For me it was the first time I camped with nice people and that I did not have some teenagers screaming a silly o’clock, or stumbling onto my tent. It was great to share the moments of the day with you guys back at the camp.
The first “official” gig is one of my highlights of the week-end. I think Maximo Park were great; I was in the QH tent and their singer is surely one of the greatest performers I’ve seen all week-end. The way he shows that he loves what he’s doing and the way he communicates his energy to the crowd is really something. I am happy for them that so many gathered in the paths around QH to watch them from the screens. We have band, who followed them, are the winners of the new band competition but their electro-pop is actually quite nice. On the down-side the fact that they had a lot of music pre-recorded, they were not playing it live. Also the girl is there mainly to move her body, rather than playing an instrument or singing. On the up side, she actually does that pretty well 
I think I also caught a little bit of Charlene Soraia.
Thursday night, after watching a small band in the Avalon café and the missed boards meet, I managed to drag everybody to the Shangri-la to have a walk around the area. First time I went there and I think it must be nice to spend the evenings there. The Destroyers were playing their gypsy-punk music but the best fun was to see some little kids dancing silly. I have to say the strawberry Daiquiri that Nicola bought was also quite nice!! We tried returning there on Sat evening but it was so crowded that we turned back.
Friday started with Abba songs from the comfort of the tent (Bjorn again were playing on the Pyramid stage) and then I decided to buy a chair because of the mud: I am too old for standing up all day!! Then we dragged our wellies to the Other Stage for the Whip’s electronica (a good way to start the day), followed by the Rakes (I like their music but the singer is almost making fun of himself on stage and wasting the songs) and then the Maccabees. The latter are on my fav band list of the last couple of years, since I saw them in the Guardian lounge in 2007. They were quite good on stage.
We went to the Park stage after that for a special guest slot but unfortunately the Dead Weather went on stage later on that day , during the 2nd special guest slot (a bit unlucky there). But we saw a nice band on the BBC introducing stage and ate some nice Indian food. So all in all, the long walk was not worthless. After that it was back to the other stage for White Lies but George did not like them so we left for the JP tent and Metronomy. It was time to move to the Pyramid stage which I have never seen so packed for an afternoon set: it was Lily Allen. I liked her show and her dress of course, but we were way up on the hill…
After a little break by the tent we went to watch the Virgins on the QH tent and then it was time for Lady Gaga. I wasn’t much interested to start with and I was surprised to see so many people on the Other Stage for her. I got bored so I wandered around, charged my phone, had some beer and came back for Ting Tings. Their songs are not the best musical pieces written in the past 100 years but I like them on stage: they’ve got energy. We left early to go and watch Neil Young, who I found was fantastic. The sound of his guitar, the long plaintive songs… Also the fact that he is so into his music is something that I really like in an artist. I know a few of you got bored but I was quite happy to see him live.
On Saturday morning we saw a great show at the circus tent: acrobats, dance etc… It was a nice and welcome change from the music. After that we headed to Pyramid for Tinariwen whose music is quite extraordinary (although the crowd was perhaps too quiet; maybe jazz World stage would have been a better choice for them). Eagles of Death metal was crap so we left and spent a lot of time in the shade just outside of the JP tent because George did not want to stay in the sun too much (ts.. ts.. ts.. those Greeks 
). So we saw Esser, Temper Trap (which we both liked), Hockey and then saw the Boss before most of Glastonbury, since he joined Gaslight Anthem on stage for a song. That was great. Passion Pit was much advertised but I did not see why so we left and on the way to the tent we saw a great show by I don’t know who in the Guardian lounge (funky music and a lady who knows how to impress boys 
). The chocolate brownie was also very tasty. I think Crosby, Stills and Nash sounded good as well, but we did not stay.
I am gutted I missed Florence and the Machines but there was so many other bands to watch on Sat evening. Initially wanted to see Kasabian but I opted for Maximo Park (again!!! It’s because George wasn’t there on Thursday at the QH so we went together), Tindersticks on the Acoustic stage and then Bruce Springsteen. Tindersticks I found unexpectedly in good form and I was surprised that they played songs like Kathleen. The sound was also fantastic. The Boss was playing well and he managed to keep everyone happy for more than 2 hours, but his music is not something exceptional and he could have played less without me feeling sad over it. To be honest though I was very happy when he played “the river”. Then we ate at our favourite place (“Creole food” between QH and Jazz World) and tried unsuccessfully to go to Shangri-la.
By Sunday we were very tired 
. Heard a little bit of the Quo and then spent some time in the Guardian Lounge watching MPho (or something like that), then the guy from Reverend and the Makers. The chocolate brownie was again very nice 
. We left after a couple of Wil Young’s songs, but we did see his mother (LOL)! Headed back to the JP tent for Emma the Great (not my cup of tea but I admit I liked her performance, her voice and all the instruments on stage). Then to the Other Stage for Enter Shikari (or something like that): noisy pop + rap + brass. Hmm… not sure if it was all a complete waste or the next super-band. Then I particularly enjoyed Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Karen O is a great performer. Bat for Lashes were so-and-so, but she does have a great voice. By then it was time for dinner at the Jazz World stage during Roots Manuva set. After that I settled the Blur/Prodigy dilemma by going to the Pyramid Stage for Nick Cave and Blur. Nick Cave was very energetic and my highlight was during “Stagger Lee” when the lyrics go “and suck my dick” and we hear a lady behind us screaming “I’ll suck your dick Nick!!”, shocking along the way a couple watching the show with their early-teens daughter 
. Was also surprised he played “Diana” which is a very old song.
For Blur I managed to push my way to the front of the Pyramid Stage and I enjoyed it like a Britpop teenager. It was by all standards a great re-union show and I think the crowd loved it as well. They started with “She’s so high” which is one of my favourite songs and played “There’s no other way”. I could barely stand up after being there for 4 hours (including Nick Cave’s set) but I am happy I made it. We ended our week-end with the acrobats and fire show at the circus field and then some chit-chat with those of you still awake at the camp.
It’s the first time I did not spend time at all at the Dance Village. Gutted I missed Cold War Kids, Animal Collective, Little Boots, Florence and the Machines, Jarvis Cocker and others, would have liked to go and see Art Brut or Khaled but you can’t win them all. Also gutted the festival does not last 2 weeks !!
I think it was my best experience so far, especially because we were camping all together. Thanks to Sparky for giving me a ride, to Jester for a lot of things (not least for calling his friend at See and giving me my tix earlier than expected!!) but also thanks to all of you for the chilled-out atmosphere at the camp.
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. SAME TIME, SAME PLACE !!
