Guilfest 2010 Day 1From Friday 16th to Sunday 18th July 2010 the Guilfest music festival returned to Stoke Park in Guildford.
I last went to Guilfest with my friend Ian back in July 2007, which you can read about here. The line up for Guilfest 2010 looked really good. I was looking forward to seeing Orbital and Tall Paul on Friday, The Human League, Mungo Jerry, and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown on Saturday, plus Status Quo, Level 42, and others on Sunday. Not forgetting the comedy tent, stalls, and other fun things to see.
I managed to get discounted tickets for the whole of the three-day event. A lady at work was selling tickets cheaper than advertised elsewhere, as her son’s local band was playing in the Surrey Advertiser tent. I got tickets for Ian, his sister, and me. I enjoy going out with Ian, as we can plan fun things together and go all kind of places when he is here in England. On Friday’s festival event day, I met my friend Ian round his parents’ house in Guildford where he was staying. He was living very close to Stoke Park where Guilfest was being held.
We walked from his house to Stoke Park. A high fence surrounded the park. We could see the campers’ tents behind the fence.
We arrived at the entrance and received our wristbands, which gained us entry. Our bags were searched before we went in.
We had a walk round the park checking out the stalls and what was there. They had some interesting things for sale, clothes, food, ornaments, everything. I tried on a fake Elvis wig and a funny hat. There were also stalls selling herbal highs and an oxygen bar. There was a few stalls selling rude t-shirts too.
We checked out some of the tents, which had bands playing inside them.
There was another tent which had The Eden People inside it. I had my photo taken holding a sign which read 'Unique'. I was not quite sure what they were all about, but they seemed quite happy anyway.
Some of the campers were staying in teepee tents nearby.
We found a red Double Decker bus, which had been turned in a bar selling Pimm’s cocktails. We had some drinks on the top deck of the bus, which was fun. There was a great view of the park from the top deck.
After we had some drinks, we walked round some more stalls. We tried on silly hats and glasses and took pictures of each other wearing them. Ian bought some flower shades, and I got a black hat with a white stripe on it, which looked like the type of hats Mods wore during the Mod revival of the late 70's when bands like The Jam and Ska music was popular. Ian also bought a black bowler hat. I felt like I was in an episode of Mr Benn with all the funny outfits to try on.
We watched a few bands, and then we looked round the stalls again. We bought two UV painted t-shirts to wear later on at the festival. I also bought a mini dress with the same design as my UV t-shirt for my girlfriend of the time Lushele. She sadly could not make it to the music festival due to her work.
We then decided to have a break back at Ian’s house. We enjoyed some beers and wine in his back garden. I took photos of him near some lavender wearing his flower shades. A big bee landed near him.
We walked back to Stoke Park with our UV T-shirts on. Ian had also changed into bright stripey trousers, put his flower shades on, and wore a smiley faced bandella on his head.
We also met up with my friend Tristan at Guilfest. He was there to see one of his favourite DJ’s play in the Funky End tent, who was Tall Paul. Tristan also wanted to promote his new Pure Dance events company, and he had brought along some printed flyers for a local event he was doing. I had posted some of the flyers round Guildford earlier that week, and I helped him out at Guilfest handing them out too.
The DJ’s were really good in the Funky End tent. There was some great music being played and it was full of people dancing.
After we had our dance around we then left the tent, and watched some bands on the different stages.
We saw some acting students doing some strange performance outside. There was a girl standing on a chair in a leopard skin coat, and other actors in unusual clothes sat, or stood around her.
The sun was starting to go down, and there was a colourful sunset.
We returned back to the Funky End tent again and it was all lit up inside.
As it got darker we returned to the stall that was selling UV t-shirts. Everything was glowing, including us, and I got some good pictures.
We went to the main stage and watched Orbital perform. They are a popular ambient dance music band, who did well in the 90’s. They were great fun to watch with their big screens and classic tunes. I took pictures and some video.
Tristan then had to head back home. Ian and me returned to the dance tent until closing time.
It was a fun first day to the three-day Guilfest music festival. |
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