See that picture above? The one with a terrified looking Duke Special? That's me (fairly drunk) at Glasgowbury 2010. Look how much fun I'm having scaring this poor man. you too could have that much fun. Just read on...
Over the last 13 years I have been to festivals of all kinds, in different countries and of all shapes and sizes - Leeds weekender, Download, Sonisphere, Oxegen, Forfay, Novarock, Electric Bay to name a few. I actually met my wife at a festival 13 years ago, so they'll always hold a special place for me. I have been to at least one festival every year for the last 10 years and wouldn't consider a summer complete without one. So I would consider my self somewhat of an experienced festivaller (is that a word?) They're a great time to get away for a few days, immerse yourself in music and have a laugh with your mates. This year I'm pretty skint, so with that in mind I'm forgoing attending a major fest and instead keeping it local, I know I'll spend no-where near the amount of money on the 2 weekends at the smaller festivals that I'd spend on the one big festival. So..I thought I'd write a few of my thoughts on festivals of all sizes and then preview the 2 I'll be attending this year.Having been to a festival with 100,000 people and one with a few hundred, I wanted to put a few points across for going local, to the smaller fest that's crammed with local talent.
Money
A big reason is money, there's a recession on and people are wanting more bang for their buck. For example Pigstock festival is £35 for the weekend and that includes camping, so for £35 you get 2 days and nights of non-stop music, accommodation and night time cinema/shenanigans.Usually about £70 would do you for booze and food, so you can see for about £100, it's a cheap enough way to spend a weekend. On the other hand a ticket to Download festival will set you back £200 plus plane fare and spends when you're there. I've never come back from a major festival without spending at least £250 and that was purely on food and booze. At the end of the day you're not walking away with change from £500. 
Local Talent
Supporting and discovering local talent is a great reason to go as well. This country is crammed with talent, and while international acts are all well and good, it's always good to check out what's on you doorstep. The smaller festivals tend to be top to toe local entertainment and as such are a great time to check them out and possibly find your self a new favourite band.
The Undercard
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| Swanee River @ Pigstock |
This year Pastie Bap will be going to 2 festivals - Pigstock and Glasgowbury. We've been to both of these before many times and love them both dearly, like our own special sons, so here's a wee preview of both. We'll be reporting back after the events too!
Glasgowbury
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| Wonder Villians @ Glasgowbury |
The big Daddy of Norn Irish fests - it may only be 1 day and 1 night, but what a day and night it always is. Statistically the last weekend in July is NI's hottest and that’s when Glasgowbury is held, so chances are you're in for a fine weekend weather wise. Put that together with 4 stages at the foot of the Sperrins, some drink and a tent to sleep it all off in and you can see why this is such a good time. This is the biggest of the local fests, so the "Small but Massive" motto that they boast is entirely apt.
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| The Signs @ Galsgowbury |
The early bird camping ticket will set you back £40 and it's money well spent.
Therapy? are headlining this year and there's always more acts being announced.
The Japanese Popstars / Fighting With Wire / LaFaro / Axis Of /
RunawayGO / Best Boy Grip / Soak / Pocket Billiards / Sons Of Caliber / The
Wonder Villains / Farriers / Marc O’Reilly / Amidships / Silhouette / Paddy
Nash & The Happy Enchiladas / VerseChorusVerse / Pretty Child
Backfire / Our Krypton Son / Kowalski /
Enemies / Katie & The Carnival / The Man Whom / Droids / Master & Dog /
Tied To Machines / The Dead Presidents / Tucan / The 1930s / The Jepettos /
Scorpion Jack / Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters / John Deery & The Heads /
Humanshield / Mojo Gogo / Intermission / 4 Conors /Psycatron
/ Deep Fried Funk / Boxcutter presents The Host / Space Dimension
Controller /Ryan Vail.
Pigstock
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| No Mean City @ Pigstock |
If Glasgowbury is the big daddy, then this is the naughty school boy of NI festivals. With a leaning more towards rock music but with something for everyone Pigstock is a weekend of loud music and good times. Improving every year and forming from humble beginnings, Pigstock expanded last year to 2 nights and a much batter layout. It has 3 stages of music, a spoken word tent, late night cinema, an on site bar and of course the famous hog roast that it's named after, that truly has to be tasted to believe. It's a very family friendly festival with separate campsite away from the rowdys with its own noise curfew. It's held in a field in the middle of nowhere, well Killinchy to be more precise.
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| Mental Deficiency @ Pigstock |
A weekend ticket with Camping will cost you £35 (and possibly your soul)
Headlined by MOJO FURY and Fighting with Wire with supporting cast from
Jogging/ More Than Conquerors/ Colly Strings/ Jamie Neish/ Not Squares/ Rarely Seen Above Ground/ Kowalski/ Tieranniesaur/ Ryan Vail/ Team Horse/ Chris Campbell/
Mojo Fury/ Mmoths/ Squarehead/ Pocket Billiards/ In Case Of Fire/Silhouette/ Run Away Go/ Farriers/ Eatenbybears/ In Elegance/ Not Squares/ Rarely Seen Above Ground/ Kowalski/ Tieranniesaur/ Ryan Vail/ Team Horse/ Chris Campbell
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