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Oxegen Negativity, Justified?

  • 03-03-2006 5:13pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭


    This year I'm going to Roskilde in Denmark and then Oxegen a week later. I'm really looking forward to Roskilde but just dreading the thought of Oxegen(I'm going reluctantly I might add:( )
    The problem, I believe, lies with the organisers. The whole thing really smacks of a money making exercise. Everything about Oxegen annoys me. Namely prices, food, security, camp site locations/setup etc

    I was at Glastonbury last year and it was probably the best festival I've ever been to. Everything was so relaxed, once you got in the gates at the start you could more or less do whatever you like and the people at it were just so easygoing. Unfortunately though I reckon there could never be a festival like Glastonbury held in Ireland, mainly because of the Irish attitude i.e. drink, drink and more drink!

    So am I totally unjustified in saying that Oxegen is basically a sham or is it simply what you make of it that counts?


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 541 ✭✭✭chern0byl


    Unfortunately though I reckon there could never be a festival like Glastonbury held in Ireland

    There already is! It's called 'The Electric Picnic'. Started 3 years ago as a one day, then the next year as a two day and now this year as a three day festival.

    With the name change from Witness to Oxegen, came the rubbish.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 154 ✭✭bottlerocket


    The problem with Oxegen lies squarely with MCD. The main problem is the power tripping, ignorant security. At Electric Picnic last year the security was barely noticable - they were there, they just weren't bothering people who were having a good time or trying to confiscate their booze and drugs to sell/take them later.

    Then there's the rip off prices for everything. I'd love to go see the bands this year but refuse to go because of the organisation.

    All in all, the negativity is justified. MCD are money grabbing c**** who don't care whether punters have a good time, so long as they spend money.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 400 ✭✭nachos


    No-one organises a festival like Glastonbury or electric picnic or oxegen out of the goodness of their hearts, they're all out to make a profit. the difference is that mcd seem to have little or no respect for their customers as shown by the lack of decent catering/security/toilets/(insert grievance here).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭youcancallmeal


    nachos wrote:
    No-one organises a festival like Glastonbury or electric picnic or oxegen out of the goodness of their hearts, they're all out to make a profit. the difference is that mcd seem to have little or no respect for their customers as shown by the lack of decent catering/security/toilets/(insert grievance here).

    Glastonbury is one of the only festivals that is actually run on a non profit basis. They basically cover all their costs then anything extra goes to charity. Thats why its generally thought of in such high regard by both attendees and performers.

    I would totally agree with your comments in relation to mcd though, no concern for customers at all. Herd them and milk them for money is what its all about.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭eth0_


    nachos wrote:
    No-one organises a festival like Glastonbury or electric picnic or oxegen out of the goodness of their hearts, they're all out to make a profit. the difference is that mcd seem to have little or no respect for their customers as shown by the lack of decent catering/security/toilets/(insert grievance here).

    I would disagree with that. The people who organise the EP are really into their music - I heard recently they booked the Arcade Fire for last years festival over a year in advance, which would have been when hardly anyone in Europe knew who they were.

    I've never been to Oxegen but from what i've heard, people who go to it are just going to get "Locked off me faaaace" for the weekend, rather than enjoy the bands. You won't find these knacks at the Electric Picnic.

    EP's lineup was a million times better than oxegen last year, the campsite was great, security were sound, no queueing, sound was great, and the food was great. My only complaint was that there was a crappy choice of beer available but then I found the Southern Comfort cocktail bar in the crawdaddy tent and my problems were solved.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,401 ✭✭✭jtsuited


    mcd are horrible people. and apart from sigur ros, it's a crap lineup this year.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,810 ✭✭✭lodgepole


    chern0byl wrote:
    With the name change from Witness to Oxegen, came the rubbish.
    It was the venue change that did it for me. Putting a stage in a carpark is amongst the most ridiculous things i've ever seen at a festival.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 456 ✭✭Superdub2


    jtsuited wrote:
    mcd are horrible people. and apart from sigur ros, it's a crap lineup this year.

    how can you say its a crap line up??? that is simply a ridiculous statement, i think it is one of the best line ups they have had. But by saturday evening the place is a kip i must say.

    also i think people can get locked and still enjoy their music, isnt that what festivals are about, alcohol abuse and music?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭youcancallmeal


    Superdub2 wrote:
    also i think people can get locked and still enjoy their music, isnt that what festivals are about, alcohol abuse and music?

    Ahh yes with a little bit of sun we can look forward to seeing all the unconscious Red Lobsters lying around ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,257 ✭✭✭SoupyNorman


    This years line-up has not invoked the excitment as much as the foos, green day, prodidgy and kerri chandler did last year. Although I just seen Paul Weller is on the bill which has brightened my outlook.

