A Glastonbury Tale 2009

Amazing. Phenomenal, Legendary, Astounding

2009-06-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

GLASTONBURY 2009

Stephanie in the crowd*

What a time! The above words cannot begin to come close to doing justice to 'Probably The Best Festival in the World!'.

Neil Young, The Specials, Spinal Tap, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Gong! Just a few of the bands we saw. I've got lots of photographs of bands from a distance - the view from the crowd and I'll share them with you, in all their glory. I got some good photos as well.

I sum up Glastonbury as 'A unique opportunity to create once in a lifetime memories - each time you go'.

More later...

*That's Stephanie Seagal, Mu's seagul model that attended many gigs there and was wondered at by thousands (well, several people commented and some even wanted their photograph taking with her)

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Woo Hoo

2009-06-24T00:47:00.000-07:00

It's Here!

The sun's out, the gates are open, 'Beetlebum' is playing on the CD Player, the car's bulging with campy-type stuff and I've just had a last look at the webcam before we set off...

No time for any photos...

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

1 Day To Go!

2009-06-23T02:10:00.000-07:00

It's rained! I suspect it's just to spruce up the grass to make it that luscious green you only get after rain. That's all it is. It's drying up quite nicely now...

I'm slicing & dicing the itinerary, trying to make all the bands I want to see fit. It won't work of course but I can delude myself can't I?

So, with a large pile of clothes, equipment, bits & pieces and beer sitting on the dining room floor I got to thinking; what are my predictions for Glastonbury 2009. Now I'm a level-headed guy, feet firmly overing just above the ground and head in the clouds so here goes

It will rain but evaporate just as it touches the ground due to the loving vibe that permeates the site
Bob Dylan will will fill one of the 'Special Guests' slots at The Park on Friday and he'll play Isis (one of my all time favorite songs)
Oasis, with Amorphous Androgynous will play the 22 min remix of Falling Down in the other slot
Status Quo will play something from Piledriver, the sun will be out and it will be one of those special moments
Brothers cider will be £1 a pint
and the toilets will stay uncannily empty, whenever I have to use them!

Here's how it's looking at the moment.

Glastonbury Warm Up

2009-06-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

So how do you warm up for Glastonbury?

Go and see Twisted Wheel supporting Paul Weller at Westonburt Arboretum on Saturday!

What a great location for a concert but So Many Rules! I had to take my camera back to the car because it was considered 'professional' because it had a detachable lens - other people's compact camera had longer length lenses! No knifes and forks unless they were useless and snapped easily (i.e. plastic), no umbrellas. So many negative signs! Bring on the anarchy of Glastonbury!

Twisted Wheel are playing Glastonbury this year, they were brilliant live! and I'll go and see them again.
Paul Weller's definately worth seeing live, he's written some great songs. We were too far away though and Weller was really small (no screens here). Got damn cold too! The real downer was that we had to drive there and back, so no lubricant. That, and the fact that I had to get up at 05:23 for work the next morning!

What did I learn from it? Get near the front, wear warm clothing, drink 'Festival Strength' Pear cider! Oh Brother!

Go and see Dark Horse supporting UFO at O2 Academy, Bristol.

Dark Horse are my favorite new band, it's the second gig I've seen and they rock, GO AND SEE THIS BAND LIVE! UFO were brilliant, played some classic songs and were still soooo good this far down the road. A brilliant gig at a great venue and I was on the Guest List! This was my Father's Day present - thanks G.

Listen to Worthy FM

Orange at Glastonbury The Emperor Machine, Kasabian, Quo and Sir Tom stuff!

It's going to be Amazing! See you at the Brothers tent, Jazz World Stage.

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Not Long NOW!!!

2009-06-22T14:53:00.000-07:00

So, work's had a big impact upon my ability to get all my planning for Glastonbury so far but no longer! I'm off, officially on holiday, not an iota of work!

Status Quo, Gong, Blur, Kasabian, Tom Jones, Don Letts, Banco De Gaia, Spinal Tap, Steel Pulse, Neil Young, Eagles of Death Metal, Horace Andy, Jarvis Cocker, Fairport Convention, Josh Wink, Timo Maas, The Emperor Machine, The Qemists, Pete Tong, Deadmau5, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Twisted WheelPeter Doherty, Pendulum, Franz Ferdinand, Rolf Harris, 3 Daft Monkeys, Dreadzone, Hugh Cornwall Tinarawen, Dub Pistols...

Will I get to see them all? No way, but I'll have a good time trying!

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Horace Andy

2009-06-12T16:05:00.000-07:00

Horace Andy at The Park

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

2009-06-10T10:18:00.000-07:00

Just saw that Dave Seaman is playing Glastonbury on 26 + 27th whilst listening to the Devendra Bahnart remix of High Horse on Oasisnet. I love all the psychedelc stuff that's around at the moment...

