All Together Now 2024

I won a competition for one of the poshest of the podpads. Likewise my missus isn't a fan of roughing it and it was her first festival experience. Lockable door and a couple of single beds in a teepee like place.

Toilets were portaloos same as the main area (which were relatively clean all weekend) and the showers were fairly rough and ready.

I didn't mind it but comparing it to the bread and butter camping I really couldn't see what you'd be paying for in term of a real premium offering.

This is kind of how I've felt about 'posh' v 'ordinary' camping, also.

When I started going to festivals - I was a latecomer, perhaps only 10y ago (I'm 54y) - I went to Pink Moon & the one before that Tangerine Fields, it was called (I think) at EP. Felt I was 'too old' to be pitching up tents etc. Hadn't done that since I was in my late teens/early 20s. And, it was convenient etc. But, to be honest, didn't feel one got a lot for your money. There was a sense of security, which was appreciated. Perhaps easy access to arena. Perhaps toilets & showers a little cleaner. But began to realise that I was paying a lot for a little. When I went to ATN, I started camping myself, & actually quite liked it. Ok, there's the 'lottery' of who you end up near. I've been fairly lucky, 3 times. Some 'doof, doof' of techno during the night, but not immediately nearby. I am a superb sleeper, so with ear plugs, I can sleep through it. I like to be away a bit from the Madding Crowd'. People used to disingenuously describe scenes in the general camping at EP as being like a news report from the Ethiopian famine of the 1980s, with tents & garbage strewn everywhere. So, that too put me off.

But, with good experiences at ATN, and this year also at Bearded Theory Festival in Derbyshire, I am converted to DIY. There's arguments for both.

Someone mentioned Rave in the Woods/Arcadia at EP. I have almost fond memories of lying in my tent at EP in Pink Moon, hearing & feeling the 'doof, doof' coming from the music to late in the night!

I only made it in for the Sunday and I don’t have much to add that hasn’t already been said.
Highlight for me was stumbling onto Mano Le tough as I was heading somewhere else, didn’t stop bopping for 2 hours. Caught the end of the Houseplants after that, pretty good.
Loved Future Islands, he’s a hell of a frontman.
Prodigy were a bit meh, I was disappointed after them.
Tried to enjoy John Francis Flynn but it was very hit and miss.
Ping Pong disco is just….. an experience.
No cons for me.

Our group of girls never had any issues. Frequently cleaned and always have toilet paper - also make use of the Guest Area. Located down by aperol and BOI on that side of the field. It has real toilets and real running water! Pure luxury at a festival, as well as a boutique only bar and indoor seating area. If she’s interested there is also a tent inside boutique area for hair straighteners / curlers / hair dryers etc.. there are also food and coffee stalls that again, are only for boutique.

Other things we like is the fact there’s probably less than 5,000 in boutique versus 20,000+ people in general camping. So it’s less busy, less people around, less noise (usually) and as a woman it generally feels safer. Hope that helps!

Bill Brewster was one of the highlights of our weekend, on Friday 1am-4am. We'd been keen to hear him for years having bought a lot of his productions, but he doesn't play on these shores very often. A disco-infused house music masterclass. The roar from us when he played Metro Area - Miura. That was my first time in Ping Pong Disco, atmosphere was so welcoming and met so many great people.

I'll chuck together a full review soon.

Saw none, but there was lots of not sober little alds and lasses around on Sunday - the most ive ever seen at ATN.

The organisers need to get that sorted asap, because the 'security' were uninterested and/or hadnt a clue what was going on….

I was near the gate on Sunday for a while , and there was dozens of teenagers around the main gate looking for wristbands.

And there was dozens that did get em, and walked into the security check where the (head?) security lad in a light blue viz vest would pull roughly at the wristband to see if it would come off….

Ok, fair enough that he had to /wanted to do that, BUT the main issue was that NONE of them were either U12 or over 21 to get into the Concert site!

They need to get that sorted.

