Reading Festival, day ticket, on my own at 53 because I love Florence. Mad?

[GlomOfNit]

How mad would it be for me to go, on my own (probably), to Reading Festival just for the Sunday, so I could see my obsession Florence +TM live, for the first time, having failed to get tickets for any of the tour dates that have just finished?

I'll be 53. I have an occasionally gammy leg and sciatica. I'm a bit overweight and not great at standing for hours and hours. I'm really short. You're not allowed to take pretty much ANYTHING into the Arena area it seems - you get one 'A4-sized bag' (lol-ing at describing bags as units of stationery, perhaps airlines should start that) but their strictures are so, well, strict that I wouldn't be able to carry much in it! I'll probably be on my own, as my passion for F+TM appears to be, in my peer group anyway, my very own.

What sort of chance do I have of getting up close to the front? Will it just be heartbreaking to be so close but STILL not be able to see anything much? If they're headlining on the Sunday night am I going to be spending the ensuing several hours waiting to leave the site? I know Reading Fest isn't like Glastonbury with shedloads of other stuff going on, but will there be anything other than music acts I haven't heard of happening before my main event? Or should I take a book?

Points in my favour: I live literally up the road. Assuming the usual Reading-Oxford buses are running, I could walk back into town and hop on a late one and be back in the very quiet place where I live within an hour. or I could bribe DH with post-festival sex to come and pick me up just over the river

Actually that's the only point in my favour. Flo is playing literally down the road and there are still Sunday tickets and I could put on a floppy dress and a flower tiara and actually go and see her. Couldn't I? or is this just a stupid pipe dream from a sad old moo? WWYD?

(I just remembered - I think I've actually been to Reading before, back in the dim mists of time in 1999 when DH and I both lived there and we went just to see Catatonia :-D I think tickets must have been a fair bit cheaper back then. But I'm NOT a festival-goer. I go to a local eco-hippy festival with tiny attendance numbers and that's just lovely, and that's all I ever do.)

Do it! Just turn up an hour before to take in the atmosphere. You might end up being quite a way from the stage though. They will have those giant screens.

Another do it.

I’m mid 40’s and we go to at least one festival a year nowadays. When we go for the weekend we tend to glamp or at least take an option with nicer loos.

I’m actually going to Reading for the day to see Florence (and Kneecap!). DD is there for the weekend with friends so my mate and I are going to jump out from behind a bin and scare the life out of here

I go to loads of festivals, including Reading, and I’m older than you - and I mission it down to the front if I want to. Takes some planning, patience and waiting around but it absolutely can be done. The thing about a festival like Reading is they don’t mix it up too much, so the audiences for each night can be very different. Im sure you’ll be in good company that night.

I was there 2000-2002 so peak nu metal times - no such thing there now 😆

Definitely go and have a fab time.

Ypu can spend the day sitting down and then get xlose to the main stage later in the day

I went a couple of years back just for the day to see The Killers. We got there about 5.30pm and went straight to the stage - fighting against all the kids who were leaving to go to the other stage for a different band. There was no one on the stage we were waiting by, so we got really near the front and sat down for a couple of hours. Then when the other act finished everyone came back to the main stage and it got v busy so we had to stand. I basically didn’t drink anything so I didn’t have to leave for the loo. We got jostled back quite a way before they started but had a good view. However as a smallish woman I was in trouble when the mosh pits started (wasn’t really expecting that!) and was nearly taken off my feet a few times. I found that horrible and started to feel a bit unsafe. I’d suggest maybe staying to the side even tho it’s unlikely you’ll get that but with teens you never know! It then took us 2 hours to get out of the car park so it was a very tiring evening but we did enjoy it (I accompanied my 14 yr old)

I’ve did this a few years ago with a band I love. It just so happened any of the usual people that I could have got to join me were busy so I went on my own. I bought one of those camping chairs that fold up supper small and only folded it up when the group started. It was one of the best things I’ve ever seen. I think it’s more weird not to go than to go.Generally I like to do things with other people but I like my own company a lot too.