It's keeping me going whilst in the middle of 'nights'.

Two weeks today and we'll be at Glastonbury!

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Tea and Toast - a return to the mothership

2009-06-09T06:59:00.000-07:00

Tea & Toast's photo

Hurraahh!

Tea & Toast will be at Glastonbury!

That bright yellow Citroen van (the only cool transport Citroen ever did) will be there, early in the morning, just when you need it most. Tea, Chocolate Spread on Toast, vegetarian 'bacon' sandwiches.

They were parked at The Park last year so I'll try there first.

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

It's weather Jim, but not as we know it

2009-06-09T06:53:00.000-07:00

My son's home from university. First bit of news he shares with me is about this year's Glastonbury weather forecast!

Glastonbury 2009 to be hit by a monson?

Welcome home! (personaly, I'm not havin' any of it...)

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Mirror Mirror

2009-06-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

Friday 26th! early! Mirror System!

It slipped through my net! But then it does have big holes...

MySpace and A-Wave

Three chances to see Steve Hillage; With Gong, as The Steve Hillage Band & Mirror System

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

19 and a bit days...

2009-06-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

There's a festival edition?

Do you think if I drink more cider the 19 days wil go quicker?

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

The fence is up

2009-05-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

It was my Birthday Tuesday and I went to Glastonbury! Saw the fence, the sun glinting off it as we passed through Pilton and on to Glastonbury. It encompasses the green fields like a silver necklace and now it's up, everything is a lot more tangible.

Just been watching the Glastonbury DVD again - never tire from it. Julien Temple did a masterful job of capturing the essence of what Glastonbury is.

Watched a Brother's cider video that I got signposted to via Twitter.

Just also watched Kasabian's Empire video (which I got today), can't wait to see 'em!

The biggest dilema however is; Blur or The Prodigy? It's going to gnaw away at me for the next 30 days...

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Whether the weather be hot...

2009-05-27T01:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks GlastoWatch, now I have something else to worry about!

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

They're here...

2009-05-27T01:51:00.000-07:00

Glastonbury tickets have arrived!

:-)

They're bright, shiny and have a picture of me on them so I know I'm going

RP

The Line-up is Live!

2009-05-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

The line-up has been released - early! They said 22:00! But never mind it's out, in all its glory and it's better than I could have ever hoped for!!!

Glastonbury Festivals - the official list

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Folk Music! Let's Dance

2009-05-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

A sunny day continues...

In Full Swing

A Multitude of Manic Morris Men & Women

Up and Over Morris

Swine Flu Alert!

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

More Folking Madness!

2009-05-24T04:05:00.000-07:00

'His coat looks better than mine - must get more rags...'

'...or are we dancer?'

Nostalgia! Woolworths I Mean!

Man In A Hat

Remember! This all means that Glastonbury isn't very far away...

Malthouse Passage were good yesterday and it's great to hear the strains of traditional English folk music freely playing throughout the day. Now it would be better if it were The prodigy, Blind Guardian or a set from Nick Warren but music is music and I won't knock it. Weather's amazing too.

(Better not be using up all the weather before Glastonbury!)

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

What The Folk?

2009-05-23T13:17:00.001-07:00

Ibiza clubbing in full swing!

The Chippenham Folk Festival is in full swing!
That can mean only one thing!

Glastonbury is just around the corner.

The Prodigy, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds & Status Quo! I'll say it again, The Prodigy, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and Status Quo! Confirmed by eFestivals, just waiting for final, final confirmation from the big G on Monday - 10pm

My 'Must See' list is gonna have to be updated!

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Even More Free Music!

2009-05-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

Even More Free Music! and this time it's the audio equivalent of Gold!!!

Jody Wisternoff Podcasts from his website (via iTunes)
AND
2 new Way Out West tracks to listen to from the new album 'We Love Machine' at Way Out West on MySpace but I've not found 'em yet!

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Another 'Must See!'

2009-05-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

eFestivals shows Jody Wisternoff playing Igloo (Dance Village) on Friday & Saturday! Confirmed on MySpace

One sublime DJ - just check out his stuff on MySpace
especially 'Cold DrinkHot Girl' and his remixes; Dana B - Loveshine & Chymera Parelo

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Lineup! Lineup! Read all about it!

2009-05-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

The Glastonbury 2009 lineup will be published on Monday 25th May. Everybody and his dog are claiming to be the first site to publish it when it happens.

Guardian Twitter seems to be the best bet. I'll be at work but as soon as I get home, I'll have my grubby little mitts all over it - will Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds be showing their Red Right Hand? Will The Prodigy be a Firestarter or a non-starter, Will Tom Jones be at the Green Green Grass of Glastonbury?

