Glastonbury Festival 2010: Day 5

Sunday
We wandered down to The Park Stage at the beginning of the day, and saw The Travelling Band and Villagers, who were both pleasant enough, the first reminding me of The Magic Numbers. During the set, five differently coloured balloons of varying sizes were thrown into the air, so that everyone helped in keeping them bouncing for the duration of the gig. It was nice just to lie on the grass (which was more like straw at this point) eating pate on toast from the tea and toast tent, absorbing what could be some of the up and coming bands of 2010.

The Temper Trap
After hearing 'Sweet Disposition' on the '(500 days of) Summer' soundtrack I decided to get hold of The Temper Trap's album, and I was impressed. I love the contrast of Dougy Mandagi's high pitched voice with the dark and dramatic percussion the band uses. We must have arrived at The Other Stage quite early, as we were literally 3 people behind the front row of the crowd, and it was amazing to be so close for such a good show. The bassist (and his hair) thrashed around the stage, clearly giving it everything, and Mandagi looked relaxed and suave when he blasted out piercing notes which were immaculately delivered. At one point he poured a bottle of water onto a large drum and hit it, sending up an artistic spray, which was refreshing for the front of the audience! I was thrilled upon returning to spot myself a number of times in their crowd on the highlights show on BBC3, proof that there are other benefits of being near the front, not just a good view!

We Are Scientists

I first saw these guys in Manchester when I was a fifteen year old moshing teenager and remember them being good, so to see them again at Glastonbury five years later was awesome. The two frontmen had some great comedy banter between each other, which was a welcome change from a straightforward music performance, and lead singer Keith Murray has a voice that is made for indie pop. The great thing about a lot of their tracks is that they are instantly recognisable, so whenever they started playing, the crowd all got involved and sang along, and as it was the last day, everyones' hearts were fully in each word.
Faithless

Maxxi Jazz looked awe inspiring in a white suit, bare chested as usual, as he stood to view the masses before Faithless started their stint. Because of the sheer energy of their tracks, you could almost feel the floor vibrating from so many people jumping up and down to them. When they played 'We Come 1' (which lasted quite a while!) everyone had their finger in the air, which was quite a sight on the screens either side of the stage. Despite being around for a decade and a half, it is obvious that they haven't lost their touch on the dance world and they certainly deserved to gain the prime spot on The Pyramid Stage before Stevie Wonder.

Stevie Wonder

I was so excited to see Stevie Wonder, not because I love his songs, or even that I was curious as to what he would do to make the last Glastonbury 2010 performance extra special, but because I knew that the audience would be in a state of euphoria after a gorgeous, sun soaked festival. When 'Superstition' began, everyone was dancing away, alcohol in hands and smiles on faces, making it a truly magical moment. Of course, for the festival's fortieth anniversary, what would be more appropriate than a rendition of 'Happy Birthday', where Stevie was joined on stage by Michael Eavis, the organiser of the whole event. It was pretty funny to watch a grey haired seventy five year old farmer sing along with Stevie Wonder, if you can call it singing, it was quite a bad kareoke rendition! Complete respect to him for doing it though, it was just what was needed to finish the set.

Shangrai- La
After a phenomenal last performance, we decided to celebrate our final night with a trip to Shangrai- La once again, but not before we stopped for a spot of (very improvised!) salsa dancing in the Cuban Dance tent! This time we walked through The Unfair Ground to get to Shangrai- La, where a fountain of fire, a crash landed aeroplane and half naked women suspended from poles greeted us. It is obvious why it is called The Unfair Ground, as it was exactly that- a funfair gone wrong. Bez's Acid House had a giant baby head above the doorway, and there was a working coconut shy, with celebrity faces (such as David Cameron and Tracey Emin) as the targets! We ended the night in Hotel Slumbarave, which had a confusing maze to conquer before we could enter the main room. It had beds complete with duvets and pillows around its edge, and as soon as we arrived, a pillow fight ensued! It was the perfect closure to an amazing six days.

So, six days of heat, drink, music, dressing up and performance, and an uncountable amount of memories. Over in the blink of an eye, yet photos (and these blog entries!) will help it to last forever. As well as the artists I have written about, I also saw The Courteeners, MGMT, The Hold Steady, Dizzee Rascal, Grizzly Bear, The Cribs, and part of the Scissor Sisters; basically enough music to keep me happy for a fair while! I would gladly go again, camp in the same place, with the same people and have an absolute ball as I did this time. On a finishing note, I would say my top five acts were:

1. Florence and the Machine
2. The Temper Trap
3. 2 Door Cinema Club
4. Snoop Dogg
5. Stevie Wonder

I have had serious withdrawal symptoms since returning, and cannot wait to go back again!

