I’m a concert virgin. There I said it. For most people attending a is an annual exercise.
Not for me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s always been on my glitter-lined bucket list stuck on my fridge. Since, my vision board venues included the likes of O2 Arena, Madison Square Garden (MSG), or the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, the opportunities were never tempting enough.
But it’s not just about watching an artist perform, the journey there and crowd singalongs to my favourite hits mean as much to me. Now at 27 years of age, I was still waiting for my moment. So when it came amid a manic week before our big fashion issue hit stands, I wasn’t all pessimistic.
A weekend at Glastonbury Festival 2024 in the British countryside, three hours outside London with Defender Land Rover had it all. The camp in Somerset wasn’t one you’d expect at a music festival. You’d think luxury tents, a chauffeured Defender commute, made-to-order and live music by Sarah-Jane Crawford was enough.
But, breathwork and meditation sessions provided a hiatus from the pop-music lineup, too—not that I ever needed it. It’s also where I first met English actor and rapper Idris Elba before his performance that night. As he sat opposite me grouched on his laptop presumably working on his set during lunch, in an onyx straight-fit T-shirt and shorts set, I realised why his reputation precedes him.
The only thing that distracted me from his presence was overflowing bubbly under the afternoon sun. As I sipped my crystal clear glass, I realised there are no rules at music festivals, which can be tricky to navigate. So here are the five lessons I took back with me.
If you’re not walking places, you’re missing out. Almost the size of Oxford, Glasto is spread over 900 acres across Worthy Farm. Home to an entire community of music lovers from all over the world.
Without even trying, my health app was recording 20,000+ steps daily. Be it or Dr. Martens—pack shoes for all seasons.
Read that again. As much as I’d love to dance all night, aimless exploring can get strenuous. Take it from someone who made this mistake.
The first upload on your phone upon arrival should be the Glastonbury App. There’s an easy way to browse the line-up and make a personalised one before venturing off in the lush greens. Let’s just say I went in with a limited playlist and returned with an overhaul.
On a photo walk on day two, I found myself traipsing into Stonebridge stage where the beats may not have matched my Apple Music favourites but that’s exactly what I needed. Getting lost can be fun because all I did was wander. And kind strangers made way for me during acts to get frow access to Coldplay, , Little Simz, and SZA amongst others.
Self-expression came through with cheetah prints, bandana tops, floral crowns, DIY dresses, jellyfish outfits, crochet bodysuits and glitter-dipped crossbodies. I wasn’t going to watch Avril Lavigne sing ‘Girlfriend’ (the reason I bought my first pair of Converse shoes) dressed up in normcore. You’d think you can never get enough of ‘Yellow’, ‘Houdini’ and ‘All the Stars’.
But there will come a point when the beats of the music increase your heart rate. Thankfully for me, Defender’s pre-festival kit already had earplugs that came in handy during Disclosure’s set. For a first-time festival go-er, my essentials kit was rather light.
Think–shades, cards, phone, mints, and festival passes. As I reflect on my experience, I realise that while to-do lists can prepare you for a stimulating yet physically overwhelming weekend, the feeling of swaying to your favourite song with a few thousand people is unmatched. As I strike off this item from my bucket list, I think to myself that the wait was worth it.
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