Glastonbury worst I've seen!

Which would be warranted - if the British Army were killing babies and children. FFS it doesn’t mean kill the soldiers! Much like Kill The Bill doesn’t mean literally. The death of climate change doesn’t mean anyone is killed. The death of the National Front doesn’t mean killing its members. The death of chivalry doesn’t mean killing nice men.

'As to refugees the fence and the obvious open borders disconnect there in the old days Michael was very happy that the fence came down and many more could experience it for free but that brought a lot of problems. Rampant and open drug dealing and tent thefts massive infrastructure issues om site '

Yes and we can appreciate that. Open borders anywhere can cause problems. The question is why do festival goers understand the need for control regarding the festival attendees and the affect on it's infrastructure but can't seem to transfer that understanding to the wider world and the need for rules and regulations on other borders/perimeters/whatever you want to call it?

And being under the age of 10

There is mess yes. Same at any festival I have ever been to. This is just sounding like a chance to target Glasto particularly and not ALL festivals where there is litter. Even bloody Radio 2 proms at the park

But why can't the eco warriors use litter bins I don't get it. Can you not see it's all a bit do as we say not as we do?

The mess is far better than in previous years and 2500 recyclers over 2 weeks get it clean as a pin. Yes diversity is an issue aside from the artists but those who seek a ticket are those who seek a ticket and its not cheap if you are struggling. A remember a black female comedian making a joke that black people are allergic to 🎪 that was a joke BTW. As to refugees the fence and the obvious open borders disconnect there in the old days Michael was very happy that the fence came down and many more could experience it for free but that brought a lot of problems. Rampant and open drug dealing and tent thefts massive infrastructure issues om site with lighting toilets and water and one year a shooting. The festival was going to get cancelled unless Michael brought in Melvin Benn and Mean Fiddler as they were once were who fixed that. He always liked to comment that if you really had no money and still wanted to come then volunteer and give something back. He was a Methodist lay preacher, tee totaller who never took drugs dairy farmer who had farmed for many generations who had at his heart to see happy people enjoying music and coming together on his farm to celebrate the hunan spirit. And he wanted to inspire change through joy and collective shared experience which is exactly the legacy he has left. That and a huge amount of love in so many hearts who will weep when he finally leaves us. The world needs more people like him they are rare beasts indeed.

But look at the mess they leave behind.

Look at the lack of diversity in the crowds.

It is what it is - it isn't going to tick everyone's boxes and it's obviously very important to a lot of people.

Rod Stewart was awful first watched him in person left after a couple and then watched a couple more on the Glasto feed in the press tent and by all accounts I didn't see him Neil Young was excellent with a superb band. The Scissor Sisters was packed to the rafters couldn't get in but the cheering and relentless applause was something to behold. Selecta opened the Pyramid Stage to a small but hugely appreciative crowd including me oh and Basil Brush unleashed in the Cabaret Tent was late night slightly filthy Basil doing his thing. Gary Numan was pretty good at the Park he has a sort of gothic electronic industrial sound and can still prowl the stage like a man much younger than he is. He was followed by Haim but we had to be elsewhere so listened to the first three numbers which ok but the youngsters seemed to get him. Oh and just before Gary the Red Arrows flew over probably keeping an eye on the tens of thousands of wannabe terrorists that were prowling the site. Oh and I drove by Gary Lineker at the Wellness Stage where has was in conversation and caught in passing his comment why is there so much fucking hate around ? Well said.

But most of the things you see and experience here are not televised and not communicable. A lot of long time punters and volunteers wish the BBC would stop televising it its not made the festival more democratic or accessible just made it a struggle for wannabe punters to tick it off their bucket list , that and sadly the health of the saintly Sir Michael who is not in the loop anymore and however good Emily is she will never equal her father who along with Tony Benn were my must sees in their annual jour long talks in the Green Fields Speaker tent.

Glastonbury is not a commercial business all the profits go to Oxfam Water Aid and Greempeace and it wouldn't be possible to put it on with artists working for much less than they would normally charge and the vast army of volunteers who work for a ticket and come year after year and that's the real beating heart of the place something that the Daily Mail and many of its readers would never understand and its soul is not for sale.

