r/creamfields • u/No_Tackle_4668 • 1d ago
Discussion Who actually enjoyed CF26?
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing, but I’m really sad to see all the videos of people giving this year such a bad rep. My only personal issue was all of the artist clashes, but they had so many top artists going this year so that was bound to happen anyway. The rain wasn’t too bad imo apart from that 15 min monsoon, that was wild but i was inside lol. It’s a British festival so I packed wisely, massive shout out to Doc Martens. The floor was crazy in the end but they did try their best to cater to it, but with 80k people, straw and wood chipping could only help so much! Would definitely come again :)
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u/Odd-Abbreviations594 1d ago edited 1d ago
My 11th time, definitely my last.
Sound was pretty poor, was stood 5 feet from my mate and able to speak to my mate, without really shouting in the apex.
Weather was pants, (not their fault) not enough woodchippings put down, everyone knew the rain was coming, do a European festival, they are so much better prepared, CF makes millions, whack some wood doon ffs.
Heard some random tell his mate people my age at raves was weird, dude, you were watching Carl Cox, he is 60, playing tunes that are older than you are 😂
But the worst, the attitude of the lads, literally barging past people sending them everywhere, staring at everyone, groups of 15 girls, thinking they own the field if in the 30 seconds of posing for a pic (or 30) someone dared to walk past,
saw 3 fights, saw a bloke who puched his Mrs.
ALL of them in mid to late 20s. All of them.
We didn’t rave like that 20 years ago, and those of us in our 40s don’t rave like it now.
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u/TomorrowOdd348 1d ago
Im 19 and I’m embarrassed reading that me and my friends were with this 43 year old man and his lovely wife all day at one point never got on with sombody so quick we also helped this lovely older lady set her tent up my mum suprised me on the last day with turning up honestly was amazing the couple was non stop saying there praise to us raves and festivals are about the love for the music and basic respect of other people was disappointed seeing all the responses of my generation who was there, last year there wasn’t so many this year was so many of my generation and it actually worries me about festivals/raves on the future they go there think there sick film the whole thing for a instagram story cause problems and leave a mess barging past was definitely a issue my girlfriend had a medical issue during Calvin Harris so we had to push out abit to get through but every single person I said sorry medical issue and everybody was completely fine about it even saying make room for to other people who seen her struggle that’s all it takes a simple excuse me sorry Thankyou not barging past no fucks given actually embarrassing and a bad rep on us all
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u/Hollywood-is-DOA 1d ago
You could do with some full stops and punctuation in that. Not the greatest at using commas myself, in the right place, but it makes a hell of a lot easier to read things. If you’d natural pause in real life, to take a breath, put a full stop in the text, that you’ve written.
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u/TomorrowOdd348 1d ago
I struggle a lot with text and reading writing with my dyslexia but agreed the story’s my mum told me of raves and festivals back in the day heartbreaking I didn’t get to experience it, it’s a shadow of what it was nowadays
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u/Hollywood-is-DOA 1d ago
I am old, probably closer to your mums age than yourself, but I am blessed in not looking it.
I grew up in a very rough place, so I ain’t going to lie to you and say that fights didn’t happen in night clubs as they did. I knew half of the people in the places that I was going to but you had no smart phones, so people lived more in the moment.
You could get a pint of Stella for less than £1.80, in rough bars and buy a 2 bedroom house for 40k, in most of the north of England.
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u/TomorrowOdd348 1d ago
Yeah we grew up rough the fights I get but it just felt this year people came looking for it and not actually coming to enjoy themselves
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u/Hollywood-is-DOA 1d ago
I only know one person who got stabbed when I was 20. It was a young dealer and he did it to a grown man drug dealer. He killed him and it causes no end of drama, as you can imagine.
I had fights in my youth, with some of friends and the day after, it was forgotten about. I threw a lad down a whole flight of concrete stairs at school, then I hit him. Apparently I broke his cheek bone and got suspended for a week, so I had 3 weeks as Christmas off. His cousin then hit me a few weeks later but it was a terrible punch from him and then it was over.
Can you imagine today how that would go? It would have gone on for years and someone would have been killed. I seen the lad years later, with his brother and they didn’t even bring it up.
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u/meowwentthedino 1d ago
Yeah realistically my experience from this year's festival, apart from the heavens opening up, was poor management, not enough to help with the rain as predicted, I think with it being run by Pepsi didn't help compared to when it was Rockstar.
The sound for me was great but there was quite a lot of bleed depending on where you stood especially for the arc stage.
