Well, I’ve just got back from my first ever festival experience, and wow, what an experience! First of all it was boiling hot and now I look like a human lobster, but I guess it was all worth it.
When we pulled up I couldn’t believe the amount of tents and cars that were lining ever available inch of grass, but it was as we entered to ‘arena’ type area that I was just blown away by the sheer size of the place…
Endless bars, burger vans and merch stalls lined the outer walls, whilst a massive stage loomed all over them all, and then there was another stage complete with its set of bars and another one with it’s complete little village! I was completely dumfounded.
Then there were the people, I mean there was everyone, old, young, rocker, emo and even Barney the big purple dinosaur… I feel sorry for whoever was stuck inside there all day! But work was to be done and I hauled myself over to the press area for my first batch of interviews.
Having no idea what I was doing, I just wandered around aimlessly wondering if these people were ‘in a band’ or not, but eventually people started coming up to me and asking ‘are you Ruth?’ which was quite weird as we’d never actually met… and away I went.
Starting off I chatted with Young Guns, Dir En Grey and Voivod, all of whom were super nice and made me feel relaxed despite the fact that I was the only girl in shorts and pumps, surrounded by lots of super hot, rock star men.
Then before I knew it A Day To Remember (my favourites) were due on stage and it was up to me to try and navigate my way to the second stage for a glimpse of the man of my dreams, Neil Westfall, but before the set was over, Roadrunner Records called to ask me to come and interview Killswitch Engage, a band I grew up loving, I mean, I was torn, stay and watch my favourites or go and interview a band I admired.
So, off I went back on the massive trek to the press area, which I found quite well seen as I was on my own, and there didn’t appear to be any obvious signs, I just sort o followed the crowds and hope for the best! Killswitch we awesome, and so down to earth considering the scale of the band, and when they cam on stage later that afternoon, the place just went crazy. I did get to chat to A Day To Remember later that day though, which was pretty awesome, even though the future husband wasn’t there. Boo.
It was during their set when I realised how honoured I was to be here, in a place where noone was fighting or hating each other, and everyone picked people up should they fall down next to them. Everyone was there to enjoy the sun and listen to some incredible music, and bloody hell, what a line up.
Limp Bizkit tore the place apart, and the sense of unity between people as the batted each other during the famous ‘wall of death’ was totally awe inspiring, and how Wes managed a full set in a full leather outfit is totally beyond me, that guy has heart.
Korn were on top form too, and as it was the first time I’ve seen them, i have to admit, i couldn’t tear my eyes from the stage, the presence that this band had was unbelievable and something I imagine a lot of people how to repeat with their own band – they completely captivated everyone in their for their whole set.
Faith No More and Motley Crue were two band’s I’ve grown to appreciate ever since I started working in a rock club whilst i was at university, so when i was minding my own business and making a cup of tea and Tommy Lee walks in, i thought my head was going to fall off. I mean WHAT? I’m making a brew and Motley Crue walk into the room… well Didn’t get ot speak to them though, they were quickly whisked away from us peaky journalists!
One thing I did learn though, was that festival toilets are as bad as they say, but luckily the press have ‘real’ toilets… so, time for bed and ready for tomorrows fun.
Make sure to check out the site on Monday for a full review of the headline acts, as well as interviews with hoards of the acts.
Oh and always remember to wear suncream. Ouch!
Ruth xx
