Glastonbury 2009

robinph

Tickets for next years Glastonbury will go on sale on the 5th October this year:

BBC News

Well 100,000 of the tickets anyway and you only need the £50 deposit.

Awayindahils

I suppose it gives die hards a chance to secure tickets early on but there are so many other festivals to choose from now. And many of those festivals come without the risk of trench foot.

Considering the line-up was one of the big issues this year, it seems like a bit of a gamble tbh.

robinph

No greater chance of rubbish weather at Glastonbury than any other festival, apart from the fact that it is actually open for longer so it's bound to rain at some point. Think their main problem this year was just that people are starting to be a bit more sensible with their cash and as the Glastonbury tickets were the last of the big festivals to go on sale people were out of cash by that point. They just want to get in with some confirmed sales, and a few million in the bank, a bit earlier this year and if it means that there isn't such a mad rush for tickets and trying to deal with the interweb breaking then it's fine with me.

robinph

Bump as a reminder that tickets for 2009 go on sale on Sunday.

Ticket F.A.Q.

£50 deposit required now with the balance to be paid by 1st February 2009.

If not already got a registration number from earlier this year then you'll need to submit a photo here.

Pastel_Princess

Got my tickets this morning, registration seems to have been open for the last hour or so. Easiest glastonbury ticket buying ever!

robinph

Think I have mine sorted as well now. Noticed they had opened the ordering sooner than expected but was then having problems with getting past the initial page where you enter the registration numbers, then I noticed that my UK debit card had expired 10 days ago. :eek: Then it was too close to 9am I gues, the servers have not started getting over loaded and the confirmation page never came up.

I am now getting that my registration numbers have already been used though so I think I must have them sorted now, just need the email now then I guess.

Spider_Baby

I completely forgot about tickets being on sale on Sun....but surprisingly they are still on sale.
Just got myself one ...well, I've only paid the deposit.
It's a good system as you only lose £10 if you then decide not to go

robinph

They claimed that they sold half of the tickets on Sunday. Not sure what that is half of though and how beliveable that claim is though. Should be about 135,000 tickets in total, but then they were possibly selling only 100,000 at the moment. There is also their requirement to sell at least 20,000 as part of bus packages as well, but I thought that number was suppoers to be bigger for next year, I guess all that will be available in April will be the bus tickets then.

Spider_Baby

I'm going to be looking for advice closer to the date re. best travel options etc...as this will be my first Glastonbury
I'm tempted to book some verrrry cheap flights right now, but that might be a bit premature

robinph

Not checked yet but I doubt that Ryanair flights are available yet, I'd generally have my flights booked before the festival tickets actually go on sale though to aviod them putting the prices up. I tend to travel over on slightly less obvious dates though so generally avoid any price hike that Ryanair might add on at peak times.

mattfender

I still havent decided if i'm gonna go again this year i'm broke so i cant even afford the deposit:(

Spider_Baby

robinph wrote: »

Not checked yet but I doubt that Ryanair flights are available yet, I'd generally have my flights booked before the festival tickets actually go on sale though to aviod them putting the prices up. I tend to travel over on slightly less obvious dates though so generally avoid any price hike that Ryanair might add on at peak times.

Does it usually work out cheaper to fly over earlier, say on the Tues, and then stay in a hostel or something for the first night? And then the same coming home, is it alot cheaper to stay an extra night in a hostel after it and then head home? Just curious
Also...is driving over an option...? And if so, how long does it usually take?
Thanks!

Bluetonic

Spider_Baby wrote: »

Does it usually work out cheaper to fly over earlier, say on the Tues, and then stay in a hostel or something for the first night? And then the same coming home, is it alot cheaper to stay an extra night in a hostel after it and then head home? Just curious
Also...is driving over an option...? And if so, how long does it usually take?
Thanks!

If you search for this years thread, or last years, or the year before... you'll find all the info you need. It's still very much valid.

robinph

Well it works out cheaper for me to go over on the Tuesday and I then come back on almost anyday except the Monday the following week depending on various other things, but then I have free bed and board available in Bristol and buddies to fetch and carry me from the airport.

Driving is a looooong way, especially on the way back though, but I seem to remember a somone in the previous thread saying they were doing that.

Toast

Usually after the ticket day flights jump up to the 150 mark to return on the Monday so hanging around till Tuesday in Bristol airport is a common Irish hobbie. No idea how they will work out this year as people can guarantee tickets much earlier.