    No matter what the line-up I'd happily spend the wknd in the barcardi b-bar.


    As regards MCD, its fair enough they must make a profit but its the super-normal profits they must get from everything from ticket sales to food vendors and alcohol. Its just too expensive, extortion does not feel like a strong enough word to use and then there is the state of the facilites provided BUT for all my bitchin und moanin The last two Oxygens have been the best wknds of my life and when its over it always seems worth it. The phrase 'it is what you make it' is relevant I feel.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,673 ✭✭✭✭senordingdong


    In fairness, drink is just as much a part of British culture as it is Irish.

    And a festival like Glastonbury is more drug orientated...and that's probably why it is so relaxed.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,745 ✭✭✭StupidLikeAFox


    So have i got this right, the problem with oxegen is the organisation, the crowd, the line-up, the venue, the food and the security.....

    I think the set up isnt the best, but the weekend is what you make of it...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,743 ✭✭✭Rockee


    The problem with Oxegen lies squarely with MCD.

    I agree, bastards wouldnt get The Hoff....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,834 ✭✭✭Toast


    And a festival like Glastonbury is more drug orientated...and that's probably why it is so relaxed.

    I think you are mistaken. Its a joke to try and compare the two festivals. Glastonbury first off isn't a music festival. Glastonbury has a lot of different things going on, a part of that you could call drug orientated. Another part you could very loosely compare to Oxegen in that its big names playing to lots of people in a field.

    Id say one of the main reasons the atmosphere is different is that there is allowance to bring your own booze to the arena in Glastonbury (technically there is no arena in Glastonbury, stages and camping are in the same area).

    In Oxegen, especially with people who cant afford the bar price, a LOT of people want to get pissed before they go into the arena to save money. What happens then is the old half bottle of vodka in 20 minutes before breakfast trick. Some people may not be that extreme but alot of people do this to some extent.

    So people sitting on a hill with a 24 pack of carling which they drink over the space of 18 hrs at leisure... versus people chugging as much booze in as concentrated form as possible in 1hr and I think youve the source of one of your problems.

    Not to say that there arent people who binge drink at Glasto or who dont spend their time out of their faces but the majority of people are more relaxed. Theres a bunch of other things to consider such as general scale to the age demographics involved but as I said to try and compare the two is silly.


  • Hosted Moderators Posts: 8,380 ✭✭✭fitz


    Toast wrote:
    I think you are mistaken. Its a joke to try and compare the two festivals. Glastonbury first off isn't a music festival. Glastonbury has a lot of different things going on, a part of that you could call drug orientated. Another part you could very loosely compare to Oxegen in that its big names playing to lots of people in a field.

    Id say one of the main reasons the atmosphere is different is that there is allowance to bring your own booze to the arena in Glastonbury (technically there is no arena in Glastonbury, stages and camping are in the same area).

    In Oxegen, especially with people who cant afford the bar price, a LOT of people want to get pissed before they go into the arena to save money. What happens then is the old half bottle of vodka in 20 minutes before breakfast trick. Some people may not be that extreme but alot of people do this to some extent.

    So people sitting on a hill with a 24 pack of carling which they drink over the space of 18 hrs at leisure... versus people chugging as much booze in as concentrated form as possible in 1hr and I think youve the source of one of your problems.

    Not to say that there arent people who binge drink at Glasto or who dont spend their time out of their faces but the majority of people are more relaxed. Theres a bunch of other things to consider such as general scale to the age demographics involved but as I said to try and compare the two is silly.


    Spot on there Toast.
    I think that makes a big difference.
    However, I'd say the main difference between EP and Oxegen, is that EP is strictly over 18s. It's an older crowd who are there cause of the music, not a shower of 16/17 year olds escaping the apronstrings for a weekend of boozing and tent-sex.
    In some ways, I can understand how the staff would be pissed off with having to deal with drunken teenagers all day.
    Security at EP are not really visible cause they don't have anything to do really. That, to me, is the big difference.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,673 ✭✭✭✭senordingdong


    Toast wrote:
    Its a joke to try and compare the two festivals.

    I didn't.

    And just to clear this up...are you saying that the more 'relaxed' atmosphere has nothing to do with drugs?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 75 ✭✭brinepacer


    I think to just say "it's more relaxed because there's drugs there", or suggest that it's a major component, is to completely misunderstand what it's like to be there. If all you've ever been to is poxegen, then it's probably a great festival. If you've been to any festival outside ireland, or even just to EP for that matter, you get a better idea of how festivals should be run, and you see poxegen for the cash cow it is. At other festivals, the onus is on the "festival experience". At oxygen, it's exactly as someone said earlier, "get pissed and watch bands". Huge difference.


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