18th – 27th June
Pilton, Somerset
When I set off for Glastonbury, I wasnae sure if I was fit to travel my back went after all the heavy lifting at Eden after the longest, driest Eden since records began. I had a gorgeous sexy reconciliation with Christine on the Thursday, making love right through to Saturday Morning. The back pain was intense.
I put a call out for some help on Sunday Morning and Jim came to the rescue and I packed for my 9.30pm bus to Birmingham. Again I packed for all weather possibilities. Made sure I was waterproofed. Not that I needed to worry, It was a continuation of the dry and hot conditions of Eden. The Journey South and The National Express coach seats were not conducive to a crook back and after 14 hours of remaining seated because it was too painful to move. The 90 mins in Birmingham Bus Station felt like an eternity. And when I finally got off of the bus in Bristol/ I was like a broken old man . I soon perked up after a Greggs Pastie. large cappicino and a nice spliff. Got on the 376 to Glastonbury to discover that the bus fare had been cut to £2 from £7.90 because of government funding. Hey SNP take note. ❤ I met a lovely lassie called Flosssy she was doing a Uni projerct on the history of Glastonbury and was a volunteer steward. We shared a taxi to the festival site.
It was while waiting for the tractor train for a lift to the Green Felds that I noticed just how much my back was easing arriving at the Healing Fields an hour earlier than my ETA. Mission accomplished. It was lovely to see everyone, Lizzy had arranged a gazebo, massage table and card table for me and once that I had been allocated my working space, I pitched my tent on The Cresent of The Water Circle, I crashed out for my first sleep in the Healing Fields. fell asleep with my tent wide open and was awoken by monsoon rain washing my face. It was just getting light as I put my waterproofs on and went for an early Morning stroll. It was to be the last rain that would fall over the duration of my week in Avalon
The rain stopped by 7am that Tuesday Morning and the sun was soon drying things oot. Glastonbury early doors is always a tranquil thing, with birdsong and softness. The gazebo that was being loaned to me was still on the roof of a van on Windmill Hill the day evolving to be a hot one, I meditated and grounded the Angels in my space then headed for Tat For Tibet to charge my phone on their solar charger £3 a time ❤.
Got some crisps and oat bars and skipped through the Green Fields. Lizzy phoned me to say the gazebo was in Orange Carpark and that I needed to come and pick it up. It was quite a walk, but a lovely day for it. I was ever so grateful for the Worthy Farm Shuttle Bus coz it gave me a lift back to the Greenfields with the gazebo. That was the last of the Heavy lifting, everything was in place. I knew the only thing that was gonna fix my crook back was absolute rest. With everything assembled, this I could now do.
That Tuesday night was the last time that I actually slept in my tent, it became a wardrobe. Rainbow Lizzy had organised lots of carrymats to sleep on and I was confident that, the last of the rain had arrived, so made a big double bed out of my work space for the night times, it was flat an not bumpy and sleeping under the stars was what my body was begging me for. I slept so deep and long. 9pm right through to 7am, the deepest comfortable sleep I had had in a long time. Indeed The Healing fields became my bed and deep down I knew that this was the most Healing Bed in the world. Because it was so hot, I just wasn’t hungry for most of the time, which was a blessing because most of the food vendors were charging really inflated prices for the food that they served, between £11 and £15 for a breakfast and a veggie one at that without coffee. Coffee’s were between £3.50 and £4.50. I dinnae ken how much alcohol was coz I dinnae drink. Of course Wednesday was doors opening for the punters and It was obvious that the cost of living crisis was not a factor in The Glastonbury Bubble. Traders were set to make a fortune and on the whole people were happy to pay.