Spider_Baby

Thanks a million guys, I'll check out last years threads now

One more question.......how does Glastonbury compare to EP???
Just as good but on a bigger scale?

I'm so bloody excited already!

*relax spider_baby, relax*

Toast

Ep is based heavily on Glastonbury. They're very similar and you'll see quite a few familiar sights from EP at Glastonbury. The one major difference is Glastonbury is far bigger. Theres no central arena area and the many many stages are spread out over the entire site and intermingled with the camping areas. Once you are in the campsite you pass through no more barriers but it is a huge amount of walking from stage to stage. Glastonbury feels more like a strange wonderful city with different districts than a festival.

robinph

Ryanair tickets for next June to Bristol are now available.

Of course once you add on the new tenner tax for leaving the country and the bag chages the 2 euro price for the tickets suddenly jumps to over a hundred. It does still feel wrong having these things sorted more than 6months early though.

Spider_Baby

robinph wrote: »

Ryanair tickets for next June to Bristol are now available.

Of course once you add on the new tenner tax for leaving the country and the bag chages the 2 euro price for the tickets suddenly jumps to over a hundred. It does still feel wrong having these things sorted more than 6months early though.

What day do most people head over on, and return on?
And also, how far is it from Bristol airport?
Just wondering what would be the best time to fly at, to allow time to get to the airport from Glastonbury on the way home etc.

Cheers!

robinph

The busiest flights on the way over will be anything from the first one on the Wednesday morning. Coming back is a bit more complicated though as there are a lot of random possibilities that you'd have to allow for. The site is not a long way from the airport, maybe half an hour'ish, but during that week it could be anything from half an hour to a day away and would also depend on the taxi driver that you get. Getting off the site can be a nightmare, or it could be very easy and you get off in a couple of minutes onto clear roads.

If your planning on leaving the site on the Monday, rather than the Sunday night, then your probably safest not to try for a flight before the last one back that evening. You'd make it with plenty of time to spare, but you might not.

I go from the Tuesday until the following Tuesday or Wednesday though and avoid any hassle or rushing about, but I have free bed/ board and transport available for myself in Bristol.

richiejg

Are these tickets still available?

robinph

Yes.

First register a mug shot here, then once they email you a registration number go to buy your tickets from here.

dmohalloran

Hey
I have just got myself a ticket for next year. So just a quick question.
I just booked over the phone line. I asked about the dispatch of the tickets the girl said I would have to collect them. I know this is what happens in previous years. But on the Glastonbury website it says that international tickets would be posted out. Anyone have any idea which is correct.
Also, how does the picking the ticket up at the village box office work? I am heading over to meet some friends of mine who are uk residents and have their tickets sent to their door. Anyone have experiences of meeting people there?

So three questions really.

d

robinph

Their website is wrong about them sending the tickets out for international orders as they have not done that for about 8 years now, you will need to pick them up from the box office. Previously this has been in Shepton Mallet, but I think that last year they had the ticket collection nearer to the actual site, someone else will no doubt confirm that though. As they will have your photo printed on the ticket though you'll not be needing anything special to pick them up other than a face that matches that photo that you submitted and a printout of the confirmation emails that they send you.

It is possible to get international tickets posted out though, but only if they are placed in the same order as a UK ticket order which will then have them sent to that UK address of the first ticket, this is what I do for our tickets. I very much doubt it would be possible to change the order now though to get them sent to your freinds address though.

Where are you hoping to meet up with your freinds? On site/ at the entrance/ in Bristol/ at the cider bus?

ceegee

robinph wrote: »

Their website is wrong about them sending the tickets out for international orders as they have not done that for about 8 years now, you will need to pick them up from the box office. Previously this has been in Shepton Mallet, but I think that last year they had the ticket collection nearer to the actual site, someone else will no doubt confirm that though. As they will have your photo printed on the ticket though you'll not be needing anything special to pick them up other than a face that matches that photo that you submitted and a printout of the confirmation emails that they send you.

It is possible to get international tickets posted out though, but only if they are placed in the same order as a UK ticket order which will then have them sent to that UK address of the first ticket, this is what I do for our tickets. I very much doubt it would be possible to change the order now though to get them sent to your freinds address though.

Where are you hoping to meet up with your freinds? On site/ at the entrance/ in Bristol/ at the cider bus?

