Glastonbury 25

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, lurksalot said:

Oddly I thought the crowd noises were subdued this year , almost as if they were deliberately being dubbed out , mic’d down, EQ’d to a murmur or just plain ignored.

i noticed it on most shows . 
 

 

loved Radcliffe and Maconey this morning playing highlights and naming the stages 😂

 

Mark and Lard? They used to be my soundtrack for going to sleep in the early 90s!

 

You could hear people singing along to Neil Young's acoustic tracks.

[Linus27]

On 27/06/2025 at 10:08, BigRedX said:

I think it is very easy to speak out against the paying practices of the Glastonbury Festival for bands when the vast majority of us are never going to find ourselves in the situation where we have to choose between sticking to our principles about getting paid, or sucking it up and playing for the "vibe" or "exposure" or whatever other reason works.

 

It would be interesting and enlightening if @Linus27 could report back after the weekend with how it went financially for his band. Did it cost them overall to play the festival? I notice that they appeared to be playing 4 times - was that required to make it financially viable? How did merch sales go? Were there any and does the festival take a cut? And then maybe come back at the end of the year and let us know if playing Glastonbury got them any more gigs or other opportunities, or did it end up just being another gig in a tent in a field (albeit one that most people have heard of).

 

So an update on these questions. It's too early to say and I'm not in a position to say because I only joined the band a few months ago. The main person in the band, Andrew who's band it is and named after, spotted me at a gig and basically said he needs me in his band, approached me and here I am. However, I am just his bassist and no more. Andrew has however played Glastonbury for about the last 13-15 years and has supported Marrilion, released albums and written music for TV and adverts. That is as much as I know. So financially I can't say but from what I know artists do have to pay for tickets (I didn't) and Andrew did but I'm not sure if he gets any for free or reduced rates. I don't know if every artist has to or if it's just the smaller artists. Maybe the big named artists do as well but I really don't know what their arrangement is with the organisers and getting to play. We did however get treated very well as an artist and get ferried about, fed with our own facilities. In regards to playing 4 shows, we were offered these slots but possibly due to Andrew's contacts. Next time in 2027 if we play, we are aiming for the Greenpeace stage. We sold a few vinyl records but to be honest, nobody wants to carry a vinyl record around with them all day, plus we saw no band, small or large selling any merchandise, it was only the official Glastonbury T-shirts that were for sale.

[Stub Mandrel]

23 minutes ago, Linus27 said:

The worst was 1975, absolutely dreadful and people were walking out. They were so bland and a cross between background music and Busted.

 

The Guardian was impressed, although the review was largely gibberish. 

 

"The 1975 at Glastonbury review – amid the irony, ego and pints of Guinness, this is a world-class band

Perhaps joking, or perhaps not, Matty Healy pronounces himself ‘the greatest songwriter of my generation’ – and that’s only a slightly ridiculous statement"

 

[Stub Mandrel]

30 minutes ago, Linus27 said:

As for the flags, every other flag was a Palestinian one and it became a bit of a running joke as so many artists were making a statement at some point during their set.

 

It seems Olivia Rodriguez hate chanting supreme court judges has no legal consequences, which seems oddly unbalanced. 

 

[lurksalot]

4 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

Mark and Lard? They used to be my soundtrack for going to sleep in the early 90s!

 

You could hear people singing along to Neil Young's acoustic tracks.

Mark radcliffe and Stuart Maconie have show on 6music at the weekends.

Lard was Mark Riley , he also has shows on 6 music.

[SteveXFR]

Is it just me or has the media really gone all out on the Glastonbury bad thing this year? I've seen so much, mostly just straight up lies about how unhappy attendees are, thousands leaving early disappointed, £10 a pint for beer, bands not turning up. It seems like much more of an attack than usual.

Possibly politically motivated because it's unpopular with their tory/reform followers?

[jazzyvee]

On 24/06/2025 at 14:05, Marky L said:

Looking forward to the ton of gear head comments 😄 No, I actually am.

I watched quite a bit on BBC over the weekend and my only gear comment is that most bands I saw were using P-basses or P-style basses. 🤔

Edited 7 hours ago by jazzyvee

[Mickeyboro]

5 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

Is it just me or has the media really gone all out on the Glastonbury bad thing this year?

Glastonbury and the BBC are now inextricably linked. Its profile will shrivel when they lose it to streaming. As will the chance for enemies to attack them. 

[Cato]

Sections of the media have been trying get Glastonbury taken off the BBC for years. 

 

Events his year have given them a golden opportunity to demand the coverage is permanently cancelled. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Cato

[Skinnyman]

31 minutes ago, Cato said:

Sections of the media have been trying get Glastonbury taken off the BBC for years. 

 

Events his year have given them a golden opportunity to demand the coverage is permanently cancelled. 

Festivals haven’t been my thing since Knebworth ‘79 so I’m going to show my naivety here but don’t the Beeb pay Glastonbury for the rights to broadcast the footage? And, if that is the case, then wouldn’t it be the case that those sections of the media who don’t want the BBC to show it are presumably at liberty to outbid the Beeb for the rights if they wanted?

Or is it protected like a Wimbledon/Boat Race thing and always free-to-view?

Also showing my ignorance - what events this year? 

[Mrbigstuff]

10 hours ago, Owen said:

Fair play, Olivia Rodrigo is owning it.

She brought a lot of energy and her band duly followed. They were absolutely on it and giving it their all, the best performance of the weekend for me but still plenty to catchup on.

