As spring is finally here and British Summer Time begins...I am keen to know who is going to what festival, and why?
We have talked endlessly about the festivals that are going on, who is headlining and who is rumoured to be going. We have obviously lost Glasto this year, which will change the kinds of things that people might go to.
For me, I think this year I am going to try Boomtown, the festival near me. I really fancy a smaller, more localised festival and want zero hassle!
Until Glasto comes back next year, I don't think I will venture to a big festival. I think the line-up for Reading looks ace but I don't think I will be going. The riots and the aggro seem to have put me off I think.
What about you guys? Where are you planning on going and why?
What will you choose this year? Will you stick to the festivals that you know and love or will you venture to something new? Is there one particular act that you want to see?
For me, I am hoping that next year will see Bloc Party return. They make a festival for me. In my opinion, because I am sad, a festival without them just isn't the same.
I think a change this year from the big festivals will be interesting. I may even try one or two other small festivals like End of the Road or Wilderness!
2012, March 26 - 9:37pm
I am so happy that it is officially summer and that the festivals are almost in touching distance! It is always difficult to pick which festivals to attend to but I think I have finally made a decision!
Usually I would attend Glasto but as it is not on this year I guess I wont be; if it is going ahead in 2013 I will most certainly be there.
This year I have decided to go to Reading, with my main basis for this selection being the fact that I have never been here before. I have heard some great reviews about it and I really am looking forward to it. I have been to Leeds before and have had a great time, on this basis I am hoping that it is great!
It is always great going to a festival that you have never been to and I hoping that it offers something different to the festivals I have been to previously!
2012, March 27 - 10:21am
Reading is a good one to tick off the list, I found the campsites very easy to navigate and the security staff were so helpful, I'd bare in mind that if you fancy camping in the white quiet zone it's a bit of a trek!
The after entertainment parties in the smaller stages are always fun, and try to check out the silent disco at least once before you go, sometimes its best to go there before a main headliner, or leave about half an hour before the main headliners finishes if you have any interest checking it out, apart from that have fun! :-)
2012, March 27 - 7:58pm
Thanks for the advice ☺ This thread is really getting me excited for the festival and I really should start making sure that I have all of my stuff ready!
A heads up to anybody who has decided which festival to attend – I really would recommend Creamfields.
I have been every year since the festival started and I really have become on of the biggest endorsers of it. In my view it really does offer something different to all of the other mainstream festivals and on this basis it really is worth a visit
2012, March 28 - 5:01pm
No problem at all, actually now you can return the favour, I'm thinking off going to Creamfields but I'm torn between two groups to go with, who would you choose.
My Home Friends: They will party hard during the day but they always want to camp in quiter areas and go straight back to the campsite and hang out there once the main music has finished.
My Uni Friends: As far as they will be concerned there is no such thing as "the main entertainment" finishing haha!
Who would you choose Tom?
2012, April 8 - 3:45pm
Ooh Tom, it is very exciting to hear that you are going to be trying Reading for the first time this year. I look forward to your opinions as a first timer! You will report back for us, won't you? =D!
Who are you most excited to see at Reading this year? If I was going I would be sure to see: The Cure, Crystal Castles, Coheed and Cambria, The Shins, Odd Future, At The Drive In (eek, personal favs), Azealia Banks, Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, Eagles of Death Metal, Band of Skulls and The Horrors. Woah, thinking about it, there is quite a lot at Reading I would want to see!
You seem to be an avid supporter of Creamfields, Tom! I have never been before. If I am honest, I am not sure it is my cup of tea. Do you have to be a dance fan to go? Or is it open to all tastes? I mean you seem to be into rock music (considering you attend Glasto and are attending Reading). So perhaps it is a bit more 'alternative' than I thought?
Are those portrayals of dance festivals as drug fuelled raves up true? Is Creamfields like that? I hope not!
Afrokarma, even though I have never been, I am going to guess your uni friends will be best for Creamfields! It strikes me as being quite a party hard event. And when I say party hard I mean 24 hour hard! Ha ha!