The energy of the festival does change when 200,000 people arrive, All bringing city energy for it to be transmuted by the Healing Magik of Avalon and blimey it was one very hot day. So Wednesday I dedicated to self healing without the Gazeebo I would have fried, It was too hot to do anything other than chill right out and deep self healing was the nature of the day. I even slept through the massive firework display on The Wednesday night, waking up on Thursday Morning at 5 am and headed to The Greenpeace showers to take my place for a much-needed shower. By eck that was lovely. I headed to The Tiny Tea Tent to play the piano and earned my first coffee of the day. Refreshed, I was walking back to The Healing Fields and noticed that I was walking without any pain at all. Result ❤
I ventured back to my pitch at the Water Circle and tidied up and prepared for a busy Thursday. Because the Rock N Roll shenanigans dinnae actually start until Friday everyone tends to head to The Healing Fields for the therapy that they need and indeed it was a busy day, lots of Tarot readings and deep healing sessions, by 7pm I was knackered. The Healing Fields is the only place apart from The Hare Krishna food Tent. that work on a donation basis So that people know that they can get what they need for what they can afford to pay. This was where the cost of living crisis did pinch, because people were not as generous with their donations. Working alone, meant that i didn’t have anyone to cover for me when I needed a pee, so will have missed out on some clientele. As one can guess I was out like a light again by 9pm and slept a deep long sleep.
Divine Saw The Light ❤
Its hard to describe the Healing that I experienced here on Friday evening. It had been a long Hot Day and I had just returned from my warm up boogie in Block 9. Returning to the Healing Fields is always Bliss. I was drawn to The Diamond Light Matrix and was meditating when I slipped into another dimension. All thought stopped, my heart mind and body at one. All I could see was white light everywhere. It was the healing that I needed. The crook back that I arrived with on Monday had completely sorted it self out. The journey it self to get to that moment hadn’t been a comfortable one. All the difficulties healed at once. In that moment. Indeed it was one of the most powerful Healing Experiences I have had on the path. Am still processing it ❤
It was on Thursday evening, I was walking back from Kings Meadows and there was a Gentleman playing the piano, a flawless rendition of “I Don’t Like Mondays by The Boomtown Rats. I joined my new very talented friend at the piano for a rendition of Will You by Hazel Oconnor. Its a song that has been wit me for most of my life and of course knew all the lyrics, we harmonized beautifully and we both got a round of applause. That was a brilliant Glastonbury moment ❤
Saturday was by far the hottest day it felt like working in the bush in Australia. I was working opposite a large massage bender and the people queueing for a morning massage were clinging to the shadow caused by the gazebo,, I gave up trying to keep my workspace frontage clear, not that anyone was listening. I also had no energy to give, part heat exhaustion and part the adjustment that seeing the light had upon me. A siesta is what was called for. I did manage three readings that afternoon and once the Sun had shifted the massage punters followed the Sun’s shadow. It wasn’t a very productive afternoon financially, but I knew that I had pushed myself to give a lot of myself since I arrived. So I took that siesta and started to prep for Leftfield in The Park that coming night. This was to be my first Glastonbury Gig of 2023 and a follow-up for my review of Leftfield at The Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow earlier on in June. I headed to The Park to check out the sound production and where the best viewpoint for sound and vision would be.
The Pretenders were playing, but was massively packed and the sound system was immense. Interestingly it was a space at the back tucked away, for some reason the sound there was perfect, but one couldnae see the stage. I got chatting to a chap who had lived in Glastonbury Town, He had been having a marvelous day, when someone swiped his bag with all his money, house keys, car keys and drugs. I did feel for him, but it was more of an inconvenience than a tragedy, he was a wealthy man. I showed him my money belt that I put on before each festival and dinnae take it off till I get home. The same thing happened to me back in 1997 and proved to be an important festival lesson. It still didnae stop someone trying to get my money belt off me earlier in the week, I wrap the belt through all my belt loopholes so the potential pickpocket failed. But it did remind me to be extra careful. I wished the stressed local well and headed to the Tipi Field for a brew and a bit of mushroom honey before returning to The Healing Fileld to make my bed under the stars and touch up my makeup.
