2000 Trees Set-Up Diary - Day Four (the one where we had to go shopping)

This is being posted at such an ungodly hour because today is the last day of festival set-up before the gates are cracked open and the weekend of incredible music begins.

The phrase ‘calm before the storm’ definitely comes to mind when thinking about yesterday. The crew were still hard at work building and stocking bars, making and hanging health and safety signs and generally pulling the whole site together.

For me, the Office Manager, Kristina and VIP Bar staff member Nick, it was a shopping day.

Shopping Trip 

Wickes, Cheltenham

5/07/2016

I have learnt many things whilst I’ve been on site but one thing that I never gave much thought to is how much stuff a team like this can get through! From as much pipe insulation as we could get our hands on to a massive hunk of cheese, it takes a lot of stuff to get a festival up and running.

In particular, we have got through a lot of food, plates, bowls and paper towels because we’re a big team, engaging in lots of manual labour and thoroughly spoilt. That is owed, in no small part, to John.

John

Upcote Farm, Withington

5/07/2016

 John is the genius behind Smokin’ Hot Tamales, which will be pitched over by The Cave for the whole festival. But by the time you all get here, John will have been serving us for weeks. Every night since I arrived he has cooked up a feast from Thai Green Curry’s to Spag Bol to Ramen Noodle Soup. Washed down with seemingly unlimited beer and cider, it’s been the perfect way to end every working day and for that we all thank him.

Once we got back from shopping we laminated some itinerary’s and maps and headed out to see what had happened with the site since we left.

We know by now that a lot can happen in a day but by the time we headed out on to the site it all just looks more like a festival.

The last of the fencing and panelling has gone up making clear paths from section to section and you’ll be happy to know that the bar, which is now repaired, put in place and decorated with vinyl, has been packed out from wall to wall with beer kegs.

The finishing touches still need to be made on the Main Stage (no ramp yet) but it has now taken it’s almost final form, looking like the badass host that it is.

Main Stage

Upcote Farm, Withington

5/07/2016

The Neu stage has a stage, the first that I have climbed up on to so far. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. It’s crazy to think these tents are going to be filled up with people so soon.

New Stage - Stage View

Wickes, Cheltenham

5/07/2016

But with more and more people arriving now it became imperative that we had a grasp on who was on site so members of the team have been deployed to the front gate to keep on eye on the goings on. As you can imagine, it's not the liveliest of jobs so the people stationed there tend to keep themselves preoccupied in other ways - like making amazing sketches of each other which lead to great photo ops later on...

Alex's Sketch  

Upcote Farm, Withington

5/07/2016

 Today the sound gear will arrive, cars will be moved, radios will be labelled and wristbands will be dished out before our final team drinks (beer pong was banned, it was far too intense) as the only people on site.