Entertainment For Lively Minds
The Digital Glastonbury starts here

In order to bring you the complete service Word offers a choice of Glastonburys.
1. The Real Glastonbury that takes place in the physical world, somewhere in the West Country. Mark Ellen, Kate Mossman and Andrew Harrison will in the fullness of time be reporting back to you from what Johnny Cash called "the mud and the blood and the beer".
2. The Digital Glastonbury which is being enjoyed by me and Rob Fitzpatrick and Fraser Lewry from the comfort and safety of our front rooms. Here the wine is always chilled, the bathroom arrangements are familiar and a short stagger takes us to our beds.
Using a variety of "news feeds" including the usual BBC coverage, half-baked gossip items from the tabloids and desperate pleas for Medical Evacuation from our People On The Site we shall be keeping up a steady stream of ill-informed news and speculation for as long as we feel like it.
Why not join us and tell us how the event looked to you? Why not tell us what you're doing instead of going to Glastonbury? Trips to B&Q, the odds the bookmakers are offering on an Amy Winehouse no-show, lawn-mowing tips; the Digital Glastonbury will not be constrained by time, space, weather or fatigue.
It's set to become part of the Great British Summer. Be an early adopter. Now pass me that foot stool, will you?










I'll be at Mandela tonight
I'll be at Mandela tonight, but I'll make sure Amy heads off in the right direction after her set. Looking forward to the digital glasto coverage in all its forms.
Martin
Pentangle beckons
Sunday at the Royal Festival Hall.
Nice and dry and warm.
The 'Head
I'm off to Radiohead at Glasgow Green tonight with that Glasto essential, the cagoule, packed and ready for a downpour. The rest of the weekend will be spent enjoying digital Glastonbury, where the sound is always better than it is in the middle of the field at Pilton - ergo Killers and Arctic Monkeys last year, great on the telly, by all accounts barely heard by the Glastonbury masses.
This weekend
I will become my father, as I enter fully into the world of gardening. Not just mowing the lawn, but actually planting stuff into the ground, with an actual spade, or perhaps trowl.
And then on Sunday, instead of recovering from watching Jay-Z, I will instead going to my second Archery class.
At no point will I be in a muddy field with anyone. I hope.
In the words of Hughie Green...
....we wanna hear about it. Particularly the gardening.
The REAL joy of the earth
It's there to be tamed - at least in my garden.
Having been a little 'exuberant' a month ago with the mosskiller on the lawn, this weekend I will be dealing with the effects of what looks like an American attack on my back garden using Agent Orange. Reseeding will be required. During this activity I will be plugged into my Archos (For some reason Steely Dan goes well with gardening I find)
At the same time I will be exulting in the opportunity to use the phrase 'I spilled my seed' in its literal sense at our planned party later in the evening.
Didn't Steely Dan usually use
the drummer who famously died in a bizarre gardening accident? I think he was also in Toto?
Jeff Pocaro
Died aged 38 after an allergic reaction to garden pesticide (according to Wikipedia).
I...
Will check out this website for the running blog, though.
Is it raining yet?
all together now trudging slowly through thick mud back to the tent where your clothes were stolen it's the wetland town they forgot to close down.
Word of warning "revellers" no drink should be this colour.
This sentence...
This sentence "here the wine is always chilled, the bathroom arrangements are familiar and a short stagger takes us to our beds" in twenty words describe why I stopped going to festivals.
Looking forward to listening/watching from the comfort of my "comfy" chair though, inbetween grouting the bathroom, painting the hall and gardening (weather, of course permitting).
I can't believe I cut the grass last weekend now!
What was I thinking?
instead of going to Glastonbury
...and I was offered a ticket, it would have been my first, but just couldn't bring myself etc...
I will be recording someone playing electric guitar for the next four days. The studio will be warm and dry, tea and biscuits will be readily available, as will a clean and functioning commode. The only downside to this is that I will of course be topping up on my studio-tan. I therefore expect the weekend to be the warmest on record, which always seems to happen when I have three or four days booked.
Geoff
Harrumph....
Have to say I even can't face watching it on the telly these days, mainly as they hop from act to act, missing out anyone who might remotely appeal for some attention seeking popular act. (But, as I write, if Laughing Len is on the telly, can someone let me know)
And as for the bloody presenters.....
Cambridge telly is all I can stomach these days.
I'm going to a 52nd birthday Chinese tonight, 9 year old twins birthdays bash tomorrow, which is better than it sounds,as the kids run riot in the garden, whilst the parents talk cooking, travel,alcohol and, even, if there's a chance, music. Good chums coming round on sunday for tea. At some stage I may get a touch slarmied. That'll do me. Oh, and Sky are coming to restart the interweb after a month without, thru' moving house. Lots of blogs to catch up on.
Shaking All Over
Off for a few beers down the local tonight,will head home for 11 to watch the BBC coverage with a wee dram of whiskey. Will no doubt nod off unless anything grabs me . Slightly curious to see how Shakin Stevens goes down, could this be the mother of comebacks or Glastonbury's cringe moment this year? Who knows, looking forward to seeing if Crowded House are up for it too. Off to a muddy forest in the North Yorkshire National Park to see Quo tomorrow night! Hope the burgers are better than last year. BBC coverahe of Glastonbury tends to be "Safe" viewing every year.
Opening our garden
Mrs Wonderful and I will be opening our garden this weekend for charidee. All of the preparation work is done, the weather forecast isn't too bad, so we'll probably settle down for the afternoon tomorrow and Sunday with the day's papers and a chilled bottle of Lambrusco responding to visitors enquiries as to how we get our geraniums looking so nice. I'll probably occasionally pop in to check on the TV whether Glastonbury has been designated a disaster area (floods, a fire yesterday, it can only be a matter of time before the plague of locusts descends).
