Willies, Pee, Poo, and Puke
So I ended up going to Roskilde Festival this year, acting as a translator for Thilde's employers; Mindjumpers.
The last time I went was in 2001, which was the first time, and I thought the last time, I would ever go to a festival. I'm not sure why, but festivals have just never really appealed to me. I love the idea, and all the stories and pictures I've seen from festivals, but until 2001, I just never had the urge. Oh, wait, I'm lying. I actually bought a ticket to Glastonbury in 1999, but didn't go. I still have the ticket, in mint condition, framed. I think I might sell it at some point. Anyway, just never went.
Roskilde 2001 was incredible, I have to say. We were blessed with beautiful weather, and a great line-up. OK, I don't really remember who was playing exactly (Dandy Warhols...Robbie....Nick Cave....there must have been others...), but what I do remember is just having the most fantastic time. I didn't shower for 5 days, and loved every second of it.
Of course memory blanks parts out, like, for example, the overpowering stench of pee, poo, and puke. Henceforth known as the 3 P's of festival life. I also forgot just how carefree men are with weeing in public. I have never seen so many willies in all my life. Every where. Every corner you turn; willy willy willy. Every tree was surrounded by a dark circle. Woe betide those who decided to sit up against said tree..... The toilets are another thing. Although, I have to say, I think they did a great job. They were emptied twice a day, and fresh loo roll was put in, but that didn't stop some toilets from getting so full, that you couldn't sit on them, without your bum touching something that it really, really shouldn't touch.
We were also blessed with incredible weather this year. Almost too good. 35° sometimes, hitting 45° in some tents. Mental. Worst of all was waking up in it, in a tent.
The thing is, I think I'm getting too old for it. And by saying that, I don't think there is any kind of age limit whatsoever for festivals; there was the hugest age range there. From grandpas to newborns - it was one for all. What I mean is that I'm getting to old for it. The falling asleep with all your clothes on. The waking up freezing in the middle of the night, only to have trouble falling back to sleep as your neighbours have just got home and decide to keep the party going at full volume. The waking up at 8am because of the heat, the light, and the neighbours who are still up/can't sleep. The queue for absolutely everything. The smell. The mess. The dirt. The lack of space. The lack of anywhere to be alone! Sometimes, I just wanted to go home. I can't lie.
But, for the most of it. I loved it. Already now the smell of the 3 P's is fading. The tent seems almost cosy. The fact that you can buy all your food ready made. The community spirit. The fact that everyone is there for the same reason. The moments of pure happiness you catch yourself in. The feeling that you're on holiday, even though you live 30 minutes away. It's magic. So many aspects.
And of course, there's the music. I didn't see everyone I wanted to see, but again, that's me getting too old. The low point was Röyksopp. A concert that should have been a highlight, but the sheer amount of people meant we had to make our way to the back of the crowd, as we were just being squashed, pushed around, and just generally very uncomfortable. Panic almost set it at one point, and all I could think was 'Hillsborough! Hillsborough!', never mind the deaths at Roskilde in 2000 at the Pearl Jam gig. As I was thinking this, Thilde went down, and I admit, I flipped at the guy responsible. Luckily, Thilde and another man stopped it coming to blows (I feared a headbutt coming on....he was that kind of guy), and we eventually made it out, but with a ruined evening. Oddly enough, there was no report of this in the daily festival newspaper, and I can't help but think that we can't be the only ones who had a bad experience. Hmmmm.
It seems to me, and my great 2 festival, festival experience, that there are different types at festivals now. I don't know. I feel that the explosion of dance, house, electronic music has attracted an entirely different crowd, and it's a crowd that people are threatened by, scared of, and just put, for me, an oppressive feel to concerts. I want to be able to not worry about who I accidently bump in to. I want to be able to hold my girlfriend's hand and not worry about that group standing over there - stupid name calling from teenagers I can't handle, fearing a beating I can't. I want to not see muscled lads with crewcuts and bulldogs ploughing through the crowd like they own the shit. Is it just me? Am I just getting old? Am I lame for thinking that festivals are about community, peace, music and (God, I'm going to say it), a little bit of love?
Anyway. Back to the music. As I said, I didn't see all that I wanted to, but once you're up at 8am, walking all day in the heat, the prospect of staying up til 2am to stand packed like sardines to hear something just wasn't that appealing. But I can live without seeing them. I'll catch Lilly Allen another time. Those I did see, or hear were:
Tom Middleton
Lulu Rouge
Lucy Love
Rumpistol
Volbeat
KanyeWest
Trentemøller
Faith No More
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
LaBrassBanda
Oasis
Grace Jones
Röyksopp
Balstyrko
Kasai Allstars
Coldplay
Not bad considering I didn't pay a dime for the ticket! Lucy Love was incredible. Absolutely mind blowing gig. Loved it! But my festival highlight was LaBrassBanda. We were just walking around in the sun, when we heard some good music coming from a tent, and wandered over. Once in, we stood, then moved up on to some steps, where people were sitting and watching. The place was half empty, but the band was giving their all. In twos and threes, people were drawn to the concert, and in less than an hour, the place was packed, everyone was dancing, and the atmosphere was just incredible. I loved every second of it, especially the fact that this was a gig we had just chanced upon. It was fantastic - go listen.
The whole festival was, all in all, a great experience. To be there with the girlfriend was magic. To wander around in the sun, eat, drink, sit, relax on grass or in the sand, to people watch. To eat my dinner with Madness playing 'It Must be Love' in the background. To smile and talk to random strangers. To stumble across music you love (and have now forgotten). It's worth all the piss, shit and vomit. In fact, as far as I remember...it wasn't that bad...was it??