Life – Terror. Ecstasy. Fight. Denial. Flight. Failure. PAIN. Forgiveness. Reconciliation. Hope. Love. Peace – Death.
Many of us are creatures of habit, routine, more so the older we get? I have just watched the BBC Sunday Politics show, Laura ‘Cunts’berge. Same old same old with the same old same old cast confirming what I already know, The UK is fucked, the world is fucked and I cannot change anything. Today, the last piece was an interview with comedian Dom Joly.
The interview kicked off with a famous clip of the ‘I’m on my mobile’!
A packed, silent, call centre, a large man with an even larger mobile phone shouting at the top of his voice in the packed room. A room full of horrified workers! At the time it was pure comic genius and funny as fuck! It still had me laughing 20+ years on.
Joly spoke of his first ever visit to Glastonbury, a performance in the comedy field as an up and coming comic. He was not really looking forward to the gig, to the festival experience, as he had (admittedly stereotypical), preconceived impressions of what festivals ‘are’ what Glastonbury ‘is’.
So what makes Glastonbury so special, the ‘Heart Chakra‘ of the Earth?
It is believed that the Earth has energy lines that run around it and the heart energy is here in Glastonbury. Whether you believe all this or not, the one thing that everybody who has attended can all agree on is that Glastonbury is a very special place, full of magical surprises and palpable ‘sheer, love, Joy & energy’.
Joly had arrived on the Saturday, with only one performance and left Sunday. A short Glastonbury episode. Yet he told of how Glastonbury had ‘changed his life’. I remember my own similar feelings, my first Glastonbury. I also remember having to persuade & convince a close friend to give Glastonbury a go. He too had, similar, pre-conceived, apprehensions, not unsimilar to Joly’s’.
The world is a total shit show and this is not going to improve soon (if ever). Just turned 65 (and not too healthy) there are limits to what I can do to change anything. This frustrates me beyond comprehension. Mostly I am concerned, and worry for my three grandchildren.
We (some of us) are betraying them on a daily basis and what for?
It seems overwhelmingly to be selfishness? That plus incessant greed. Some of us are literally prepared to bleed our planet dry as long as we achieve more and more profits. Destroy our planet, beyond repair, for the sake of profit, the relentless, insatiable pursuit of profit. Utterly, selfish greed.
War. War. Death. Poverty. Hunger. Climate Catastrophes. Violence. Unrest. Illness. War. War. Daily life? Most of the time I am in complete despair. I see no hope. It breaks my heart as I know, with some mutual, small sacrifices, we should (and could) change for the better for everyone. We can compromise, we can accept that we cannot approach ‘our world’ in this same way any-longer. We can move to save something for our children, our children’s children? Yet we do not.
It is not our generation nor previous generations that will be left with a broken planet It will be those who follow us. They will be the ones who have to salvage the pieces of a ‘scorched earth’. Our children and Grandchildren, the young of today, soon to be adults who will have to change the world for the better? Something we, the current custodians, are seemingly incapable of.
Glastonbury gives me hope.
I have posted about Glastonbury on previous occasions. Now very much regarded as a major event in British culture, the festival created by ‘Sir’ Michael Eavis is inspired by the ethos of the hippie, the lefty counterculture of the ’60s, and the free-festival movement. Vestiges of these traditions are retained in the Green Fields area, which includes sections known as the Green Futures, the Stone Circle and Healing Fields. Now very much managed by Emily Eavis the festival has successfully managed to retain the old but to lead the way and embrace the new.
The early [Hippy days] versus the Modern Glastonbury? Has it changed?
Absolutely, in many ways, particularly in scale, Glastonbury is vast. Has it changed for the better? I suspect if you were to ask any of the ‘originals’ those involved at the very beginning they might say it has not. Yet the majority still attend and will continue to attend for life.
I regret that I was a late starter. I have seen changes, some I disagree with, for example, increased (excessive)? capacity in recent years. However, I have also changed alongside the festivals evolution. I’m older, (less healthy), I have a different personal agenda now than I had 20 years ago? Ergo I have a more limited physical capacity……and so on and so on. Yet, despite all? Despite ANY weather conditions Glastonbury is still the gift that continues to give. A place where you can spend time with like minded souls, and LIVE! To be at Glastonbury is priceless especially so, with those who you care about, sharing & celebrating creativity, unity, diversity & the love of life, together.
A week in the fields.
A week in the fields to re-charge my ‘hope batteries’. I will meet people from all walks of life. Like minded souls. Often same aged or even older people. I especially love to see the young people, switched on young people, loving the festival, but also absolutely ‘getting it,’ understanding it? People who care? Who are politicised, who know exactly what has to be done to change their world for theirs (and others) preservation.
Glastonbury gives me an essential hope boost!
A palpable energy, an irresistible vibe of hope, of compassion, of caring about everything the world should (and could) be. A week of positivity, of love, of hope. Simply put the festival is; ‘More than you think, it’s a place of happiness and serenity that roots itself into your very soul! A truly magical place!’ A view shared by myself and oh so many! others. There is no place like it on Earth, Glastonbury, especially ‘in the son’ is THE most special place on earth. It is the greatest medicine, the best treatment money can’t buy. A priceless gift that keeps on giving. That keeps on surprizing.
Glastonbury is successful, usually selling out, 250,000 tickets, in just minutes despite any published schedule [of bands/activities]. Glastonbury’s design principles have contributed immensely to its branding success and offer invaluable lessons for brands [festivals] seeking to establish their own, similar, unique identities. Glastonbury is often imitated. By focusing on elements such as consistency, authenticity, cultural relevance, experiential branding models, and community building strategies the festival has, unsurprisingly, become iconic, could never be equalled or bettered.
Glastonbury builds trust and loyalty among its audience through consistent visual narrative synonymous with its identity paired along with authentic design elements echoing steadfast core values emphasizing long-term goals over shallow & fleeting trends. They do not focus on profit.
By keeping abreast of societal trends & causes Glastonbury maintains cultural relevance within its brand strategy. This approach not only demonstrates empathy towards attendees but enhances connections between audience and event ultimately leading to enhanced and continued resonance with the festival. A visit to Glastonbury festival is the top of many bucket-lists, and rightly so, all around the world and not just with punters, with artists, bands, celebrities. Glastonbury tickets are priceless as are, for artists, Glastonbury appearances.
Glastonbury’s immersive experiences that resonate with attendee spirit are present at every touchpoint with the brand from website/email campaigns down to signboards/stage designs etc. It fosters inclusion within attendees helping establish emotional connections ensuring stronger loyal fan bases.
Every world leader, every politician, every selfish billionaire should try Glastonbury and have a little ‘love’ juice while they are there?
They might learn something about life, about people?
See you in the fields.
Thanks for Reading
#Peace
#fuckthetories
Dying to Live 