From James Thomas.
HAVING spent some of my youth at the famous Stonehenge free festival and early Glastonbury festivals, and recently the very well organised Bestival festival on the Isle of Wight, I eagerly purchased some Jersey Live tickets for my family as we would be in the Island during the event.

I don’t think I have ever come across an event designed to take money from the punter for so little in return.
Firstly, anyone entering the site had any drink or food confiscated, even small bottles of water. I arrived when it was raining and found my umbrella confiscated, because it was a potential lethal weapon. Yet I soon found numerous wooden stakes, stones and rocks readily available.

Possibly the real reason for the confiscation of the umbrella was the organisers selling overpriced thin plastic ponchos for a staggering £2.50 when similar types can be found on the internet for a more humble 50p.

The attempt to provide an alternative diversion from the two music areas (the main stage and a rave dance floor) was of low effort. For one of these, a climbing wall, a further payment of £5 was required, and the silent disco could hold no more than 25 people.

The above is enough to deter me from wasting my money next year. However, there was also one other activity at the festival which was in full evidence throughout the evening. Males, in order not to lose their space near the stage, were urinating into their empty drinking vessels and then throwing these up into the air, away from themselves, covering other members of the audience with their warm urine.

Despite two members of my group being hit by this ritual, and both members being in different areas, the organisers appeared to do nothing about it. No doubt they were still confiscating water and umbrellas elsewhere.
Maison Charles,
Bel Royal,
St Lawrence.