Published: Thursday, 24th July, 2008 08:00
Ravers get in the festival groove
By Alex Gore
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Glade music festival, Aldermaston. Phil Hiett, Tim Trotman and Sapphira Kelly in their colourfull costumes.
AROUND 20,000 ‘ravers’ descended on Aldermaston last weekend for one of Europe’s biggest dance music festivals.
For the fifth year running the Glade Festival at Wasing Park shunned all forms of corporate sponsorship and maintained its eco-friendly ethos as festivalgoers danced for three days and nights to a line-up of more then 200 acts.
Performers crossed the entire spectrum of dance music ranging from techno legend Jeff Mills to the Bristolian breakbeat duo Stanton Warriors.
But despite some of dance music’s biggest names, including Utah Saints and Dubfire, in the line-up the festival still managed to shun corporate sponsorship and retain a unique atmosphere that continues to attract people half a decade after its transition from the Renegade Dance Music Stage at Glastonbury.
Festivalgoer Sally Wright, 28, from Tilehurst, said: “It’s such a cool festival but it’s also under wraps. Even a lot of people in Reading don’t know about it.
“It’s been a great festival this year and it’s great that it’s still one of the few non-corporate ones around. You’re not being constantly ripped off or having people trying to sell you things all the time.
“It’s got a good vibe to it and is completely different to anything else out there. The music has been great but for me it’s all about the atmosphere.”
Festival highlights included the Saturday night performance by Pendulum, whose rock and roll driven beats kept festivalgoers dancing well into the early hours of Sunday, and Atomic Hooligan whose Friday afternoon performance as a live band was raucous, energetic and captivating.
Other highlights included the reggae inspired Overproof Sound System’s fun loving Saturday afternoon show, Dub Pistols who brought their unique London flavour to West Berkshire and dance legends The Orb, whose ambient house was a fitting way to bring the weekend to a close.
This year also saw festival organisers step up their eco-friendly ethos with a £5 tax for drivers travelling to the event in a car with fewer than three people in it. There were also free shuttle buses to and from neighbouring railway stations and strict rules for market food traders who were required to use local suppliers and biodegradable packaging.
Volunteer Stephen Stud, who had been given a free ticket to the festival, spent the weekend handing out small plastic containers into which festivalgoer had to put their used cigarette butts.
He said: “We are trying to educate people and tell them about the damage cigarette butts can cause. It takes 12 years for a cigarette to biodegrade but during that time it is likely that an animal may swallow it which causes severe damage to their endocrine system.
“When the cigarette does eventually biodegrade the chemicals go into the soil and end up in the water system.”
Villagers living near the Wasing Estate also gave the festival the thumbs up because the increased security and reduced noise levels gave them something to smile about.
There were more private security patrols around the village then ever before and the organisers supplied attendants free of charge to stop festivalgoers parking in the streets. Festival organisers also made sure that the live performances after midnight were restricted to the tents, with improved soundproofing.
Peggy Tull, who lives in Forsters, said: “The security and police patrols were excellent this year and the noise levels were fine as well. I heard it a little bit on the Friday but we went outside where we could enjoy the lights. We all got a good night’s sleep and we are looking forward to next year. The only downside I can think of is the traffic increased, but temporary traffic lights were installed around the village and worked well.”
Dolphin Close resident Bob Garland said: “There were no problems whatsoever. A few years ago we got some car windows smashed in the village and rubbish dumped around the place but we have had none of that this time around. We could hear the music in the distance but it didn’t keep me awake, so it was fine. It’s a good event for the village as it brings money in and lets people know what can happen in smaller communities.
“The only downside is they didn’t supply us with any tickets. My son wanted to go and see Pendulum, but they wanted £50 for the ticket and he is saving up to go to Australia.”
Janice Bartlet, who also lives in Dolphin Close, said: “The security was brilliant, the best it’s ever been. In the past it’s been dreadful and we used to find it impossible to park but this year the festival put a man at the end of the street to turn people away. There was someone there all weekend.”
Businesses in the village also gave the festival the thumbs up. Ian Reeks, bar supervisor at the Hind’s Head pub, said: “It was pretty good this year. We had no problems with security or noise levels and we also attracted festival goers to the pub.”
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