Hopefully he will be arrested, along with those following him

It absolutely is and I would love it if the world and their dog would just ignore it and leave it alone oh and silence Billy Bragg I never want to hear another tuneless note from him for the rest of my life I wanted to see Ezra Collective having seen like another poster at Green Man last year but he doesn't like all the clapping and audience participation and joy so we didn't go.Interstingly almost uniquely amongst Pyramid headliners Alanis Morisette had a closed it for photography oh and having earned my ticket through recycling and doing the gonzo photos for my reviewer friend got to stay in Hospitality. Very nice but couldn't afford it starts around 1k u for the ticket and you have to be in media or the biz to get in. Very quiet at night but get flushing loos showers and the interstate cut through which are very handy. My overarching theme for my photos which are mainly people is joy and hope which is very easy to capture. Didn't see any lairyness or groups of coked up aresholed lads either this year which was most welcome.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jun/29/adrian-chiles-first-time-glastonbury

The negative comments are usually from people who have never been.

It’s nothing like you describe. I have been 10 times and seen plenty of changes over the years but still think it’s the best place.

Full of life and joy!

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jun/29/adrian-chiles-first-time-glastonbury

The negative comments are usually from people who have never been.

It’s nothing like you describe. I have been 10 times and seen plenty of changes over the years but still think it’s the best place.

Full of life and joy!

'that's the real beating heart of the place something that the Daily Mail and many of its readers would never understand and its soul is not for sale.'

What has the Daily Mail and its readers got to do with it?

Your rose coloured view of the place and it's 'soul' is lovely to read but most of us see it for what is is. Greta types wanging on about the environment yet leaving so much detritus behind, celebs wanging on about the environment yet accessing it via environmentally unfriendly helicopters. Celebs using their platform to spread hate. Banners about immigrants yet solid perimeter fences to keep their perceived undesirables out. Oh but hang on that's for health and safety so it's ok!

Jarvis singing common people was magnificent. Just very ironic that the very privileged hapless person he was singing about was what constitutes your average Glastonbury goer.

It all just seems so very fake. <But Gary Numan and The Prodigy were amazeballs>.

'that's the real beating heart of the place something that the Daily Mail and many of its readers would never understand and its soul is not for sale.'

What has the Daily Mail and its readers got to do with it?

Your rose coloured view of the place and it's 'soul' is lovely to read but most of us see it for what is is. Greta types wanging on about the environment yet leaving so much detritus behind, celebs wanging on about the environment yet accessing it via environmentally unfriendly helicopters. Celebs using their platform to spread hate. Banners about immigrants yet solid perimeter fences to keep their perceived undesirables out. Oh but hang on that's for health and safety so it's ok!

Jarvis singing common people was magnificent. Just very ironic that the very privileged hapless person he was singing about was what constitutes your average Glastonbury goer.

It all just seems so very fake. <But Gary Numan and The Prodigy were amazeballs>.

'that's the real beating heart of the place something that the Daily Mail and many of its readers would never understand and its soul is not for sale.'

What has the Daily Mail and its readers got to do with it?

Your rose coloured view of the place and it's 'soul' is lovely to read but most of us see it for what is is. Greta types wanging on about the environment yet leaving so much detritus behind, celebs wanging on about the environment yet accessing it via environmentally unfriendly helicopters. Celebs using their platform to spread hate. Banners about immigrants yet solid perimeter fences to keep their perceived undesirables out. Oh but hang on that's for health and safety so it's ok!

Jarvis singing common people was magnificent. Just very ironic that the very privileged hapless person he was singing about was what constitutes your average Glastonbury goer.

It all just seems so very fake. <But Gary Numan and The Prodigy were amazeballs>.

Beautifully put @sualipa
I miss the 3pm Sunday chat with Tony Benn. What a joyful human he was. I think he might even have changed my life a bit in 2007/8.
Given that Glastonbury has always been about so much more than those 5 stages (I think there’s over 100 performance spaces)? I’ve always wondered why more isn’t shown…the theatre and circus fields have always been a bit of favourite area for me. And I’m guessing no-one wants a camera down in Shanghai-La or the Unfairground 🤣
Four-Tet did an outstanding job this year I thought, and Amy Taylor of Amyl was incredible as ever. And the energy on Ezra Collective was ❤️