Glastonbury 2016

I feel I have fully recovered from post Glastonbury blues so I want to let you know about all the amazing bands I got to see and the whole experience!

We always get coach and ticket packages when we head to Glastonbury. Its normally easier to get tickets as they go on sale on the Thursday before general sale so if you fail with them you can have another try on the Sunday. We were successful with tickets and were incredibly excited to see the line up! Glastonbury is a bit different from other festivals as they don't realise the line up until after everyone has paid for their tickets.

I have to be honest, I wasn't that impressed with the line up but Glastonbury has SO much more to offer than the main stages. To be fair I was very excited to see Adele but she wasn't a headline act was she? I was to be proven wrong but more on that later.

We left at 5.30am from central park with another coach load of excited travellers! The weather had been bad of the couple of days before the festival so we were worried about the site. I'd also seen loads of images online of flooding which didn't bode well... We were then told by the driver we'd be stopping at Taunton services as the traffic around the site was heavy. Everyone moaned a bit "It's a festival, of course it's going to be heavy...can't be that bad..." and how we were wrong! It took us 11 1/2 hours to get to the festival. 9 hours to travel what should have took us 15 minutes. Crazy.

We arrived very very glad to get of the bus and ready for the long slog to get a camping spot. Always the worst bit but after the journey we just had it actually wasn't that bad. We managed to get a spot on Lower Mead which wasn't the best as I started to worry if it rained we might be a bit screwed. In the end it wasn't that bad...! It was close to the pyramid stage and the other stage where we spent most of our time so it worked out alright.

The first night is always the one where you have a wonder around and see what there is. They have opening night fireworks and a massive gathering in the stone circle. Unfortunately we missed the stone circle party this year as they close it off when it reaches capacity. We decided to go up to the viewing point which gives you this beautiful view of Worthy Farm.

We wandered around again on the Thursday to see of different areas of the site before the music kicked off on the Friday. I think one of my favourite areas is the Green Fields area during the day. There is so much you can do and different activities you can try you definitely won't get bored. We tried to head up to the night time are this evening but they had already reached capacity in Shangri La so we couldn't go :( I LOVE it here, its full of propaganda mocking the society we live in. Really interesting to have a walk around if you can to explore and then catch the amazing DJs until late!

Green Fields

Friday came and it was music time! So many bands I wanted to catch over the weekend and so many I didn't plan on catching but loved. I just want to go through the one's I absolutely loved!

New band spot: Bear's Den - Other Stage
Now I have to admit we weren't planning on seeing these guys but I'm so glad we did! What a talent, currently listening to them as I write this post. The band consists of two guys and they describe themselves as alternative rock, right down my street. Check them out here, you won't regret it. My favourite song on their current album is Agape, lovely, easy listening song. They have a new album out soon which you can pre-order so get on it!

Jack Garratt - John Peel Stage
I have been waiting to see this beauty for a while now and boy was it worth the wait! He has so much stage presence and put on a bloody good show. I love his music, what an absolute talent. The whole tent was jumping and came together to enjoy themselves! I even made a friend in the crowd, Hi Paul!

Bastille - Other Stage
Now I have loved these guys for a long while and Woody is from Plymouth so you can't really go wrong with that... We were right near the front and it was so worth it. The great thing about the stages at Glastonbury is that they empty out pretty much at every act so you can get to the front when you want to. Bastille played a few songs from their new album and it sounds like its going to be a cracker!

Adele - Pyramid Stage
Wooooooooooooow. Adele blew me away. She sounds INCREDIBLE live, just like her albums. The crowd was a collective and everyone was getting weepy. It was an awesome experience and I don't think I'll get to see her again so I made sure I took everything in, just take a look. We couldn't even get onto the main field she attracted that many people. SO MANY FEELINGS.

Years and Years - Other Stage
Now I wouldn't say I was a fan of Y&Y's but after seeing them live I would definitely buy their album. Olly came out in the most incredible coat (I want it) and gave an amazing touching speech about being in the LGBT community which received a loud cheer from the crowd! Lots of confetti and fun had.

Now with the one to end with the obvious...

