Glade Festival review 2009
We felt a bit intrepid and daring this weekend as we headed off to a field in Hampshire to go check out the Glade Festival. We'd heard all about it but not being schooled in the art of electronica we hadn't actually made the effort to check this one out - until now. We're a bit old school and like a beginning, middle and an end in a song, so the prospect of 72 hours of non-stop music was a little daunting, but what better way to see if you can be turned? It was time to dust off our 80s house music hand movements manual and see if we could avoid standing out like your Dad at a school disco and try not to call anyone a disc jockey - and no, that's not a euphamism.
Arriving at the site road weary and wary of the imminent Dance extravaganza it turned out we needn't have worried - the rain had ceased and the sun was shining revealing a wonderland of sights, sounds, smells, art and an assortment of some very odd people who were all set for a full on weekend of non stop partying. You could have stepped straight through the Looking Glass at the Bowl this weekend. We had a gander about, got our bearings and checked out what was on offer and noticed that the site was beautifully set out and it was immediately and blindingly obvious that these organisers take their partying very seriously indeed. It was also apparent that even this early into the festival things had already kicked off and the Matterley Bowl was well and truly alive, pretty impressive for a Friday afternoon.
Once you get yourself to the hub of all activity you find that it's a very comfortable site to get about and the proximity of the camping area makes it a doddle for Glade folk to roll out of bed (literally) and right into the action and back again - trust us, many folk did just that!
The capacity at this event is perfect for folk who don't like the huge corporate events. 10,000 is a really great size and was perfect for the bowl, never overcrowded, always comfortable and with so much on offer you were never squashed or pushed as you are at so many other festivals. The intimacy is a large part of what it is that makes Glade desirable and makes festival goers feel secure.
Glade has a great feel to it, the way that festivals should be. Attention to detail is evident with real thought having gone into the layout and ambience, tailored to the needs, likes and wants of their target audience. This is something that the organisers excel at, creating a wonderland packed full of festival delights in a cool setting. This all seems to give it an edge and it makes it easy to feel that you really can leave everyday worries at the entrance and get away from it all. The lack of commercialism and advertising is a real breath of fresh air particularly with the reasonably priced food and drink, it was just how festivals used to be before so many became so corporate.
The food range was geared more towards alternative products than the boring standard (poor) festival burger and chips, the prices were good and not overpriced like you find at many other festivals. We found tea and most drinks at £1 which represented really good value and stands up as a beacon among festivals where a £1 would get you half a pint of nothing at all.
Medical services were on site driving around in buggy style ambulances, there were doctors on call for emergencies, and this ensured that any reveller who had overdone it or got into trouble got prompt medical attention, probably an essential at a festival of this nature. We would have to say though that if you're at a festival and you see someone who appears to be out of it, please check them out and get help if necessary, there were times when we saw people spark out and nobody checking, it could be important so do make sure you keep an eye out for your fellow festival goer.
Glade promised that 2009 would be "Louder, Later, Longer" and it certainly delivered on its promise as festival goers were treated to a virtual 24 hour party zone, something they had long wanted and the perpetual nature of the event didn't go amiss with those who seemed able to party without rest. Billing itself as the best underground electronic music in the world, Glade spans over 10 different stages and these stages bring just about everything any self respecting dance fan could wish for, add to that an easy to traverse site, stunning pyrotechnics, gentle crowd, imaginative decoration plus the weird and wonderful and this award winning festival was on top form.
The boutique nature and feel of the festival blends nicely with the ambient nature, but don't get us wrong here, just because it's chilled out doesn't mean there isn't a massive wealth of excitement generated by some pretty full on performances and entertainment littered throughout the site.
Festival goers were in seventh heaven as they steadily partied the weekend away, whatever the weather threw it made absolutely no difference; when it was really wet they took refuge in the tents, when it was sunny they emerged into the arena, when it was windy they did a bit of both. The most stoic of all stages was the outside Origin Stage. Whatever they did and whatever the weather there was always a great crowd for the full on Psytrance, this stage was crammed for the whole weekend - obviously known for bringing the best in the UK and it showed by the reaction of the crowd.
When you needed a rest there was the InSpiral Chillout on hand with its gentle tranquil healing area, market and ambient music. There's also masses of hedonistic treats littered throughout Glade with the Interstella Circus and Cabaret Bar serving up whole host of delights throughout the weekend - the weird, the wonderful, the dispossessed, the meek and the bold are all catered for here and the whole festival becomes an imaginative feast enveloping all the senses.
Nowhere became more alive than the Arcadia at night, the pyrotechnic treats on offer set the whole bowl aglow as Arcadia were at the fore with another stunning pyrotechnic masterpiece that can only be described as awesome. The sublime, stunning and extraordinary structure was something to behold; by day you saw an archtectural treat but at night the most breath taking displays of light and sound with what has to be the most mind boggling DJ booth in the universe!
The Rabbit Hole, with its cock"tails" and carrot based decor and equipment, had quite a following with its ability to attract a number of revellers to the stage and the Rabbit Hole had its fair share of attractions, from funk bands to African three piece music.