All will be revealed on Monday (and no doubt I'll have to review my list of Must See's. Again!)

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

More Pre-Glastonbury Free (or certainly v. cheap) Listening List

2009-05-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

I've found some more free stuff!

I was feeling down the back of the internet and found these

Justice* - rejected Fabriclive 37 Mix, released with Justice's blessing as a 'Xmas Mix' - tranceaddict forums has the tracklist detail and you can download it free from urb mag's podcast pages (it's page 5)

Spinal Tap - Saucy Jack - sign up and download from Spinal's website

Coldplay - as of today (15th) you can download the album LeftRightLeftRightLeft for free, gratis, not a bean! from their website

Funny what you can find when you're looking for nothing in particular...

* I know Justice aren't billed for Glastonbury but you can always hope!

'Must See' Glastonbury 2009

2009-05-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

Here's my 'must see' list for Glastonbury 2009 'so far' in a 'some particular order but it gets a bit orderless towards the end' kind of way.

I must admit, when I reserved my tickets back in the mists of time, when the sun barely made it over the yardarm (have I got one of those?) although I knew Glastonbury 2009 would be 'absolutely astounding' I hadn't really given much thought to what the lineup would be, who would be playing (apart from a yearning for Blind Guardian to suddenly be included and it be the best Glastonbury ever!). I thought it may not be as good as 2008's, being my first Glastonbury an' all. Woah, was I wrong. I was so wrong. I was like a wrong person, at the wrong time, with wrong glasses on, the wrong way round! Here's kind of how it went

Blur - I mean Blur! Not Rumoured or even Strongly Rumoured, not even TBC'd in an eFestivals kind of way but a full blown Confirmed in a Glastonbury Festivals type of way!

Gong - flipped into AF, triped into a bit of SVT, folowed by picoseconds of Flatline and then back into Sinus (albeit Sinus Tachycardia) Gong! Camembert Electrique Gong! Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Didier Malherbe, Mike Howlet, Steve Hillage, Miquette Giraudy, Travis Barker Gong. Playing Glastonbury, just like they did all those years ago.

The Specials - everything went black and white and I drifted back to the days of 2 Tone and all that ska - Wow!

Dub Pistols - Jason O'Bryan and Barry Ashworth. Saw a bit of them at Glastonbury 2008 dynamite! They're collaborating with Terry Hall - The Specials. Mine's a Rum & Coke...

Scratch Perverts - that Fabriclive CD in a tin...

Eric Prydz, Timo Maas - it's going to be like a mini-Creamfields

Kasabian - 'Shoot The Runner'

Tinariwen - ever since I saw a clip of them on the Glastonbury DVD, they took my top slot as coolest band, even though they come from the hottest part of the world!

Josh Wink - A Higher State of Consciousness - 'nuf said'

Spinal Tap - I'm turning it up to eleven!

The Prodigy - If there's one band that are going to make it the best, this is it!

So now, without further ado, the full

'Must See' List Glastonbury 2009

Gong [listen on planetgong]
The Steve Hillage Band [listen on MySpace planetgong]
The Prodigy [listen on MySpace] Only a rumour at moment...
Dub Pistols [listen on MySpace]
The Specials [listen on MySpace]
Blur [listen on blur.co.uk MySpace]
Banco De Gaia [listen on MySpace]
The Scratch Perverts [listen on MySpace]
Kasabian [listen on MySpace]
Ray Davies [listen on MySpace]
Spinal Tap [listen on MySpace] Free download from website
Nick Cave [listen on MySpace] Only a rumour at moment...
Deadmau5 [listen on MySpace]
Timo Maas [listen on MySpace]
Eric Prydz [listen on MySpace ericprydz.com]
The Twisted Wheel [listen on MySpace]
Pendulum [listen on MySpace]
Pete Tong [listen on MySpace]
Josh Wink [listen on MySpace]
Tom Jones [listen on MySpace] A legend... Only a rumour at moment...
Neil Young [listen on MySpace]
Eat Static [listen on MySpace]
Tinariwen [listen on MySpace]
Murphys Lore [listen on MySpace]
Freeland [listen on MySpace]
Slam [listen on MySpace]
Peter Doherty [listen on MySpace]
Fairport Convention [listen on website]
DJ Billy Nasty [listen on MySpace]
Annie Nightingale [listen on MySpace] Another legend...
Tom Middleton [listen on MySpace]
Hybrd [listen on MySpace]
The Qemists [listen on MySpace] DJ Set at the Glade & Live

Not much sleep then!

Get the official nod from the Glastonbury site and the rumour status from eFestivals

Pre-Glastonbury Free (or certainly v. cheap) Listening List

2009-05-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

So, there are only 6 weeks and 2 days until Glastonbury 2009. The weather's getting warmer honest it is! The question is how to; contain all that anticipation without going crazy, summon up the will to go to work when I have to and generally just try not to implode!