2012, April 10 - 3:11pm
Since reeling off the line-up, Jaguar, there are some great acts at Reading this year! In fact, that line-up just there seems like an almost perfect festival. What do you think of Azealia Banks?
Tom - like Jaguar said, make sure you tell us what you think and who you saw etc.
Reading is an interesting one. Jaguar - do you think you will ever go back to Reading? I am not sure. I don't know whether I have kind of outgrown it? The thing is, the artists booked are amazing and I am kind of jealous of those going. But then I wonder if I will never have as much fun as the last time I went and maybe it is best to leave it behind.
But then if we do that with all the festivals we will be left with nothing to go to.
Reading is one of those that is still going strong, like Glasto, even after all these years. The last time I went to Reading was in 2008...four years ago. Feels like a lifetime ago. I am not sure it would be the same anymore.
Also, most of the people I used to go to festivals with are all settling down and getting married and having kids. Harder to get everyone together now. Shame.
2012, April 11 - 8:10pm
I will certainly be sharing my thoughts of Reading after I have attended, I am nervously excited (if that makes sense!).
Whilst many people have recommended this festival to me, there is also a large amount of people that are really questioning this festival. This really has made me doubt whether I should go to this festival but I have decided to stick with it.
Where are all you guys off to this summer?
2012, April 15 - 3:09pm
Kizza - My thoughts on Azealia Banks change every week. Ha ha. I mean, I hated her at first! I just didn't get the fuss. Then I guess I realised how great "212" really was, and thus I decided she was pretty fresh and exciting after all. But ever since then, she has been dropping further demos, and to be honest, she just strikes me as an almighty blow hard. Her lyrics are so egotistical! It kinda frustrates me. Why does hip hop shoot for such braggery?
I don't think I will go to Reading anymore :(! I guess I do feel like I have outgrown the event. I don't think I would have felt that way had it been the 90s, back when it was a bit more mature. But nowadays, it seems to go for a real tweeny vibe - I mean, booking bands like Paramore and stuff you know? Do you agree that it has changed over the last few years and has grown rather juvenile??
That said we shouldn't feel like we are too old to attend anything. If we want to go, we should go! Why should we stop ourselves enjoying things, just because we are getting older you know? That said, it becomes difficult when friends start dropping from the festival scene like flies. Darn adulthood taking them away! Ha ha.
Tom, don't be concerned, Reading is a great festival - like Kizza said it is a practical institution nowadays!
2012, April 15 - 3:33pm
Glad that maybe I don’t have too much to worry about! I guess that I am only going to see what it is like and to sample a different festival that is out there. There are some real mixed reviews out there and so I guess it will be interesting to see what happens!
Leeds and Reading have both kind of changed their target audience and maybe this isn’t something that has benefited it.
Possibly the organisers should try and take it back to its roots?
2012, April 20 - 7:30pm
Tom, I would love for Reading to go back to its roots!
I think it was at its peak in the 90s, when it would book classic headliners like Radiohead, Pulp and Nirvana. I mean, those sets have gone down in history, man!
Back then, Reading was a more rough and ready festival, if that makes sense? If you watch footage from the 90s, you can see how the audience has changed over the years, age and personality wise.
But then again, festivals have to move with the times, you know? I gotta respect the 90s has been and gone.
Reading strikes me as being a festival for super young kids nowadays. Almost like a "first-timer" festival. Thus for me it seems to have lost its 'edgy' vibe. It's actually, a pretty juvenile event now.
Oh I feel really bad saying all of this, though, as I know you are going this year ha ha =(. Please forgive me! But seriously, this year is a MAJOR improvement on last year, so that is good! There are some great smaller bands, plus I would love to see the Foo Fighters =P!
Who are you looking forward to seeing the most at Reading, Tom? Was there any particular artists that caused you to take 'the plunge' and book - or did you just fancy seeing what the Reading fuss was all about?