Why I’m giving Oxegen 2009 a miss
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.
I’m not going after a pretty similar experience. Well, it wasn’t even that bad.. just pretty muddy/stinky/not worth that ridiculous amount of funds. This year, I had planned on going to the Szgeit festival over in Budapest, but I can’t afford that either! So, I’m just going to throw a big out door party instead =D
Vicki
8 Jul 09 at 3:06 pm
Wow Jen, I feel your pain! I think camping in Oxegen is as close as a person could get to the 7th layer of hell.
I went in 07 and 08 and managed to sneak in for free both times and stayed in real houses (with roofs and everything!) in a friends place in Naas and my cousins house in Clane.
So Oxegen 09? I am as yet undecided. And its Wednesday. Still have no ticket, couldn’t afford to pay for one even if it materialised; have wellies and other necessary festival gear, such as luminous jeans and ridiculous glitter, raincoat etc etc.
My reason for not going is a) the money. Even without buying a ticket you still need at least a couple of hundred euros for petrol, busses, beer inside and some Wok and Roll. and b) I must be getting old because I am already considering how wrecked I’ll be next week after another weekend abusing my body with very little sleep and copious amounts of alcohol (was in Finland last weekend – say no more)
I may just toss a coin on Friday. I really might!
Ciara Crossan
8 Jul 09 at 3:28 pm
You really do need to blog more often hon, seriously
Rick
8 Jul 09 at 3:33 pm
This was a brilliant blog!! And notes every single reason why I hate the idea of festivals. I’m glad my opinion was not necessarily wrong.
Festivals in hot and sunny places are perhaps slightly better, considering that the weather probably magnified the bad aspects by 100.
But still, I’d much rather see a band in an intimate venue, pay 60c for a pint of milk and drink ice cold beer from my fridge.
I empathise with you xxx
eily
8 Jul 09 at 3:35 pm
No way, no way, no way would I go.
All of the above, including very much the prices, the crowds, the shouting and the fact that many people go just to be seen to go, just to say they were there and not really care about the music – no way.
Great post.
Darragh
8 Jul 09 at 3:38 pm
Eww I was there. I remember, my first and last Oxegen ever!
Noel Linnane
8 Jul 09 at 3:44 pm
I just dont think you could rough it;)
Debra
8 Jul 09 at 4:03 pm
I have never been to a festival, and this kind of horror story is exactly why. I am not afraid to rough it. I slept in a sleeping bag on the ground in Poland last year. And I mean literally on the ground. I spread my coat under me for some softness…
As for the bands, well my friend Carol and I went to London last weekend to see Blur in Hyde Park. We booked it before they were announced for Oxegen and it was amazing. We got flights, hotel and concert ticket for €160 and that was staying in the Hilton at Edgware Road. The weather was beautiful and the gig was pleasant and really well organised. The other bands hold no thrall for me, except KOL and they play Ireland all the time, so I am not braving Oxegen to see them.
Thanks for a great blog and reminding me why I always steer clear of Oxegen…
Brogen
8 Jul 09 at 9:12 pm
Oh I hear ya Jen, I went to Witnness (oh yes, I am *that old*) twice and both times it was a mud fest. And the highlight of either. David Gray. I feel dirty thinking back on it now.
So yes, brother can colour his hair blue like an old lady and get down with the kids, this weekend, I’ll be eating steak, and won’t be queueing for anything. At all.
A friend of mine (instead of Electric Picnic) goes to similar gigs in Beligum and France (Rock En Seine I hear is fantastic) they are nowhere near as expensive as that MCD nonsense.
Good post, can’t believe I never knew about the ditch thing.
David Cochrane
8 Jul 09 at 9:14 pm
Electric Picnic!
http://debbiemet.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/a-festival-virgins-electric-picnic/
C’mon, you know it makes sense.
Debbie
8 Jul 09 at 9:18 pm
PS, great blog post.
Debbie
8 Jul 09 at 9:18 pm
I’m not going because I think the prices are, especially given the current climate (oh how I hate that phrase), extortionate. Bands are boring – either seen or not seen (by choice) before, at Oxegen. I hate seeing people in trilbies, sunglasses in the rain and / or hotpants that should never see the light of day. I hate camping. Oh, and I especially hate Dublin Bus, who manage to be completely inept at any event that facilitates more than 25 people. (On the other hand, around my area the buses are perfect and the grannies seem perfectly contented. Obviously Crumlin.)
And, now that I think about it, I have an intense fear of portaloos since Oxegen 2007 as well; a friend of mine was overturned in one, on the Sunday, and it landed door-down. Took him 20 minutes to get someone’s attention, at which point they had to roll him over and he dug himself out. They wouldn’t let him have a shower, despite the fact that there were showers there. They wouldn’t get him a taxi to a hotel to have a shower; they wouldn’t get him a doctor. So he lay in his own filth all night and then got a bus back to Galway in it.
So, yeah, thanks but no thanks. In anyways I can hear it from me parents’ and it never sounds that great…
Rosemary
8 Jul 09 at 9:28 pm
[...] brogen 21:31 on July 8, 2009 Permalink | Reply Ok, so Jentertainment posted this blog [...]
Oxegen? No thanks. « Film Geek, Journalist, Blogger; Brogen.
8 Jul 09 at 9:33 pm
Jen – I went with Sinead one year and for similar reasons quoted above by you, I never returned! Im smiling on the inside knowing I’ll be keeping my 400 euro this weeked!