Once I got to The Park for the Leftfield spectacular, It was quite easy to weave my way to a good vantage point, The Park auditaurium is on a hill so it was easy to get to stage level with a perfect viewpoint to take in the magnificent performance that was to follow. It was the perfect night for an outdoor gig, with a crescent moon illuminating proceedings on what had been the hottest day so far. There was a really good vibe in the air, everyone was excited. As Dusk arrived, dry ice billowed and the show began.
The Leftfield Live Band.
Neil Barnes
Adam Wren
Bid (Drummer)
Vocalists that appeared are noted on each track.
Tonight’s set list
Pulse
Making a Difference (feat Cheshire Cat)
Rapture 16 (feat Earl Daley)
Release the Pressure (feat Earl Daley and Cheshire Cat)
Afrika Shox
This Is What We Do
Power of Listening
Accumulator
Melt
Song of Life
Phat Planet.
Having had the opportunity to review Leftfield at The Barrowland Ballroom on the 1st of June. It was one of the best club Gigz I have ever experienced it was a complete sell-out and the Ballroom was packed to the rafters with an audience that were completely up for it, TBH I was still buzzing from such an exhilarating fantastic work of performance art The Barrowland Ballroom was built for Dance. I honestly didn’t think that they could top this. But when I got to my perfect positioning at The Park Stage, It was very much like an amphitheatre and I had the best seat in the field. Perfect centre to appreciate the perfect sound reproduction with absolutely nothing disrupting my view, 1000s and 1000s of people ecstatically appreciating and grooving as one to the electronic perfection of The Leftfield Live experience. Totally captivating. On a night that couldnae have been any more perfect. Perfect weather, perfect night. perfect venue and the perfect live experience. Am still buzzing. That was deffo a Glastonbury moment. Thankyou Leftfield ❤
After Leftfield and one of best examples of electronic performance art that I have ever experienced, I wandered back to the Greenfields through the Tipi Field for a nice cuppa chai by the roaring fire it was lovely before I headed back to my Healing Fields bed. Saturday night at Glastonbury Festival and I.m going to bed? The middle-aged ravers club. I couldn’t help thinking “How Times Have Changed” ❤ I knew Sunday was going to be a busy work day and I wanted to get to the Greenpeace showers, shower queue early doors. My heart softened as I laid down to rest, looking up at the crescent moon and shinning stars and sent healing to everyone on Worthy Farm and drifted off to sleep in the beautiful grace of The Healing Fields ❤
I slept so deeply that night waking with morning dew on my face, deeply rested, my body was crying out for a shower, so off I trot early on Glastonbury Sunday morning in search hot flowing water to wash off the last two hot days. It was quite parky un the shade and couldnae help thinking oooo I wish I has brought a warmer Jacket. The Sun soon came round though. As I got to the front of the shower queue I noticed a notice that read “Please feel free to use the showers that most suit ones gender identity” Hmmmm now that was an interesting one. What shall I identify as today? Och it was too early for this kind of confusion so I kept to being a bloke. That shower was one of the best showers I have ever had. Shaved, hair washed, clean clean clean and fresh. Then up to Healers Reception for my morning brew, Handed my phone in at Tat For Tibet for a good charge did my my make up and set up shop. The morning massage queue were hogging the shade of my gazeebo so I waited patiently for the Sun to shift. As soon as it had done I had a steady flow of clientele and some lovely healing, by 5pm I was done. I had a date with Alison Goldfrapp at The Park Stage at 6.15pm and my make up was an ever evolving thing that Sunday and even if I say so myself, I looked brilliant and felt wonderful, a bit mentally exhausted but bodily groovy.
