The weather recently has been absolutely lovely, I'm praying like I'm sure everyone else that it's going to last through the summer. It's also got me excited for Leeds Festival, so I thought I'd post a bit of creative writing I did about the festival as part of my third year of uni. Enjoy (apologies in advance for the cheesiness)...
I peel open my make up smudged eyes. The morning sun that pushes through the thin material of the tent momentarily blinds me whilst the lingering taste of stale alcohol and barbecue super noodles (last night’s tea) make me feel nauseous, although that could be also due to the copious amounts of cider consumed the night before. I pull my sleeping bag down and slowly sit up, my neck and back sore from sleeping on the hard ground. As I scratch my matted hair, a wave of dizziness washes over me. I take a long deep breath to compose myself and reach for a bottle of deodorant and spray it profusely around me. The strong and surprisingly sweet smell of artificial lemon fills my nostrils and leaves a dusty mist hanging in the air of the cramped three man tent. I look next to me to see Lauren and Tilly still fast asleep, curled up close to each other, reminding me of two babies swaddled tight in blankets. I shimmy out of my sleeping bag, pull on my leopard print wellies, both caked in crusty mud, and pull down the icy metal zip of the tent. Cold water from the condensation that coats the door splashes my face which feels refreshing to my tired, dirty skin. I feel like a chick breaking free from its egg as I crawl uneasily out of the entrance of the tent.
I hear talking and laughing from a group of boys a few tents away from ours and the smell of grass and cooking sausages blows in the wind, my tummy rumbling in annoyance. Empty cans of Strongbow, packets of Super noodles and dirty bowls litter the area we have cornered off with tents. Memories of last night flash in my mind. I roll up my sleeves, and pull down my Leeds Festival 2009 band. Its thick grainy material scratches my wrist and I look at my watch: it’s 8.37 exactly. I stand up and look out towards the direction of the arena. A sea of tents stretches over the vast fields, a mixture of colours and patterns almost like a field of different flowers. Even though there are thousands of people here I still feel like I know everyone, as if we are part of a team, the love of music uniting us, branded by the band around our wrists. From behind me I hear a zip and a voice says: “Jamie T today, bring it on!” It’s Jess, another of my friends, her head of wild red hair untamed and in knots, sticks out of the tent.
I hear talking and laughing from a group of boys a few tents away from ours and the smell of grass and cooking sausages blows in the wind, my tummy rumbling in annoyance. Empty cans of Strongbow, packets of Super noodles and dirty bowls litter the area we have cornered off with tents. Memories of last night flash in my mind. I roll up my sleeves, and pull down my Leeds Festival 2009 band. Its thick grainy material scratches my wrist and I look at my watch: it’s 8.37 exactly. I stand up and look out towards the direction of the arena. A sea of tents stretches over the vast fields, a mixture of colours and patterns almost like a field of different flowers. Even though there are thousands of people here I still feel like I know everyone, as if we are part of a team, the love of music uniting us, branded by the band around our wrists. From behind me I hear a zip and a voice says: “Jamie T today, bring it on!” It’s Jess, another of my friends, her head of wild red hair untamed and in knots, sticks out of the tent.
Slowly the rest of our group awakes and we begin to get ready for the day ahead. A breakfast of sticky cereal bars is washed down by sugary cider and black. Various shades of glitter are added to eyes, arms are filled with beads, chains and bracelets and thigh high socks and wellies are donned.This is a uniform for the majority of girls here. The excitement of today’s line up causes butterflies and pulses of adrenaline to rush through me and with the effect of the cider that has started to take over the time to head off to the arena cannot come soon enough.
It’s surprisingly warm and sunny, rare for many British summers. We spend the time chatting about the day before, joking with people at the tent next to ours and playing an array of drinking games to get us in the mood to dance and sing. The noise of people shouting and laughing comes from all around. This is regularly interrupted by the sound of the small fairground that’s set about 800m away. The flashing lights and screams remind me of being at Scarborough fair not at a festival. Gradually from over the fields the sound of music starts to become audible, it rolls over the tents and the hairs on my arms stand on end and a tingle creeps up my spine. It’s time to head to the arena.
We set off along the winding path along with the other thousands of revellers following the sound of the music like the story of The Pied Piper. The buzz that’s in the air is electric, it seems to flow through everyone and has all of us in high spirits. The smell from the various food stalls billows out of the small metal trailers, the pungent smells of curry, sweet Chinese and burgers hangs in the air. The stream of people gets larger and busier, pushing and bustling, running and jumping, reminding me of herds of animals. I grab on to one of my friend’s hands, we make a chain to stop us from being separated. We giggle, shout and sing songs that we’re waiting to hear in a matter of hours.
We are nearing the arena. High metal walls and queues of people begin to be visible and the music coming from the many stages is getting louder causing the crowd to get rowdier and further doses of adrenaline to pulse through my body. ‘We are here!’ I scream at my friends and tug them forward. As you aren’t allowed to take alcohol from outside the arena to inside, we like many others begin downing the drinks we brought for the journey from the campsite. The cider feels too cold as I try and finish it in one, it gives me the achy feeling of brain freeze and along with it a wave of dizziness. We throw our cans in to the huge bins that have been set up by the entrance of the arena. I smile at my friends and look towards the arena entrance. My friend Lauren shouts: ‘Come on, let’s go!’ We grab hands once again and head off in to the arena.
Go have fun in the sun!!
Love
Jade x
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