Isle of Wight Festival Nightmare

[torresfan]

At the end of last year, I secured three tickets to the Isle of Wight Festival in the UK for 2012, for myself, my wife and my 9 year old son. It was the one Festival that I'd always wanted to go to, the lineups were always phenomenal and the weather was always very good, not like Glastonbury where it rains and floods every year. The three headliners this year were Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam. The three tickets cost me €650 and the Ferries needed to get from Ireland to the UK and the UK to the Isle of Wight cost me over €400. After all of this was booked and paid for, we found out that my wife was pregnant with our second child (we had been trying for over 5 years). This mean that my wife was going to be 7 months pregnant when the festival was going to take place. We thought long and hard about this but decided we were going to go anyway.

We bought a new tent and all of the required equipment, we also booked ourselves a space in the family camping area. Up until last week, I was a little worried about the weather forecast, which didn't look good for the Thursday (the festival ran from the evening of the 21st of June to the 24th). We set out at 4:30am last Thursday morning and drove 2.5 hours to get to Wexford in the south of Ireland to catch the 8:45am ferry to Pembroke in Wales in the UK. The crossing took four hours. We then had to drive 6 hours to Lymouth in the south of England to catch the 8:25pm Ferry over to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. We arrived early, just in time to catch the earlier Ferry at 6:45pm which was great as it meant we would not be setting up the tent as it was getting dark. From Ireland all the way to the Isle of wight, we drove through constant torrential rain, my car was sometimes aquaplaning on the motorways. We arrived in Yarmouth and drove 20 minutes to Newport which is where the festival was taking place. A lot of the roads in the town were closed and a lot of diversions were in place.

We were diverted out of the town along a country road that would bring us back into the town next to the venue. This was when we met the end of a huge traffic jam of cars. And this was where we remained for the next four hours. We moved about 20 feet in those fours hours. We didn't know what to do. We knew it was the only way to the festival car parks. There were no announcements on local radio. Occasionally people would get out of their cars and walk to the top of the jam to find out what was happening. When they came back, they told us that the car parks were flooded due to the torrential rain. They had one tractor that was pulling cars into the car park one at a time. There were literally hundreds of cars in front of us on this country lane and they were occupying both sides of the road. We sat in our car with nothing to eat or drink until midnight. As we sat in the dark, a lady came over and knocked on the car window. She lived in the house opposite and was offering us the chance to park our car in her driveway for the four night we were supposed to be there for £25. We jumped at this opportunity. She told us the festival venue was only 15 to 20 minutes down the road.

We parked the car. We had the tent and equipment in a very large canvas case that was on wheels, another large suitcase and a large canvas bag. I had to pull the tent and carry the large canvas bag, which was back breaking. My wife (who is pregnant), took the large suitcase which was also on wheels which she could pull. My son had a little rucksack with his toys in it and had to carry three folded camping chairs in their bags. We set out down the lane and past all of the stationary cars. This was very difficult as there were cars going the same direction on both sides of the road which meant we had to squeeze past them down the middle of the road. We had to do this for about half a mile until we were clear of the cars. We then had to walk another 4.5 miles along a straight road which was closed to cars. This was the longest straightest road ever. Every time we came up a slope, we would hope that when we got to the top, we would see the Festival entrance. Instead it was more straight road as far as the eye could see. Along the way, my son got tired and couldn't carry the camping chairs so myself and my wide had to carry these as well as everything else. Apparently it was raining heavily but I didn't notice I was trying to stay on my feet. It was close to 2am in the morning when we got there.

