And other questions we can ask since it's CONFIRMED THAT BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL IS GOING AHEAD!!!
So it's been a while since any of us went to a festival. Hells it's been exactly a year since we all got told to stay home and behave and have been grounded ever since thanks to Covid 19 and its wicked ways.
We got till August to prepare which is EPIC but if you're not sure where to start, don't worry,
Dead Head has you covered.
WHAT DO I WEAR? ( here lies a shameless plug. scroll down to read the rest of the advice too )
For starters, let's just get one thing clear - UK weather is interchangeable, even in August. So just because you might be getting sunburned one minute in your Dead Head Chaotic Kingdom tank top, doesn't mean you won't need your Dead Head Hunters Moon hoodie 5 minutes later. Warm clothes are just as important as band teeshirts and shorts. Plus you never know when it's gonna rain. It is the UK after all
Also - we get it. Lockdown hasn't been kind to most of our waists.. and eating food from the food trucks and washing it down with beer means we can feel a little bloated. So leggings and jogging bottoms are the best way forward. (okay, okay, you can wear jeans too but we don't sell those.. yet)
Basically - comfort goes a long way to assisting in the fun at festivals and we do cool and comfortable real well.
So what else do you need to bring to the festival?
Toilet Roll!! According to the fans on the Bloodstock Facebook page, this is VITAL.
One of our favourite tips was from Layla Lowe;
"Take a few half sized loo rolls and stick one in your back pocket/ belt bag each morning. A few small bottles of hand sanitizer are essential too" - Layla Lowe
A tent, (it is also recommended to put this up before you start on the boozes, as this seems to be a recurring tale of woe from regular Bloodstock goers who have made this rookie mistake)
A warm sleeping bag. Even in August the temperatures at night can drop quite drastically so don't risk getting hypothermia because you only bought your Spiderman Sleeping Bag from your sleepover at your mates house you last used 15 years ago. We've bought old rugs and blankets with us to use as groundsheets too so we don't get too cold on the floor.
Hell, go the whole hog and bring a blow-up mattress. After a hard day's work in the pit you're gonna be really glad to lie down on something soft and squishy.. (unless of course, you met that special someone in the pit and well.. )
FOOD!! You're there for 4 days. You'll be surprised at how quickly food goes. Food truck food is great but it can work out expensive so make sure to bring enough money for each day or try and bring stuff that isn't like to spoil. Super noodles totally have their place at a festival. Also, instant porridge oats are awesome as you can just add hot water. There are also great meal drinks now from the likes of Huel now that come in real handy if you just don't have time to stop and eat cos you gotta catch the next band over at the Sophie Lancaster Stage.
Now for the important bit. THE BANDS.
You're gonna be spoiled for choice at this years line up but the best advice we've seen is from Alan Hicks on Facebook,
"Whatever you do DON'T go the whole festival without checking out at least some of the bands on the New Blood stage. This stage is a major part of the whole Bloodstock ethos and it's likely you'll come out of it with some new favourite bands." - Alan Hicks
Some of our favourite bands are bands we've discovered in the support slot at gigs and at the little stages at festivals so we couldn't agree more with this recommendation.
From the main stages, however, we gotta say we are REALLY looking forward to Devin Townsend, Sylosis and Bloodywood
And finally - HAVE FUN. Seriously - there's a great vibe at Bloodstock and you'll make friends even if you turn up with one tent peg and half a loaf of bread on your lonesome.
Drink plenty of water, don't forget the sunscreen and look out for each other. We've waited a LONG time for this.
Enjoy it!
You can buy tickets here