I've been to Glastonbury once and it only rained once...for four days solid. Never again.
I think I speak for the Massive...
...when I say we want to see your garden.
I've just finished tiling the bathroom..
...now I'm having some beers and catching up with today's blog. Missed the disco, but grateful for Betty Boo vids. Will watch Glasto on telly, have more beers, possibly peanuts, then fall asleep on sofa. Life is sweet.
It's on BBC Thre now
All these digital options are a bit much for me. I always feel if I press the wrong key it will all go on my bill.
I spy lots of anoraks.
"How you doing, Digital Glastonbury?"
What's everybody having for dinner?
Tagliatelle
with a spinich and gorgonzola sauce. I'm cooking and already the second bottle of white has been uncorked.
For pudding - some incredibly delicious chocolate puddings, bought from Waitrose this very afternoon by Mrs Elliott. If all goes well we will eat in the garden, which I earlier strimmed and watered. Toumani Diabate is on the Stereo amd all is well in this neck of the woods.
FIrst use...
...of the word "strimmed" on the Word site, I guarantee.
Hip Hop Saved My Life
Just seen the performance on BBC3 of the "song" Hip Hop Saved My Life.
It was good and reminds me that some hip hop can have a cross over appeal to a hardened rock fan like me.
Ham Sald for dinner David! See you at Cornbury on 2 weeks.
Just tuned in on BBC3...
...the first (of many, no doubt) Joy Division tribute band are playing. Is it The Editors or Interpol? I literally find it impossible to tell.
They are a bit, aren't they.
I think it is the earnest young man with mannered vocals and twitching.
I like them. it is Editors. I have their first LP which is great, if a little samey. (OK, a lot samey.)
Voice doesn't fit his youthful face, I feel, even with the whiskers.
I've got a bottle of pink cava on the go
got anchovy pasta coming soon. Coronation Street's on sky+, the boy's in bed, i'm sat on a comfortable rug and my bed's a few feet upstairs. How bad can it be?
*pours another, slightly larger than the last*
The Good Life
is on UKTV Gold!
Happy days...
Pre-gardening warm-up
Glastonbury weekend is going really well.
Just finished a Friday evening takeaway curry, had a couple of relaxing beers and now contemplating a stroll down the road to the local. Or I may open a bot of West Australian Shiraz. The decision will be taken in an entirely mud-and-Winehouse free envronment.
Boycotting the Beeb
Like Glastonbury, I will be trudging around in the rain - to the shops, the tip and places inbetween, clearing up the DIY debris done by someone else (!). Apart from seeing Laughing Lennie I will boycott the poor coverage of the unprofessionals at the Beeb who fail to speak the Queen's english and never show anything of Stackridge performing from the acoustic tent.
Whatever happened to those nice boys that used to present the Earl Grey Whistling Kettle? They could string a sentence together in their day.
There must be a Spandau Ballet tribute band there aswell..
..cos there's a Tony Hadley lookalike on screen at the moment.
Dinner
Ham, essentially. Plus one has gone to M&S, flushed with the triumph of having placed Hall & Oates's "Abandoned Luncheonette" on the Word album cover map of the world.
I really am getting old...
...it's my birthday on Sunday, and I will be celebrating it with Eric Clapton at Harewood House, as my birthday surprise (that I'm not supposed to know about). Can't say there's much at Glastonbury that I'm looking forward to, this year. I'm not surprised it's not sold out.
Chicken Myers for tea, with noodles and a bottle of Broadside. A dram of Auchentoshan will surely follow shortly
Welcome To The Garden Party.
Had lasagne for tea,salad potatoes, fresh salad and for desert, well I decided to leave the lemon cake and opted for a BBC3 desert and the first band of the night The Gossip. URGGH Ghastly. Think I prefered the lasagne. Off the pub now will catch up at 11. Just been listening to the Neil Finn track "Sinner", forgotten how good it was. Expect it will be a full Crowded House hits set tomorrow. Liam Finn's new album sounds promising.Hope Tim Finn is there tomorrow, but I doubt it.
On a quick side line, do any word bloggers have an allotment, I think this could be the new rock n' roll for me. I am keen to take up gardening and pleased with the progress of my potatoes in mother's garden.
moustache!
What a marvelous moustache on the bass player of We Are Scientists. Looked like an extra from Desperately Seeking Susan. My highlight so far, aside from the large Vodka and Tonic and the sound of the door bell as the take away was delivered. Chin chin.
That boy from MGMT is good looking
Bet he gets to see more sex than a policeman's torch over the weekend.
New competition
You get a point every time one of the BBC presenters says "so-and-so is gonna be amazing."
I have three points already.
Hang on a moment
Are some of you WATCHING Glastonbury?
well yes,
but with the sound off
The BBC presentation should improve later with
Mark Ratcliffe and Lauren Laverne. The Fratellis...er a bit crap aren't they?
Yes, but...
Ting Tings on red button BBC3 were ace - she had a mike lead so fluorescent even the Thompson Twins would blush....
Best Presenter Award goes to...
...Red Button! No smug, aelf-promoting, gushing twitter, no One-Song-Then-Off snippets, just hefty chunks of sets - complete sets in some cases. This is what we want! The Young Knives were fabulous, and didn't even get a mention on the main BBC2/3/4 coverage.
I can't bear...
...The Fratellis. I'll only put it on again when they've finished! That 'Mistress Mabel' thing was one of the most drab records I'd heard in years.
MGMT I've not heard much of; I only know that one song.