The following listening list is keeping me sane

Oasis - Falling Down - Digital Bundle 2 (or 12" vinyl if you can play it) - Amorphous Androgynous (A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble Remix) This is the sound of summer 2009! Get it from iTunes
Mixmag May09 - Carl Cox - Main Stage Madness Free with Mixmag, Carl is playing Glastonbury Dance Village
Alex Freeland - Under Control (Alex Metric Remix) Free download from his MySpace page. Have to provide your email
Global Underground - GU MiniMix - Free download from GU's website. Just have to sign up
Way Out West - Live at Glastonbury 2008 - All New Material Register at their MySpace page for free 15 minute download
Gong - Isle of Everywhere - Live at the Uncon 2006 Register at Gong's website. Subscribe to the Gong e-newsletter and you get the download
Mirrorsystem - mp3 downloads of Cloud 11, Stella (duende mix), Hilal and Lazy Partial downloads from a-wave.com's mirrorsystem page

All the above are free and you can iPod them and take 'em away! When you're connected, MySpace, among others streams a whole load of music - all the bands playing at Glastonbury this year...

Yes, but this festival goes up to 11!

2009-05-10T01:09:00.000-07:00

Am I dreaming?

Spinal Tap are playing Glastonbury reported on eFstivals, All The Festivals, Fancore...

Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Hary Shearer as David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel and Derek Smalls ark ther 25th anniversary.

I'm of to put in the DVD and crank the volume to 11...

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

A Nudge and a Wink

2009-05-05T03:15:00.000-07:00

Josh Wink playing Glastonbury!

It's not always what you think it is. I got him mixed up with some trance mix of something that mentions 'Higher State of Consciousness' on Northern Exposure by Sasha & John Digweed but following it up; what a song!

MySpace has some of the album; When A Banana Was Just A Banana to listen to [review on CultureDeluxe].

Now firmly added to my list of 100's to see at this year's Glastonbury.

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

RIP

2009-04-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

I include this permalink for Empire of the Sun I found (not really my kind of stuff) whilst looking for Deadmau5 stuff (which is my kind of stuff, the track lack of a better name is soooo god! ).

It has a poignancy as I found out that J G Ballard died yesterday - one of England's greatest writers (Empire of the Sun is a semi-autobiographical novel by Ballard).

He is so important - read High Rise / Concrete Island / Kingdom Come / The Drowned World - this man's work was untouchable!

jgballard.com / Ballardian / Times Obituary / Wikipedia / Guardian - Writer's Rooms /

RIP JG

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

One Cool Band from a Hot Place

2009-04-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

Tinariwen are TBC for the Jazz World Stage (eFestivals). I have only seen a snippet of them performing on the Glastonbury DVD and they were awsome. Their music just moves you, it's like you're riding on a camel. Check out Myspace and listen to Assawt N'Chet Tamashek (see how I avoided a sneezing joke there? It would have been a cheap shot for such a cool band).

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Kasabian confirmed

2009-04-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

Kasabian have been confirmed for Saturday night on the Pyramid Stage and that's an official confirmation from Glastonbury. It's also confirmed on Kasabian's website so it's not just hearsay. It's theresay! Or rather, going to be theresay!

Go to Myspace to listen to Fire and Vlad the Impaler... Oh, and Shoot the Runner isreally good (it's all new to me so you'l have to bear with me).

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

A Blast From The Past

2009-04-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

Stereo MC's are TBC for The Glade stage at Glastonbury this year.

Who doesn't remember Connected?

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Don't Forget Your Little Boots

2009-04-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

From Glastonburyfest to NME to Little Boots self confirming for Glastonbury...

Stuck On Repeat was worth a watch

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Happy Camper

2009-04-12T03:49:00.000-07:00

It's Easter Sunday, the sun is out and Glastonbury 2009 is just 10 weeks and 3 days away

Happy Easter!

There has been an update to the Glastonbury website and it's all about camping. Praxis are providing a camp site, close to the King's Meadow field, next to the Stone Circle with pre-pitched tents and showers and just about every thing else you could require. There are lots of photos of previous concerts at the festivals which are worth a look in their own right. It costs money but you do get a gate into the festival and you can drive your car to the campsite. They seem to have thought of everything so if comfort is your bag, check out their pages.