I was meant to be back at work this morning but I have covid! Little ATN24 souvenir… intending the enjoy the extra few days recovery!

Thank you everyone in this thread for the updates in the run up - it has a real feeling of what the internet used to be like and it’s lovely.

See you all next year :-)

That must be the incident I saw at Global Roots just before the Royal Inity set on the Saturday night. Young lad running like hell, then taken down in the pathway leading from the main boulevard to the Global Roots stage. Full restraint / knee in the back job whilst on the ground from (who I was told were) undercover cops. Didn’t see what led to it though…

Usually a lurker, but this thread has been so enjoyable and helpful in the run-up I thought I would add my two cents. This was our third ATN. Not a patch on 22, but I think that was mostly weather related tbh, and we had a very good time overall. We did feel that the crowd skewed younger this year in general, but for the most part, everyone was friendly and there was excellent vibes. We stayed in Boutique (Yippee) as we always have - location is great, with easy access from the carpark and to the main arena, it had good clean toilets and showers, and a good few concessions which never had very big queues. Bit noisy at times with the soundchecks and the ferris wheel, though. We also had bad neighbours there for the first time - really inconsiderate with their (****) music blasting from a speaker at all hours (though they crashed out by Sunday, thankfully). We saw a lot of music, more than we would usually tbh and I was surprised as the lineup didn't really grab me - highlights were The National, Hak Baker, Mary in the Junkyard, Sprints, Houseplants. Loved the area down by the house, as usual. Also loved The Last City, which I think is new? Had a gorgeous spicy margarita there, and enjoyed the Mad Max vibe of it all. By Sunday, I had lost my mojo a bit - again, the constant drizzle didn't help, but there was definitely a bit of a shift in the crowd as well - lots of quite drunk teens who clearly had no wristbands, lots of dodgy looking heads around, and we nearly got knocked over at Sprints by a crowd of puffer-jacketed scrotes legging it away from security. We did see security running past us at Lovely Days around 8.30 on Saturday too, so maybe connected to that report above?

Sure look - we'll go again (and have already signed up for the loyalty presale), but I do wonder if that might be our last one. For context - we are all 40-50; EP regulars till 2016; music is important, but a good weekend letting loose with friends, without the kids (it's the grandparents, KKC) is what it's about for us. However, I can't see what else might be a viable alternative to ATN tbh, at this stage anyway. Beyond the Pale maybe? I don't think we are ready for Forest Fest yet (always like the line up, but the GAA field vibe is not appealing, given how much time I already spend standing around GAA pitches!).

Absolutley it……

They did seem to listen to their patrons after the early teething problems, so i hope they do re Wristband swaps/ teenagers/ and the debacle of trying to get in on Monday to collect your tent…

So they do seem to have their finger on the pulse … Long may it continue..

If they could manage to keep the crowd 80-90% of their normal crowd from the first few years I would buy a ten year ticket on the spot. IMO it will be their biggest challenge as the festival grows and develops over the next few years. Just the way festival cycles go.

Body & Soul I think tried to manage this by booking fairly specific acts to suit the vibe they wanted, but in the end they couldn't keep it going as people moved on to other festivals. Very difficult thing to balance I'd imagine. But definitely as you said I think the main feedback from this year is around security/crowdiness!

First time doing ATN and loved it. Stayed in the campervan site. Slightly tempted to go to EP just for the festival atmosphere but it is such a quick turnaround. Mid 30s myself. Anyone doing EP too? The no free flow is really putting me off. Anyone think EP will be worth it for someone who loved this years ATN? Not many on the line up I am interested in but mainly interested in the festival atmosphere. Is there anyway around the no free flow?

My All Together Now review, enjoy.

Very sorry for your loss. I was heading myself but caught whooping cough the week before. My sister passed away last year and was a huge fan of the national and gorgon city and sent me a lot of their songs in the months before she passed. I can imagine you had some moments. Very happy you went and enjoyed.