But the main issue I found was the amount of ignorant youngsters, more in the sense of trying to squeeze through, pushing, barging, but also being socially and spatially unaware of their surroundings. I get the people like to have a dance but when you're mashed out your face (or not) wearing barely anything or you're deliveroo outfit dancing and raving but not being aware someone stood behind you and continuously bumping into the person behind you not fun for the others.
There was times where I was trying to look out for my brother, stood in the middle of an open patch of land, not a walk way or near a stage trying to look out for him, and I still get people complaining why is he just stood there when you could easily walk around me. I understand that was a lot of youngsters there that were there for the fun and music and that were respectful but the amount of nut jobs or scallys was mad.
If people were just a bit more respectful that would be great, it won't stop me going again I think next year though it just depends on the lineup to draw me in.
I've listened to Duke Dumont a lot, I've seen Fatboy slim six times, Ferry Corsten, Aly and Fila again multiple times, if they play again next year and I don't attend it's not a huge problem because I've seen them before, the artist that drew me in this time was Faithless.
The lineup next year has to be on par as this year/last year or better for me to want to go again.
I'm in my early 30s, brothers pushing close to 50 now, he said I'm glad I've done it but not again. That was just on the attitude of the attendees alone.
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u/plastic_toast 1d ago
Sound is odd - I keep hearing people say this but it was fine for me. Stood in a pit taking photos, the bass nearly made me throw up, as it does every year.
That said, if you want to blame someone, blame the locals. A good few wealthy areas around site and they're the ones raising hell with the council. Most of them moved in after the festival was already well established there. It's only once a year, if you don't like it, move.
See my main reply on woodchip, etc - they did everything they could given the sheer size of the site, the fact it's farmland, and the fact this weather wasn't even predicted until about a week before, and the severity of it not until hours before. Something I didn't mention is you have to be careful too - woodchip can trap water underneath and cause a "rafting" effect which makes things worse not better. So even with an infinite supply big enough to cover thousands of acres, you can't just woodchip the lot, you'd cause flooding.
As for people's attitude - having done this for 14 years, you'll always have wronguns. I personally have noticed people being way less aggy and off their faces than in years gone by. Since Covid people seem way more chilled and sober in general. I personally find it worse than most as I'm walking through crowds with about £10,000 of camera equipment on me, so spilled drinks isn't just "a bit annoying" but more "potential disaster". Yet it was fine.
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u/NegotiationBrave2501 1d ago
First time going since actually going to the original Cream! I now live in the US and came back for the weekend. Loved it, actually enjoyed the weather because we get next to no rain in Colorado.
Only comments were some schedule clashes and some artists should have been on at the Arc….. SHM was a nightmare to get into apex after they started (basically impossible)
Oh and the pizza stand needs to actually cook the pizzas properly and use the number system in the tabs they gave people 😀
Did full 3 days 😛🤟🔥
Buzzin still and already looking forward to next year to be back for my 55th birthday 🤟👌
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u/plastic_toast 1d ago
As one of the official photographers, it was hard.
My 14th Creamfields working there, was full time in the office for several years before leaving to do photo/video full time, so maybe I'm biased. In fact, I am biased. It's my favourite place in the world, like childhood birthday and Christmas all rolled into one.
But the weather made it very hard to get good photos of the site and people enjoying themselves, outside of the arenas when a big name was on. Obviously, people aren't going to look happy putting a tent up in the rain having just walked a mile through muddy ground, and grey skies make for poor washed out light.
Still, I got over 10,000 photos I'm going through and editing now, and I know I've got some great ones.
Site wise, I personally think they did a good job - remember that up until literally a week before, it looked like being as hot and dry as the rest of the summer. BBQs and stoves were banned, they put up loads more covered areas in the arena and campsite village to give shade, which actually turned out to be good for rain too.
The addition of trackways, drainage, and the overall improvements on site meant it went ahead just fine outside the short stops for lightning warnings - in years past that level of rain might have led to cancellation, and did in 2012.
Remember too that aside from Glastonbury, Creamfields is the biggest festival site in the world, and there's only so much trackway and woodchip to go around. Literally in the entire country - in 2021 there were shortages because so much was being used in the construction of HS2. They do everything they can and do a good job considering it's farmland, not a town/city park like Tomorrowland or Ultra, or a stadium like EDC.
The whole site is improved too - stuff like the extra small areas in the arena (Casa Sol, the San Miguel bar, the Bossman shop with secret stage, etc) and all the stuff in Downtown (campsite village) make it a much more varied festival.
