big chill blues

so i was just looking at this to see what great UK summer festivals i was missing out on. when i saw the link the big chill i immediately clicked it. you see, i've been to a few of these summer music festivals in the past chunk of my music-loving life and the big chill has remained my favorite. i went for the first time back in er, 99 or was it 2000 (uh, sometime around then) and went again a couple years later.

both experiences were fantastic. it's literally very chilled out and laid back. a few thousand (they limit capacity to keep it real) british stoners, hippies, young families, old ravers, music nerds, dance enthusiasts, and the like. tons of spliffs are rolled and smoked, many pills are taken, most likely some acid and shrooms enter the mix all amongst the best in electronica/world beat/dance music. and all happening in a lovely enviroment of rolling green hills, little castles, giant trees and peacocks running around.

it's also a camping festival. you're not staying in some crappy dusty campsite either. you're sleeping on lush green grass under big pretty trees. my favorite! and the food! they just happen to get the best food vendors around. just picture a bit of an english chill in the air and wandering over to the chai tea tent for another delicious warm chai serverd in a homemade ceramic mug for 1 quid! ah, brings me back!

well, i've got the big chill blues because i just read the big chill line-up. it's amazing this year! a live set from the easy star allstars performing dubside of the moon! a live lemon jelly set! new sector movements! norman jay, gilles peterson, mr. scruff, jazzanova, dego, bugz in the attic, phil asher, russ dewbury, yam who!!! bonobo, fourtet, nitin sawhney! muther fucker! all my favorites in one place. and a) it's already sold out and b) i just checked plane ticket prices just to see, and there's no way anyway. nope can't go this year.

ah well, i'll be there in spirit. crap.