Glastonbury Festival 2010: Day 4

Saturday

The first artist we wanted to see was Imogen Heap, who wasn't playing until mid-afternoon, so we slept in (for as long as the heat would allow us to) and then wandered down to West Holts. The Phenomenal Handclap Band, who were recommended in the guide that we were given at the start of the festival, were due to play a set on the stage there just after we arrived. Their sound was upbeat and modern, but I couldn't help feeling slightly sorry for them, as they were given a relatively early slot which didn't do wonders for the lively atmosphere that they were trying to create. I found overall from the festival, that anything on before about 3pm should be made to lounge around to, as a lot of the audiences are still tired and hungover from the night before!

Imogen Heap

I have been a fan of this quirky lady for a fair few years, so was excited to see her live. The stage that she had was very intricate; there was a metal tree structure in the centre and various bizarre looking instruments scattered around. Quirky and bizarre are exactly the right adjectives to describe Imogen Heap, as she wandered around the stage, dressed in draped shawls and scarves, muttering to herself. She reminded me of someone's batty old aunt, or perhaps Emma Thompson's portrayal of Professor Trelawney from the Harry Potter films. That is not to say that her performance was a let down, far from it. She involved the audience constantly, splitting us into thirds to do harmonies, and getting us to sing along to her classics, such as 'Hide and Seek' most well known for being used in 'The O.C'. Having always thought she was American, I was thrilled to hear her British accent as she spoke to the audience. That's another one we can add to our repertoire.

Kate Nash

Miss Nash was on next after Imogen Heap, so we stayed to watch. I know a few songs, but have never gone so far as to buy an album. She was OK, it is obvious that she doesn't lack talent, but I held a slight grudge after she heckled the crowd for not cheering enough. In my mind, if you're doing a good enough job, people cheer, so perhaps that is something she should have taken on board. Just a hint. And as my friend commented halfway through, she had a lovely scum of purple lipstick above her top lip, so no gold star for maintaining poise and dignity.

Marina and the Diamonds

After reading an interview with Marina Diamandis, the driving force behind Marina and the Diamonds, I was distinctly turned off. She seemed like a spoilt, arrogant rich girl who had her fame handed to her on a plate. But that aside, I love the songs, so thought I'd hop along and give her the benefit of the doubt. We sat outside The John Peel Tent on the hill, as it was crammed to the hilt with people, and listened to her performance. I must admit, she's not the best singer, but all her songs had pizazz and you have to give the girl credit for keeping her massive heels on throughout! I especially enjoyed her acoustic rendition of 3oh!3 feat. Katy Perry's 'Starstruckk' which was done gorgeously.

Editors
Editors were the perfect run up to Muse, well written songs, easily recognisable riffs and a rather handsome frontman. Lead singer Tom Smith looked brooding and in control suited up playing an impressive black grand piano centre stage. They opened well, and although there was a slight lull in the middle while people waited for their favourites, (probably Munich or End Has A Start) they didn't disappoint and ended perfectly, leaving people pumped up and ready for the meander to The Pyramid Stage.

Muse
This time, the headliners didn't disappoint. The crowd was immense, easily the largest I'd seen so far and we had a good vantage point from up on the hill, avoiding the crush of the masses below. They played a good long set, full of epic guitar solos, and a guest appearance from The Edge of U2 fame, who sang 'Where The Streets Have No Name' with the band. There were lights and lasers, fireworks in the distance and a whole lot of cheering. It definately made up for the poor effort made by Gorillaz previously!

Glastonbury Festival 2010: Day 3

Friday

The first 'proper' day of music retained the soaring summer temperatures, and put everyone in the mood to sample some live audio action. In the gaps in between performances we mooched around the Circus Field, encountering a scary alien creature, a very agile performer, and playing catch with a giant rubber globe! Obviously being unable to split myself into however many alter egos would be needed for the many music stages, the following is a selection of the performances I chose to view.

Rolf Harris

When I first heard Rolf was opening The Pyramid Stage, I didn't really know what to expect. I know barely any songs (although I did recognise more that I thought I would) and have only really seen as as the presenter of Animal Hospital.However, the atmosphere was electric; and whether it was because it marked the official start of the festival, or that people were in awe of a man aged eighty who still managed to perform 'The Court of King Caratacus', the crowd went wild.

The Stranglers

Having grown up listening to my dad playing his Stranglers collection, I thought it would be a nice break from the more modern artists to shimmy along to their session on the Other Stage. They played all the classics; ‘Golden Brown’, ‘No More Heroes’, ‘Peaches’, ‘Walk On By’ and ‘All Day And All Of The Night’ and for me, it was the signal that the real music had begun.

Snoop Dogg

Snoop got the punters moving even in the lazy afternoon heat, with his brilliant set which merged his old and new songs effortlessly. Clutching a customised crystal encrusted microphone, he got chants going, shuffled around the stage and had charisma by the bucketload. He attempted a few collaborations single handedly, notably 'Signs' and 'P.I.M.P' (usually featuring Justin Timberlake and 50 Cent respectively) which I felt were just as good as the originals. And you have to admire a man who is seen as cool despite wearing knee high socks with shorts, and having the hair style of an eight year old girl.