Us? We are going to camp in 'the field with no name' (it hasn't got a name, hence 'the field with no name'. Simple eh?). It's ideally situated between the 'Other Stage', The Glade' and the 'Jazz World' stage. More importantly still, it is very close to the Brothers Pear Cider stall. I hope the field is still there for camping this year (it is on the map), it was just perfect last year being the first year we went. Well, if truth be known after the struggle with our belongings across the site, it was the point we could go no further and just collased in a heap at. The only down side was it was directly across from some 'Godawful' fast food stall that belted out music from dawn 'til dusk. We were awoken every morning without fail to the sounds of Kanye West singing 'goomornin'. It is for this fact a lone that earplugs have become 'the' essential item, atop the packing list (yes, there is a packing list). To add insult to injury, Kanye West is a Strong Rumour over at eFestivals for this year. So, rather than being squashed in between the obnoxious fast food place and the Male urinals (I know, it doesn't sound quite as nice as Praxis' setup does it?), this year we are going to get there a bit earlier and be a bit further away (I like to think of it as evolution).

So, I got to thinking. How could I make the camping a little bit more luxurious? I know

Earplugs - bought before the festival so you don't have to spend the first night awake and then ages trapsing around trying to find a stall that sells earplugs.
Wheelbarrow - a wheelbarrow no, make that a sturdy wheelbarrow. It is invaluable for transporting your tent, backpacks (you need to protect your back), any food you take and most importantly cans of beer (no bottles please) from the carpark to the camping area. Don't buy one with a small wheel or it will be shattered to pieces, you kneed a pneumatic tyre if poss.
Chemical Toilet - bring your own camping toilet. You'll need a tent with a separate compartment but you can avoid the dreaded festival toilet. Still have to empty it though.
Camping dustpan & brush - I saw one of these in Black's yesterday. It's light, small and the brush clips into the pan
Spare Groundsheet - keep this in the tent unil it rains (what, it's going to rain?) then use this just outside the dor so you don't tread in the mud and rain (there's that 'R' word again!)

;-)

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Dropouts cont'd

2009-04-08T00:53:00.000-07:00

And another thing! A door closes, another one opens...

Depeche Mode may have pulled out but there's a rumour that the Eagles of Death Metal (unofficial fan site) will be playing! My son just told me that Josh Homme, the front man of Queens of the Stone Age is their drummer!

See, a door closes, another one opens...

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Dropouts

2009-04-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

The line-up is supposed to get bigger not smaller!

Depeche Mode drop out of Glastonbury - see (scant) details at Glastonburyfest site...

You see, I would have gone to see Depeche Mode, a bit of nostalgia, like the keyboards, a certain style but now it looks like they cut and run because of the line-up?

Ah well, the beauty of Glastonbury is that there's always someone else to see. I've more time for Gong, Steve Hillage, Eric Prydx, Timo Maas, Blur, Niel Young, The Specials. Madness and maybe even Dreadzone! (see eFestivals for Confirms, TBC's, Strong Rumours and just Rumours)

Even if no-one played there would stll be loads to see and do. Just chilling out in a massive field in Somerset drinking Brothers Pear Cider Gets my vote!

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

The Warning

2009-04-05T09:38:00.000-07:00

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

An afternoon spent

2009-04-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

I've just been flitting around the internet finding various Glastonbury-related (in some kind of sense) music bits & pieces this afternoon. The Courteeners - at The John Peel tent 2008 from YouTube, Eddy Grant - I don't want to dance on the Jazz World stage 2008 from YouTube, Way Out West at The Dance Village 2008 from YouTube, System 7 - Seventh Wave album snippets from planetgong.co.uk, Gong - some really old stuff from same planetgong.co.uk

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

2009-04-05T06:29:00.000-07:00

Last year at Glastonbury I saw Mirror System on The Glade stage. You can get a feel for what it was like on the following YouTube clip (Glade Festival July 2008) Only it was during the day and not dark, so not really but The Steve Hillage Band are playing this year, so another chance to see a legend!

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Timo Maas

2009-04-05T02:00:00.000-07:00

and Timo Maas too!

MySpace play the long slow burn of Trisomie21 Hear Me Now TM Remix

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Sitting at my PJANOO...

2009-04-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

Eric Prydz is going to be soooooo sweet!

MySpace play of Pjanoo, Prida Melo & Pryda Lift

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Rumours coming thick ad fast!

2009-04-01T03:22:00.000-07:00

The Wonder Stuff, Ladyhawke, Dreadzone, The Specials, Eric Prydz, Timo Maas...
Oh, and Tony Christie.

Thanks eFestivals

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Want To See...

2009-03-29T09:31:00.000-07:00

Sun's out and I'm eagerly scanning websites for the slightest hint of a rumour for Glastonbury 2009. So far, here's some I have on my 'want to see' list

Scratch Perverts [ MySpace ] - listen to Flood and the oh so good GASH REMIX oh and Stand By

Freeland [ MySpace ] - check out Aer OBAMA [ freeland.fm ] - Download Under Control

Peatbog Faeries [ MySpace ] - Theres a Girl Behind the Bar [ website ]

Dub Pistols [ MySpace ] - listen to Gangsters feat. Terry Hall cos The Specials are rumoured for G

Steve Hillage Band [ MySpace ] - System 7, Mirror System, Gong, need I say more... [ website ]

Gong [ planetgong ] - just play everything!