I got the Park Stage as they were wheeling on the drum kit. The Park Stage towering above me, I wasnae taking any chances with this one, everything had to be perfect, the chances of seeing Goldfrapp again and this was my first time, Alison Goldfrapp I have loved for a long time from the Ambient Heaven of Felt Mountain to the Post Punk Black Cherry and Supernature, the spectral Beauty of 7th Tree and the disco brilliance of “Heads First” Then back to Spectral Beauty with “Us And Them” Goldfrapp has always thrilled me both in music and style. So this is why it was such a big thing for me. I had to make sure that I was at the front. It was a hot Sunday evening and just lie Leftfield the night before. I had the best seats in the house. I was surrounded by camp queens this really made me smile, I felt so at home, everyone was as excited as I was, when I got to the Park Dtage it was quite empty as I looked behind me I could see that the natural amphitheatre had filled up somewhat ❤ As as I saId this was my first time of seeing Goldfrapp and she is one of my fave girl singers of all time.
Goldfrapp Are.
Alison Glodfrapp. Vocals and amazingness ❤
Will Gregory. Keyboards and Synth Wizardry ❤
Alison, Will, her drummer and two exotic dance artistists received a hero’s welcome as we danced through the cannon together drinking in every moment of this Rock N Roll brilliance. All the hits from all the musical incarnations of a true “Diva” It was when Goldfrapp picked me out in the audience to tell me I looked beautiful and the BBC cameras did a close-up of me. The moment is captured for prosperity on the BBC’s IPlayer. OMG I was the happiest queen in the house ❤ That is until one of them big bouncy balls started getting chucked around and falling on to the heads of unsuspecting groovers. One of them landed on the side of my head and it hurt. I thought fuck this for a game of soldiers and got out of the mosh pit.
But my Glastonbury front of stage had been achieved. I found a position, weaving my way up through the gathered masses to find that the sound reproduction was much better and grooved on down to the magical sounds of Goldfrapp.
After Alison I was quite hungry so had a gander around The Parks food places. I settled on an indian mix plate. £11 and it filled my belly, as I was eating my dinner, a guy came up and congratulating me on getting a call out from Alison. I replied “Cheers mate, I got her phone number too” ❤ How we laughed ❤
It had been a long day and Divine was knackered so I headed back to my Healing Fields and slept a very deep comfortable satisfied sleep. I was wide awake by 5am so went in search of coffee at The Tiny Tea Tent and then up to Kings Meadows and The Stone Circle to take in the last of the festival ravers, Indeed it was a lovely Monday Morning and the Climax of a wonderful Glastonbury Festival. So after morning coffee and walkabout, I purchased a veggie burger to fill my belly and rested. The work was done ❤
Later on that day Richard Greaves the Alexander Technique man who happens to live in North Berwick offered me a lift back to Auldee Reekie. Ya Dancer ❤ My back celebrated. I relaxed even deeper the stress of travel just got lighter.
Monday is always about replenishing after giving so much for 5 days of service it also gave me time to contemplate It was 31 years ago that I first entered Avalon (Under the fence) Its a festival that I have grown up with and watched and indeed been instrumental to its evolution over the years. I was the first to suggest that we all work on a donation basis so that everyone has the opportunity to heal regardless of how much money they might or might not have, At that time though the festival population was some 150’000 more as everyone was more or less walking in, for some it was genuine calling. me included. How things have changed over the last twenty years, Now the only way in is to be internet savvy enough to get a ticket, Some of the magic is lost I think. The Healing Fields is a Glastonbury Project packed with talented and effective Healers and Therapists of all kinds and everyone gives their best work on a donation basis. Its one of the things that makes Glastonbury Festival what it is, because that is what people get a calling for. The Healing that they need. Och where there is a will there is a way. As I have so proved. Good Time ❤
So after one last night under the stars, I slept another deep and rejuvenating sleep before waking up on Tuesday morning to pack my things and return what I had borrowed to Rainbow Lizzy, Helped Richard Tat down, gave all my lovely friends from healers reception a hug, I do love them all so dearly and we were off. Even though it was Tuesday it still took 2 hours to get off of site. We stopped in Wells for a fish and chips lunch and had brilliant banter all the way home. Richard is an old Leeds Goth too and really good friend.
I arrived back at Niddrie Mill at 10.30pm that night and my heart was full ❤
Mark ‘Divine’ Calvert
Mumble Music 