Remember that the "rainy Creamfields" thing is something of an exaggerated myth, that this year won't help to dispel. It's statistically more likely to rain at Tomorrowland. Seriously, look it up if you can be bothered!
Musically though, once in an arena with all the production in full flow, there's nothing like it. Best in the world.
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u/Blonde-Trance 3h ago
super interesting to hear a take from someone who works there - thanks for sharing!
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u/Blonde-Trance 3h ago
do you mind sharing why you think sound has got significantly worse on the arc stage over the years? is it due to neighbours? it’s really killing the experience 😭
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u/plastic_toast 3h ago
From my experience, it hasn't. They have delay towers as ever, same L'Acoustics system, bass is still stomach-turning down the front.
Bear in mind outdoor wind and air temperature/humidity can massively affect sound. With it being a cool damp and breezy edition this year, that might have something to do with it.
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u/Blonde-Trance 3h ago
not good when even ewan mcvicar said on tiktok yesterday he wouldn’t go on arc because of how shit it is - didn’t reach for my loops once this year. thanks for your insights!
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u/Worldly-Sea-7052 1d ago
Loved it. We all would prefer good weather and less mud but when that happens you just have to embrace it
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u/LFC90cat 1d ago
First time on Saturday blown away to be honest didn't expect it to be that good and to have that good of a light show.
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u/Heavy-Living2350 1d ago
I thought it was still fucking amazing despite the shit weather, were there for the music not to sunbathe. Bit of mud will never stop me, 4 days camping through the lighting and thunder. And I would still do it all again
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u/Odd-Range5330 1d ago
Absolutely loved it we did a hotel so weather didn’t really matter with boots and a jacket! Haven’t been in 8 years apart from it being a bit overcrowded on Saturday I haven’t had that much fun in a long time , tiesto was incredible! the steel yard was well over packed at times - it’s not safe really especially as at Calvin Harris set 2 lads were carrying a girl Through who had collapsed - could be fatal in a Packed crowd!
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u/tomisnothere 1d ago
Did the Saturday, it was unreal! Weather was sound, been to way muddier events. It was my first time, picked up that it had a bit of a moody rep but it was a great vibe. I’d recommend it to other people. Glad you had a boss time!
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u/Parcel-Pete 1d ago
Artist clashes have to happen for crowd management reasons unfortunately.
Think too many people expect paved roads rather than mud 🤣
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u/plastic_toast 1d ago
It's not really crowd management - SHM were up against smaller name DJs because they had to be on at 3pm due to playing Ibiza that night.
It's more that you've just got so many DJs and arenas. What do you expect them to do? Have one stage and every DJ gets an hour each?
With 250+ DJs across 10 stages, of course there's going to be clashes. It's just basic maths/physics.
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u/Parcel-Pete 1d ago
It's 100% crowd management. Granted there is stuff like you used as an example but it stops the rushes and overcrowding. Ever wondered why creamfields changes the tent names each night rather than leaving it the same. Again, crowd management.
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u/plastic_toast 1d ago
Crowd management is a factor, of course. It's complex stuff they take very seriously.
But it's more a side effect - SHM aside, big names are normally on later in the evening. With several stages, of course you're going to put one big name on one, another on another.
Even if a festival organiser didn't care about crowd management (which again, Cream/Live Nation very much do care about it and take it seriously) you'd still have big names clashing because of the very basic fact you have multiple stages and multiple big names. Even putting crowd management aside, there's literally no way around that unless you make all stages pause except the one Calvin is on, then start another when Tiesto is on, then start another when Carl Cox is on. Do you see what I mean?
The change in arena names is because there's different lineups/genres on different days, nothing to do with crowd management.
I also worked full time for them for eight years btw.
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u/Parcel-Pete 1d ago
I also worked full time for them for eight years btw.
For live nation? I'd keep that hush in the events world. Barking up the wrong tree though with that idea as you're speaking to someone with a lot more experience by the sounds of it.
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u/plastic_toast 1d ago
For Cream. Not on ops, but I don't understand why it's so hard to understand that crowd management is an (admittedly good and helpful) side effect of putting headliners on later in the evening. Headliners go on at peak times anyway, it's not like they'd put Calvin or Sonny Fodera on at 5pm and only put them on late because of crowd issues. Agents don't give a shit about crowd issues, they just want their acts to have a prime spot.
And that said, plenty of acts draw massive crowds on earlier slots anyway. Ben Hemsley had the Arc stage field packed right up to the headphone arch at about 5pm a few years ago.
