Glastonbury Blog - CAT: Thursday: Settling in

Late night partying at Shangri-La

2010-06-25T00:27:00Z

Tonight we headed down The Old Railway Track to check out Shangri-La. Hundreds of people were heading in the same direction, all wanting to get a taste of the late night party scene Glastonbury offers. Pete from Stockport has been to Glastonbury once before but never made it beyond the main stages. He’s taking a different approach this year and headed down to see what Shangri-La was all about. “We didn’t get down here last year, but I wish we had, it’s wicked. It messes with your brain a bit though”.

The team who created Shangri-La describe it as “a living breathing film set, populated with characters and creations. A futuristic citadel nestled next to an overpopulated slum riddled with filth of all kinds and the odd unexpected diamond ….”.

It’s live music, laser shows, a burlesque hotel, a nightclub, backstreet slum areas with seedy shops and futuristic buildings, all built around a huge town square …. oh, and free haircuts!

Sunset and the festival tempo steps up a beat

2010-06-24T20:02:00Z

Thursday evening and the tempo of the festival is starting to pick up as discos and impromptu parties are cropping up across the festival. Anywhere that does have music is attracting a crowd but we’re still at level one on the dial this evening. Last nights chilled atmosphere is slowly being replaced with a more upbeat feel.

Things are getting into full swing at the Queen’s Head and Boy George and Beardyman are on the WOW! stage tonight – the big stages don’t kick off until tomorrow.

The volume only goes up from here!

Come dine with me festival style

2010-06-24T18:40:00Z

From curried goat to vegetarian bacon, there’s something to suit every taste as you wander past the huge range of food stalls and vans across the festival site.

Hannah and Danny spotted the strawberries and cream van and decided to grab a bowl and a bit of shelter from the hot afternoon sun. Check out some of the other festival fare on offer:

Spotted! Prince Charles visits Glastonbury

2010-06-24T14:00:00Z

Celeb spotting is always fun at Glastonbury – and we’ve just bagged a right royal one … yes, that’s the Prince of Wales wandering round Glastonbury with a man dressed as a tap and Titan the Robot.

The GlastoBlog team were out and about after lunch and we decided to stop and watch Titan perform by the WaterAid stand. Just then Prince Charles popped out through the back of the Queen’s Head tent and came over to chat to people.

Apparently, he was there to mark the festival’s 40th anniversary in his capacity as president of WaterAid, one of the three charities that benefit from Glastonbury.

Oh, and there was some musical royalty to be spotted too. Blur’s Alex James was there – he’d just met the Prince backstage at the Queen’s Head …

The big guns have started to arrive

2010-06-24T13:51:00Z

With the big stages ready to swing into action tomorrow, the big guns have started arriving – we spotted Michael Eavis touring the festival site with special guests Stevie Wonder, Seasick Steve and Slash.

Underneath the papier mache heads are “P”, Kate, Jonny and Jane who told us: “They’re all hand-made. We think they look great, but they are boiling inside.”

My first festival experience, age 6 days

2010-06-24T10:39:00Z

Hi, I’m Louise and this is my daughter Arabella. She was born 6 days ago! Does that make her the youngest person at the festival?

Arabella was born by c-section on Thursday evening at 5:18pm, weighing 8lb 7oz.

My due date wasn’t until today and I’d originally planned to come to the festival anyway, thinking she would be born late, but as it turned out she arrived early so we’ve bought her along.

We’re camping in the family camp field and everything has been brilliant so far.

We’ve bought the rest of the family too including grandad, who is reminding us that he wasn’t invited until we realised we were going to have a baby.

It’s great to have a bit of extra babysitting help though.

The best kept secret in Glastonbury

2010-06-24T08:19:00Z

It’s now 9am and there are a fair few people up and about, keen to start their first full festival day.

Everyone’s got a different morning routine, and their own Glasto secrets for the best way to start the day.

After spending last night at the silent disco, Sam made a beeline for the Greenpeace field.

He reckons their showers are the “best kept secret in Glastonbury”.

Other good tips for a Glastonbury morning include your own bog roll, an early slot at the wash taps before it gets too soggy underfoot and dry shampoo for the girlies.

First early risers in the morning haze

2010-06-24T06:51:00Z

It’s early on Thursday morning and most of Glastonbury is still asleep. Anyone who is up, is looking as hazy as the weather.

Mike and Justin are ahead of the game – just catching up on the morning’s news before they grab breakfast.