaining about all the flags and asked how did they allow them? They must block out the view for some and I tend to agree with her and think they should be banned anywhere near a stage or indeed anywhere other than the tent fields or non music fields i think they have there.

I think she wants us to go (me, her and the boy) one year. I just asked why? You can see it on TV and iPlayer. All without paying for the extortionate price it is these days. What is it now for the whole thing with camping??? I did one day at Reading once and it was about £30-40 I think back then. I also did Leeds one day but that was a freebie sneak in the trade gate and waved past by someone known to a member of our group.

Reading had Metallica as the headliner that year and it was the worst PA I have ever heard. It kept cutting out and the lead guitarist kept swapping guitars mid song as they failed. The lead singer's mic kept going out like those old cabaret standup acts who had that broken mic act if things were going wrong. It all started when the roadie did his ones and twos for about an hour!! A fewe in the crowd taught him to count to three!! He did that once then forgot and went back to one twos. People were leaving early in the set and they were metalheads in metallica tshirts? My mates stayed through it all but Jeez I was bored. Worst stage music act the whole day that we watched. The best was actually very early in in the day. Even Marylin Manson was not that good. Then MM was in Leeds when we gatecrashed. We left halfway through his set. Eminem was better. Years and years ago. i would not want to go now. If it is on the BBC it is good enough for me as an occasional watch.

BTW for anyone moaning about one weekend of music on the BBC get over yourself. I bet you loved the TV footie coverage in world cup or Euros or the Olympics are a must watch for you but the one premier music event is a step too far?? I say to that idea, I will be happy with no modern music on BBC from Glasto if you give me no football, tennis, golf, F1 and Olympics. And I mean no Football or indeed any sport longer than a small sports clip at the end of the news which had a Glasto clip in it too. Fair play that would be (something the round ballers do not seem to know that well if you ask me).

 

[matticus]

It all started when the roadie did his ones and twos for about an hour!! A few in the crowd taught him to count to three!! He did that once then forgot and went back to one twos.

Those were the days - PROPER entertainment. Kids don't know they're born now ...

 

[Time Waster]

Those were the days - PROPER entertainment. Kids don't know they're born now ...

It was also the level of education of the average roadie back then too I reckon!! A two count is their limit!!

It was also the days when the audience thought it a good idea to throw a dildo on stage in a Marylin Manson set. He spotted it before anyone else and he used it too complete with the battery draining on full setting!! Then he threw it back out into the crowd. It came back so he got a bit more use of it. All while still performing his song!! That is true stage professionalism and you simply don't get it these days!!

Now all you get is politics. That was around back then but we had something extra to the show. I bet you would not get the lead singer of the 1975s with that level of stage professionalism. Now if he had shoved that cigarette down there and blew smoke rings then that would make the show different to the boring set they gave out. Not that I am into that or indeed being serious But what is serious is what a poor set that 1975 one was. I used to like a bit of their stuff but that set was dire. All with that fag in his mouth. What was that about? Surely it should have been a brightly coloured vape??!!!!

So what do you rate as the worst of Glasto this year that you have seen? 1975 and Wetleg. i actually like them both but they were not very good IMHO. I did not really like Neil Young. I think he has always been overrated though so I doubt I would ever find him any good. But he did give it a go which is good for his age. Rod Stewart? I don't think I have ever got through more than 20 seconds of his performance before I turned over, ever!!

I think I will watch a few more on iPlayer as i did not see that much really. I am not sure it is of the calibre it used to be as a festival.

 

[KingstonGraham]

We're watching it now. Good coverage but there are very few actual bands these days. When I went in 97 there was Radiohead, Ash, levellers, ocean colour scene, nearly all bands.

And those stupid flags blocking everyone's view 🤬

Bring back the days of Supergrass, Ash, Shed Seven etc

 

[wiggydiggy]

Bring back the days of Supergrass, Ash, Shed Seven etc

Shed Seven played this year

 

[Dan Lotus]

Performance highlights (in no specific order) for me so far were:

• Biffy Clyro (Watched the set twice)
• Raye (Phenomenal)
• Jorja Smith
• Joy Crookes
• Snow Patrol
• Gracie Abrams
• AJ Tracey

Tried 5 minutes of the script, and got bored after 3 - real middle of the road mediocrity for me - same for the 1975.