Do it. She’s fabulous live.

Honestly, you sound like you’re about ninety. You’re in the prime of life, not on the scrap heap.

We couldn't get within miles of the festival at 11pm. We just sat in stationary traffic and the kids had to walk until they found us.

handy to know, thanks! DH can sneak through the back roads of Caversham from quite a way back so I'm sure I can walk a kilometre though Caversham once I'm over the bridge, and the bridge is really close to the festival site. I suspect approaching from the north/across the river won't be as bad as coming in from the centre of Reading.

It’s totally safe, ignore the weird comment about it not being, there’s thousands of people there 😂 it will be amazing, do it!

We're late 30s and we're going! Not camping obv, going back to nice hotel. the arena rules seem very standard to me for a gig? I usually go to Glasto though where you can take what you like.

Not mad at all! Sounds brilliant, I’m 56 and would do that for a band I love.

A wee bag will be fine anyway, less hassle. I like my Forage belt bag just now for gigs: doesn’t pull on the shoulders and hands free

Just relax and enjoy! A couple of drinks, you’ll be singing along down the front!

How exciting. Go!!

Just put her album on, saw her live once. Amazing!…. You can always just chill for a bit, take a breather, get some food!!… 🌺

Came here to say this. Look into whether you are eligible for any accessibility provisions. For example if you are unable to stand for long periods and are able to have access to the viewing platform this might overall be better for you than standing at the front. Accessibility provisions can also affect what you are allowed to bring in.

There might be other accessibility provisions available e.g. some festivals have a chillout space/low sensory space which can be helpful if the festival is overwhelming for you.

(I have volunteered in accessibility for a festival for several years.)

@GlomOfNit go go go!! Florence is amazing live! Truly fabulous.

If you want to be near the front, you need to go earlier, for the smaller artists though. & not leave to pee, all day, until after Florence. Do NOT take a book! You and your book will be trampled the busier it gets in the pit!! & be prepared to stand your ground when folks think they're more deserving of your good spot & try to wiggle their way into it (looking at you, girl with her hand/arm wedged between me and dd1 at Trnsmt barricade last year 🙄. I may be ancient but I still like music & dancing & being at the front ffs).

Or you could go back pit. Much more chilled, bit of dancing, watch the huge screens & soak up the atmosphere.

Either way, I reckon you should go. Flo is so worth the effort!

Go. What are you waiting for?
Don't listen to all these Debbie Downers on here moaning about standing up for too long (bore off)
You love Florence and you live down the road.

Get a ticket NOW.
X

Florence is so worth it, go for it.

I saw her at the O2 with Paris Paloma as the support act and it was just an incredible night.

We saw them at Birmingham. Wouldn’t have been my choice but OMG I would absolutely see both or either of them again. Incredible.

You are allowed to take your own empty water bottle (500ml) so you can fill at various water points in the arena

My daughter did similar a couple of years ago (think it was longer that 4.5 hours though 🤦🏼‍♀️), having gone on her own.

Her dad (XH) was supposed be taking her but something cropped up so I ended up saddled up with the drop off an pick up service and a boring day and night in a Travelodge in the arse end of wherever the cheapest place to stay with a train link was.

It took forever to get in and drop her off. She came halfway back by train and I picked her there instead of driving into Reading. She was an absolute state by the time she got in the car (as a 20yo gym bunny!).

I totally get why you want to do it but I'd worry that you'll end up being so knackered and stressed you won't enjoy it. That said Reading is a youngsters festival so you might not have too much trouble getting near the stage.

Good grief, woman, you're 53 not 93!

It what world is it mad to travel 30 miles to see a band you like?!

Well, don't fucking go, then! But the OP wants to go, not watch telly.

I don't love festivals but we do Victorious sometimes- an easy day option. I'd suggest before you commit to Reading which is a long rough day, see if she's got any concerts that are just her plus an opening act. Maybe you can do a weekend trip with DS, stay in a hotel and make explore somewhere.