Ruby Horton, 100 Club
SUBCULTURE
Get Ready – Festival Edition
August 2024
Header photograph by John Ingledew, courtesy of the Museum of Youth Culture
Header photograph by John Ingledew, courtesy of the Museum of Youth Culture
We speak to our community about their festival memories, packing must-haves and the playlists that soundtrack their journey.
Where was your first festival and what do you remember about it?
I went to V Festival when I was 3 which I think is one of the coolest things ever. I don’t remember too much other than The Cardigans and lots of sunshine. My first festival by myself was Reading at 16 with my best friend and a load of warm beers that were instantly taken away. The Cure was the highlight of the weekend which couldn’t have been better, and I loved seeing maybe 100 men dressed as Robert Smith all weekend. Watching Crystal Castles from someone’s shoulders was also a ridiculous highlight.
Three packing must-haves.
Micellar water and 2 reusable cotton pads will sort you out all weekend.
Most iconic performance or set at a festival?
My first Glastonbury in 2022 was just iconic as a whole. Giant Swan (live) on the Thursday will always be one of the best things I’ve ever seen. The top of it all would be Kendrick Lamar finishing his set with ‘Godspeed for Women’s Rights’ while wearing a crown of thorns with blood pouring down his face. It was the day after Roe vs Wade was revoked in the US and you could feel how affected everyone was from the news. Finishing his set like that was unbelievably powerful and I can’t believe I was there to see it.
Best song to get you pumped on the car/coach journey there?
Right now it’s Birth4000 by Floating Points. It’ll be great in the summer.
Lea Ogunlami, Presenter
Where was your first festival and what do you remember about it?
I’m ashamed to say T in the Park. I saw the Kaiser Chiefs with a bunch of girls from school and I remember thinking ‘yeah this is it, this is me being young and wild!’
Three packing must-haves?
Extra socks, platform wellies and suncream.
Best song to get you pumped on the car/coach journey there?
Hudson Mohawke – Set the Roof
Best song to play on the way home?
Bitter Sweet Symphony
Rebecca Zephyr Thomas, Photographer
Where was your first festival and what do you remember about it?
My first festival was in New Zealand, I think I was 17, and it was called the Big Day Out Festival. My mother really sweetly bought tickets for me and my brother because we'd just moved back to NZ from the UK and were a bit shell shocked! I remember almost getting crushed in the crowd and then crowd-surfing over the security barrier which was really fun. The Prodigy, Soundgarden and Supergrass headlined.
Most iconic performance or set at a festival?
Definitely Childish Gambino, watching him perform is like having a religious experience! Just everything about him is incredible, the music, the stage presence, the dancing. I shot at his three-day festival Pharos in New Zealand. I was the only photographer there, which was crazy! During his show, no one was allowed to bring their mobiles into the dome he was playing in which made the atmosphere really intense. I was so close that a bead of his sweat fell on my arm.
Any festivals you’re yet to visit or hoping to go to in the future?
It's not strictly a music festival but I really want to go to the Telluride Mushroom Festival because the photo opportunities would be incredible! People dress up as mushrooms, the costumes are amazing and it looks full of old hippies which would be fun. Other than that I'd love to shoot at more niche festivals, so maybe a heavy metal one like Download. I'd also love to go to Desert Daze which is back for 2024 and looks like a cooler Coachella.
