Astonbury - The Big Day
Needless to say the event takes a great deal of organisation and time and we are grateful to the Astonbury team for all their hard work.
Preparation starts around Christmas-time, as Neil starts planning the show. Weekly rehearsals start early in the spring, as Neil and some of his artists start trying out various songs and bits of music.
The stage is built mid-week before the big day. Dave Lewis takes up residence and starts installing bits of cabling which will be used later, assisted by Neil and one or two others who are able to take the time off work.
The Day before the show and the core team are all present to install the rest of the stage and cabling, paint the stage boards, etc. Late afternoon and a few sound tests and rehearsals will be held with a temporary low-power sound system. Friday evening arrives and the team head en masse for the Royal Oak where they drink beer and worry about the weather.
Saturday - its' the big day! The team are on site by 8. The pressure is on. All of the sound and lighting equipment which could not be previously left on site has to be installed, connected and tested. 11.00 am and the first squawks of sound are emitted from the huge speakers. 11.01 and Dave is under the stage again, trying to find out why all the fuses have blown.
About 2 o'clock the artists start turning up for soundchecks and final rehearsals. At the same time the lighting setup is finished and tested.
Around five it's as ready as it's ever going to be. A few volunteers remain on site for security while most of the team take an hour off for showers and food.
Soon after six Phil fires up the sound system and starts playing background music. Around 6.30 a few of the audience arrive. Then there's a lull, will anybody else turn up?
Seven o'clock and the audience are arriving thick and fast now. 7.15 - a musician turns up with a strange bit of gear. It has a Ukrainian 17 pin plug. Dave reaches for his soldering iron. Nerves are jangling, the adrenalin is pumping, the audience are already partying.
Seven thirty. The compere walks to the mike. "Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to AST-ON-BURR-RYYYY!!!!" |
Ready to go!
The strictest security fails to stop Neil's fans from vandalising the stage
Don't worry, Dave thinks he knows where all those audio cables should go
Dave 'Sparks' Lewis and Phil Corrigan watch as John Whyte attempts the beginning of Hey Jude yet again!
Phil Spooner: "What happens if I turn this one up to eleven?"
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