Everyone needs a dose of caffeine in the morning don't they? And thanks to a coffee machine alongside a cafe rustling up bacon baps campers didn't have that far to wander for the most important meal of the day. After the munchies they could spruce up in one of the two shower cubicles reserved just for disabled guests, take a pee in one the three loos, again reserved for disabled patrons or if, they required extra space, wheel themselves into the changing room/ cubicle. Other guests' who didn't require added assistant could make use of the loos and showers situated in the guest campsite which was situated immediately next to the special needs camping area.
Breakfast? Check. Shower? Check. Pee? Check. Aftershave - nah, sod it - it's a festival! OK we are ready to make our way into the main arena through a pedestrian gate reserved for production and special need guests. Normally the opening band at a festival are fairly unknown although waking up to the Futureheads gave those still trying to nurse their headaches/ comedowns from the night before a little wake-up call thanks to their old tracks (Hounds Of Love) and their newies (I Can Do That).
Still feeling groggy? (There’s a great link coming up before the end of this sentence btw) Your head spinning like crazy? Feeling un-coordinated? Your whole body spazzing out? Well, Cerebral Ballzy (Boom, there it is!) can screw your non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions up even more over at the NME/ Radio 1 Stage. Meanwhile lurking in the deep dark pseudonym sewers The Rats reveal themselves as The Gallows making a surprise appearance on the Lock Up Stage.
The Mystery Jets left a trail of clues why they have stepped up to a main-stage act. Although their music can rarely be filed in the 'dance your arses off' cabinet a slight change of direction with 'Heart To Heart' gave a subtle break from their laid back indie-folksy tones which we have warmed to since the Eel Pie Island lads picked up their musical instruments back in 2005. Meanwhile Two Doors Down 3OH3! could be found playing to those with little appreciation of decent music on the Radio 1/ NME stage.
Time to sneak off to the guest area to give you a nose around if you didn't manage to blag yourself a VIP pass. Relentless carried on their live music association after their Boardmasters festival a few weeks ago and propped up a bar next to the main guest marquee which catered for liggers across the weekend. A pizza parlour and Barbie allowed the folk to escape potential food poisoning from the burger vans in the main arena and a press tent was bombarded for three days with journalists requesting interviews and other media enquires which us folk are committed to doing so that we don't have to splash out a hundred quid for our tickets.
Back outside in the arena we found the gracious delights of The Maccabees dedicating 'Wall Of Arms' to the Reading festival, suppose it's a more practical approach in oppose to writing out 82,000 individual thank you notes to a sold-out crowd isn't it?
Last year a minor issue from the main stage special needs platform was that the sound wasn't up to scratch. To compensative this two platforms had thirteen speakers each attached up high on the scaffolding ensuring that the sound was perfect. Staying on the platforms for our next segment in this article we can confirm two things. One being that the Crips enjoyed The Cribs and Two, there was an Oxfam volunteer called Joseph who after receiving his free ticket went AWOL from the disabled platform. A 'Wanted' poster was pinned up on the disabled loo front door in case this petty criminal was found, alas we never did find out if Joseph was caught although we are keeping an eye out for further programmes of BBC Crimewatch so we can help out with this criminal investigation.
Crime also pays apart with the most anticipated act of the summer. Back in 2003 Pete Doherty broke into Carl Barat's flat and ended up behind bars, the 'break in' was followed by the 'break up' of The Libertines. An indie British heritage which many have been yeaning to see reformed for many years. After false rumours and the arrival of Babyshambles & Dirty Pretty Things the two lads have finally kissed and made up metaphorically and physically when the bromance was crystallised on stage tonight. Their set followed two low-key London gigs earlier in the week although the festival appearance was the mamma of all Albion reunions. Past demons were laid to rest as soon as the opening chords to 'Horrorshow' echoed around the main area and the lost yet not forgotten live thrashing chords to 'What Became Of The Likely Lads' and 'Can't Stand Me Now' cemented the return of the newly tight performance which we have been waiting for so long. Although a Libertine show wouldn't be Libertine show without a glitch...Half way through 'Time For Heroes' the band walked off stage. Luckily this was due to a crowd brawl and the guys promptly returned, re-sang the number and carried on with the classics which included 'Up The Bracket' and 'What A Waster'.
To round off the night Arcade Fire melted the coldest of hearts from the main stage whilst more volcanic eruptions exploded over the sweaty crowd over in the Festival Republic tent thanks to Ash.
As we made our way back to the tent ( after a few pints naturally) we bumped into Bono again and gave him a pat on the hat as he gave us a good sniff round our crown jewels - He's a dog for disabled people; who else do you think Bono was - a bloody rock star?
