WELCOME TO THE UPTOCOLLECTIVE
WELCOME TO THE SUMMER !
photo by Alan Lodge better known as tash
Rivers of mud, crusties, fairy wings, people dressed as spaceships - yep, they all come out of the woodwork during festival season. If you're planning on getting drunk in a field with thousands of nutters this summer, it must be that time of the year again. Glastonbury tickets are still on sale. Some blame the weather some blame the credit crunch (nice if you can get it eh!)Some say the line up's not that good, but if you are anything like us we can never get up on our feet to catch the bands.
If you must go take yer wellies, we had a site visit on the night of the solstice, and it peed-down all night with thunder and lightning for good measure. You can still get tickets at Glastonbury festival. If you are quick as it starts on Thursday. The uptocollective festi guide 2008 was removed for technical reasons (yes I pressed the wrong button) but should be back up soon.
Festivals might sound like a lot of fun but if you go unprepared they can soon turn into the worst weekends of your life. So here are a few handy tips on how to make your festival experience run more smoothly.
Pitching a Tent
Finding a good spot to pitch is very important and can be tricky depending on how late you arrive on site. All the best areas go early but whatever you do, don't pitch too close to the toilets. It might seem like a good idea at the time being nice and near for a midnight pee, but if there's any kind of rain the whole area will flood and you will be find you and your tent floating in poo. Remember peeing on a noisy generator might sting a bit
Also, toilet areas are emptied early in the morning by industrial sewage Lorries (some people will do anything for a free ticket) and the whiff is horrendous. It's also worth avoiding any kind of ditch as this area will inevitably used as a makeshift khazi by inebriated blokes. Ideally you want to be nice and high up on a hill to avoid floods and away from paths where thieves operate - and you dont want some brewed up bloke in a pink cowboy hat tripping over yer tent. Don't forget to take something to distinguish your temporary home (a flag or sparkly thing, a condom might get you in trouble though)
Don't Get Ripped Off
You don't want to be walking around looking like an idiot with a huge bum bag all day but remember to keep your belongings and money safe. Remember your Friends will think you’re so uncool when you try and make a long cigarette with a liquorice allsort, try before you buy.
That doesn't mean digging a hole under your tent to stash your camera and credit card; festival thieves have been known to nick the entire tent. The easiest thing to do is not to take too much, and only bring a disposable camera. just remember not to post those classy photo's on facebook.
The Weather
It might be summer but this is Britain and chances are it'll chuck it down when you least expect it. That means taking spare pairs of everything. There's nothing more miserable than losing your boots in knee deep mud and having nothing else to get around in. The biting horizontal rain seen at Glasto 2006 even managed to soak punters' underwear. Bring waterproofs and wellies as these items are expensive on site and they often run out when the rain kicks in.
Also bring a spare plastic sheet to cover your tent. Conversely, remember that thanks to global warming, sunburn is an increasing festival hazard - burnt boobs always sting
Food and Drink
Stalls make a killing at festivals charging over the odds for poor quality burgers, baked potatoes and falafels, not to mention watered down booze. Good festivals vet the stallholders
Strictly speaking you ain't allowed to take your own goods, but if you're inventive enough you'll find a way. Sneak in spirits in shampoo bottles, , that sort of thing. Back of your trousers always works for me
Get Organised
While it's not just about the music at a festival, often you'll forget what you wanted to see in the first place. (Something to do with short term memory loss) Most events offer free schedule guides with times of acts and stages they're on: make a note before you go out on the lash because there's nothing worse than settling down to a set by Chumbawumba only to discover David Bowie was playing at the same time on the main stage.
Events with multiple stages have them situated a fair distance from one another to improve sound quality so remember to leave yourself enough time to get from one venue to the next, especially if there's mud about.
Toilets
Last, and by no means least, don't forget the bog roll. Glasto might be offering free paper to everyone this year, but the same can't be said for the rest. We can promise you'll see horrific things lurking in festival toilets, sights you thought were only possible in an episode of Doctor who....enjoy!
you could try wearing a cheap beard with no moustache and a big pair of plastic ears head up to worthy farm the toilets are always pristine up there and Emily always has fresh pot pourie next to the loo!......................... you might even get a pint of milk.
And yes that bloke who you bumped into last year walking in circles talking to himself has been there all year!
,such raw talent with pumping guitars and a unique vocal style that makes you stop and listen''.
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In 1992 David Myles started playing the Scottish bagpipes at 'The Clan MacBeth Pipeband' in Groningen (the Netherlands). Now he is an instructor of this band and from "the Islanders" (Ameland). He also plays in 'The City of Amsterdam Pipeband', the only grade 2 band in the Netherlands! Beside playing in these bands he does solo-performances, for example as a welcome-troubadour at parties, weddings and festivals. He also is the regular guestplayer of the folkband '
BLUEGRASS-FOLK-JAZZ. another upto favourite, mandolin player Laura is much in demand she also plays in an all girl folk -band the shee and Has recently depped for Frigg,on US tour, including an appearance on The Prairie Home Companion and Womad 07, and also has been playing with Rollapenny a little with Katie Doherty and Andrew Cadie. 
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another amazing set if you catch any band next summer make sure its tarantism, could have had them on all night . one of those must see bands AMAZING ! one to catch as the sun rises over that festival field........they are at the glass onion on the 29th with opaque 