Young Knifes
are sounding really quite good...hit that red button now
btw Lamb couscous and a very nice Riesling.
the young knives' manager
threatened to sue me over a review i wrote of one of their singles in the NME once
Cutting, was it?
I thangyew.
Very...
sharp.
Hmmmm... Zane Lowe, The
Hmmmm... Zane Lowe, The Feeling, The Fratellis, sundry tiresome performance artists frollicking on a bed.
I lasted about 10 minutes before watching a documentary about the 150mph white elephant that was British Rail's Advanced Passenger Train.
sorry, i nodded off on the sofa for a while there
i think i overdid it with the blanket on my knees. this "log" thing BBC3 are doing seems to have been a bit over-played, no?
i've moved on to a very agreeable
Barolo, btw
If I were on site right now...
...I would give anything for a cup of tea and the wooden hills to Bedfordshire. Because I'm not on the site I can do just that.
But I bet I'm first on duty in the morning.
I'll take that bet
I'm always up early at Digital festivals
I'm back
Edith Bowman just said the Kings Of Leon are going to be "absolutely outstanding". Only an hour ago they were going to be "amazing".
call me a terrible old cynic
but my fear is they'll be neither :(
My throat became quite sore...
...from shouting "how the fuck do you KNOW!" every time the presenters made one of these oracular statements. Dickheads.
I'm hitting the Jim Beam and Coca-Cola...
...accompanied by last night's Seeger Sessions repeat. Let me know if Candi Staton or Shaky are on.
i've just opened my post
there's a double CD of southern soul (1961-1968) that's just begging for my attention
Triple. I think you'll find, Rob
And it's brilliant.
excellent!
that is going straight in the car tmrw
Sounds amazing
More information please, Rob.
ace records
memphis soul comp. top drawer...
I'm looking it up
right now.
it's called "take me to the river"
and it's 1961-1977, my mistake
Can't find it anywhere online
But it sounds fine. Mighty fine.
out in september
i think
Thanks
I'll keep an eye out.
Classic Cotton!
Anyone watching Glastonbury right now will have missed the epic meeting of minds between Gordon Brown and Fearne Cotton backstage at Hyde Park.
Brown: "I just think he's a fabulous inspiration. He shows no recrimination. He conquered apartheid but now, at 90, he's dedivated his life to ending poverty and HIV/Aids"
Cotton: "Yeah. So, who on this line-up are you looking forward to seeing?"
Awww....
bless. Ferne is not Robin Day, it's official.
just seen edith bowman
interview her boy friend insightful stuff!
is it 2008 or is it 1975?
seems difficult to call right now
1975?
When are Lindisfarne on?
the BBC's matey-matey coverage has killed Glastonbury
that's my column idea for next month
Try ITV
Phillip Schofield just said the Nelson Mandela show was "the party of the decade".
the phrase "kill me now"
is ringing round my head
but not 1975
in a good way or indeed 2008
another rubbish, pointless indie band
brilliant!
I like
the enemy I bought their single because it had a picture of arthur scargill on it
And the public get what the
And the public get what the public want...
ha!
exactly what I was singing!
Urban Glastonbury
highlights of my first Glastonbury with digital TV (thanks Rupert...) so far Estelle and her heels and fluffy dress & Lupe Fiasco have been way better than the rock dreck on offer...oh look, there's Candi Staton, bye...
ahem
this is meant to be a joke, right?
i think if if you do really
live and die in one rubbish town then, y'know, it's your fault, your lack of drive and ambition. but that's just me
"glastonbury comes from the heart!"
yeah, WOTEVA
The Big Interactive Screen Thingy
is currently on the plasma. We've reached that stage in the evening that we always do when Auntie covers Glasto, they're repeating the acts from earlier in the day and we feverishly await the headliners for the BBC2 transmission.
Estelle seems to be "giving it loads", bless her, but "American Boy" is a bit rubbish live. The Enemy are just awful, all the worst bits of Oasis, the Jam and Arctic Monkeys in one colon-draining package.
Quite enjoyed the Feeling though, they got it right. KT Tunstall's a cutie isn't she?
I thought American Boy was pretty bomb proof ...
Seems I underestimated Estelles determination to ruin her own song.... My ears!
innit...
:(
At the moment
there are 3 girls with guitars fronting 3 bands on the interactive screen. This is progress, right?
that's a very classical
interpretation of human history that we are always moving forward, I like the ting tings mind, partly because a girl at work wanted to kill the lead singer with a rock
KT Tuna stall
is progress? sheeesh!
Erm..
Well it's all a bit subjective. The Ting Tings aren't much one hit wonders and The Kills are charmless. Still, let's raise a glass to the challenge to the Pop Patriarchy!
Oh. My. God.
30 seconds summary of Mandela 90 Concert.
Channel flicked to see Stephen Fry in full-on luvvy mode ('If only we could bottle a little of this and take it home with us') while Schofield asked him if he was enjoying it. Meanwhile in the background music plays...oh yes there's a concert going on apparently. Perhaps they'd turn it down a little so we can hear the more of the presenters.
Mandela gig shades it for me
After Classic Cotton, and Stephen Fry battling manfully to talk about What It All Means over the stadium pub rock of Paul Rodgers and Queen, we got Simple Minds. When, exactly, did thy replace Jim Kerr with Peter Tatchell?
PS/ For anyone else channel-hopping before the doubtless amazing Kings Of Leon come on, Emily Maitliss is looking decidedly fragrant on Newsnight tonight.
does she wear a wig?
her hairs weird and she holds her papers funny
tea up date
we are having walls feast round our house mainly because we only crap orange lollies as kids
the hoosiers
are they the "spin doctors" of 2008 or what
They remind me more
of ELO. At least in some of their arrangements.
I think I'll have an early night.....
