On Worthy Farm, somewhere in Somerset, UK, we pitched a tent and experienced the awesomeness that was the mud-drenched Glastonbury Festival 2016.
The five-day festival is held most years and features an array of contemporary performing arts including music, dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret, and much more. This year, while Muse, Adele and Coldplay headlined on the main Pyramid stage, literally hundreds of other bands and acts performed on almost 100 other stages.
Hindered by the miserable mud and distracted by the splendid music, our vague idea that we could try to see each and every stage remained unachieved by the end of our exhausting but enjoyable festival experience. Still, we estimate that we saw at least 30 stages and about 50% of the festival; which isn’t too bad.
There were tents. Fields and fields of tents.
Thursday, 23 June 2016
Behind the scenes of the New York Brass Band (the first band we saw at Glasto 2016 and one of the best music highlights of the festival).
Somewhere in the Greenfields was a slide. Dan dressed up in a space suit and climbed the rusted rocket , aptly named “No Planet B” to plummet back down to earth again.
Greenfields even had a skate park. Because, why not?
All feathers and gold, Charlotte Cannon plays on the Croissant Neuf Bandstand.
Only half a day in, the mud is becoming a very sticky business.
There is almost no escape.
Did I mention mud?
There was even a grave for lost soles…
Sunset above The Park.
Friday, 24 June 2016 (official first day of music)
Exploring the Theatre & Circus fields.
Storms brew as Skepta and Two Door Cinema Club take to the Pyramid Stage on Friday afternoon.
But there were patches of blue sky for Dan and Phil.
Block 9 without the music and laser show was a rather gloomy affair.
But we did get to meet police horses trying to blend in to the crowd with their flower-crowns.
Example & DJ Wire at Glade put on a great show for the crowds.
Rain or shine, it was hard to miss Bowie who was wandering around.
And, even though we had seen them several times before, Muse put on a spectacular set at the Pyramid stage to close a wet and wonderful Friday night.
Luckily for those who wanted to keep cutting shapes in the mud, Carl Cox was entertaining the crowds at Arcadia.
Saturday 25 June
“Milky! Milky! Milky!” came the cries across the field of tents on Saturday morning. A much better wake-up call than the ranting angry man who had woken everyone up the previous morning after discovering the Brexit results did not go his way.
I’m halfway through my breakfast muesli and preparing for the day ahead when Dan finally emerges from the tent.
At least Nadav is up and ready to go!
And, it was all blue skies and mud on Saturday afternoon!
Which meant glittery beards were even more glittery in the warm sun! (This year’s fashion was all about flowers and glitter)
We trudged through the mud to Silver Hayes and enjoyed some new music by The Pylons at BBC Introducing stage.
And enjoyed an energetic dance set by Fatboy Slim followed by sunsets at the John Peel stage.
But this year’s top highlight had to be Adele. Her charming, authentic manner and (shockingly) thick Landan accent were the perfect companions to her emotionally-charged ballads that had us singing well into the next week. That voice!
Sunday 26 June
A well-earned breakfast was had at Beat Hotel on our last festival day. I must admit, after days of mud and mud, it was lovely to sit in a real chair again!
Even though we must have been many miles from the nearest coast, the sea gulls were clearly also keen for the yummy festival food.
Caravan Palace at Pyramid.
Over lunch we enjoyed a great acoustic set and sing-a-long by this unknown at the Fluffyrock Café.
And, dropped in to see Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra at Avalon.
Before retreating back to the Pyramid stage for Ellie Goulding, Beck and Coldplay.
Coldplay at Pyramid.
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