They've changed the system for this year. I got told the same thing by seetickets, sent an email to the festival office and was told the following:


International tickets will be sent out by registered international post. I apologise for any confusion Seetickets may have caused by giving you incorrect information and have advised them accordingly.
I hope you have a great Festival!
Best wishes,

Glastonbury Festival Office

robinph

Looks like Eavis was on desert island discs at the weekend and picked some Elvis track as his favorite to take with him. More importantly though he seems to think that getting a license in the future won't be a problem anymore as all of the locals are in support of it now, that just means he needs to stick around for a fe more years until Emily takes over properly and we'll be good for many years to come.

Michael Eavis wrote:

"The local economy gets £100m a year," he told Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

"So there's no discussion about not allowing the festival a licence any more. They won't stop it now."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7757380.stm

mattfender

Is there a deadline to when you cant put a deposit on a ticket?

robinph

They don't actually say the date up until you can pay the deposit, but you do need to have the balance paid off on any tickets you pay the deposit for by the 1st February according to here:

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/information.aspx?id=1859

I think there are maybe 10 or 20 thousand tickets that were being kept aside from the deposit scheme to then go on sale in April in the normal way. They have made various claims about how many they have sold so far but I guess they will come out with the line up some time around the end of March to drum up a bit of publicity for the final sales push.

mattfender

Toast wrote: »

Ep is based heavily on Glastonbury. They're very similar and you'll see quite a few familiar sights from EP at Glastonbury. The one major difference is Glastonbury is far bigger. Theres no central arena area and the many many stages are spread out over the entire site and intermingled with the camping areas. Once you are in the campsite you pass through no more barriers but it is a huge amount of walking from stage to stage. Glastonbury feels more like a strange wonderful city with different districts than a festival.

Half of Shangri La was at EP

mattfender

what a lineup!!

floyd333

Unreal. Cant fecking wait..... Bruce, Neil Yong, yyy's and Nick Cave.. will be amazing

mattfender

i couldnt wait so i put my car park sticker up already

robinph

My tickets just arrived this afternoon aparently.

mattfender

mine came the other week, looks deadly

robinph

I didn't even realise that they were sending them out internationally again now, so just went and used a UK address instead.

Toast

Yeh was an excellent surprise to find it delivered to the house.

Anyone getting the 6.30am Ryanair to Bristol who would like to split a taxi to the festival on arrival? (or anyone else who will be in Bristol Airport at 8amish) Just be me and my gear so if anyone needs to make up numbers I can jump in.

robinph

Flying over the Tuesday evening myself.

mattfender

driving again, last year was great crack. Love drivin through Somerset at sunrise after the fest, then passing stonehenge, absolutely awesome.:pac:

MikeHoncho

Toast wrote: »

Yeh was an excellent surprise to find it delivered to the house.

Anyone getting the 6.30am Ryanair to Bristol who would like to split a taxi to the festival on arrival? (or anyone else who will be in Bristol Airport at 8amish) Just be me and my gear so if anyone needs to make up numbers I can jump in.

Myself and about 8 others are on that flight on the Wedenesday. Was under the impression there were buses though so thats what we were planning. Have you been before Toast? Any advice on picking up booze on route?

robinph

There are busses into Bristol city centre from the airport, Bristol Flyer, but from there you would then have to get one of the festival busses from the coarch station as well. Your much better off either pre-booking a taxi yourself direct from the airport, or spotting any other crusties on the same flight as you and asking nicely if you can share their lift with them.

As it seems you'll have your tickets on you already this year it makes it a lot simpler with no need to divert via Shepton or anything like that to collect them. Ask the taxi driver to stop of at a shop somewhere on the way, although that will depend on how well he knows the back roads, but Wells is probably the biggest village nearby, although it is actually a city.

Not sure on the exact price of a taxi, but between a few of you it won't be a whole lot different to the cost of the various busses, and it will definatly be hours quicker than into Bristol and back out again.

robinph

I'm sure there would usually be a long range weather forecast available by now, but MetCheck does not seem to be daring enough to make a stand just yet.

All I got so far was from the bottom of the Pyramid Stage Webcam page is that it is raining in Pilton at the moment.

Toast

MikeHoncho wrote: »

Myself and about 8 others are on that flight on the Wedenesday. Was under the impression there were buses though so thats what we were planning. Have you been before Toast? Any advice on picking up booze on route?

robinph has it covered I think.