I'm tired....so tired
STOP PRESS
Amy Winehouse soon to be on at Mandela gig! Miss at your peril! Oh. She's already been on. Did I miss much?
What's going on?
What is Amy doing with her skirt?
it's just strange
.....
she is AMAZING!
god bless Winehouse
indoubtedly but
skirt thing is strange
Winehouse
She is amazing but sadly seems to have the medical symptons of a pensioner these days. Hope she pulls through and sorts herself out. She needs a good meal inside her me thinks.
"strange"
but kind of good, no?
No.
She looked like she needed the toilet!
Roger Taylor can't play a reggae beat!
He had someone drumming behind him!
Lauren's looking a bit dishevelled. And she's mentioned her baby
Hmm..they've not shown any Kate Nash yet. Did she bomb? They've just outlined the rest of the programme. I'm off to bed.
the fratellis again hmmmm!
still can't tell them apart from the kooks etc
Sons Of Leo
Anyone still up? Just back from the local and watching this band who sound very like Kings Of Leon. It's taken me 10 mins to realise it is Kings Of Leon, kind of lost touch after their first album. They need their long hair and beards back. They sound okay, but doesn't all music after four pints of bitter!
Que segue after they finish: "Weren't they just amazing". Edith Bowman never seems to speak properly, she is a very lazy public broadcaster.
Vienna
What stage are Ultravox on?
Just staggered in from the pub...
... with a six-pack carry-out. Jimmy Cliff!
Has it been this good all night?
Over Playing
This has been the best so far, maybe it's just the whiskey kicking in! Oh dear, Wild World has all gone a bit indulgent suddenly!
Best thing on telly tonight...
...was 8 Out Of 10 Cats. Really. Sean Locke and Lee Mack both latter-day comic geniuses. Best line of the night though was from Frankie Boyle, likening recent pictures of La Winehouse to "campaign posters for neglected horses..."
Where's Hepworth, Fitzpatrick & Lewry?
... have they abandoned this ship they launched?
Don't tell me... they've nodded off.
Poor
Think they must have retired with a hot chocolate. The way things are going, not a bad idea. Might flick to see what's on the other stages.
Laura
Is it just me or is Lauren Lavern just on the right side of being annoying! Oh GOD HELP US, not more Sons Of Leon on now!
I'd rather see what else is going on!
Steak
I've just been out for ribeye. Have I missed much? I got a text halfway through the meal saying Estelle's American Boy was an absolute shambles, and I figure it must have been truly awful to prompt that kind of unsolicited message.
You Can't Curry Glastonbury
Just had a cold chicken leg myself, what kind of curry are you indulging in? Hope it has travelled well,medium or strong? Nam bread or rice?
Fair play, Fraser...
... you're a good soldier.
As for the other two...
Boring Indie
The Enemy on now on other channel and up next.........The Fratellis.Can't wait more bland Indie, think I might go and watch an old Frasier DVD.
Kate Rash
Kate Nash, that's it, I'm off to bed, work at 9.
Saturday morning work...
... hate that!
Think I hear my Creative Vision:M calling. This bloody thing better improve fairly nifty.
Sleepyhead
Listening to Mark Lammar now. Peace at last and decent music. Good night, until tomorrow night!
Good night David...
... looks like 1am is too late for The WORD community.
Peace Out.
Let me tell you
One a.m. for me is well into the third stage of deep sleep.
Having just reviewed last night's comments
from those who, quite frankly, let the side down by actually watching Glastonbury on the television, it really is a rum old line up this year. There's not one band mentioned who is remotely interesting.
Change that
I just watched Candi Staton on the BBC website. She was great.
I watched a bit last night
But, I must say, I'm infinitely preferring watching the bits I want to with a nice cup of strong, black coffee:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2008/artists/candistaton/
Yawn
Stretch. Scratch. Make tea. Bloody hell. Matthew's up already.
Oh no....we're all still here
Silently watching out for the first posts from our roving correspondents, arms folded, tapping watches and tutting. Seems Mister Fitzpatrick is winning the Slug-a-bed award
Crowd scenes:
Do I win a prize for the most appearances on record by a non musician I’m at least 4-5 live “from Glastonbury records.”
As a callow youth we eagerly got down the front to see New Order. You can hear me shouting for “Blue Monday” on the BBC recording, it being (then) less than 5 years since they released BM, they obviously didn’t play it even though they were headliners and it was their then only hit!
Next up those with very good hearing can pick me out in the crowd singing along to “the one I love “ on an REM live extra single, followed the next year but my backing vocals on entire live cd free with Pulp last studio lp, I’m the one declaiming my man love for Jarvis!
Lastly I’m probably more intrinsically on “Grace under pressure” by Elbow; the original LP version of the rude declaration of the human spirit “we still believe in love so Fu*ck you” sung at the end was recorded at the festival (with yours truly and mates in the mix) as was this live version also a single.
So anyone else do better I think we should stick to official releases not bootlegs!
News from Digital Glastonbury
Digital Glastonbury seems quieter this year than it has been in the past. I counted a total of four people on the site. The bedroom next to my own is empty, indicating that 2008 has not been a sell out year for the festival. That said, the facilities are good and there are abundant toilets. The absence of mud can be put down to the organiser’s firm ruling that all festival-goers take their shoes off before entering the site.
There is so much to do at Digital Glastonbury that one can attend the festival and yet never see a single band. Yesterday I spent a couple of hours lying on the floor of the onsite media centre, staring at an electrical wall socket, unable to gather the will to stand up. In any other part of the British Isles concerns would have been raised for my mental health. Here at Digital Glastonbury such behaviour regarded as free-spirited performance art.