With some shockingly good performances happening on the Glade stage over the weekend the festival seemed able to cope with just about everything. Being dance novices (and more likely to be listening to the Prodigy than Squarepusher) we had thought that musically the festival would be too narrow for us, while it has to be said that Glade really is one for dance fans there is more to it than that and the Glade stage with it's more eclectic range of music adds an attractive dimension to this festival. We were always pleasantly surprised to see instruments to compliment the bewildering array of computer equipment and turntables for any set.
Performances from Underworld, Squarepusher and Freeland were simply not to be missed and all drew the crowds for sets that delivered on their promise. You wouldn't think it possible for 10,000 people to be grinning from ear to ear for a whole weekend - but that's what you get with Glade, people loved it and now we can see why.
Surprises for us over the weekend were a top set from Dub Pistols. It's always special when there's an act that clearly love what they do - and without doubt the Dub Pistols were loving it from the moment they stepped onto that stage to the moment they finished - it showed and the crowd loved them for it. A guest appearance from Lindy Layton singing Dub Be Good To Me added to the fun as the band rolled out their hits.
Following on from the Dub Pistols we got a high energy, raw and rocking performance from Freestylers - another act that were having so much fun it was instantly infectious. Valerie, one of three main performers, a front woman who oozes sex appeal, a proper rock chic no less, (but did she forget to put some of her clothes on) was superb. The atmosphere was charged and the band put in a performance that never failed to keep the crowd bouncing.
Finlay Quaye delivered a performance that made you wonder where he's been lately, it's certainly time we heard more from Mr Quaye, there's got to be more to come from this talented guy and from the reaction he got at Glade the audience know it. There was a lot of love in the house for Finlay, and underneath his unexpectedly shy demeanour is a real character.
Booka Shade, the veteran pioneering German electrohouse duo closed the Glade stage on Friday with an energetic set that many had waited all day for and weren't disappointed when it arrived.
Squarepusher's appeal drew another large crowd on Saturday night as the Chelmsford lad held the audience for the duration with his unique take on drum and bass and acid with a jazz influence. Many told us that they had gone to Glade for this particular act, it may have been a little too advanced for our undeveloped Dance minds, but you can judge an artist's ability on the reaction of their crowd, which puts Squarepusher right up there.
For the Glade stage and probably the festival itself, the only UK festival performance from Underworld was the one that everybody had been waiting all weekend for. They were a top choice to close the Glade stage on the Sunday, setting the final seal on what was, despite the weather, a simply delightful festival.
Karl Hyde and Rick Smith set foot on the stage and for a while all seemed well with the world as the guys delivered to a joyous crowd. This was a deligthful set that gave the crowd just what they wanted and just what they'd come for. This is a frontman who goes off on a musical journey and takes the crowd with him; unique and playful, heavy and intense, mesmerising and visual - it was brilliant and most of Glade was there to enjoy it. It was a fabulous and fitting end to the festival, for those of us who didn't stay up until 4am.
Sorry but...
It was a shame that the wonderful ambience of the event was marred by the use of a security team that had absolutely no customer skills whatsoever. It's the old story when you put a tactical vest with "security" on some people ... Obviously customer skills training has eluded SLS. We saw one festival goer chased, flung to the ground and then sat on by several security, when they finally let him up they used handcuffs as they marched him off - when will they learn that it is illegal to use handcuffs? They are not the police and have no more power of arrest than you or I. Whilst we don't know what this guy had done to warrant this treatment what was clear was the fact that he was co-operating fully, so why the heavy handed approach? It seemed completely out of keeping with the atmosphere and vibe the organisers are striving, and largely succeeding in providing. At other festivals we have noticed a huge change in attitude toward customers, security have been changing their image, slowly but surely, the good guys are able to do their job effectively whilst maintaining a degree of civility toward what are, after all, paying customers. It's a real let down for such a chilled out festival to use a security firm that appear not to have stepped into the new world and prefer to patrol in vans.
We also came across a rogue trader - Oh La La - another fine example of rude individuals who really shouldn't be let near the general public, if you come across them at any other festival we'd suggest giving them a wide berth. But enough of the negative aspects in what was, after all, a success of a festival and one that we think has all the ingredients needed to make it a top festival in it's genre.
Did Glade Shine?
It's a shame that Glade is always referred to as a Glastonbury spin-off because these guys have earned their wings and are really cutting it on their own merit as a stand alone festival. We believe that the comparison is more of a compliment about Glade's organisation than a "not as good as Glastonbury" slight, as they have ensured an all round festival experience for their guests rather than concentrating on one or two stages with a few burger vans. Glade's capacity is perfect, and lends itself well to the genre, giving enough space for people to dance, and one lad we met had come because it wasn't massive, because those great big events scared him. After 6 years Glade can say it has truly arrived, Glade should be proud and can legitimately call itself the UK's premier festival for electronic dance.
The guys have a little gem on their hands, there were no serious issues just full on fun and partying in a wonderland that had been put together by some very talented people - a top festival indeed. Sort out that security issue and Glade will be absolutely perfect all round.
Did we get turned on to dance music by Glade? Unfortunately not, but what it has shown us is that if electronic music is your thing then you should definitely be looking seriously at Glade's early bird tickets, you won't be disappointed. This festival is buzzing with a vibe that affects both crowd and performers and for the duration we got it, it's certainly on another level!
For us it's now time to pack away our glow sticks, safe in the knowledge that we chose a simply amazing festival to test our mettle.
Did Glade shine? Hell yes!
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