A photo of Uluru at sunset with Australian native bushland in the foreground and a blue and pink sky in the background

Photos that perfectly sum up my Glastonbury Festival 2016

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.

Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday beginning tents WS
There were tents. Fields and fields of tents.

Thursday, 23 June 2016

Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday day Greenfields New York Brass Band WS
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).
Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday day Greenfields slide WS
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.
Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday day Greenfields skate park WS
Greenfields even had a skate park. Because, why not?
Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday day Greenfields Croissant Neuf Bandstand WS
All feathers and gold, Charlotte Cannon plays on the Croissant Neuf Bandstand.
Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday day Greenfields Stuck in the Mud WS
Only half a day in, the mud is becoming a very sticky business.
Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday beginning mud WS
There is almost no escape.
Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday beginning of wellies in the mud WS
Did I mention mud?
Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday day mud WS
There was even a grave for lost soles…

Sunset above The Park.

Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday evening sunset over Glastonbury WS Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday evening sunset over Glastonbury panorama WS Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday evening sunset long WS

Friday, 24 June 2016 (official first day of music)

Exploring the Theatre & Circus fields.

Glastonbury 2016 25 June Saturday day Theatre & Circus field tall guys WS Glastonbury 2016 25 June Saturday day Tor View Lookout WS Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday day Theatre and Circus field WS

Glastonbury 2016 24 June Friday afternoon 2pm Skepta storm clouds WS
Storms brew as Skepta and Two Door Cinema Club take to the Pyramid Stage on Friday afternoon.
Glastonbury 2016 24 June Friday afternoon 2pm Phil and Dan WS
But there were patches of blue sky for Dan and Phil.

Glastonbury 2016 24 June Friday afternoon 3pm Rain at Two Door Cinema Club WS

Glastonbury 2016 24 June Friday afternoon 5pm Block 9 WS
Block 9 without the music and laser show was a rather gloomy affair.
Glastonbury 2016 24 June Friday afternoon 4pm horse WS
But we did get to meet police horses trying to blend in to the crowd with their flower-crowns.
Glastonbury 2016 24 June Friday afternoon 6pm The Glade Example WS
Example & DJ Wire at Glade put on a great show for the crowds.

Glastonbury 2016 24 June Friday afternoon 6pm Jacqui and Dan WS

Glastonbury 2016 24 June Friday afternoon 5pm Other stage Bowie WS
Rain or shine, it was hard to miss Bowie who was wandering around.
Glastonbury 2016 24 June Friday night 9pm Muse WS
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.
Glastonbury 2016 24 June Friday night 1130pm Carl Cox WS
Luckily for those who wanted to keep cutting shapes in the mud, Carl Cox was entertaining the crowds at Arcadia.

Saturday 25 June

Glastonbury 2016 25 June Saturday afternoon Milk truck WS
“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.
Glastonbury 2016 25 June Saturday afternoon WS
I’m halfway through my breakfast muesli and preparing for the day ahead when Dan finally emerges from the tent.
Glastonbury 2016 23 June Thursday day Nadav WS
At least Nadav is up and ready to go!
Glastonbury 2016 25 June Saturday afternoon mud WS
And, it was all blue skies and mud on Saturday afternoon!
Glastonbury 2016 25 June Saturday evening Beat Hotel glitter beard WS
Which meant glittery beards were even more glittery in the warm sun!ย (This year’s fashion was all about flowersย and glitter)ย 
Glastonbury 2016 25 June Saturday evening BBC Introducing Tent with The Pylons WS
We trudged through the mud to Silver Hayes and enjoyed some new music by The Pylons at BBC Introducing stage.

Glastonbury 2016 25 June Saturday evening Beat Hotel WS

Glastonbury 2016 25 June Saturday Evening Sunset at John Peel WS
And enjoyed an energetic dance set by Fatboy Slim followed by sunsets at the John Peel stage.
Glastonbury 2016 25 June Saturday night Adele close WS
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

Glastonbury 2016 26 June Sunday breakfast at Beat Hotel WS
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!
Glastonbury 2016 26 June Sunday day seagulls WS
Even though we must have been many miles from the nearest coast, the sea gulls were clearly also keen for the yummy festival food.
Glastonbury 2016 26 June Sunday day Caravan Palace on Pyramid Stage WS
Caravan Palace at Pyramid.
Glastonbury 2016 26 June Sunday day Fluffyrock cafe WS
Over lunch we enjoyed a great acoustic set and sing-a-long by this unknown at the Fluffyrock Cafรฉ.
Glastonbury 2016 26 June Sunday day Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra WS
And, dropped in to see Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra at Avalon.
Glastonbury 2016 26 June Sunday night Ellie Goulding 2 WS
Before retreating back to the Pyramid stage for Ellie Goulding, Beck and Coldplay.
Glastonbury 2016 26 June Sunday night Coldplay on Pyramid Stage WS
Coldplay at Pyramid.

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