I did manage to catch part of a set by Editors and was amused by the lead singer’s amateurish attempts at being a one man band, playing the piano with a guitar strapped to his back. It's much harder than it looks, isn't it Tom?
Those of you who are wondering whether Digital Glastonbury has retained its ecological credentials in this commercialised era, may rest assured. On Friday morning I carried two pink bags full to the brim with recyclable waste to the outskirts of the site. These were collected a few hours later. I understand that the discarded paper, plastic and aluminium will be put to good use as building material in a new generation of affordable detached properties planned for Ethiopian villages.
One essential item for anyone who is planning to attend Digital Glastonbury, is a TV remote. This is useful for banishing the malevolent sprites that turn up between performances and babble incessantly. Last night I successfully used it to teleport myself far, far away from a workmanlike performance by Katie Tunstall.
Everything's "workmanlike|" nowadays
Wasn't that one of the Buzzcocks tunes?
Time to catch up with the news
Anybody know who won the election in Zimbabwe?
was it amy winehouse?
Funilly enough this time round the results may come out more quickly....
"Anybody know who won the election in Zimbabwe?"
Too close to call.
That's the best line I've heard in ages...
top marks.
glastonbury model village anyone
mmmm, i think a good soak in the bath
and a china cup of lady grey. then i shall breakfast like a medieval knight.
In my little corner of Digital Glastonbury...
...we've just had a second cup of tea and some toast, had a walk round the garden (doesn't take long) and we're now listening (very quietly) to "Guitar - Boy Superstar" by Sir Victor Uwaifo, a record that Rob found in the office yesterday which is brilliant.
Stackridge on BBC1
has it come to this?
Missed that
Special award for Most Difficult To Justify Editorial Decision Made By BBC Staff In Order To Get A Free Glastonbury Ticket.
I've just heard the BBC Today Programme interviewing BBC Wales at the site. That's a start.
Coffee for me
Milk for the son and heir, now if only there was a stall selling doughnuts in my garden...
children are fed
I've made porridge and am about to grind coffee. Breakfast will be taken with an episode or two of 'sCrubs'
Doing the Digital housework
Just defragging my Archos....Now there's a sentence you'd have trouble explaining to someone 20 years ago.
Stackridge on Radio bloody 4 now
is there to be no escape?
"Everybody Stanley now"
Marvellous. My single even had footprints on it to define the steps.
Don't try that at home!
I have a Stackridge CD, found it in a charity shop once...
...my dad used to have one of their albums too but he never liked it.
Didn't see much more of Glastonbury last night- saw the tail-end of MGMT's set on one of those interactive channels and they weren't bad. Couldn't bear any more of those Fratellis/Enemy types.
Anyone special playing today? I haven't really checked the line-up.
Just checked out the
Just checked out the coverage on BBC2; it was some bloke strumming a guitar surrounded by mushrooms. Quickly returned to the very green Wimbledon stage and a nice cuppa - no mud there yet. PS many of the crowd seem older than Michael Eavis would like.
The view from my tent on Saturday morning at Digital Glastonbury
Always pays to get here early.
I thought they didn't allow dogs...
At digital Glastonbury they do!
It's the chill-out area for me
This year they've gone the whole hog with an 11-mile stretch of fine golden sand that looks for all the world like a Spanish beach. Well done, Eavo! I'll report back later.
A post-breakfast peer out of the window confirms that red t-shirts are very big this year. Or could that be something to do with the climax of some rival festival in Vienna tomorrow night?
Come on
We need pictures!
They're taking the red t-shirts off now
The Celto-Navajo body-painting must be starting soon, I think.
That's torn it
Now I'm in a bad mood.
I keep trying to post pictures
but I can't. Anyone help? I'm using photobucket. It previews okay, but the whole message gets lost when I hit 'Post comment'.
Problems
Just had same problem. Listening on-line to Radio 2 coverage as Crowded House interview on soon.
Right.
I'm off to Borough Market to buy snails and parma ham. Does anyone need anything?
can you
get some monmouth coffee and some sierra nevad pale ale from utobeer
To-morrow night...
... will have to be a Glastonbury/Euro'08 mash-up blog thingy.
Sounds nice there Archie. Another bloody overcast day here in South-East Ireland. Suppose we should be just happy if it's not raining :-(
Breakfast is ready
But where is everybody...
White Denim are playing in the kitchen that might wake them up.
Oo look
you've got the same digital radio as we have.
So *that's* where. . .
our fruit bowl has got to.
Can I have the paper...
... when you're finished with it?
Oh, and I think we need more orange juice.
I take it all back BBC
I have just seen Stackridge being interviewed on the BBC news. Bless! It's also on the interweb http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7478489.stm
Mmm. First band on at the first Glastonbury, sorry Shepton Mallet. Check. Reformed to play this year. Er, didn't you play there a couple of years ago as well as Cropredy. Nevermind James, looked good on TV. Agree with Andy though, Captain Beefheart SHOULD be the headliner.
See you next weekend at the Cavern Club. Yes I know it's not THE Cavern Club but nothing is the same anymore.
Anyone have the time for Leonard Cohen on the TV? Want to avoid the other rubbish. Evan Almighty is the film premiere on Sky today.
Sorry I'm late
I've been watching Bruce Springsteen on the iPlayer.
Anyway, here's the garden
and here's the bit we're planting today.
Question
Is that your house at the end?
Breakfasts ready
Note rocktastic mugs! * makes the sign spills tea*
What fun!
Just read all this after 2 hours at work, 8 - 10 (!!)
Only caught a drip of Editors last night. All of a sweat today as way too much monosodium glutamate in the chinese.
Home beckons, with the hope that Mr Sky has remade/remodelled my interweb.
