A few of us might be feeling a little hard done by this weekend. Why? Because the plan was to be dancing in a field rather than sitting on our sofa. That’s right, it is/was Glastonbury time. Unfortunately though, the festival’s 50th anniversary celebration was postponed until next year.
But just think of the pros... No need to queue a lifetime for the loo. No spending hours trying to find your friends. No trekking miles with a tent that weighed a couple of kilos when you bought it and now weighs a ton.
And tech is making it a little bit easier to deal with the FOMO. There are ways we can enjoy the festival experience(ish) at home.
Your friends
We can now meet in groups of up to six people from different households - as long as we socially distance and stay outside. So why not head to the park or a friend’s garden?
And if you’re shielding or your mates can’t make it, never fear. You can always set up a video call. You could even do it outside if your Wi-Fi allows.
The artists
So, you may not be able to get up close to the artists planned for this year. But what you can do is watch incredible performances all weekend long. And if you’ve got an OLED 8K TV it’ll pretty much feel like you’re there. Throw in a Dolby Atmos soundbar and who needs those festival tickets?Glastonbury’s organisers, Michael and Emily Eavis, have worked with the BBC to make sure Glasto’s in your living room. BBC 2 will be showing The Glastonbury Experience: three ninety-minute shows with virtual gigs, unseen recordings and legendary sets from years gone by. That includes acts like Amy Winehouse, David Bowie and Oasis.
Plus, there’ll be a pop-up Glastonbury channel on iPlayer. So you can watch even more footage- including a feature length documentary about the festival. You can find full details of the BBC’s coverage here.
The activities
Maybe you could do fancy dress too. Each dress up as an act that was supposed to be playing at this year’s Glasto. Glitter is, of course, compulsory.
Even better, you don’t have to miss out on all the extras the festival has going on. Hop on your laptop and check the official Glastonbury twitter feed. This weekend they’ll be posting links and videos for activities from the different festival areas. Use the hashtag #GlastoAtHome and join in!
The music
There are loads of Glastonbury playlists floating around right now. Even stage-by-stage ones curated by the festival on Spotify. You can still hear everyone from the line-up. Only now, you don’t have to worry about clashes... or running from one end of the site to the other.
All you need is the right portable speaker. Bonus points if you get a waterproof one like the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom and stay out if it rains, in true festival style. Just make sure you’ve got a portable charger for your phone to keep the tunes going if you’re out and about.
The food
There are one of two ways to do food at Glastonbury. Eat tinned fuel you brought in with you to save money. Or pay for something delicious from the vendors while your bank balance cries softly.
But guess what? If you’re at home, you can make delicious food that doesn’t cost the earth! Or make a picnic to enjoy elsewhere.
You could even get yourself a fire pit. The Landmann Moon and Stars one has a grill so that it can double up as a barbeque. Perfect for hanging out with your mates as the evening winds down.
There you have it. It may not be quite the same - but we can still enjoy our friends and our favourite music this weekend. And we get to do it knowing we’re doing the right thing for our loved ones.
If you want some tips on deciding which portable speaker is right for you, our buying guide is a good place to start. You can have a video call with one of our friendly colleagues on ShopLive, too.
