Other Festivals : 2022 Edition

And now I've just realised we will be on holiday then. Ah, balls.

Good spot Moz, that's not a bad (day?) fest already.

Generally very happy with the EOTR line up, bands I know in the undercard are strong and plenty I don't know yet

I can't go (well Sara can't go, so.....) but I'm cool on the EOTR announcement.

There are some nice gems further down (eg Fruit Bats, Bug Club, Part Chimp, to name 3 very different bands), but the top end is a bit meh.

This was the only 'festival' I went to last year. And it has been the only festival I have EVER bought 'early bird' tickets for. I subsequently find out its on the same weekend as Eurovision. Which, as you all probably know, is a BIG conflict for me.....and yet, I have decided to miss Eurovision for the first year ever. THATS how great it was last year.

Anyway, here's a link :

portalsrock.com/festival.html

Its full of all types of non-mainstream stuff. I THOROUGHLY recommend it.

Oh, im a little 'meh' for EOTR too. I have Green Man rollover ticketty tick tocks though. So....thats nice.

Weather forecast for Brecon Beacons in August anyone?

OK.....

I believe some people here have been to Truck fest. Can someone tell me how 'family friendly' it actually is please?

Thanks. Also...does David Soul EVER go?

#alanpartridge

(Edit : we got tickets anyways. But any info is still greatly appreciated. Thanks)

To paraphrase my mentor, Sir Alan of Partridgeshire...."I'm not old! Im 46 you cheeky shit!" ;p

So....its reading for people who cant legally drink. Oh. That sounds......well, it sounds fine if it was just me and the lady Moz. But with kid Moz too (no where near gcse age), might be a bit annoying?!?

Was just racking my brains for when I met them and I'm pretty sure it was 2016. I remember it because I hadn't heard of Truck when they told me. Their son (who was with them) had just come back from it. He raved about it but it all sounded very laddish!

Might have changed in subsequent years, certainly seems to have grown in that time. Personally quite like the look of Bearded Theory.

I found my review on then....I will now copy it for you...

"
im back from Bearded Theory. Before some thoughts on said event, i will add that, attendees wise, it was the most friendliest festie i have ever been to. Evreryone was SO friendly and smiley. The 'arsehole' quota was virtually non existent. This was nice. Also, despite itself, we never felt unsafe or frightened. Atmosphere wise, it was really nice.

Now.....review proper.....what to say about Bearded Theory? Well....it was kinda like an 'old school' festival from 25 years ago. For a variety of reasons. Firstly, the line up was mostly a throwback to the early 90s. Full of old alternative things that you are suprised that are still going (transglobal underground, anyone? Orb? Reef? Etc). And the crowd was mostly of a certain vintage too. And a lot were old skool anarchists or punks who are still 'fighting the system' by wearing "still hate thatcher" tees and drinking an unholy amount whilst watching Skids and Stiff Little Fingers snd the like. This meant, when we watched the headliner Suede on Friday and second stage headliners Idlewild, the crowd was sparsly populated due to other stages having more appropriate things for that clientele. Which had an air of disappointment. Also, i have NEVER seen such a huge collection of Levellers/New Model Army tees....

Secondly, there was so much drug use. The whole place reeked of natures yim yam. With peeps skining up all over the shop. Which i guess might have added to the friendly atmosphere too...

Thirdly, organisationally, there was an air of shonkiness and the possibility of things falling apart. For example, there were no lights on the main pathways in camp. None whatsoever. There were no fire towers anywhere. There were no 'visible' security anywhere (hence the open drug use and a group of 8 peeps on the sunday having a cheese buffet at main stage with 3 massive sharp knives). The advertised Bakewell Tart cider did not exist. During Idlewild's slot, main stage had a massive firework display 25 minutes in which isnt great.

Fourthly, the food options were expensive. And very poor. In one way, it was nice to have an old skool lard patty in a bap with one lettuce leaf as 'garnish'. In other ways, it was SO disappointing!

And something ive never seen before....they had these things called 'busk stops'. I assume it was for peeps to strum an acoustic guitar and bellow out dylan/marley etc. But, what happened instead was tons of kids with paper cups trying to earn honk by doing circus-y things or singing or even card tricks. It was so odd, like begging for pennies.

Band i saw and enjoyed. Sunshine frisbee laserbeam (a pavement-y racket), oh-sees (jeez, they were tighter than an elastic band wrapped round a bundle of mail a thousand times), Editors (every time i see them, i think why dont i go to one of their gigs. Always a pleasure), Suede (absolutely blistering. They were obviously miffed to be playing to a 1/4 full field, but they were outstanding. Best ive ever seen them), Idlewild (didnt let fireworks put them off. AND they played Captain as an encore!) and The Lottery Winners (the crowd pleasing bastards!). We saw more, but they were disappointing. Especially Doves who need more practice.

So.....to summerise. bearded theory. Nice people, shit festival.
"

I think, in hindsight, this was a wee bit harsh....

Hhhmmmm, thanks for that. Decidedly undecided now.

i thought glasto looked really solid