Am I missing Glastonbury, 14 years after my last visit. Not a jot, but is was nostalgic to hear how a chums son is hating his first exposure to it, it not being quite the V in the park he was expecting. Which, in a funny sort of way, is reassuring....
Thanks for the entertaining read, bruvvs.
(Way too much monosodium........)
My last post seems to have got lost
Anyway, here's the garden this morning
and here's the bed I will be planting today.
no it didn't
.....
Will this one work?
refresing your
screen plus the page buttons at the bottom of the posts
Sorry about that
I didn't realise we were on page two. I'm a little embarresed.
Get cracking
We want to see what it looks like after planting. Who needs Charlie Dimmock?
HorseCam at Glastonbury
Monty the police horse on patrol at the Glastonbury festival 2008
That can't be Glastonbury
The weather is good and I can't see anyone stealing tents.
morning all
Just up, having coffee and a cigarette. Today I'm off to see Ronnie Wood's "paintings" at an exhibition and then hit the boozer hard with my mates, tomorrow it's Neil Young at Malahide Castle, the wife and daughters are away you see. No tent action for me till the Electric Picnic at the end of the summer. I only caught a bit of Jimmy Cliff last night from my high stool, did I miss anything good?
Camels
Just finished David Baldacci's "The Camel Club" whilst lollygagging around on my couch - a damn good page turner
And...
how's about a lovely first thing in the morning photo of the boy, especially for the ladies

all these pictures of food are making me hungry
and i've already had two breakfasts :(
I'll bet..
my picture has put you right off that idea
You rebel!
Christmas mug in June - Rock and Roll!!
Oh Yeah
Keepin' it real
Gardening plans have been postponed
Father and step-monster, who had the plants, are incommunicado, so we're going instead to a bootfair. See you all this afternoon.
The Vicar is doing a wedding today
But he's sent you a muxtape.
Working on Saturday
I've got some work to do, can someone please me a shout if Ben Folds, Leonard Cohen or Goldfrapp pop up?
Thank God....
for BBC iPlayer...means I don't have to sit through the BBC2/3 coverage to find the gold amid all the shit....watching Lupe Fiasco at the mo.
Am I the only one worried with what reaction Jay-Z will get tonight, just praying as it's Glastonbury and not V and the like we won't get idiots chucking bottles etc
Digital Glastonbury yesterday
In the distant right you can see the covered indie stage. To the left a wind turbine/ecological clothes drying device. In the foreground the mysterious round tree said to mark the grave of king Arthur.
What's that sticking up in the background?
The scaffolding for the Burning Man, perhaps?
Beautiful
What a magical looking garden, are there fairys in the shrubs?
Lunch Checklist
Melton Mowbray Pork pie from Mrs King

Homemade rhubarb chutney
Westmoreland apricot cheese
Reading material: Lonely Planet guide to The Middle East
Laptop: Wireless running, online with the Word Massive
Listening pleasure: Althea & Donna's Uptown Top Ranking
Bundaberg ginger beer (bottle of)
General feeling of contentment
Hippies
Bundaberg
Bloody lovely brew. have you ever tried the Root Beer. Actually it's sarsaparilla, not the stuff that you get in the States containing wintergreen.
http://bbd.ripedev.com.au/assets/images/resized/rb_4pack.jpg
Oh yes
Lovely stuff. It's an acquired taste, but I persevered and now there's always a four-pack in the fridge.
First one
first beer of the day going down very nicely, running low on gaspers however.
Lunch at Camp Valparaiso
Medallions of pork loin in pepper sauce, fat chips, washed down with a local rosé, and a big wedge of ice-cold watermelon for dessert.
A nap and then back to the big chill-out sandpit. Oh yes.
Poached eggs on toast
and when the youngest one wakes up, we're going out for an ice-cream. What should I have?
Easy
Another one!
Gardening
I've just watered my cactus.
Boring Picture
Just finished Saturday job and now listening to Radio 2 coverage as Crowded House interview on soon. Listening through crap lap top pictured above. Will catch up on TV highlights when I return from Quo gig tonight! Lentil soup and crusty bread for dinner today.
That mug is from Richer Sounds
I've got one just like it.
Good Mugs
Its served me well, unlike the lap top!
I've got one too.
It was given to me by the very splendid Mr richer in person. He is a very nice bloke. And runs a great shop or two in my opinion.
Agreed
Home Hi-Fi (I'm listening to it the mo.) is exclusively from Richer. After Glasto overload just enjoying some Go-betweens. Soothing the fevered brow very adequately
Cookie Monster on the Panasonic stage
Have they got a new album out or something? Anyway, they're disturbing my nap. Bloody indie.
I suppose...
....you'll be going for a *swim* later?
In the massive paddling pool?
The deep-blue far-as-the-eye-can see one, you mean? Oh yes. It's free too this year. Tip-top, Digital Eavo!
Out in the garden now...
...testing the breadth of the broadband and wondering how come suburban gardens are so bloody noisy.
A Nicer View
The view from the bedroom window, crap Escort just visible in drive. I will be heading left of the hills to see Quo. Lots of Word bloggers seem to have lovely gardens/views. Has anyone seen anyone good yet, apparently Shaky was "Rocking" this morning according to that Shaun bloke on radio 2.
'Rockin'
Not so sure...
From the BBC elsewhere
"He plays a few other hits, such as Oh Julie and Marie Marie, and still just about manages to keep the crowd on side when he utters the dreaded words: "We're going to do a few tracks from the new album."
I think I'll give that one a swerve on the iPlayer
I've only just arrived at Digital Glastonbury...
...anything good happened?
