Tuesday, 5 April 2011

brits at an american festival in chile

Yes, so this weekend we were at Lollapalooza (we being Phil, Samuel and I, and Daisy and her parents for the Sunday too).

Let's just say that the whole thing was a complete shambles in the run up. Like, extraordinarily so. Their website was a total waste of time, giving no information about anything at all. I ended up having to do twitter searches to find details about most things that they had not explained.

I quite frankly cannot bring myself to explain to you the horror that it was - I think I may still be a touch traumatised and don't want to reopen my wounds.

The healing process was hugely and incredibly aided by the festival itself. Which almost makes me crosser because the thing was worth it!

One thing I will mention is that there was no alcohol at all on site, neither allowed to be brought in nor sold (unless you forked out for a VIP ticket). However, this info only came out through one of my twitter searches and the rumour mill at Santiago Times via Phil. So in our minds we were thinking "how on earth can they possibly imagine having a festival without booze?!?!" I guess that says a lot about drinking culture at UK festivals - something I don't bother partaking in hugely (because I just get sick and boring more than anything else) but a factor you just assume will determine quite a lot of your festival experience...

The brilliance of it was that once we were inside and enjoying the music you just couldn't tell at all. The whole thing was a lot more civilised and respectable, but people were dancing and enjoying the music just as much.

That's not to say the concept would work in the UK - I think we're probably too accustomed to the way we do things to loosen up enough to enjoy ourselves at a concert or festival without the boozey atmosphere... It really does give you a license to let your hair down, even if you're not drunk yourself.

Two tip top highlights:
1) the Movistar Arena
I had no idea that the "LG Stage" was the arena where U2 played a few weeks ago - it is GIGANTIC. Like the biggest festival tent you can imagine, with 2 tiers running the whole way round that fit in probably as many people as are on the ground floor itself. And the sound system was immense. We saw Fat Boy Slim play on Saturday night there and it was rammed and incredible.

2) Chico Trujillo
This band is the best thing musically I have discovered all year. They are so fun and awesome and just brilliant.

Here is a song with minimal words but you will catch the vibezzzz.
'Con la pollera amarilla' - with the yellow skirt.



The classics: Medallita, Loca, La Escoba.

I haven't danced so hard in like, 6 months. ie. Since I've been away from London.
IT FELT GOOD.

Phil has some funny videos of us jumping around like loons.
Also might steal some of his photos to show y'all as I failed to take a camera.

All in all it was FUN.
Now I'm back to my essays... A boring week in front of the laptop. It's a good time to skype me!

XOX

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