The 15 to 20 minute walk had turned out to be more like 1.5 hours. When we got to the festival entrance, we saw the condition of the Festival site. There was nothing but mud. Six inches deep and running in rivers in parts. All of the walkways and where the tents were pitched were just mud. We collected out wristbands from ticket office. We had to carry each bag in one by one in the air, putting them on the ground was not an option. As each bag came in, I had to get my son to stand guard at them so myself and my pregnant wife could carry the others. We realised this wasn't going to work and found a shopping cart. the tent and the large canvas bag went into it. I had to walk backwards dragging and pulling the cart through the mud. We asked the staff on duty where the family campsite was and not one of them could tell us where it was and none of them were even aware of a family campsite. I was clutching the mud covered email confirmation in my hand showing it to them and they had no clue. All the campsites were colour coded and none of the staff knew which one we were supposed to be in and it wasn't on any of the documentation that we picked up from the ticket office. We started to move around to see if we could find a space in any of the campsites and there was none. Then the canvas bag with my clothes and my wife's fell off the shopping cart into the mud. The mud went straight through and into everything inside. Right there we knew we didn't have a change of clothes anymore and only had the mud covered clothes we were wearing, which were covered from my chin to my toes. I told my wife to and son to stand with the bags and I went off to try and found somewhere we could pitch our tent. with every step, the mud was trying to suck the wellington boots off my feet, it was exhausting. After 20 minutes, I could not find anywhere that we could pitch the tent, it was hopeless. I returned to my wife and son. I looked at my son who was standing there staring at me wide-eyed, clutching his green lantern action figure that was covered in mud and looked at my exhausted wife. Both having not eaten in over 12 hours. I felt like crying. I told them that the campsites were full, people had even pitched tents in the mud. She said that whatever decision I made right now, she would support it. I said that we are leaving.

We turned around, ate some lousy fast food from a vendor and we dragged all of our bags back out of the festival site and back up the long road to where the car was parked. We brought the shopping cart with us which made things a lot easier going back. It was after 3am when we got to the car. We cleaned ourselves off as best as we could with wet wipes and some clothes from out bag that weren't as bad as the ones we were wearing. All the Hotels and guesthouses on the island were booked up because of the festival. We drove back to the Ferry at Yarmouth to catch the 4:30am sailing back to the UK mainland. We had to sit and wait in the car for an hour. and boarded the ferry. I can't imagine what people thought of us when they saw us but we were too tired to care. When we got back to the mainland I drove for a while and let my wife sleep until she made me pull over so she could drive and I could sleep. We were going to stop at the first Hotel we found but then we realised we had no change of clothes so we decided to keep going to Pembroke and get the Ferry back to Ireland and then drive home. It was 10pm on Friday night when we got back.

So, after spending over a €1000 we didn't see one band and endured what was for me the worst experience of my life. It later transpired that the organisers of the festival were not prepared for the rain even though it had been forecasted well in advance. There was no Glastonbury festival this year so the Isle of Wight had been overbooked. This was going to be out only Holiday this year and my son's first time camping and should have been an unforgettable experience.

I probably won't get any money back and my wife keeps telling me to let it go.

[GigsbyBoyUK]

I'm sure it's an interesting story but please put some paragraph breaks in next time!

[chrisgblues]

I gave up on live shows, especially festivals. Too much work involved just to see some "entertainment". Organizers treat the crowd like cattle being led to the slaughter.

I'd rather stay home and watch a DVD concert on my comfy couch with some popcorn.

JMHO.

[Post Toastie]

Wow what a sad story. I cant handle very large crowds so i never have gone to a big Festival. An outdoor Stadium is the biggest event i will go to. Sorry it didnt work out for you and the family.

[uriah1]

Whew..should list that in wikipedia under 'bummer'

Sounds like you did the right thing getting out of that...there may not have
been good memories if you would have stayed..

[bossking7]

Thats tetrible, €1000 for nothing. Too bad.

[vjf1968]

Sounds more like the Baatan Death March then a Festival. You can probably get most of the money back.

[Skully]

My sympathies go out to your family. That does indeed sound like an utter nightmare.

I gave up on live shows, especially festivals. Too much work involved just to see some "entertainment". Organizers treat the crowd like cattle being led to the slaughter.

I'd rather stay home and watch a DVD concert on my comfy couch with some popcorn.

This is pretty much how I feel. I haven't exactly given up on live shows, but I rarely go, because the output of money and energy is rarely worth the return for me. I like going to a club show where I can easily and comfortably slip in just before the band takes the stage.

