When I was festival age, I didn’t know anybody that had been to one. It seemed like a fairytale. I’d only heard of Glastonbury and Reading but I’m pretty sure that they were the only ones. Since then, going to a festival has become a rite of passage for anyone becoming a young adult and I wanted a piece of it.
Jenny was, of course, up for it and after realising I’d left it too late for any of the famous festivals, we booked YNOT in Derbyshire, a short hour away. I ordered a cheap tent for £15 and waited what seemed like months before it came round.
We found a spot in a field as far from the action as possible as all the nearby fields were full when we arrived at around 2PM on Friday. Many had arrived the day before or earlier than us on the Friday. Carrying our stuff was no mean feat but we just about managed it with our less than young backs and my feeble strength. Time to find some action.
The bands were great, we saw a range of music from Gabrielle to The Levellers. Kelis drew a huge crowd as did the Stereophonics and we had a great view each time. Jenny’s previous festival experience came in handy for that!
Disaster struck on the second night and it rained and it rained some more. During the hottest, driest summer on record, we were cold and wet! The tent had sprung a leak and poor Jenny was sodden as it was on her side.
At around six AM on Sunday, we headed home. I cut my wristband off and immediately regretted it. I could’ve easily gone back for the night and Jenny did just that to see The Blossoms! What a fool I’d been.
It can’t have been that bad, though; we’ve booked for next year and this time, I won’t scrimp on the tent!
ynotfestival.com