Blue Saturday

Andrew P, 2230, Saturday

Earlier today, I told Marc Riley off for suggesting that, on current form and popularity, the Kaiser Chiefs might have been better further up the bill, even, perhaps, higher than New Order.

And then he (gently, respectfully, without taking the piss, like the gentleman he is) put me in my place by mentioning that he could take or leave them now, because he went to see them so many times in their old band.

Not Joy Division, but Warsaw, before Joy Division even existed.

As a New Order virgin, there wasn’t much I could say, except “fair enough”. He was off to see the Earlies instead, a Mancunian-Texan collective, or Burnley to be more precise, so I tagged along, and was amazed.

Their live performance was so engaging, with beautiful arrangements and vocal harmonies, that I wished I’d been to see them before. Next time they’re in London, I’ll be there, with all my friends.

I couldn’t stay long, though, because I had a prior commitment to New Order and to a set that I’d heard would contain all the best songs they’d ever written, with and without Ian Curtis.

Transmission, three songs in, after Crystal and Regret, suggested it would be worth the trek from the John Peel stage to the Pyramid, worth abandoning the Earlies early.

Phill J impresses the BBC Glitterati

Kris, 2200, Saturday

The Glastonbury mood seems to have lifted considerably today; the biggest lakes have subsided and there’s heavy duty machinery everywhere desperately trying to hoover up as much water as possible.

On a brief break from the grind I took a wander up to the acoustic stage and managed to miss I Am Kloot, after getting stuck behind two tractors and massively underestimating the time it takes to travel a mile in welly high mud.

Comedy moment of the day has to be Phill Jupitus falling flat on his face as he entered the BBC compound.

I did however make it in time to get some pictures of Ash who are festival veterans by now and never fail to give a blistering performance.

But the comedy moment of the day has to be Phill Jupitus falling flat on his face as he entered the BBC compound, his embarrassment heightened as the notable crowd of onlookers included Vernon Kay, Tess Daley, Chris Moyles and Ricky from The Kaiser Chiefs.

Of IT mice and OB men

Joti B, 2000, Saturday

Well campers, for once I’m very sorry to have to report that my warnings have been totally vindicated. Sometimes, being so right can be a bit of a burden, frankly. People can be very jealous …

Anyway, right after I posted that all too prescient blog things started to go wrong – with our computers (still an ongoing and very boring saga), with the weather, with the electricity (because of the weather) and with the catering, computers (again) and toilets (because of the electricity).

And yet, despite our best laid plans going ever-so-slightly “aglay” (as Robbie Burns would have it) it’s hard to get cross when everyone is so helpful (well, apart from the computer support people, but that’s what you get for privatising, isn’t it?).

Throughout the worst floods that Glasto has ever seen, the BBC Outside Broadcast staff were bloody marvellous.

Allow me to divert for a moment to report that throughout the worst floods that Glasto has ever seen, the BBC Outside Broadcast staff were bloody marvellous.

Like a mysterious yet benevolent tribe of all-knowing DIY Dads, they calmly went about their business, testing and fixing things, assuaging the rising tide of panic amongst the thronging radio and TV producers, all terrified that their shows would have to be cancelled and the whole weekend was about to be a total wash-out.

Even before the thunderstorms had subsided, they were clambering about on top of mobile studio trucks and portacabins, lifting wires out of the lake that had appeared in the BBC broadcast area and restoring power to Radio 1, 6 Music, BBC TV – and us lowly interactive types too.

As you might have gathered, we’ve ended up being a mite busier than expected, but I have managed to catch a few songs from bands that I was taking photographs of.

Yesterday’s music was confined to three tracks each of Maximo Park (proficient but rather try hard IMHO, although the kids were loving their rock star poses), Roots Manuva (fantastic as always and resplendent if slightly odd in a pink boiler suit and straw hat) and The Tears (good tunes and a very exciting show).

Today started with a trip to Athlete, who kicked off as Kaiser Chiefs were in mid-swing. As I made my way round to the Other Stage photo pit, the roars coming from the direction of the Pyramid Stage made me distinct impression that I was walking in the wrong direction.

In fact, I’m guessing the Kaisers’ set is going to be one more of those talked-about Glasto triumphs that I was so near and yet so far from being part of. Bah.

Meanwhile, Athlete’s set had some good moments, but I thought the band were trying rather too hard to ‘rock out’ and avoid being seen as soppy singer songwriters, when in fact it’s melodic pop that they really excel at.

The only other music I’ve taken in today came care of the utterly marvellous Futureheads – a group of musicians who not only write great tunes and visibly enjoy their work, but are also very much themselves.

The boys’ enthusiasm and energy on stage were hugely infectious and reminded me of the Cardiacs – another band with great musicians and an ultra-loyal fan base.

As I type, Keane are going down a storm on the Pyramid Stage. Might just have a wander round and catch the end of it now …

Ash dry up the mud

Kate L, 1730, Saturday

After finishing Marc Riley’s show, I actually managed to grab an hour to take my first tour of the site. Ash were just taking to the stage at Pyramid, so I headed there first.

This proved to be a giant mistake as the whole area was mud soup. The festival goers stood marooned on the few sections of ground that still retained some solidity, divided from each other by massive rivers of pure gloop.

Just as I was beginning to wonder why I was there, Ash kicked in with Girl From Mars and the whole thing suddenly seemed worthwhile. The band had a tough job following up the Kaiser Chiefs’ performance, but they pulled it off.

I timed my arrival with the start of Futureheads’ set, which was superb. They had the crowd eating out of their hands.

Next I arrived at The Other stage. I was aiming for the John Peel tent, but that’s not the point. I timed my arrival with the start of Futureheads’ set, which was superb.

They had the crowd eating out of their hands, and even did some panto-style dividing of the crowd to sing along with Hounds Of Love. Genius!