That’s Jentertainment

Oxegen 2007 was my last. It was an absolute disaster. I decided it would be a great idea to drive there because then I could bring a lot of heavy stuff. More drink, an airbed, a cooler box full of food, more clothes than I needed (you know, to have a choice in the mornings). It seemed like a great idea. I have no sense of direction what so ever. I followed the traffic and nearly had a heart attack to hear that the car parks were closed due to flooding. We were being re-directed further away and told a shuttle bus would bring us from that car park to the campsite. I planned a couple of trips to the car so this did not seem ideal. Cars were parked along the road miles back and there was no way I’d find a spot this close. It was then, in the queue to turn around that I saw a spot. I couldn’t believe my luck. Sinéad asked if she should go check it out. I told her not to be silly, that I could see perfectly and turned into my lucky spot. My lucky spot was a small ditch. I had driven into a ditch. I’d like to say that nobody saw but there were queues of traffic all stopped with nothing else to look at but my shame. People were walking by. It was absolute jammers and raining. I tried to reverse my way out of the pickle but I was stuck. A gang of men walking by saw this lady in distress. They took control of the situation by putting the car mat under the wheel instead of spraying muck everywhere. It wasn’t working. More people were stopping to help. Half the street were over pushing the car and one guy kept saying “we’re gonna have to lift it.” People scattered. Cars were at a standstill beside poor Daisy and luckily for me, so was a Dublin bus. The driver opened his door and offered advice. Passengers on the bus offered the same and others hurled abuse. Again the guy shouts “We have to lift it!” We all looked around and nodded. A stranger was in the driver’s seat trying to reverse while everyone lifted the front. It actually worked! Everyone on the road in buses, cars and on foot clapped and cheered. We cracked open a box of cans and passed them around cheering. We were all on a high. I was so relieved and couldn’t believe my luck. I was so close to the campsite that I could surely make two trips, or so I thought. With this naïve notion, I left the beer in the car and walked what I assumed would be a 20 minute walk to the campsite. Two and a half hours later, I wanted to cry.

The campsite was just muck. No grass, no straw, no sand. Nothing had been put down on the ground. Tired from the long walk, with heavy bags I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My first thought was to return to the car but I thought that I’d feel better when the tent was set up. I had no wellies. I know it was stupid but I had old runners that I thought would do fine. I couldn’t walk and the weight of everything I was holding was pushing me further and further into the ground. When we finally set up the tent, the walk had taken so long that we were camped over an hour’s walk from the stage because the muck slowed us down so much. I spent €30 on wellies that I thought would solve my problems but all they had was ones three sizes too big. They were staying in the muck and I was falling out. The beer was in the car. There was no way we could have carried it and this didn’t brighten my mood. During that weekend, I saw around 20 adults cry because they were so frustrated with the campsite situation. That was one year, I don’t know if organisation has improved since then. I doubt it.

However, every year has the same problems.

1.    Portaloos. As comical as it is to see people’s faces coming out, it’s not a pleasant experience for anyone. If they were cleaned as regularly as they should be, a lot of camper’s experiences would be improved.
2.    Prices. As with all concerts, prices are ridiculous. Prices of food and pints and so expensive for what they are. I once paid €4 for a small carton of milk.
3.    Queues. You’re willing to pay these crazy prices but you have to wait 40 minutes in line for this privilege.
4.    The best thing, the reason for Oxegen is something I have yet to mention. The music. It is great that they have lots of different types of music for different interests but 2009 especially, I was extremely underwhelmed by the line up. Every band I like that is playing this year I have seen before. Not only have I seen them before, but I’ve seen them at Oxegen. Headlining this year are Snow Patrol, Kings of Leon and The Killers. Change the record please!
So, Oxegen 2007 I spent €230 for a camping ticket, €100 on camping gear including a tent, chair and raincoat, €50 on petrol, €150 on shopping the day before including alcohol shopping, €30 for wellies when I got there, €25 for new car mats when I got back and around €100 on food and drink in the venue. Altogether that’s €685 that I spent to camp in the muck in the rain, use the luxurious toilets, not be able to walk and to see bands I’ve seen before. Thinking of all the lovely things I could have done with that money makes me crazy- a fortnight on a sunny holiday, a shopping spree, going to see all the bands I want (that I’ve never seen before) in intimate venues over the whole summer, comedy gigs or a lovely weekend away in a nice hotel in Ireland. This year, I’m spending my Oxegen money on a trip to New York.

So if you’re not going to Oxegen, let me know what you’re spending YOUR Oxegen money on.