It’s that time of the year again…
by Ben Davis on 22 June, 2011 | 0 comments
It’s that time of the year again when over 100,000 people descend on the farm of a slightly awkwardly bearded Somersetian for a musical gathering which bares no comparison. I am of course referring to the mighty Glastonbury.
The 2011 Glasto is a special one because it’s the last one… until 2013. It precedes a fallow year for the festival next year, so those who are regulars at the event are making the most of this weekend. Local authorities, villagers, religious fundamentalists and event acts of God have tried to stop Glastonbury in the past but it seems the unsuspecting and humble toilet has put paid to next year.
Yes, the cost of portable lavatories is blamed for the 2012 fallow period according to organiser and owner Mr Eavis. There’s a sever shortage of them as the capital drains the nations portable toilet coffers to supply the Olympic games and in turn pushing the price of the few remaining sky high. Who’d have thought it?
It’s safe to say our local music has always had a close connection with the festival. In 2005 Cream Tangerine made it to the finals of the Glastonbury New Talent Competition, narrowly missing out to an unknown band called The Subways.
3 years later, Andy Hickie and the Merry Maiden’s made it through to the final of the same competition. Although they didn’t win, Mr Eavis himself was so impressed with their performance he gave them a slot to play at the festival anyway!
Fast forward to 2011 and Andy is playing Glastonbury again, albeit without his Merry Maiden’s and double albeit not at the festival itself. He played at the nearby Glastonbury Tor this week before welcoming the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge alongside another local act Heal the Last Stand, who are actually playing the Glastonbury Festival itself. They played the Small World Stage in the Green Future Fields area on Wednesday 22nd and then on the 23rd June they play the Tadpole Stage before taking to the Small World Stage again on Sunday.
