Glastonbury 2023

Are the Green Fields still there? I noticed in the 00s they were being encroached upon and assume that encroachment has been ongoing if the SE Corner has expanded. They were possibly my favourite area of the festival, totally different vibe and atmosphere up there.

I used to get the post-Glastonbury blues something shocking but in my last few, 2007/08/10, it wasn't too bad actually.

Have been day dreaming the last few days about crossing Glastonbury off my bucket list, but it might be a year or 2 away yet at least. Even though I'm in my 40's I know that I am not too old for it, which is good.

But I just don't think I could hack the camping in a tent, as I say I'm in full on day dream mode of having my own campervan with a shower, and since it is a dream I'm thinking of sunny weather for it too. I don't mind the heat.

One day!

Yeah, I'd be the same... I would absolutely love to go to Glastonbury, but I don't think the few days in a tent would be for me...

I'd want some level of comfort like a relatively comfortable bed, a shower, and the ability to safely lock and secure my belongings.... I think if I was going, a camper van would be at least a minimum requirement for me.. unless of course there were reasonably priced accommodation options with the above amenities... I know EP over here have some options like that, but they are pricy...

I only ever camped in a tent at a festival once before, (Life Festival 2009 in Ballinlough Castle), and while it wasn't too bad (though cold at night), that was a very small festival and would be in no way comparable to Glastonbury, and 14-15 years later, I think I've outgrown my ability to put up with such a situation...

I'd be interested to hear from any folk that have been in a camper van, either rented in Ireland or in the U.K., and then took it to Glastonbury..

Glastonbury might not be for you so.

First Glasto can be tough (Although at least it was dry for you - too hot but at least dry). One tends to try to cram in as much as possible (Oh I'll see 20 mins of this and hop over there for 30 mins of that and then yonder for last 15 mins of something else). It's not really feasible over the few days. But that just goes with experience.

It was another hot year this year. That's 3 in a row if I remember correctly. I definitely found it a bit easier this year than last year though. I think they'll get into a bit of trouble over the crowds at Elton John. That was MASSIVE. We stayed a good bit back and to the side as we were not too pushed for him and hit looked crazy big. I don't know how it compared with McCartney as we were up between the front of the sondstages for that but, to me, it looked way too big. (I believe they got their knuckles rapped about the crowding for The Killers in the John Peel/Woodsies a few years ago). Couple of musings:

• I miss Williams Green and hope it comes back. Was always a great hangout on Thursday especially. I'm not adverse to change but that was a great spot.
• Glad they added more compost toilets near Pedestrian Gate A. It helped.
• However they removed one of the water sources at the bottom of that area (Now enclosed by staff area). That caused delays early in the mornings.
• Food prices have definitely gone up but that's not limited to Glastonbury.
• Last year the sound from Arcadia and The Other Stage was VERY loud near where we usually camp (Near Pedestrian Gate A). But this year it was very much improved. Cheap pair of earplugs solved that.
• No Lanyards. That was a pity as I usually keep them as souvenirs

So yeah, I enjoyed this Glasto a lot. I definitely found it easier on the auld bod than last year. THAT was tough for some reason

Yeah, the whole sleeping in a tent for 5 nights thing was a worry for me beforehand, not gonna lie. But honestly, it was no problem at all. Half decent self-inflating mattress and a 4 man blackout tent for the 2 of us was fine. As The Nal says above though, I would seriously consider a tent that I can stand up in for next time. Although you do have to consider the extra weight of a bigger tent along with the bigger footprint of the thing meaning your campsite choices get slightly more limited the later you arrive. The biggest problem for me was trying to make sure that my daughter kept her side of the tent tidy and put all her makeup brushes away (about 60 of the bastards) when she'd finished with them.

Showers consisted of stand up washes outside the tent with a collapsible bucket and a couple of cloths. Admittedly, this was made easier with the weather this year, but it was fine, and really most people are in the same boat. We did consider queueing for the Greenpeace showers, but really we didn't want to be wasting time doing that when there was so much to see.

The old system meant you needed to pay for the tickets, well the £50 deposit. So buying tickets for 6 people meant you needed 300 quid or to give all the other people trying your CC info. Which isnt a runner obviously.

Now all you need is the reg and you get a payment link later. So you could lash your reg details up on Twitter, FB, Insta et al and have your followers/mates all trying for you.

Reckon the recent demand boosted hugely by the good weather. Two or three shetstorms in a row (97/98) for examp would impact latent demand.

Genuinely believe you havent done Glasters until you've been through a 2007 or 2016. The last 4 bear little resemblance.

As per previous posts this sale occurs on a Sunday morning at 9am. An entire office won’t be helping out.

People can get pals to help out but that has been the way for my crowd for the past 15 years. When not going I get online to help pals and they return the favour on years they’re not going.

Good luck getting hungover or exhausted people out of bed at 8.30am on a weekend morning to do you a favour. There’s no hope of an 18 (or 25) year old kid getting their pals online with codes to do them a favour. Some will but not greatly more than help at present.

Any alarm about the new system is misguided. The same people will be trying. The big difference is that you won’t get kicked out of the system at the point of payment. That is one hell of an improvement.

This is my tent. Plenty of room to stand up, hang things off etc and only 11kg. Its done 10 or so festivals now.

This is all I bring to festivals between myself and Mrs Nal, apart from a small bag she carries. Less is more!

It's the credit card only thing that annoys me. I think i know only one person with a credit card, everyone else (myself included) has a debit. Is there any particular reason they won't accept debit card payments?

On the mud thing, i'd have been delighted if every single year i went had been devoid of rain. This notion of not having done a real Glastonbury if you never experienced the mud is nonsense. I reckon 98 was worse than 2007. On the flipside, 95 and 2010 were my hottest, with an honourable mention to 92.