A festival show is completely out of the question for me. Pay someone big money to be tortured and deprived for hours on end? No thanks!

On top of this, as the "cattle" remark points out, promoters and staff think customers should put up with all kinds of crap and just take it, because it's a rock & roll show and that's the way it is, dude.

[trev333]

major bummer torresfan.. that just sounds so wrong for all the good intentions..and cost.. you put into it.... geez..

thanks for sharing.. I'm sure you aren't alone with so many people involved at every level....

pretty heroic in some ways having to hold it together in a crazy situation like that especially with your young son there.... I hope you will eventually be able to laugh about it around the kitchen table over the years....

maybe next holiday go overland to Timbuktu.... by camel... ;)

[Bob Mc]

torresfan,

Let us know how long before your wife starts talking to you again! (and congrats on teh new kiddo!)

I did a very small local fest with my first daughter when she was two, we left as a huge purple/black cloud appeared on the horizon and missed a massive electrical storm (with some hail) by minutes. As much as I miss a good outdoor show, it's etched in mind for good.

[Big John]

Sorry to hear that tale !
FWIW I never know how they expect to run much less get permission to have a festival there !!
I truly adore the IOW but a major festival ?, the place just isn't big enough for the locals and this time of year is already bulging at the seams with tourists clogging every tiny lane.
Best wishes for the young torresfan !!

Sounds daft now but you ought to go back as a family some time just for a holiday, it really is a magical place - when some eedjit isn't trying to run a festival there !

[sotob]

Man, that really stinks and to do that with your boy and your wife!

[colorado]

When I was young, I put up with some HORRENDOUS conditions to go to some shows and festivals (including spending three days hitchhiking through the desert). Wouldn't even consider doing something like that now. My son really wants to go to one of these remote "off the grid" electonica shows, but he's a teenager and if he wants to camp in the mud or 100 degree heat, I say go enjoy yourself.

Maybe "family friendly" and rock festival don't go together.

[musicalmartin]

And ?

[Toto'sDad]

I'm sure it's an interesting story but please put some paragraph breaks in next time!

Must be a UK thing.

[Bones]

is it wrong that i laughed? i think in time, this will be a story that you look back on and smile. you survived the ordeal and your family will be stronger for t. imagine the laughs when you tell your new child about how mommy carried them through hell and back on the isle of Wight. its a much better story than if they had been to a Springsteen concert as a fetus.

[idjster]

I'm sorry for you and your family. Having to go through all that, and having spent all that money, must be a truly sad experience. Some day you will laugh about it, but until then, you can still play the Blues. Maybe write a song about it? The blues is about life!

Take care of your wife and family especially!

[Skully]

Originally Posted by Bones

is it wrong that i laughed? i think in time, this will be a story that you look back on and smile. you survived the ordeal and your family will be stronger for t. imagine the laughs when you tell your new child about how mommy carried them through hell and back on the isle of Wight. its a much better story than if they had been to a Springsteen concert as a fetus.

I took my wife to a Go-Go's show at the House of Blues the night before she went into labor with our second child. We were seated in the Foundation Room reserve section, so we endured no real hardships. Actually, those high stools they have were painful for me, and I wasn't bursting with child.

As a rule, I don't like going to shows with my wife, because she likes the tape-and-hold-seat treatment, and I typically have to spend the show being concerned with her comfort. Fortunately, the shows we tend to tend go to these days draw older, tamer crowds. Back in the '80s, it seemed like the Hollywood Palladium would have a mosh pit for every single concert, no matter the act (I remember one at a Smithereens show). We went to see Billy Idol there two years ago, and there was nary a bump from other concertgoers. And the sound was loud enough, but didn't necessitate ear plugs. You could talk and be heard without shouting.

[musicalmartin]

I must just say that rain is catching us all out .Its the sheer amount dumped on us in few minutes ,not hours.I am 65 now and have not seen torrential rain like we get now .I would hate to organize an event in summer now .

[colorado]

Rain! Please rain! Our entire state is on fire.