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Tor-riffic!

2009-03-18T11:24:00.001-07:00

Climbed Glastonbury Tor yesterday on a most glorious of days. Looking out towards Pilton with the sun throwing a haze over the festival site yo could be forgiven for thinking festival time was here.

We walked up past the old reservoir which was open and inside, with candles providing minimal illumination and someone singing a plaintiff chant against the water spashing into the floor, it was otherworldy. Of course I thought it was 'piped' music and stumbling around in the near-pitch darkness I was just about to ask the chantreuse if I could get a little nearer to the source of the water when something stopped me. It must have been my inner me stopping me from making a fool of myself!

Outside, the water flows down the road but we headed on up, turning into the field about two thirds of the way up the hill. The towers above as you head across to join the steps that take you up to the top. It's steep! My burning calves stand testament to it but the view from the top is worth it. The Somerset landscape recedes into the distance like a green sea.

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

The Steve Hillage Band

2009-03-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Steve Hillage Band are tbc at Glastonbury on the Sunday [ eFestivals ]

Steve Hillage was in Gong/is in Gong and he was at Glastonbury last year in Mirrorsystem which is the more chilled out version of System 7 (I think). It doesn't really matter because he is amazing - a legend!

You can see a clip of The Steve Hillage Band at Planet Gong via an excerpt from the DVD 'Steve Hillage Band Live at Uncon 2006 '.

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

In St. John's Wood...

2009-03-10T03:24:00.000-07:00

I bin stoned before hor hor ho ho ho ho ho hore...

Went to London at the weekend - had a fantastic time and I went to Lords - The Home of Cricket. Why a mention in this Glastonbury blog? Because Lords is in St. John's Wood and St. John's Wood is mentioned in one of the lyrics by Gong, who are tbc at Glastonbury this year!

It's on Camembert Electrique - I Bin Stoned Before

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Neil Young headlines

2009-03-10T03:17:00.000-07:00

Glastonbury has confirmed Neil Young as a headliner and Fleet Foxes wil be playing. I said they should/would be!

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

In The Lee Of The Tor

2009-03-05T11:36:00.000-08:00

Lee of the Tor

Lee of the Tor 1

And we ended the day sat in the car park in the lee of the Tor drinking tea from Mocha Berry Coffee House and spelt almond and cherry shortbread from Burns the Bread

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

A Tour of the Festival Site (sort of)

2009-03-04T09:59:00.000-08:00

So, hands up all those of you thinking it's a little early to be touring the festival site? Won't the fields be full of cattle and sheep and luscious green grass and not a little rain water? I hear you say. Well yes, you are correct but today I got to tour the site - from a distance.

The Entrance

This was the entrance we used last year to get into the site in the village of Pylle.

From The Car Park

Looking to the car park. We parked in the field beyond this one, through the gate. It was about midday when we were trooping with hundreds of other people, wheel barrow in hand, brimming with anticipation. With anticipation of being able to ditch the wheel barrow amongst other things. A wheel barrow is a godsend but we learned early on (i.e. when we got it out of the boot of the car) that it needs a large wheel, preferably one with a pneumatic tyre. It's on the top of the list for this year.

Gate Into The Field

Across the road - to the gate into the field.

Into The Field

Crossing the road to this field led to the green fencing where queuing started in earnest. Not a bad thing as by now my arms were several feet longer due to the wheel barrow mentioned previously. Why was it so heavy? It was full of tins of food for camping and a gas cooker but we never used them because the food available was so great. Yes, I had to wheel barrow it all back at the end of the festival. Every last tin of it! Be warned people...

Variation of Premises Licence

All along the hedgerows you can see these blue plastic posters. They herald the transformation that is taking place, in readiness for June.

Toilets

The toilets sit in rows, patiently awaiting their re-installation. You know, from here they almost look usable! (only joking).

Daisies

Look daisies, Bellis Perennis, the friendly face of festival faecal removal.

Storage

Storage in the distance. All these will be marshaled into use for more than 130,000 festival-goers in the not too distant future. '1, 2, 3, 4... They're going to need a lot more believe me. The festival-goers will be going as it were!

The Pyramid Stage

The Pyramid Stage! I saw the Pyramid Stage! It's that silver metal frame-type thing in the distance. They put a cover on it and stick loads of amps and speakers on either side of it and it's where Blur are going to be playing!

