Glastonbury Festival Organisers Speak Out
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by: Sarah Maple
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After the criticism leveled at them over conditions last year, as well as the choice of headliners (rapper Jay-Z and the Southern-fired boogie of Kings Of Leon), organisers Michael and Emily Eavis have hit back at their detractors.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, the Eavis' remained upbeat that last year's adverse weather conditions would not be repeated. Said Michael: "The prospects are good for the end of June and we're due a good year. We had three inches of rain last week and none of the water came through the fields. It all went down the drains."
Another problem with muddy conditions is the concentrating effect it has on crowds, with metal walkways last year straining to hold everyone as they avoided the mud - unavoidable with the large numbers of people and the slightest rainfall.
Emily Eavis says: "We have a new drainage system - a massive project which cost £100,000 spanning the hill areas and The Park. People are waiting to see how the weather is before buying. It’s given those who might have missed out last year the chance to come."
"It will be the real Glastonbury fans coming, not just those who think it’s cool to go but who then find it’s not their thing. It will be the best atmosphere we have had in a long time. If we had sold to the touts as we have in the past then, of course, we would have sold out.
"We want to sell to people who want to come and that’s why it’s taking a while."
A straw poll around regular festival goers locally though cite the over commercial nature of today's festivals, as opposed to the more freewheeling festivals in the past - the cost alone last year priced many of the teenagers the Eavis' are reported to want to be the main visitors to the site.
The Eavis' also assured festival goers that the sound problems that blighted the main stages would not be repeated:
"We have been working very closely with the local council regarding noise issues all over the site," said Michael. "We are super-confident that the sound will be cracking on all the stages this year. In particular, we have made vast improvements to the sound on the main stages and we can assure you everyone will be very happy with what they hear."
Last year the right hand speaker blew whilst Bjork was playing at the Other Stage, and the Killers also suffered from poor sound from where this author was stood, in the mud, with thousands of other muddy revelers.
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Story resource: Glasto Strikes Back XFM is an alternative rock indie online radio station based in London, UK
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