There are buses and I'm actually booked on a National Express but the first one into the festival isnt till 10am and I don't want to wait around for 2 hrs. Don't know the story with other carriers but have always found the taxi option is the best way there (it isn't so easy getting back and it would be advised to have some sort of reservation for getting out.). Think last year we were quoted about 54 sterling for a taxi. So it works out at about a tenner for six. The ease and quickness is well worth the cost.

In the past we've got booze in Shepton Mallet but it was pretty limited. If you want spirits make sure to have some plastic bottles handy for decanting as no glass is allowed (and they do check!). Drink is cheaper in the UK but for convenience I usually pick up a selection of half litre spirits in the duty free that come in plastic bottles and do some bartering in the festival for beer (though I usually try to live off the cider bus/ale tent if I'm drinking pints). People are pretty trustworthy at the festival but its easier to do this with a sealed branded bottle than a soft drinks bottle of spirits.

Keep in mind Glastonbury is big and hilly. If you are getting beer depending on the fitness of your group and your other gear (and the weather) you'll probably be pushing it to do more than a tray each. You will have lots of ground to cover from the gate to a decent campsite and it won't really be possible to do it in shifts (unless some poor guy wants to sit on a pile of beer for an hour plus). Don't be tempted to have a sneaky one on the way either as I've seen many a tray collapse and some poor sod running after his beer.

Toast

Heres the bus information from the Glastonbury website. Looks like all the Bristol buses start at 10am. Relevant train times from Bristol Temple Meads to Glastonbury are 08:11 08:41 09:05 09:48. Given that it'll take about 30 mins to get to Bristol I reckon the best the early morning crew could hope for is 8.41 and that will leave you at Castle Cary at 10am... add to that queue for the shuttle to the festival and you could be looking at quite some time to get there. With luck a taxi could get to the festival for 9am.

robinph

I've seen pictures of people going through Castle Cary on the Monday afterwards and it never looked like much fun.

MikeHoncho

Thanks for the advice. One of the lads is on the case with the Taxi's and if we have any spare room I will let you know.

Getting very excited about this now. Been dieing to go for years but was never able to make it work. Planning to not be a complete timetable whore and see maybe 1 or 2 acts a day that I really want to see and take the rest as it comes.

robinph

Definately do not plan to try and see too many bands each day. It is a huuuuge site and there are a lot more interesting things going on around the place than just Bruce on the Pyramid. You just have to wander around aimlessly and see what you come across, do try an remember the name of the field that you are camped in though and also the number on the nearest red fire point as that will be the only constant landmark in the field over the first day or so as more tents keep appearing.

If When you get lost you'll find campsite stewards, at a caravan probably, in each major camping field, they are usually wearing yellow tshirts. They will be able to point you in the right direction or on the first day to areas that might have a bit more camping space available as some areas fill up a lot quicker tahn others.

mattfender

I camped on micheals mead, was great! Was very scary though with the massive poo tractors driving past our heads while we slept though as we were camped right by the track hah. Great view of the pyramid and crowd from there:pac:

robinph

Isn't Michaels Mead a bit close to the slurry pits though? :eek:

Camped in Cockmill Meadow the first couple of times myself, was officially family camping then but they never stopped us getting in. Think they are a bit stricter on who they let camp in the family areas now though. After that we were then camping in Pennards Hill or Park Home once the site got extended out that way.

Your unlikely to be able to get a spot on Dragon Field unless you are first in the queue for the gate on Wednesday morning, and Pennards would get pretty full by the end of the Wednesday afternoon. Any of the areas immediately around the Pyramid are popular as well if you really must see every headline act, and Oxlyers is popular with the pill-popping youngsters. I wouldn't reccomend Oxlyers though, and especially not if it is wet as that is the lowest point of the site and it is flat. It's also the busiest area of the site 24 hours a day so you'd need to be popping some kind of pill if you wanted to grab even 40winks at some point during the weekend.

Myself, I'll be living a life of luxury up in the campervan field, only problem is that we have to walk up the steepest hill on the site to get back to the van each time, not easy in the mud, and repeatedly go through security to get in each day.

mattfender

ah i had no problem last year!! Just get locked and you wont notice the smell:pac:

mattfender

Handy
http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news/glastonbury-all-mapped-out

robinph

MetCheck do now have a forecast up for us to fret over:

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/event_forecast.asp?eventID=559

Seems that they decided to take the piss slightly with their initial attempt at a forecast though:

http://www.glastowatch.co.uk/2009/glastonbury-2009-weather-forecast-a-tad-hot-rainy-and-windy/