 

I’m a loyle carner fan anyway but found his set very raw and intimate (in a good way). The bassist was playing what appeared to be a Fender Ultra which sounded great.

[Leonard Smalls]

Yesterday I enjoyed Cymande (what bass? ACG headless?), Black Uhuru, St Vincent, Scissor Sisters and particularly, Getdown Services with their insanely catchy "Dog Dribblin'".

Here at 20'30 in... https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002fd6s/glastonbury-sunday-evening-live

And even though I didn't want to, thinking it would be annoying music-as-product girlypop-pish, I also enjoyed Olivia Rodriguez' set. Great band, great stage-craft, decent songs and great overall production. Kids nowadays, eh?

And I was a little disappointed with  the Amyls' set - maybe because I'd given the Osees a good go and had a bit of a headache... 

I gave Rod a song to entertain me, just long enough to throw a bottle of piddle, but I was bored as soon as I saw the Vegas-alike set.

And my Mrs insisted we gave CMAT another go... And while they all played well, and she sang excellently I still have the feeling that it's all a bit like that sign you sometimes see hanging in offices - "You Don't Have To Be Mad To Work Here But It Helps"; trying desperately hard to be wacky, different and fun but ultimately failing completely.

[Leonard Smalls]

Forgot about Nova Twins (how could I?).

Awesome, as usual...

[Gank Bass]

1 hour ago, Mickeyboro said:

Glastonbury and the BBC are now inextricably linked. Its profile will shrivel when they lose it to streaming. As will the chance for enemies to attack them. 

I remember seeing some tin foil special saying that glasto is the unspoken official BBC staff summer holiday - they take thousands of staff, mostly put up in hotels/bbs in the surrounding area for a week with days either side. This was based on the amount the BBC spend to have a presence (license payer funded of course) Vs how miniscule the viewing figures/indirect revenues are for their glasto contents.

 

It's probably bs but I kinda believe it?

[stingrayPete1977]

The Rod set was perfect IMO, I've seen him live and he takes a few songs to warm up vocally, you get exactly what you'd expect and nothing less, he's of an era where you put on a show rather than walk around to a backing track. 

 

 

[jonno1981]

Enjoyed Weezer (big warm p bass tone!), Rae, prodigy, Ezra collective, Nile playing greatest hits though he’s really getting on. 
 

Didn’t enjoy charlixcx, 1975, Rod (despite seeing my aunt on front row on bbc!), each to their own and plenty liked it. Some of these older acts fall into function band territory where the cheese takes over. It’s like they’re pretending to be their former self. 

Usual mix of good sound/bad sound and occasionally inaudible bass but it’s a festival! 

I’ll catch up on some others other the next few days. 

[Leonard Smalls]

1 minute ago, Gank Bass said:

It's probably bs

It is... As an ex BBC sound recordist and Post Production manager I can assure you that, especially with current budget constraints, only the bare minimum number of staff (or contractors) are sent there.

I never went on a beeb junket!

In contrast, I remember when I was training; I did 3 months on Keeping Up Appearances in Kenilworth... We got pay, plus overtime for while we were there, plus travel allowance, meal allowance (even though there was location catering) and overnight allowance for being away from home, and hotel...

I bought a motorbike with just my overnights!

But it's not been like that for 30 years or so. My old department doesn't even exist anymore!

[Gank Bass]

3 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said:

It is... As an ex BBC sound recordist and Post Production manager I can assure you that, especially with current budget constraints, only the bare minimum number of staff (or contractors) are sent there.

I never went on a beeb junket!

In contrast, I remember when I was training; I did 3 months on Keeping Up Appearances in Kenilworth... We got pay, plus overtime for while we were there, plus travel allowance, meal allowance (even though there was location catering) and overnight allowance for being away from home, and hotel...

I bought a motorbike with just my overnights!

But it's not been like that for 30 years or so. My old department doesn't even exist anymore!

Well there we have it! Thanks for the peek behind the curtain 😊

[Ramirez]

I've enjoyed a lot of acts this year - Four Tet, Alanis, Maribou State, Chic, Black Uhuru, Rod Stewart, Prodigy so far,a nd still a good few I want to catch up on.

 

I have to say the broadcast mix and sound quality has been consistency unbelievably good. I've done it myself on a smaller scale and It's a very tough job, especially on the fly, and they've suffered in previous years, but this year has been quite spectacular!

[Lozz196]

7 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

Perhaps joking, or perhaps not, Matty Healy pronounces himself ‘the greatest songwriter of my generation’ – and that’s only a slightly ridiculous statement"

 

It must be irony, I don’t think he’s the best songwriter in the portaloo when he’s the only one in it

[la bam]

Turned on briefly and the prodigy were on... Gees they've got some energy!! 

[cetera]

10 hours ago, Norris said:

Did a quick text round of the lads and the guitarist was oggling Olivia Rodrigo prancing around in her basque rather than watching the rawking on the Other Stage.

 

I don't recall getting your text...and I'm not a guitarist....
Oh, hold on...

 

[ian61]

Rodders.  Loved him for ever, and DYTISxy, most fun u can have playing a bass guitar. But I do think it might be time to bow out gracefully. Thgt Maggie Mae sounded a tad show style.

[Mickeyboro]

53 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

It must be irony, I don’t think he’s the best songwriter in the portaloo when he’s the only one in it

So that’s the definition of flushed with success! 🎸

[MartinB]

Really enjoying Turnstile's set, aside from the pointless synth interludes.
Olivia Rodrigo was a lot of fun when the whole band were involved - proper 90s sounding. It's a shame that the production on her recordings is so bland in comparison.