La Roux

After Snoop, I walked quickly to The Other Stage, as I wanted a prime spot near the front for Florence and the Machine. Because of my speediness, I managed to see the whole of La Roux's set from a pretty good position. I was rather wary of watching her live, as a lot of her records are heavily synthesised and her voice often feels manipulated electronically. I was pleasantly surprised however. All the tracks that she perfomed sounded exactly like on her album, and the crowd were singing along in force to 'In For The Kill' and 'Bulletproof' which made watching the gig alone a much more enjoyable experience. She sported her trademark huge ginger quiff, a white suit jacket and skin tight leggings adorned by buttons down the sides, which as a fashion lover, gave me even more respect for her.

Florence and the Machine

And so to the woman well known for her (often bizarre) fashion sense- Florence Welch. Florence and the Machine were, without question, the band I was most excited to see when I heard that they were playing Glastonbury 2010. I fell in love with Miss Welch's voice upon obtaining the album 'Lungs', and her ravishing locks hark back to my own redhead days of which I am all too fond. Accompanied by 'the Machine' (her band) in a flurry of violins, drums and a gorgeous harp, I fell for her all over again, and sang to my heart's content, probably much to the dismay of the strangers next to me! The playsuit that she wore was stunning; pure white and ruffled to within an inch of its life, and it succeeded in making her unique look even more enviable. At various points throughout the performance, Florence appeared to be overcome with emotion, which was a good way for the audience to see how humble she is amidst the whirlwind of success that has encompassed her over the last 18 months.

Gorillaz

At the end of such an eventful day of performances, I was really geared up for the headliners. Gorillaz were signed up for the slot last minute after U2 cancelled a month before the festival due to front man Bono injuring his back. As it started, the aesthetics all seemed great, huge multicoloured letters declared who were on stage, and a large screen across the back of the set had continuous videos and graphics playing to accompany the music. Sadly, this was one of the better aspects of the show. Personally I found their choice of tracks a little self-indulgent, playing a lot of new material that many of the crowd didn't recognise, which wasn't great for creating a rapport with the audience.After about forty minutes, Damon Albarn introduced an Arabic orchestra, who despite sounding lovely, did make me feel a little cheated out of Gorillaz stage time. Even bringing on rock veteran Lou Reed mid-set failed to spark excitement in me, and I left after an hour!

Glastonbury Festival 2010: Day 2

Thursday
The second day of Glastonbury arrived in a haze of sunshine, and after a breakfast of porridge on our camping stove and changing into our bikinis we were ready for exploration part two. We headed towards The Park this time, a vast expanse of green looking over the entire site, dominated by a viewing tower that looked like a helter skelter. Up on the hill in big embroidered letters read 'Glastonbury 40' an ode to this year's 40th anniversary of the festival. Other features of the area included a sand sculpture, hammocks, people-sized bird nests and a bus full of junk!

We soaked up some sun on the hill and then moved on to the Healing Field, where everything from massages to palm reading and yoga classes to counselling were available all free of charge. The field was split into four; earth, fire, air and water, and each section was tailored to its element through use of colour, artwork and the activities available.

We decided to rest for a while, and this coincided with when Hattie Hatstar and her band were playing in the solar powered Small World Stage. The trio were lighthearted and comical, playing songs such as 'Sweat Shop' and 'Evil Twin' and used a variety of unusual instruments including the ukelele, accordion, kazoo and double bass. Their mix of topical lyrics and toe-tapping beats was perfect for a break from the crowds.

After a quick trip to the Greenpeace area to watch a friend on the climbing wall, I topped up my cider cup and ventured over to the Queen's Head Stage, for my first taste of Glastonbury music. I was pleasantly surprised at Two Door Cinema Club's set list, as baring in mind they were opening the Other Stage at 11am on the Saturday, I expected their 20 minute set on this day to consist of their B-sides and unknown album tracks. However, they played all their well known electro indie tunes including Cigarettes in the Theatre and Come Back Home, their latest release.

They were followed by Egyptian Hiphop, who I had been recommended to watch by a friend. The majority of their songs were good, but the overall performance was let down by the obvious fact that the 17 year old band members were scared stupid, not even introducing the band before beginning to play. The lead singer cowered behind Kurt Cobain esque hair, and the drummer even wore a plastic bag over his head! Not an act I would rush to see again.

Having been relatively tame the night before, just having a few drinks and going to bed early, our gang decided to be a bit more outlandish this evening and head to Shangrai-La. A maze of alleyways where you never find the same place twice, Shangrai La is the place of choice for the creatures of the night. We ventured into The Nanos, an area including The Drum Machine, where an array of electronic drums can be used by anyone to make your own tracks, and we watched a couple of really good dubstep DJs in Club Dada, which has played host to Lady Gaga and Damon Albarn in the past.