Glastonbury 2010

Block 9 was awesome tonight – dance music underneath a crashed Northern Line London Underground train. Natasha, Rob, Rachel and Karen headed straight there after the Gorillaz. “We’re working here as sign language interpreters – we sign quite a few of the stage acts, but we’re relaxing tonight before we have to get up for work on Shangri-La tomorrow”.

On the opposite side of the field is Download NYC – a regular Glastonbury venue. Tim is working there this year, as part of the regular transvestite show troop. To get in you need to wear a fake ‘tash. Jonny Woo was leading the dancing – in the highest pair of heels you’ll see at Glastonbury this year.

John and Polly last came to Glasto in 1983 – “It was very different then. Two stages and only around 40 bands. We’re amazed by everything at this end of the festival. The work is so inspiring.”

“Last night we were taken to the new secret underground Irish Bar. Everyone is mixing it up with the Rabbit hole bar, but they’re two different places. The underground Irish bar was built by some Irish guys who hitch hiked over from Ireland with the piano that’s now in the bar. The bar isn’t signposted, so is tricky to find, but it’s up to the left of the Stone Circle”

“We’re going back to the sand sculpture tomorrow. At the moment it’s a huge pair of hands, but they’re going to start pairing it back tomorrow to gradually reveal the muscles and then the bones”.

The sun’s gone down but the heat’s still incredible – and the crowds are heaving – as Gorillaz close the first night on the Pyramid Stage. Damon Albarn has assembled an amazing all-star line-up with the likes of Lou Reed, Mark E Smith, Shaun Ryder and Snoop Dogg coming on to the stage to join him alongside Clash legends Mick Jones and Paul Simonon in nautical attire.

It’s a very different show to last year’s barn-storming Blur reunion – and some in the crowd look as if they don’t know what to make of it – but festival-goer Rob says: “Damon Albarn is a genius – this generation’s Bob Dylan. Some of the stuff he does is amazing. He’s really leading the way”

Dizzee Rascal’s fast becoming a Glastonbury Festival favourite. Appearing on the Pyramid Stage just before headliners Gorillaz, he opened his set with World Cup single Shout for England and immediately had the crowd jumping.

Loads of kids were on their parents’ shoulders and the younger girls were weaving their way to the front, getting pulled out of the crowd by security and shuffled out through a side exit, only to rejoin the crowd and start pushing to the front again. Cups of water were flying all over the place, which probably didn’t do much to cool off a very hot and excited crowd.

Florence joined Dizzy on stage towards the end of the set to do “You got the Love” – a brilliant re-run of their Brits performance.

He’s been much-hyped but British rapper Example still had a lot to do to draw in a crowd to the East Stage in the Dance Village this afternoon at the same time as superstar Snoop Dog was appearing on the Pyramid Stage – but he did it.

The charged atmosphere was just what the 28-year-old needed and the tent had a brilliant, bouncing vibe throughout his 45-minute set, which included his now anthemic singles Watch The Sun Come Up and Won’t Go Quietly. A flawless and pulsating rendition of Kickstart left people buzzed and wanting more.

It’s hot on Worthy Farm this afternoon and feels like it’s getting hotter all the time. Everyone is dealing with the heat in their own way. Parasol sales must have gone through the roof today, but others are just getting it all out in the sunshine. Mark, a ten-times festival-goer, said: “It’s the people in fancy dress I just don’t get. They must be boiling”. Ryan, Peter and Phil weren’t backing down from their fancy dress principles. “It’s only once a year, you’ve got to stick with it.”

The “Parasol Fairy” is offering people a cooling squirt as they pass by. Oh, and selling parasols at £8. Michelle from Amersham got hers for £5 in the Green Fields earlier today. “It’s been a bit of a life saver”.

Ellie Goulding recorded a post for GlastoBlog when she dropped in to Chill and Charge to perform a quick set before her Glastonbury debut on the John Peel Stage at 6.10pm.

Looking at the line-up ahead, she says she’s jealous of everyone who’s here as straight after performing she has to head off to Switzerland where she’s performing at the Openair Festival in St Gallen on Sunday.

Cat and Pete are getting married next week in Chester. They’ve been together two and a half years and this is now their third Glastonbury together – and their last ones as single people!

They’ve been dressed as bride and groom since first thing Wednesday morning.

Cat’s dress isn’t the one she’s wearing on Friday (!) but a charity shop purchase purely for Glastonbury fun.

It’s already a bit dirty and grass-stained, but she’s hoping it’ll see through the festival.

They actually wanted to get married at the festival, but unfortunately it wasn’t possible. Instead, they’re relaxing in the sunshine ahead of their big day next week.

It’s hot.

It’s very hot.

So when your phone runs out of juice it can be a welcome relief to get a break from the sun in the Orange Chill and Charge tent. It’s also a chance to see some of the Glastonbury acts play more intimate sets on a mini-Pyramid stage.

It’s the sixth time Chi has been to Glastonbury and he says every year there’s been rain at some point.

“I’ve never known it wall-to-wall sunshine like this”.

The weather is supposed to last the weekend so we reckon there’ll be a few pink faces and quality t-shirt marks by Monday …

There’s no question who Dan and Jess have come to see – Rolf Harris has become a Glastonbury legend, and this morning a huge crowd of fans gathered to sing along as he kicked off the main music action on the Pyramid Stage.

Dan and Jess were inspired to pay tribute to the great man after their parents went to a party last week dressed as Rolf. So all together now: “Tie me kangaroo down, sport … “

 

Lottie, Lisa and Philippa are dancing to Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 in the Greenpeace Field to drum up audience for their extravaganza “Palm Oil the musical” later in the day.

They’re also looking for people for a “mass wedding” on Sunday morning. As part of a pagan hand-fasting festival they’re encouraging people to marry either another person, a group of people or even a thing, for a year and a day. Don’t worry, it has no legal standing – “it’s just all about the love”, says Lisa.

Tish from Kent is out to prove that life begins at 40 – she’s joining Glastonbury Festival in reaching the big milestone this weekend.

The birthday girl managed to get her hands on backstage passes, and now she’s heading off to the Healing Tent for a special birthday massage.

Sam and Haydon are keenos – they’ve arrived at the Pyramid Stage at 8am so they can bag a front-row slot for the main act tonight.

“We had a heavy night but we really want to see Gorillaz. We’re waiting for them to take the fences down so we can get right to the front.”

Taking a trip round the festival site this morning, there were a mixture of people up and about. Some were early risers, having cottoned onto the wash-tap queues and the need for early morning coffee.

However, some folks hadn’t quite made it home from the night before. Mike was crashed out with a bacon and egg butty, having lost his mates and with no idea where he was.

We found him wandering around by the Other Stage, when he was trying to get back to Hitchin Hill campground. He couldn’t have been further away from his tent. We pointed him in the right direction…