Complaints about the sound at Glade 2008

[Sperge]

Also, people have been giving the example of Glastonbury to argue for this. But they seem to have forgotten that Glastonbury now shuts down all its main stages and tents by half past midnight and all you get after that is "silent disco" headphone jobs.

Eh? I'm sure the dance village went on later than that in 2007, and the Glade stage and all the stuff up in Lost Vagueness (I know it's gone now, but it's been replaced and the Tilted Disco "house" went on all night) carried on WELL into the small hours.

Oh, the Shangri-La and Trash City areas are still going strong at those times admittedly, but not the big stages with the big sound systems. The dance village does go on a bit longer than the main stages, but not much. It's definitely not an all-nighter thing - and there are more of those bloody headphone discos now, including at the Glade stage.

[Twist]

Friday - WELL quiet in Overkill, I was really trying to let go and dance but it just wasn't loud enough. I could easily hold a conversation in the middle of the tent.

/weektoolate

[shakyjane]

Its all a lot bigger than just glade really though isnt it - possibly instead of complaining to the council or the glade organisers - we should be complaining to the government? Or environmental health. Or whoever the fuck it is who makes up these stupid fucking rules.

I swear it pissed me off so much when I was driving from Scotland to Glade and back and seeing so many fuckin big arse lorries taking crap about that noone really needs! Then I have to put up with such awful restrictions on sound. I know they're a completely different thing, but everything is just so unfair. My personal opinion is that the councils really need to gets some bollocks and tell the residents to go screw themselves.

[xkejjer]

i hope that the glade organizers talk about this or at least send some mail about this problem.. explaining why was it low.. offering assurances about next year, and if there will be these similar sound problems.. Because apparently, if you take it generally, i.e. for a moment ignoring relatively nitpicking issues like more showers (more showers would be nice but i wouldn't classify it as a major problem) it is the only big problem for glade at this stage.

the sound after midnight, which is often peak time at events and festivals, especially dance festivals, was very low. i could hear people speaking from 2 feet away and not only that, understand what the conversation (often it was just a mash up he he) is about. that is not acceptable in such an event, especially a dance vent, in which the music must not just be heard, but FELT, destroying your bone marrow and invading your fucking soul.

so now, after what is it, 9 pages of sound complaints, it is a bit about time for an official explanation and assurance about next year. and i would like a real assurance, not technical talk about this, about that, about logicaudio and whatnot. just plain words and answers to a very simple question which is common amongst everyone, i believe.


why was the sound so low this year,

and

will it be this low next year?

[leah]

distant bass for one weekend a year is not a human rights violation

[Ab$olut]

My personal opinion is that the councils really need to gets some bollocks and tell the residents to go screw themselves.

indeed I bet people getting last min supplys and stuff for traveling back gave the local businesses a boost.I wonder how the locals in glastonbury would feel if the festival was moved and they wouldn't get thier payments!

[digger]

I am a local resident who just moved to the area (new development opposite Butt Inn). On Friday night you could hear the beat from about 4pm onwards but many comments have said volume was very low on Friday. We could not hear anything though for the rest of the festival which we could not understand. It might have had something to do with the wind direction I guess. I fear that the problem of sound levels will not go away and a new venue might be needed. I have been to Glasto the last 3 times and will be going to Glade next year wherever it is held. It is incredibly low key in terms of the impact on the local area and I agree that this is a wider issue about sound levels at festivals rather than a problem specific to Glade.

[Sperge]

I am a local resident who just moved to the area (new development opposite Butt Inn). On Friday night you could hear the beat from about 4pm onwards but many comments have said volume was very low on Friday. We could not hear anything though for the rest of the festival which we could not understand. It might have had something to do with the wind direction I guess. I fear that the problem of sound levels will not go away and a new venue might be needed. I have been to Glasto the last 3 times and will be going to Glade next year wherever it is held. It is incredibly low key in terms of the impact on the local area and I agree that this is a wider issue about sound levels at festivals rather than a problem specific to Glade.

Thanks for that view from the residents' side, digger, it's very useful. And welcome to the board!

The wind explanation sounds pretty likely as that's what most of the crew and organisers have been saying caused the problems on Friday night.

[shakyjane]

[Sperge]

I don't think a giant windbreak will be quite enough, Calla....

[baldmosher]

Now where would Glade get the extra punters if Bangface pulled out of next years festival???

I have not been into any of the Bangface nights for more than 10 minutes. Admittedly last year I was intending to rinse it out in there part of the night but when Panacea didn't show up after Time Exile opened the night, I walked out. Sorry Aaron!

[c-more]

Still no feedback from Glade organisers regarding the sound at this years festival. Im just curious to know what the actual situation was and why Sancho Panza can have a consistently booming system every year whilst the others suffer with big sound limits.

[kai]

Prob the level of bass involved in house compared to techno and other harder genres of dance music.