Watched a bit of the Rodrigo, and thought she seemed to be a pretty good performer, and I know my daughter will want to see the set, but I thought her voice seemed pretty crisp and clear.

What makes me laugh/despair is the amount of social media posts from people probably around my age, who proclaim that music is dead bla bla bla, seemingly not realising this is probably exactly what previous generations have said in the past.

For me, it's the people who give up on new music, and move over to Radio 2 or whatever, that then cease to listen to and discover NEW music and artists, and then you basically stagnate, and you're stuck in the past.
There's a LOT of great music out there, if you stop listening to new music, you're effectively regressing.

I had to take my daughter to the doctors this morning, and we had to wait 30 minutes in the aptly titled waiting room.
They had a radio station on, maybe it was Hits Radio, or the Hits, I forget which, but it had a smashie/nicey style DJ on, and we were 'treated' to bananarama, wet wet wet, Alexander O'Neal, and whitesnake - all from the 80s of course.
The 80s was great, don't get me wrong, but it's 40 years ago now, I don't understand the obsession with seemingly living in the past.
Having said all of that, most of my peers seem to have drifted effortlessly into that path 😕

 

[orraloon]

I'd forgotten just how full on were/are The Prodigy. Just watched their set, v good. Sez this 'old' geezer here 😊 The Prodigy formed in 1990...

 

[Chislenko]

The Performance Highlights for me..

 

[wiggydiggy]

I'd forgotten just how full on were/are The Prodigy. Just watched their set, v good. Sez this 'old' geezer here 😊 The Prodigy formed in 1990...

I saw them live at Leeds Fest, absolutely owned the weekend. Maxim Jazz (the MC) was equally as good as Keith on the vocals and had the entire field jumping.

Was it still Max at the front, I know no Keith sadly but him on his own still would have killed it.

Favourite song by them is Spitfire, awesome tune.

 

[the_mikey]

Given how little new music makes it to the television these days, Glastonbury is an important shop window for up and coming artists to get recognised through television coverage or through the many different stages covered on iplayer. Arguably, the BBC television service could be better with music generally, the high level of coverage tries to cover most tastes and genres, not just those appreciated by curmudgeonly 80 year olds.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Performance highlights (in no specific order) for me so far were:

• Biffy Clyro (Watched the set twice)
• Raye (Phenomenal)
• Jorja Smith
• Joy Crookes
• Snow Patrol
• Gracie Abrams
• AJ Tracey

Tried 5 minutes of the script, and got bored after 3 - real middle of the road mediocrity for me - same for the 1975.

Watched a bit of the Rodrigo, and thought she seemed to be a pretty good performer, and I know my daughter will want to see the set, but I thought her voice seemed pretty crisp and clear.

What makes me laugh/despair is the amount of social media posts from people probably around my age, who proclaim that music is dead bla bla bla, seemingly not realising this is probably exactly what previous generations have said in the past.

For me, it's the people who give up on new music, and move over to Radio 2 or whatever, that then cease to listen to and discover NEW music and artists, and then you basically stagnate, and you're stuck in the past.
There's a LOT of great music out there, if you stop listening to new music, you're effectively regressing.

I had to take my daughter to the doctors this morning, and we had to wait 30 minutes in the aptly titled waiting room.
They had a radio station on, maybe it was Hits Radio, or the Hits, I forget which, but it had a smashie/nicey style DJ on, and we were 'treated' to bananarama, wet wet wet, Alexander O'Neal, and whitesnake - all from the 80s of course.
The 80s was great, don't get me wrong, but it's 40 years ago now, I don't understand the obsession with seemingly living in the past.
Having said all of that, most of my peers seem to have drifted effortlessly into that path 😕

Couldn't agree more. So many of our friends are rooted in the past and dismiss all the fantastic new music that is being produced right now.

We love Raye and Gracie Abrams is top drawer.