I got back from the States last night and am wading through the day like Bill Murray in Lost In Translation. One eye on the Cricket one-dayer (NZ going to win I feel), one eye on Murray at Wimledon (Murray going to lose) & now digital Glastonbury to while away the hours & divert me from the gardening I promised Mrs dolly I'd do. Its turning into a very pleasant woozy day. And it feels close to gin o'clock. What ho, I might even watch a bit of the Glasto coverage on telly.
Sir Gawain and the Green Door
(As you were. Just thought it was a good headline.)
Has Shakey been on yet?
Was he any good?
Oh Oh Julie
Just heard him interviewed on the Radio, he seems to think he went down very well, the biggest UK festival he has ever done apparently. Guess we can expect his greatest hits to reappear in the top ten next week. He seemed sober during the interview.
That Door
Apparently Shaky has brought his own "Green Door" to Glastonbury this year.I'm off a gig in the forest now.
Anybody else seen the film "Behind The Green Door"
I've not been able to see Shakey in the same light since.
Time for tea
Do they have *this* at Glastonbury?
spanish on a hot day?
we had 99's with juice (raspberry) nuts.
Just started a batch of home made ginger beer may be ready for tomorrow.
right
I'm off on the booze till Monday, I'll expect full reports when I get back
Digi-Glasto 1st
Sean Keaveny has just less then enthuisastic about one of the acts (Verve)! having a sit down to get over shock...
The Perfect Espresso
Freshly ground Ethiopian Mocha Djimmah coffee, temperature surfed, 30lb tamp, single cube of La Perruche raw cane sugar.
Not available in Somerset.
*Those* were the days
In search of more album cover locations to add to Word's Glorious Album Atlas I find a wonderful blog called Peppermint Store and am once more reminded that there was once a time when Rod Stewart album covers looked like this.
James Blunt
Strange stage presence from Mr Blunt. He has a permanent slighly bemused/concerned expression - like he's just realised he's left the gas on at home but doesn't remember where he lives. Shite hair as well.
What a busy day...
... had to get photo taken for renewal of my driving license; upgraded my mobile phone, haven't a clue how to use it as my mind went wandering as the Vodafone girl took me thru' the controls; presently in for a tea-break from trying to wrestle a plant from the ground with roots as strong as octopus tentacles (for some reason Mrs. Nicodemus fell out of love with it).
Would love to send in a photo of my garden for the HOMES & GARDENS edition of The WORD but haven't got the time.
Btw, did you boys go for an afternoon nap so you'll be able to stay up past midnight to-night?
I did
Half an hour on the sofa this afternoon, before a trip out to buy lavender plants and an ice-cream.
I'm currently watching Jimmy Cliff on the iPlayer, but the sound isn't great, so I might turn it off. Has there been anyone REALLY good so far at Digital Glastonbury (pronounced with all 4 syllables intact)?
I read that
As lavender 'pants'.
Must've started drinking too early.
Fashion faux pas
I don't like Duffy's shorts. They seem to feature a number of pointless buttons. What's wrong with elastic?
Interviews while dancing
I think this could catch on...a very good thing
just watching 'red button' coverage of Crowded House
and they're doing alright, ain't they. Not enough bands engage in good natured joshing with the security at gigs nowadays. Or write barn-storming, sold gold, grade-A tunes like that either....
*edit* oh yeah - and my garden is still in a bloody awful state, now that you ask
Cheers
Negroni Anyone?
Finally some talent
That Vampire Weekend were sounding great.
Dr Who's
on though!
Davros...
is the most rock n' roll dude I've seen all weekend. FACT.
Vampire Weekend...
... a friend recommended their album to me a while back. Never got 'round to it. Thanks for the reminder.
Villa, pool, Euro 2008 final...
...some modern art and some old buildings. And then Spanish TV have the temerity to show a whole live Neil Young gig. The digital Glastonbury certainly seems to have the edge on the real one. Not that there isn't a place for a Weather Report fuzz bass solo and The Brilliant Corners but...oh, hang on, the steaks are ready....
Dinner
Seafood pasta, a glass of chilled Pazo de Seoane Albariño, Black Kids on the box.
The instrument in the corner is a morin khuur (horse-head violin) I picked up for a song in Ulan Bator a few years back.
Your TV
Is bigger than my house.
Damn!
Sitting down and realise the bloody remote was left in front of the telly.
Hate that!
Even worse...
Forgot the cutlery.
Aha! No kids in evidence, I see
Otherwise that glass of wine wouldn't have been left teetering on the edge of the table.
(I had that Loyd Grossman in the back of the cab once.)
God
forbid.
i'm waiting for the post later
where Fraser walks us through his sumptuous, leather-walled boudoir
Too early for a Martini?
It's
five O'clock somewhere... Cheers!
good to see your not diluting the gin with olives or onions!
Man, you guys are very...
... sophisticated. I've just had a curry and I've got some Mexican lager (and the ubiquitous whole-lime) in the fridge. Plan to be starting around 8:30pm (self-imposed rule I came up with years ago, so I wouldn't forget the evenings viewing the next morning!).
The Missus is looking forward to Amy at 9:30. Must say, I'm intrigued meself. Hope she delivers a good performance.
Thought Duffy's shorts were a bit iffy meself, Fraser. Good set of pins though.
Once Fraser has wrassled the technology to the ground...
....we have an audio report from the site!
Crikey!
This is exciting. Might start drinking 4minutes early.
Make room for elbow
I may have said before how great Elbow are.
Funny that edith Bowman was interviewing Guy Garvey....
am actually surprised
at that as they've split up. Interviews with my former squeezes would probably involve them trying to eviscerate me with a rusty spoon
Elbow were very good weren't they?