Worthy Farm

(we are not) Worthy Farm, stands surveying the fields at its feet, the sun, a portent of the weather that will surely bathe the festival in June (surely).

What was the soundtrack to the day? That comprised of

Camembert Electrique - Gong

Gong are To Be Confirmed at Glastonbury 2009 at The Glade

Legalize it - Peter Tosh

Play out track on Glastonbury - The DVD [ YouTube ] [ Wikipedia ]

Argus - Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Ash are playing at Cheese&Grain in Frome on Sat 25th April

There's The Rub - Wishbone Ash

Nothing wrong with more Wishbone Ash

There's a Festival Edition!

2009-03-03T03:52:00.001-08:00

Festival Edition

There is a God!

2009-03-02T11:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, there is a God and he is benevolant and he loves cheese! Especially Camembert!

I bought tickets to see them in Bristol a couple of years ago but they didn't come and I had to get a refund. But TBC at eFestivals, the one, the only

GONG

Well, I'll be a teapot...

Start here, go anywhere...

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Blur - the confirmation of the confirmation

2009-03-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

Blur on YouTube at Glastonbury 1998.

Glastonbury website update confirming Blur's self confirmation...

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Glastonbury. The Return!

2009-03-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

Guess what? Ended up in Glastonbury again today (Saturday)! It was a beautiful day compared with yesterday. Approached Glastonbury by coming in through the village of Pylle, after passing the entrance where we entered the car park for the festival last year. Also found the point where we crossed from the car park into the field where the queue to enter Glastonbury started. It was all quiet and the field was full of sheep but it brought memories flooding back of manoeuvring the collapse-able wheelbarrow (which didn't - collapse) over rough terrain, arms stretching out of their sockets and back creaking, with all the anticipation of a first Glastonbury as fresh as an un-used festival toilet!

In Glastonbury, it was a lot busier with people milling in and out of the shops in the main high street as did we. I tried on a top hat with a feather in it to see if I could pull it off for Glastonbury this year but looked more like an undertaker than a Morris man! I'll stick with the camouflage cap.

Found some Brothers Lemon & Pear cider (hadn't tried the Lemon before which did nicely for the evening when we got back home) and had a coffee from the cafe, with the signed team photo of the England Test team v the West Indies 2007, next to a signed leaflet of Marcus Trescothick and the B+W line drawing of Viv & Joel which I mentioned in passing yesterday, as England were amassing a sizeable lead. Well today they were making little progress against the West Indies. Sat drinking our coffee in the lee of the Tor dreaming of the coming festival as the sun started to dip, before heading off.

Spiritual home...

Still hadn't got the camera but found the charger in the boot of the car (where else?).

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Went to Glastonbury

2009-03-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

We went to Glastonbury Friday, just to see the place. It was cold. Glad I wasn't camping. We drove in through Pilton, past the entrance to 'Worthy Farm - All Deliveries'. There was a stillness that belied the transformation that will take place in the summer. Oh, and what a transformation! Driving in with the Tor on the right, it was bereft of people, just that commanding outline against a mid-grey sky. Glastonbury itself was quiet and did I mention, it was cold? We went into a cafe for a takeaway Latte/Tea (yes, a lot of that goes on) and there, on the wall was a signed team photo of the England Test team v the West Indies 2007, next to a signed leaflet of Marcus Trescothick and a B+W line drawing of Viv & Joel, which I only mention in passing as I was listening to West Indies V England, 4th Test, Day 3, England amassing a sizeable lead at the time. I love this part of the world, Glastonbury has a real sense of 'place'. It attracts people, all types of people. It always has and still does and probably always will. It particularly attracts people on the Wednesday of the last week of June, more than 130,000 of them last year and the same again this year, confirmed by advance ticket sales.

I didn't manage to bring my camera this time as I couldn't find the charger.

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

DJ Yoda

2009-02-28T12:58:00.000-08:00

DJ Yoda confirmed by eFestivals

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

'big last minute changes'

2009-02-26T11:26:00.000-08:00

Go to Glastonbury website and check out the comment by Emily in response to the question

What are you busy with at the moment?
'some big last minute changes' - 'Something really exciting came through yesterday'

Now I'm really excited!

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Lord of the Rings sings

2009-02-26T11:13:00.000-08:00

Emiliana Torrini confirmed by Emily Eavis over on the Glastonbury website.

Wikipedia states that she's from Iceland and sang 'Gollum's song' at the end of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers film (I suspect Gollum let her, seeing as it was his song - nice chap all in all, Gollum).

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

It's all a BblLLuuURrrRRR!

2009-02-26T11:00:00.000-08:00

Blur confirmed not officially confirmed yet by Michael thanks to BBC!

WoooHooo!

