Pelski’s ‘Best 2008 Summer Festival ‘ poll results

A couple of weeks ago I asked ‘Which is the best 2008 Summer Festival?’

With 427 votes cast… Pukkelpop is the winner with 138 votes – 32%.

Festival season has come to an end…ah.. a summer in which suncream and sun-hats were wasted investments, while umbrellas and rain coats were wise ones. After all, over 38 British festivals had to be canceled this year. Festivals are surreal experiences – perhaps entirely down to the strange congregation of reprobates… all jumping around a soggy field. There’s a bizzarre assemblage of the new rave (and clearly underage) wankers, the lager-swilling lads, the middle-class stoners, the fleuro-trance sluts, the moronic ‘jokers’ dressed in impractical cow costumes, the hardened old school ravers, and the many, many pill-troopers all on a mission to grind their teeth into oblivion. It’s strange to think that that pissed-up, half-naked lad climbing the tent scaffolding, intermittently showering the crowd below with vomit, will – within 24 hours – be back at work behind a desk, neatly dressed in shirt and tie…

Pukkelpop

But when choosing which is the best, it’s important to weigh up four vital factors – the line-up, venue, organisation and atmosphere. The most important, in my opinion, is the line-up. So my vote too went to the Belgium festival Pukkelpop. I’ve been to Pukkelpop once in 2006 at the very reasonable price of £60 for three days. It helps that this year it had the best line-up of the bunch. To name a few:

• 2many DJs, Benga, Blood Beetroots, Boys Noise, Brodinski, Count & Sinden, Crookers, Diplo, Deadmau5, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Dusty Kid, Erol Alkan, Headman, Junkie XL, Late Of The Pier, Midnight Juggernuahgts, Modeselektor, SebastiAn, Shakleton, The Shoes, SMD, Soulwax, The Subs, Surkin, The Whip, Yelle, Yuksek.

Furthermore, being somewhat more obscure than the rest of the festivals (and because it’s overseas): there are fewer people; there’s more space to dance; and it’s easier to get right up front. But that’s not to say it’s baron or small – it has an excellent atmosphere – 152,000 attended this year.

Gatecrasher

The only festival that could rival Pukkelpop’s formidable line-up was Gatecrasher. And while Gatecrasher was a great festival this year, it didn’t exactly tick the boxes when it came to organisation. The second day gave way to chaos and confusion, after the mainstage was flooded. In order to prepare for a British festival, you must prepare for rain. They did not and so we had to miss out on Chemical Brothers and Hot Chip. Gatecrasher’s saving grace was the Turbo Tent – with storming sets from Proxy, Erol, Boys Noize, Justice, Tiga, Brodinski and SMD. Gatecrasher deservedly came in 2nd place in the poll with 80 votes – 18%. My full review here.

Glastonbury

With half the votes of Gatcrasher, Glastonbury won third prize. I’m not sure why. It’s the loyalists really; the ones who attend year after year; the ones who step through the gates sighing “ahhh back at Galstonbury, home, sweet home” (or probably have some affectionate nick-name for it like “Glasto” or “The ‘Bury). Fair enough. People have an affiliation with it and since it’s so large your likely to find something you want to watch. The only problem is getting there – many of the stages are a half hour walk apart, made even more arduos by the gluey mud. But for all the talk of a crappy line-up, Jay-Z went down well and there were some decent dance acts to be seen. For me though, it’s just too big. And it’s still getting bigger (this year they added the ‘Flagtopia’ field).

Creamfield & Global Gathering

Creamfields vs Global? Both fairly mediocre line-ups, though Creamfields probably just wins out. I learnt how poorly organised Global was last year. The stewards are unhelpful and there was only one cash-machine to cater to 70,000 people. A slightly hostile atmosphere hung over the Global.

Bestival

Bestival has a similar ethos to Galstonbury – chilled, friendly and lots of assorted entertainment. I attended Bestival this year, and yes, the mud was atrocious. But the whole experience was great fun. Though I don’t feel I can assess it in terms of music (thanks in part to a fake timetable and some hazy memories). A-trak’s set was certainly the highlight though, showing-off some nifty turntable skills that included a short history of hip hop, expertly mashed together. The atmosphere is alot more friendly than the likes of Creamfields and Global Gathering. I remember walking around Reading aged 16 and genuinely fearing for my life. At many festivals you feel out of your element. Bestival you do not. It was a pleasant and quirky festival – a welcome change.

Glade

Now… Glade’s never been my cup of tea. And in front of my ‘Gladeite’ friends I’ve always denounced it, writing it off as “a goddamned hippie-fest, where druid-like ravers hallucinate wildly – clad in tie-dye and hemp – hold hands and form circles, and leap around to bongo drums”.
Apparently it’s not all like this.
There’s also alot of excellent techno on show. And these days, as I find myself turning to the more alternative and minimal spheres of dance, I’d certainly like to give Glade a go. The line-up had some real treats:

• Atomic Hooligan, Claude Von Stroke, Daedalus, Drop The Lime (who didn’t actually make it – thanks to his driver putting diesel in a petrol car), Dubfire, Elite Force, Klaus Hill, Meat Katie, Plump DJs, Rico Tubbs, Stanton Warriors, Tomb Crew, Vitalic.

I may go to Glade next year, if only to see ‘DJ Scotch Egg’.

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Next year, I advise getting out of this country. Somewhere hot, like Spain’s Benicassim or Serbia’s Exit. Alternatively, if you can’t get enough of the festival feeling, book your tickets for Belgium’s superb ‘I Love Techno’ in time for November. The line-up is incredible: I Love Techno Lineup.

I’ll see you at Pukkelpop next year. I’ll be down the front (probably moaning about how cold and wet I am… only to do it all over again the next year).