Great sound, great songs, audience rocking!
do the Ranconteurs..
tell jokes and stories between songs if not why not?
the wombats
enjoying their literal 15 minutes in the sun, still don't understand this song.....
"My boyfriend bought me that poo for my birthday..."
Mark Ellen, Kate Mossman, Andrew Harrison and Caitlin Moran enthuse live (well, you know) from Mark's annual cocktail party via two cocoa tins and a frayed bit of string. They're having fun.
If you don't like the crackle, hey, listen round it. Click the blue arrow below.
The Word Magazine Glastonbury Podcast
Hey Mark Ellen
It's way past your bedtime.
You have a paper round to do tomorrow morning. And no stealing the Bowie CD out of Mr. Visconti's Sunday Mail.
it's up
on itunes
That was great...
... getting news "from the front".
But can Mark expand on that new beer "HEDGEMONKEY" when/if he gets back to the office next week? What the hell is it?
Amy
Oh yeah, this really is a sound for the outdoors.
Thank goodness...
She's looking and sounding just great.
Winehouse has acquired a guitar
for a rendition of 'Cupid'
I am
Doing the Back To Black dance *right now*.
"Blakey"?
Wasn't he in "Only Fools & Horses"?
On The Buses
I'm thinking of...
...Boycie, aren't I?
Yes
Amy Winehouse
I think there's a kangaroo loose in the upper paddock...
maybe
it's the crack that let's the light in?
Amy's good...
... ain't she. Thank God for page888 though!
"A Message To You, Rudy" I know the words to this one!
good god
I quite enjoyed that drum solo
The Raconteurs
Jack White is just tearing it up!
Head good
Well, Radiohead were tremendous in Glasgow last night - a wet night on the Green seemed to put Thom Yorke in a very chipper mood.
Presently watching the Winehouse punch the audience - classy. Vampire Weekend were very good earlier, made me want to see them at T In The Park now.
Looks like she's been reading
the Iggy Pop guide to stage craft
Well thank all that's holy...
...that she didn't borrow the Ig's see-through trousers as modelled at TITP a couple of years back!
Is she singing in English ?
it sounds to me like she makes noises that sound vaguely like English but aren't.
Looks to be more pre-occupied with 'managing' her tits and hair than singing.
Before she got ink poisoning, she was quite cute....
That is so, so sad to watch now...
look at her! She was so beautiful! No hint of the 'zombie in a party dress' look to come...
Just seeing this now, Patrick...
... you're right.
Something about Jay-Zs specs...
Make me want to stamp on his shoes and steal his lunch money....
Attempting this time to avoid undue embarrasment
Here is evidence of gardening having been done. Flowerbed dug, lavender planted, well earned beer drunk.
I have to say, this is a great way to spend a warm summer weekend. See you all tomorrow.
death to rufus hound
nothing else to say really. I despair.
Very witty opener
but JaY-Z just shouts over other people's records does he?
When...
is Noel Gallagher coming on?
they could do a duet...
wonder muthafuckin' wall
red button
has more elbow hurrah
Jay Z
I've seen worse.
Sorry to leave you. Need some sleep and have to be up early to get a good spot to see Gilbert O'Sullivan on the Pyramid stage tomorrow.
does he kiss
his mum with that mouth..
If Mary Whitehouse
were alive today, she would be turning in her grave.
He is starting to look like
a smart booking, he's got the stage presence in bundles and the set has been well judged (also, you can't go wrong with some G W Bush baiting to curry favour with this crowd)
Yep
He's an entertainer, and he knows exactly what he's doing.
This Sunday Bloody Sunday thing he's got going on now is brilliant.
Jay-Z
I'm enjoying meself. When he started with 99 Problems and the other guy was doing half the work I thought 'oh no, usual hip hop live show' but at the moment he is doing an excellent 'I just wanna love you' and hopefully he'll pull out Takeover and Heart of the City. The BBC did mark up one song as Takeover already when it was a totally different song.
That there was pretty good
Heart of the City over 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'!
...
It's always been one of my favourites of his and that was version was cool.
Exterminate Bowman & Lowe
Earlier this evening at my Digital Glastonbury there were Daleks. Michael Eavis won’t allow them on the festival site as they cause trouble and, if it rains, it takes ages for the tractors to pull them out of the mud.
When I tuned in to BBC3’s coverage I was disappointed but not surprised to discover that Edith Bowman and Zone Lowe had not been exterminated. What exactly do these two add to the proceedings? They just seem to soak up time that could be better used showing more of the performances.
I enjoyed the spectacle Amy Winehouse, almost immobilised by her own tight dress, doing her marionette with tangled strings dance. And those couple of occasions when she strayed away from the mic too long and the band eventually started playing the next song in an attempt to summon her back. And the great effort she took in strapping on an electric guitar and then hardly played it.
It was a shambles but an endearing one. When she actually started singing, she may have been indecipherable, but her voice was still there. These songs mean something personal to her and in her own haphazard way she shares that with the audience. I’ll take that over the professional soul singer character studies touted by the likes of Duffy or Joss Stone any day of the week.
I think when the dust on this year’s festival has settled, the sight of Amy being lowered off stage by one of her backing singers and then tottering in the grass in her high heels will be one of the highlights.
Shaky on BBC2...
... now!
Yes...
... he was a to**er!
I'm off to find my tent
G'night!
Yeah, think I'll...
... bugger off too. Anyone left standing?
Still here!
Watching the highlights, Buddy Guy on just now.
Just listened to the...
... "REAL Glastonbury" PodCast.
Now gonna play some tunes before I hit the sack.
Good morning, Digital Glastonbury!
I'm making tea. Who wants some?
Huh
Not so chipper now, are we?
Accomodation
A new day dawns on one of Digital Glastonbury's minimalist teepees.