Lilly Allen will play Friday (at end of same article)

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Rumours

2009-02-25T10:16:00.000-08:00

The rumour is that some Rumours may be played at Glastonbury this year. I got it from the rumour mill at eFestivals. It's only a rumour at the moment tho'!

[ Official website ] [ MySpace ]

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Bruce Springsteen

2009-02-23T11:09:00.000-08:00

Glastonbury confirm The Boss for Saturday night headline slot. He's some American, quite big hear ;-)

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Thrum! Thrum! Thrum!

2009-02-22T04:22:00.000-08:00

What's that?

That's the sound of me thruming my fingers on the desk awaiting updates to the Glastonbury website with news of confirmed acts.

No updates as yet!

Thrum! Thrum! Thrum!

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Rumours

2009-02-19T11:00:00.000-08:00

There are no new rumours regarding Glastonbury 2009's lineup as far as I can see so I think I'll start my own

Fleet Foxes!

Makes sense; newish, up & coming, talked about a lot in the news...
If Emily has been doing her homework I think she woud have been looking into this band.

Speaking of rumours, Fleetwod Mac are a weak rumour on the Glastonburyfest.org site.

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

A Nice Pair

2009-02-13T10:44:00.000-08:00

2 bottles of Brothers Pear Cider

Look what our local branch of Morrisons has started selling! Yes, Brothers pear cider as served at the Jazz World Stage at Glastonbury! Previously, we could only get it at Asda which was too far off to visit regularly.

Did I mention? They produce a nice pear (cider).

Guess what's going to be powering this blog from now on?

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Nostalgia

2009-02-11T16:06:00.000-08:00

It's around about now that you start thinking about the tent - and how glad you are that you're not camping in it! I mean, the snow's gone but come on! No, it's time for nostalgia. As the sun warms the stone wall, melting away the last remnants of snow that still clings stubbornly to colder days, a warm glow calls to mind; the summer of 2008

The yellow van at The Park selling vegetarian breakfasts
Earth-fired chocolate brownies and tea in china mugs
Alice in Wonderland land
Trash City
Brother's Pear Cider on warm evenings by the Jazz World stage

I could almost go out and set up the tent - but the weather forecast says it's going to be cold again...

Thank goodness for nostalgia!

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Glastonbury Anthems

2009-02-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

Kindle the fires of a June evening by watching Glastonbury Anthems The best of Glastonbury 1994 - 2004 on DVD.

'A Visit To The Glastonbury Greenfields' really fuels the anticipation. I picked it up for £6 which is a bargain in these times of austerity (go on, tell me you found it for less on cheapyvideopurchasestomakeothersjealous.com or some such site and spoil my day).

I've not watched the concerts yet which include; Frans Ferdinand - Matinee (a band confirmed for this year's festival), Primal Scream - Rocks (I love that track, I even bought the CD single when it came out and I never buy CD singles), The Prodigy - Breathe (I loved their Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned album) Faithless, Moby, Ash (who I saw in Swindon at the Oasis and it was the first concert I took my children to see!) and more!

I have to pace myself, there's still a long time to go before Wednesday, 24th June...

(image from Glastonbury Festivals site)

FRANZ FERDINAND confirmed

2009-02-06T10:24:00.000-08:00

Glastonbury website confirms attendance.

FRANZ FERDINAND official website, MySpace.

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

A Faraway Field...

2009-02-05T06:27:00.000-08:00

The tickets have been ordered, Glastonbury has sold out, we don't know who's performing yet and there is snow on the ground! It seems further away than ever!

A brighter time... (2008)

Waiting...

2009-01-30T08:31:00.000-08:00

On a cold damp, January day with a sky the colour of an old saucepan, the green fields of Glastonbury seem infinitely far away. Even the website belies the transformation that will occur as a recalcitrant sun eventually decides to make the effort and tear away the clouds, that seem so entrenched in the skies above a grey and inclement land.

So as I tread the pavements coated with the grime of winter, I take comfort from the fact that this grey will pass and give way to the pleasant fields of Avalon in the not too distant future

RP

Copyright © 2009 THE GREEN ORCHARD Ltd. All rights reserved.All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

A Glastonbury Tale 2009 (1)

2009-01-29T11:22:00.000-08:00

Last year A Glastonbury Tale followed the build up to our first trip to Glastonbury. When it started out I had no idea where it was going and how mind-blowingly amazing Glastonbury was going to turn out to be. 2009's here and a new Glastonbury starts to germinate in the countryside of Somerset just as it does in mind.

The tickets were secured on 5th October, 2008 and we bought them tonight! It's on!

We've jus been watching the Extras on 'Glastonbury Anthems The Best of Glastonbury 1994 - 2004' DVD. 'A Visit To The Glastonbury Greenfields' brought all the excitement flooding back - just cannot wait!

One word sums it all up - anticipation.