Glasto Day Three (Friday)<\/b>
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A day of glorious sunshine!<\/p>\n
Finally, I could replace my wellies with a pair of trainers as the ground hardened under the scorching sun.<\/p>\n
The site is now packed and we took a good look around to see how things have changed (the last time I was here was back in the fence-jumping, tent-stealing Scally days).<\/p>\n
There’s been a lot said about the corporatisation of Glastonbury, and things have definitely changed: the bands are more mainstream, the place is crawling with BBC live broadcast folks, there’s cashpoints on site and Orange have erected mobile masts all over the place.<\/p>\n
But I’m happy to report that the spirit of Glastonbury is still very much alive, although you may have to look a little harder for it.<\/p>\n
A trip to the Green Fields will immediately confirm all is well, with all the usual bonkers hippy stuff in full attendance.<\/p>\n
If you’re after obscure healing practices, strange massages and oddball cures for insomnia, you’re definitely in the right place.<\/p>\n
There’s a strong environmental message throughout the site, with a nice touch being Eavis’s insistence that all coffee sold be Fair Trade. Respect!<\/p>\n
So, on to the day’s report: we started late (naturally) but after a trip to the sacred stones (now a bustling tourist spot), we managed to catch the second half of Wilco’s set.<\/p>\n
And it was rather a strange set, with the guitarist seemingly unable to stop himself bursting into guitar noise frenzies every other song.<\/p>\n
That’s all well and good of course, but it does sit rather awkwardly when the rest of the band are playing melodic country-rock!<\/p>\n
Next on the agenda was a trip to the Glade stage to hook up with a host of Urbanites in various states of disrepair (some had over indulged in the mighty fine pear cider being sold nearby).<\/p>\n
We headed off to the dance tent for a bit (it is massive!)<\/i> before rendezvousing back at the cider bus.<\/p>\n
Suitably refreshed, we hauled over to the New Stage to see new Canadian rockers, The Stills who put in a fine set of Brit-inspired gloom-rock (think of the Cure meets Snow Patrol).<\/p>\n
Things get a little hazy in the evening. We returned to the cider bus for some beers and found ourselves uncomfortable close to the dire dirge of Oasis.<\/p>\n
Rarely have I heard a band sound so tired. Awful stuff.<\/p>\n
At the end of the evening we headed up to the star of Glastonbury: the Lost Vagueness area.<\/p>\n
It is fantastic! Like a mutant Las Vegas set in squat land, there’s a church, casino (dinner jackets required), diner and dance hall decorated with sumptuous red velvet and oversized chandeliers.<\/p>\n
Burlesque dancers, trapeze artists and ring masters entertained the dressed up crowd with a fabulous show before Fat Boy Slim put in an unexpected appearance. The place rocked!<\/p>\n
Is Glastonbury still a magical place? You betcha!<\/p>\n