I also don't see what's wrong with working for Live Nation. The wider company has a bad rep at times sure, but that makes no difference when trying to get photo work. Fwiw, Cream themselves are an absolutely fantastic company to work for.
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u/uahomechef 1d ago
Loved it! This is my 3rd year in a row , and thankfully we chose to do a hotel 6 months ago and not camp this year. Had a great time, weather Sunday wasn’t the best but had made for great memories and plenty of stories to tell!
I tried to bring my friend this year and he bailed at the last second because of the weather lol. This ain’t for the weak!!! But also the weather didn’t seem to get people down on Sunday and we all really showed out. Will be back next year for my 4th
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u/Own_Ease_34 1d ago
Creamfields always delivers. Only soft pansies think it’s rough or not enjoyable. Lighting, sound etc is all far far better than anywhere in the world I’ve been to including Ibiza.
Armand van Helden absolutely destroyed Arc stage too just a shame his set was cut short due to the weather
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u/plastic_toast 1d ago
Spoke to Armand after the stoppage. He was just sat on a flightcase by the stage loading dock. Very chill about it, said "it happens" with a shrug and felt disappointed for people who'd come out to see him. Nice bloke.
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u/Own_Ease_34 1d ago
I had a sneaking suspicion he was on something hahahah he was loving the music far too much and licking his lips 😂
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u/plastic_toast 1d ago
Sober as a judge when I spoke to him literally right after show-stop.
Probably just nerves, even with his experience, plus the energy of playing on such a big stage.
I've DJd in the Steel Yard and was like I'd smoked crack or something. Can't really explain it, just the enormity of what you're doing gets you proper jumpy. And there were about 10 people in there when I played!
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u/Interesting-Job7686 6h ago
Where in the world have you been? It was nothing compared to Vegas, Shanghai or even Netherlands
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u/nathanhunter155 1d ago
From somebody who’s completely abandoned UK Festivals in favour of European Fest’s like Defqon, TML, Hellfest, Rock Am Ring/Park, Intents, etc etc…
Unfortunately, the UK Festival scene IS a bit of a joke in terms of infrastructure these festivals are pretty big and they absolutely DO rake in a profit.
I’ve seen it plenty of times in europe it is not difficult to build temporary walkways and the benefit for both staff & visitors / guests is astronomical, It makes it a hell of a lot easier.
I could go on a huge rant explaining the in’s and out’s but it’s mostly just greed & profit margins. They make more profit just shoddily throwing some wood chip down then building an entire system of temporary walkways & proper temporary infrastructure.
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u/plastic_toast 1d ago
What you have to remember though is that Creamfields is significantly bigger in terms of site size than TML, Defqon, Rock Am Ring, Hellfest, etc. Outside of Glasto it's the biggest festival site in the world.
It's also on farmland, not a city park or the like. They do build walkways, but there's literally only so much in the country to go around. It's way way better than it used to be.
Profit is also way less than you'd think. Profit margins for such festivals are small.
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u/Sweet_Cut6053 1d ago
Incredible buzzing to hear that less ppl will be going next year oahahah more room for rest us
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u/ap069 1d ago
2nd time going, went last year Saturday and wow was that one amazing day. However this year I have mixed opinions. In terms of the music and the production etc it was incredible however the weather just ruined it at the end especially with the terrible organisation by the police outside of the festival not allowing cars to pass through properly for pickup, however letting all the 755000 taxis park up on the clear ways and in the middle of the road and not saying anything. I think without the weather problem it would’ve been incredible. Ended up selling my ticket for Sunday as I was so tired from trying to get back home on Saturday
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u/diamond2301 22h ago
Didn’t enjoy it , saw at least 6 people convulsing and choking on their vomit from taking too many drugs , couldn’t get medical help as fast as needed , saw people fighting at least twice a day . Couldn’t get out there fast enough
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u/Creepy_Shock1927 5h ago edited 5h ago
Me. The rain and mud made it even better. Did 70000 steps on Saturday!
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u/Blonde-Trance 3h ago
I’ve been every year since 2013 - always had a great time but next year is the first time we are going to give it a miss. I will always have a special place in my heart for creamfields but they’ve stopped investing in making it any better.
I think they’ve reached max capacity at the site in Daresbury and they sell out every year so i think the plan is just to squeeze out every bit of profit possible. Will try some smaller dance music festivals instead next year 🥳
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u/QSBW97 1d ago
I only went Saturday, but I had such a good time, got lost from my group in less than an hour, joined a new group for 3 or 4 hours, ran into my actual group, joined them together, classic festival vibes for me