Having come of age within the Tumblr indie sleaze period of the early 2010s, I’d at all times needed to go to Glastonbury Festival. My temper boards have been affected by photographs of Alexa Chung traversing Worthy Farm’s muddy grounds sporting a mini skirt and wellies, and I fantasized about being a part of the seemingly miles-long, flag-laden crowd that bought to observe an iconic British band like Arctic Monkeys or Blur mild up the Pyramid stage. So, after I moved from L.A. to London final 12 months, I knew the place I might be come the final weekend of June.
Because the pageant approached, I bought my first pair of Hunter boots, haphazardly packed tenting gear and meticulously picked out my outfits to match the vibe of every headliner: Dua Lipa, Coldplay (for the fifth time, a Glastonbury file) and SZA. Although the lineup wasn’t utterly my cup of tea, I used to be decided to take advantage of the expertise — and 5 days and 66 miles of strolling later (sure, actually), I did simply that. Positive, it wasn’t precisely like my teenage dream — I actually gained’t be tenting once more anytime quickly, and all three headliners normally underwhelmed me — however some issues turned out even higher. Learn on to see how my Glastonbury expectations in comparison with actuality.
Expectation: Tenting is non-obligatory, like at Coachella.
Actuality: It actually isn’t. Technically, there are small inns and resorts within the close by city, however with Worthy Farm protecting a whopping 1,500 acres, it’s laborious sufficient to navigate the pageant website. Plus, with units occurring till the wee hours of the morning, you’d find yourself with a heavy case of FOMO for those who left the grounds (belief me, staying out till 3 a.m. to see Fatboy Slim was completely price it).
Expectation: Rain is just about a given, so put together to be drenched in mud.
Actuality: Surprisingly, not essentially. I had all of the necessities — the aforementioned wellies, a compact umbrella, a raincoat — however the closest this 12 months’s Glastonbury got here to a storm was a lightweight sprinkle on Friday morning. Nevertheless, it wasn’t excellent climate the entire time. It reached as little as 47 levels Fahrenheit (8 levels Celsius) at evening — and, even with out precipitation, I nonetheless discovered myself lined in a layer of dust.
Expectation: Attendees shall be principally younger folks.
Actuality: When Glastonbury says all ages, they imply it. I used to be shocked by what number of households and kids have been on the farm — not kidding, I noticed a child that appeared prefer it had been freshly born and loads of toddlers working free. On the alternative finish of the spectrum, there have been many an octogenarian roaming the grounds at a powerful velocity, and loads of ages in between.
This may occasionally play a job in how the pageant historically books its acts, which was made clear to me on Sunday evening when SZA’s headlining set at Pyramid was half-empty and the Nationwide’s on the Different stage was packed. “Are you aware who she is?” a middle-aged lady requested me as SZA was performing, then left shortly after. From the appears to be like of it, the median age of attendees at SZA’s set was no older than 25. For the pageant’s longevity, it’s a sensible play to e book somebody common with Gen Z, however on this case it appears to have backfired.
Expectation: The headlining units would be the greatest you see on the fest.
Actuality: They gained’t. Don’t get me mistaken, they have been all proficient performers, and there isn’t a festival-going expertise that beats being in a large crowd on the Pyramid stage. However, to me personally, all three of the headliners fell flat.
Dua Lipa’s Friday evening kickoff was pleasing to observe, with loads of outfit adjustments and choreo, and it’s clear that her stage presence has improved impressively up to now few years. Nevertheless, it felt virtually too well-rehearsed — with no time allotted for any uncooked, actual moments — and, subsequent to her “Future Nostalgia” materials, “Radical Optimism” simply doesn’t have the identical spark. Coldplay’s headlining slot was by far essentially the most packed I noticed the Pyramid all weekend, with the gang going all the way in which again to the campsites — however as somebody who is barely actually a fan of their earlier work, it was by no means going to hit it out of the park for me. Bringing Michael J. Fox out for “Repair You” was a candy contact, although. SZA had the potential to be nice, however as I discussed above, she simply didn’t have the draw to make it a very epic present. Along with the dearth of individuals in attendance, she was additionally stricken by mic issues all through the entire set — and sadly, not sufficient of the gang knew the phrases to fill within the blanks.
The place I discovered gold at Glastonbury was within the little issues, like a set on the fest’s hidden-up-a-hill Strummerville stage from the band Fats Canine, who had the entire crowd moshing to a guitar-driven cowl of Benny Benassi and the Biz’s “Satisfaction”; stopping by a 2 p.m. present from two-man punk band Tender Play, solely to be so entranced by Isaac Holman’s frantic stand-up drumming that I stayed the remainder of the time; and a DJ set from Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, who performed Charli XCX and Lorde’s “Lady, So Complicated” with a totally straight face. There have been additionally some fairly nice huge issues, like Charli XCX’s “Partygirl” DJ set with Robyn and Romy, which required ready in an especially chaotic line for an hour and proved to me that she is going to in the future headline Glastonbury; and Avril Lavigne’s Sunday afternoon slot that drew one among this 12 months’s largest crowds and had folks singing “Sk8er Boi” lengthy after she left stage.
Expectation: You’ll see loads of celebs.
Actuality: In my case, sure. Having a press go has its perks, like having access to the hospitality campsite and backstage space the place stars mingle about. However even these with no method in appear to have a straightforward time recognizing celebs — since everyone seems to be pressured to camp, Glastonbury turns into an excellent equalizer. If Coachella is all about glamour, this fest is strictly the alternative.
I noticed Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones heading to a set with associates. Cara Delevingne and Anya Taylor-Pleasure requested me if the ridiculously lengthy queue I used to be ready in was for espresso, after which proceeded to seize burgers as an alternative. Chris Martin took a selfie with a person dressed like a “Despicable Me” Minion as I walked again to my campsite at 2:30 a.m. Louis Tomlinson of One Route fame introduced a TV into his campsite to observe England beat Slovakia within the Euros, and invited his tent neighbors to affix. However my Glastonbury goals didn’t actually come true till deep within the crowd at LCD Soundsystem’s set, after I began dancing to “I Can Change” and appeared as much as see Alexa Chung, in an all-yellow festival-chic outfit straight off my temper board, swaying alongside too.