Stacey Kavanagh
8 Jul 09 at 10:01 pm
I can’t believe how many people feel the same. I’m not surprised that the tickets weren’t a sell out like previous years, it seems a lot of people are giving up on it.
@Vicki I’d like to try a festival in a different country too. It would be nice to make a comparison. Sorry it didn’t work out- hopefully next year. Enjoy your party!
@Ciara I know you’ll end up going! You’re lucky you’ve got friends nearby so you get to avoid most of the nasty parts. You’ll be in much better spirits because of that. I’m sure you’ll recover next week.. or the week after.
@Rick Thanks, enjoy yourself
@Eily I would definitely consider a festival somewhere hot. We had a heat-wave Oxegen 05 I think and I had a brilliant weekend. Somewhere abroad with different organizers and different bands, I’d be up for that.
@Darragh Yeah, it’s the same thing every year and people can’t bear to say they weren’t there. We’ll make our own fun this weekend
@Noel I blame you.
@Debra You’re dead right. I’m no longer young at heart and need old lady comforts to keep me happy.
@Dave I was at the last two Witnness festivals too. I don’t know if I was just able for it then but I thought it was ten times better. I was really disappointed when it changed to Oxegen. We certainly are being ripped off. I like to blank on the ditch thing, it wasn’t my finest hour. So you’ll be eating a steak dinner with your Oxegen money? Excellent, Enjoy!
@Debbie Thanks, I know that EP is nowhere near as ridiculous as Oxegen but I’ll be in New York when it’s one this year. Otherwise, I certainly would give it a try.
@Rosemary That is the most horrible story I have ever heard. It’s turned me off Oxegen even more if that was possible. Your poor friend. I’m interested to see if Dublin Bus will pull this one off after all the hassle at Slane.
@Stacey At least you learned your lesson after one year. I had one good and two terrible Oxegens before I got my act together.
jentertainment
9 Jul 09 at 10:01 am
Im popping my festival cheery for EP this year. COMPLETE dif buzz if the reports are anything to go by.
I did go to Wittnnesssss one year but fecked off to a house for the over night. Think Texas were headlining.
Great post though!
Ben
10 Jul 09 at 1:31 am
Haha, I remember I met the Coors and Bewitched at Wittness! Those were the days. Hope you enjoy EP
jentertainment
10 Jul 09 at 11:40 am
Happy to report that Oxegen 09 was a much better organised, path-ed, wood-chipped event
And because there were much less people than usual (allegedly), the portaloos never got that horrendous!
Never camping again, but the music was fabulous.
pluincee
13 Jul 09 at 9:58 am
That’s great that the organisation has improved. It should have always been wood chipped! In 07, the paths were blocked off and nobody was allowed to use them. Pity about the weather but glad to hear you enjoyed the music.
jentertainment
13 Jul 09 at 10:55 am
Oxegen ‘08 had no rain and was pretty damn well organized. Although my sleeping bag was stolen from my tent on the first night, the thief was kind enough to leave my digital camera, cash and passport.
Overall, it was well worth it.
However, it had absolutely NOTHING on Electric Picnic. EP is definitely worth a punt if you like an organized event with more going on than just music. It’s a FESTIVAL. There couldn’t be two more different experiences.
This year, like you, because I’ve seen most of the bands already at Oxegen I’ll be trying a festival abroad.
I really think you should give EP a try.
Dave Davis
13 Jul 09 at 8:26 pm
The weather tends to be better the week of EP as well so I’d definitely give it a try. I’ll be away this year and the line-up doesn’t appeal to be much this year but next year, I reckon I’ll give it a go. Enjoy Melt!
jentertainment
14 Jul 09 at 11:01 am
Hey Babes
See… now you just listed all the reasons I chant to myself in mantra when I consider festivals….
add to that I cant see a freaking thing at gigs anyway.
But I keep thinking that, with the right people, and the right weather, it would be great. I think i’d only do it if I rented a tipi or pod or something, but then you are talking silly money…
And I know for a fact that a week in NYC would be sooooooo much better… save your ass of pet, you’ll have a blast!
xx
elfinamsterdam
14 Jul 09 at 7:31 pm
Yeah, the Pod Pads at Oxegen always look great but you are talking crazy money to stay in a shed! I’m gonna get saving and thank you for saying that the Sex and the City tour is worth a go to herself! We’re leaning towards a yes on that front!
jentertainment
15 Jul 09 at 11:47 am
I went the same year and vowed never to return. Dreadful. Music was good, but the band I wanted to see went on late because Snow Patrol decided to do a feckin encore. Kings of Leon played their 3rd Oxegen in a row, this year and Killers their 2nd in three. Prices were terrible, the mucky shitty ground was so hard to walk in, I had a blister the size of my foot.. on my foot.
I’m spending my Oxegen money on Concert Tickets in Novemeber and a trip to UK.
Sean O'Grady
16 Jul 09 at 11:26 am
It was impossible to walk in and very tiring! Seems like they have improved this year though- I actually saw grass on the camping photos this time! Snow Patrol, The Killers and KOL really need to be changed for something fresh. Enjoy your trip to the UK, you’ll get to stay somewhere lovely for the money you would’ve spent on Oxegen and be free of Blisters too!
jentertainment
16 Jul 09 at 11:30 am
@Brogen I missed your comment there, I’m sorry. I heard a lot of people headed over to London to see Blur. It was supposed to be brilliant. You’re much better off. The weather was awful to be camping this year as usual and I know it’s not a case of being afraid to rough it- it’s paying a fortune to rough it that’s the hard part
jentertainment
16 Jul 09 at 11:34 am
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