[0x06]

Here's Ans' response to sound levels from the Psymusic forum.

http://www.psymusic.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=967037&postcount=330

[AndyMcScooter]

What were other people's experiences?[/quote]

i have to say, i thought the sound was spot on this year - was at origin loads and thought it was much louder than last year, and overkill was deafening! however, this could be due to the fact that I turned 30 on the saturday and am now old! i really didn't think that the sound was an issue........and furthermore, I think that the organisers/soundsystems are trying their hardest to keep both gladesters and local residents happy......i woke up on the friday when (in think) they were doing soundchecks in one of the main tents, and they were playing an old eat static track - I could feel the bass rising up through the earth!

[joe_techno]

overkill was deafening? ... really? you sure about that??

[shakyjane]

I think that the organisers/soundsystems are trying their hardest to keep both gladesters and local residents happy

But its got to point now whereby the organisers are NOT managing to keep the 'gladesters' happy because their hands are tied trying to ensure local residents are happy. Yes, that isn't directly their fault - but I dont see why they continue with this place - a lot of reasons have been given, but to me they dont take priority over sound.

I can only assume you either missed the big dips in sound or you have extremely super sensitive hearing. Yes the bass came out bassy sometimes, but did it stay like that? Erm, no.

Can anyone answer my question about where to go if I want to moan at the decision makers? Is it environmental health/government/local council?

[Beautfish]

"Here's Ans' response to sound levels from the Psymusic forum.

http://www.psymusic.co.uk/forum/showpos ... tcount=330"


The rest of the discussion on this psy forum is pretty interesting. Ans is saying the license stipulates they can't go above 45db after midnight, which is quite frankly a complete fucking joke. But, their hands are completely tied. He also reiterates what has been said on here before, that the organisers don't believe there is another site in the UK that is far enough away from local residents AND has good transport links AND has the visual beauty of Wasing etc etc.

However, there is hope in this collaboration of independent festies that has been mentioned before that includes Glade. Ans talks about them lobbying
the government and local councils to re-think noise restrictions, something i really hope they do. If there were an organised campaign from festival organisers, backed up by a petition signed by thousands of festival goers, i think that might shout loud enough so that the powers that be can hear and do something about it

[shakyjane]

u need more than that tho - thousands of 'drugged up raving criminal crusties' arnt really going to get any attention

Oooo, they should set up a rig outside the houses of parliament I'll play!

[baldmosher]

I think Frank's post AND Ans's response were bang on. Saturday the volumes were perfect to my ears. (Could always be louder but it meant no tinnitus and no earplugs so as I see it that's perfect. Bass is always nice but for MOST types of music you can see past that.)

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/new

Bad news, can't start a petition until 1st September

Can anyone answer my question about where to go if I want to moan at the decision makers? Is it environmental health/government/local council?

Write to your MP and ask them to bring it up in parliament - if everyone who went to Glade did this then you would trigger a proper good debate about it. Who says the little man can't do anything?

To quote the dude who writes to his congressman on salvia:

"Keep your letter short, pleasant, and keep to one point."

[leah]

i am seriously thinking about writing to my mp and it's gonna be a fucking long letter

[Beautfish]

"u need more than that tho - thousands of 'drugged up raving criminal crusties' arnt really going to get any attention"


no, but alongside an organised lobbying campaign by this festval organisers group we might...

[baldmosher]

If there were an organised campaign from festival organisers, backed up by a petition signed by thousands of festival goers, i think that might shout loud enough so that the powers that be can hear and do something about it

I've written to my MP

FOR THE ATTENTION OF:

Tony Lloyd MP
Manchester Central

Friday 1 August 2008


Dear Tony,

Last month I attended the fifth Glade Festival in Berkshire.

The majority of locals are in favour of (and desire) the festival, which has been commended by the Thames Valley Police for its friendly crowds, relatively low crime rate and by locals for its positive contribution to the local economy.

However, the music after midnight was often turned down to quieter than talking volume. Specific frequencies were instructed to be 'cut', based on a series of dB-meters, which further harmed our enjoyment of the music.

The sound levels are an ongoing issue for Glade, and many regular Glade attendees have stopped going because of this, but I understand the problems are suffered by many other smaller festivals across the UK.

I appreciate that local residents have to be considered, but there is a 45dB limit at night, which is low enough to be triggered by a hooting owl!

Live music should be loud enough to be felt, not just heard. Can anything be done to save live music in the UK before the festival scene is killed off?

Major sporting events gridlock roads for hours, causing misery to locals, but they are always given dispensation in the interests of a national pastime. I fail to see why music events should be treated any differently.

"You cannot make an omelette without breaking the eggs."

Yours sincerely,

baldmosher™

i am seriously thinking about writing to my mp and it's gonna be a fucking long letter

Keep it concise and to the point. My letter is probably longer than it should be but I had to make myself clear. I cut it in half.

[Beatmonkey]

WTF, your writeing to your MP not some internet forum moderater, sign it with your name not your internet handle folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[baldmosher]

WTF, your writeing to your MP not some internet forum moderater, sign it with your name not your internet handle folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!