Search results matching tag 'Glastonbury'

Mud, sweat and beers

2182355 — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:47:00 GMT

In response to the Digital Britain report, BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons - the man charged with ensuring the BBC provides ‘good value for all UK citizens' - was forthright in his defence of Auntie hanging on to its cash in the face of diverting licence fee money to commercial organisations to help pay for regional news services.

At the time, one could have been left feeling quietly confident that our dues were safe in the hands of a well-regulated body. After all, umpty billion quid to save the banking system aside, why should tax-payers bail out commercial organisations just because profits have hit the buffers?

The release of the BBC's top executives' salaries and expenses has cast a rather large shadow over the idea our money is indeed in safe hands, however. A shadow made larger still by reports over this weekend's excessive spend on coverage of Glastonbury.

407 BBC staff managed to make it along to the festival, said the Sunday Times, including a clutch of senior executives, at a cost to the licence fee payer of an estimated £1.5m.

Sir Michael also attended Glastonbury, at our expense naturally, though I'm certain he was to busy checking we were getting value for money to enjoy himself too much.

The BBC has argued the case for its staffing levels, but excesses in coverage were plain to see. There was no need for Gaby Logan's Sunday morning Five Live show to be broadcast from the event, for one. Her Dizzee Rascal interview proving just why she should be kept as far away from music and its nefarious propagators as is humanly possible.

Meanwhile, the person(s) employed to protect the BBC's output by vetoing what artists The Guardian could and couldn't film from its Lounge stage would have been better employed keeping an eye on how much booze the presenters appeared to be imbibing between broadcasts.

I happen to think coverage of Glastonbury is important, and given its niche attraction is best served by the Beeb. Why shouldn't we celebrate something uniquely British and world renowned?

As for the expenses 'scandal', while one could be forgiven for wondering why internal meetings warranted quite so much in the way of refreshments, I don't begrudge top executives the odd business lunch or Brucey his Champagne.

But if it wishes to hang on to any shred of credibility in the argument against top-slicing, and maintain its largely agreeable relationship with the fee-paying public, decisions regarding what in the current climate constitutes excess, with regard to coverage and general expenditure, are going to need much closer scrutiny.

And if Sir Michael and senior BBC execs, very well-paid from the public purse, want to be seen as whiter than white, they would be well-advised to steer clear of muddy fields.

Why the critics are wrong - the BBC and Glastonbury

255762 — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:39:00 GMT

This year looked like (one of the many) when people were suffering Glastonbury envy, but while only 140,00 people got to go, the rest of us could soak up some of the BBC's most excellent coverage. It reminded me again that we're lucky to have it at such a cheap price.

I write this, of course, after the BBC came underfire yet again at the weekend for what the Daily Mail and the Sunday Times were calling excessive coverage and the fact that it sent 407 people to cover the festival.

But worse than that...get this, some of those people went for free?! OMFG. Can you believe it, people working in the media went somewhere for free. Its shocking.

It would be nice to see a list of the freebies that the reporter's writing these stories had enjoyed. I can own up to having gone to Glastonbury in the past for free several times. Not to mention one or two other places.

Not sure about you, but over the course of the weekend I sampled BBC Glastonbury coverage on BBC Two, BBC Three, used the BBC's red button interactive service and listened (as always) to the most excellent Adam & Joe show on 6 Music. It was so well done (minus Jo Whiley who makes me want to destroy my TV set).

People moan about how Sky and ITV don't send anything like this to such events. Well no, of course not, for as good as these services can be they are not the BBC and they do not cater for the millions who tune in, turn on and chill out. Having caught some Bruce Springteen I even impulsed purchased 'Born in the USA' and a few 'Born to Run' tracks. Proving what a boost it is for the music industry.

The most boring thing about those attacking the BBC is that it is the same old faces: some Tory or other who took time out from his second/third job to vent his outrage and some alliance of tax payers whose mission in life is to spoil the party.

So thanks BBC; nice work

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PS Mark Byford should get in the back of a black cab, I mean seriously.

On Trend: Debut of Tropical City, De Tropix Live

2292853 — Fri, 08 May 2009 06:36:00 GMT

Nevermind the depressive recession, and more news that friends and families are losing jobs and homes, there is still affordable fun out there, especially in the city of London this weekend, as joy comes to a boat on the Thames River for the debut of *****Tropical City***** this Saturday evening.

Bright neon lights, a festive crowd adorned in day-glo colours that are sure to flip your switch from winter-blues blah to spring and summer super happy. The musical line-up will inspire the most devoted wallflower to venture out on the dancefloor and get down. There will even be a Krumping dance crew, Funk Physics, popping battles, and teaching a few tricks. This party is a celebration of a mix and mash of urban cultures from warm and cold climates. It is hip-hop and reggae meet electro, for what looks like Miami Vice, and the original UK combination of it all is going to see this boat quaking and shaking into the wee morning hours.

Organized by Fake Ornate, the producers of other creative London parties The Nativity Hoedown, The Human Zoo and Cosmic Disco, this new creation is a kick-off for the group's summer festival tour season. Next stop, Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party and Bloom.

"Tropical City is a ghetto-fabulous themed party, run by Fake Ornate who are inspired by the underground scene, and comitted to bringing the world cutting edge entertainment," said Kate Risker, aka the fabulous Miss Risk. "Think Santogold to grime to Krump battles. Let's get tropical!"

Headlining the evening, and the group that inspired the tropical theme is De Tropix who will get the boat swaying with electro reggae step sounds and deep bass beats that will quiver up and down your spine. Also featuring:

Supreme grime from Conrad The Scoundral,

A.J. Holmes the king of the electric high-life,
The Heatwave - skankin dancehall and tropical tunage from DJ Gabriel Heatwave,

and sweet female vocals from MC Cherry B.

Want to come to the Tropical City?

RSVP through the Tropical City Facebook Group Saturday, May 9, 2009, 8pm-1.30am, £7. Dress Code: Ghetto Fabulous/Tropical/neon. Location: Tamesis Dock (on the Thames) SE1 7TP. Street: Albert Embankment, London, United Kingdom.

More information here.

I'll be on the boat,

-Lisa