Coldplay - Pyramid Stage
Before I saw them live I was not fussed by them. I didn't understand the hype or why anyone would want to see them at a gig. But they blew me away at how good they were. You had the opportunity to pick up a flashing wristband on the Sunday during the day to use in the evening. Seeing over 100,000 people in unison watching a band is something special, and then you add lights into the crowd and it electrifies the feeling. Loved that the band covered one of the lovely Viola Beach, Boys That Sing, who we sadly lost when they died on tour. Perfect tribute.

What a weekend. If you're ever debating going please just go. There is something for everyone and there is so much more than just music. Its my favourite thing to do and there will be nothing as special as standing in a field muddy with your best friends listening to your favourite bands. Until next time Worthy Farm.

My top ten tips for festival virgins...

Its getting to that time of the year again...I am going to Glastonbury this year (yayyyy!). I first went in 2014 and it was incredible. instead I’m sharing some words of wisdom for all of you yet to break your festival virginity…

1. TISSUES

So I saw a few people walking around with massive loo rolls. Let be honest, its not a good look.. They give away free loo roll at the property lockups but i’m not sure about you but I would definitely rather an extra couple of strongbows in my bag than loo roll. I would recommend popping to the pound shop (you will notice a theme with this) and pick up some tissue packs. You will only need one a day and they are perfect for everything. Need the loo? No worries! Split a kebab down your top? Don't worry about it! Smudged your makeup due a torrential rainstorm? Pfft! So you get the picture, take tissues.

2. A rucksack

I wanted to be all cool and get a (now what I call) lame bumbag. It fits nothing in it and you look like a wally so please don’t buy one. I ended up using the free Glastonbury bag all weekend and even resorted to getting a free Guardian newspaper one (I was desperate). I was envious of all the people with their rucksacks, as by day 3 you don’t care how you look, you just care if you can fit all that alcohol for the day and night into your bag (classy, I know).

3. A big tent

Please don’t do what I did and think a three man tent will be big enough for two tall girls plus all their bags. It was a bit of a nightmare if i’m honest. There just isn’t enough room and you end up sleeping with your bag pretty much on top of you. We went to visit a friend on another field and she had the biggest tent for just her and I was so jealous. It really makes a massive difference so if you are wanting to change without elbowing the person you are sharing with buy a good tent!

4. Alcohol

We took a lot of mixer with us (which may I add, was a nightmare to carry) and most of it popped on the way to the fields… Just buy some on site (its really not that expensive) or just drink it straight. It saves a lot of hassle, trust me.

5. Food

Just don’t take any with you. The food is incredible, that’s all.

6. Dioralyte

I know this is for Dirroreha (it replaces lost fluids rehydrating you quicker) but please just imagine this. The day before you starting drinking at 9am and it is now 4am and you’ve just managed to find your way back to your tent without face planting the tent. You are going to feel this when you get woken up by the soundcheck at 9am… Down some Dioralyte. Its vile, but I never had a hangover once, which is surprising as I drunk a lot… Its a saver.

7. A torch

I don’t think I really have to say much about this one, but I will say this… just picture trying to use the longdrops at 3am in the morning… yeah you know what I mean.

8. Anti bacterial gel

Glastonbury were very good at having stocked up gel at every loo I saw. Although, when I got home my hands were so so dry due to using it as I assume it was cheap stuff. If you don’t want this to happen (it wasn’t very pleasent) take some lovely gel with you that you get from boots!

9. A groundsheet

This was a last minute purchase for me. I saw it in the pound shop and thought it would come in handy and was I correct!! We had a thunderstorm on one of the days so we used the groundsheet so protect our bags from getting drenched and then used it as a seat when it was dry. It was definitely a multi use purchase!

10. A good waterproof coat..

Finally, I can’t stress this enough BUY A GOOD COAT. I know it seems pretty obvious, but when you see a pretty floral one in New Look it all goes belly up. I have a really good layered jacket but I decided to take a thin, one layered jacket with me because I looked good in it. WORST MISTAKE EVER. Every time it rained I was like a drowned rat. If you didn’t have a jumper on underneath you got soaked. It got to the stage when I had to buy a very fetching bright green poncho. You honestly won’t care what you look like, but you will care if you’re cold and wet.

I hope these points help you because I know I read so many blogs about festivals before I went. I hope you have an amazing time at whatever festival you are going to or planning on going too! Let me know where you are going and if this helped :)