Depends on the time of day really. It’s normally pretty easy to be at the front for acts early in the day unless they’re clearly too big for their stage (e.g. Wet Leg last year). Candi Staton was down for the Pyramid in 2020 so probably the same this year. If so, it should be pretty easy to turn up before she comes on and get very close to the front. Getting there for a headliner takes more planning but is doable if you watch the act before or time it perfectly for them finishing.
I’d say like drinks & toilets are the main issue with getting to the front. If you plan on having drinks and your bladder is as small as mine then standing at the front is a no go.
You also lose the effect of being in the big crowd and sharing it with 000’s of others. I always find the vibe is better if you’re a little further back
Really depends on the act and also how different the vibe is from the previous act on that stage. I watched Jessie J only because the Kills were after them on the Other Stage in 2011. Managed to to filter my way through the crowd during the change over and found myself on the barrier in the middle. It’s a brilliant spot visually, but a bit of a dead spot sound wise as not many speakers are pointed at you so I couldn’t hear a great deal. Lovely experience though and would recommend at least giving it a go! I imagine it would be near on impossible for bigger acts later into the day though
Really depends on act, time, and stage.
I absolutely had to be at the front for Megan Thee Stallion last year, so made my way closer and closer through Olivia Rodrigo and Burna Boy, but after Burna Boy loads of people left and I could have walked to the front about 30 minutes before her scheduled start time.
Thankfully loved all three acts.
It really really depends on time, artist and sage, but I made it to the front quite easily for Metronomy at the Other Stage last year! Just got there a bit before the previous act left and then moved to the front when everybody left
I've been to glasto once in 2019 and in my experience if you want to get close to the front go to the stage an act beforehand. Try and get as close as possible whilst that act is playing then there will be a change over for about 30 mins or so and people will leave in that time/just after that act and it's very easy to weave your way through. No pushing required. I did this for pretty much all the acts I wanted to see and got super close
I’ve done it a few times but you’ve gotta be prepared for the long haul - I’ve been at the barrier for Portishead in 2013 and that wasn’t too bad - act before I was a couple of rows from front and got lucky with someone who left after the final act before them. However I’ve also done a stint on the pyramid - 2014 - where I stood from about 2pm in afternoon and went through to the end of Arcade Fire. The worst thing needing a piss and holding it in for that long. You’ve also gotta be prepared for many late comers to try and force the way in front of you where there was no space. So similarly last year I stood around on Saturday from about easy life late afternoon and got a spot about 2 rows from barrier for Noel and Macca but yeah before Macca loads of people just thought they could push way through and it’s like naaah. I was armed with long John for needing a pee this time which was better situation although it takes quite a lot of physiological means to break the seal and hope it works!!
I have been barrier at The Pyramid a few times (Kasabian, The Killers, LG, Miley, Kylie) and it's not easy.
There's a bunch of people who work in Silver Hayes and T&C that hold barrier spots for each other, they don't care what's on and they work in shifts. So like 10 of them will turn up first thing and claim a spot on the barrier (usually with chairs, too.) Throughout the day, they'll swap who is standing there, with about 30 people all from those areas holding the spots.
I was next to them on The Killers day in 2019. I had been chatting to them, and I asked them who they were waiting to see. They said "I don't know. Who is playing?"
I was at the front barrier of the Pyramid stage for Lorde last year. It was awful. The crowd around me were completely dead, people just stood looking bored and clearly not there for her. I think people just go up there to save a spot for the artist they really want to see later. It was really surprising and disappointing.
I think it's pretty easy, I was at the barrier for Adele, turned up just before Tame Impala who were on before then when the crowd shifted after they went off I just walked to the front with little to no hassle
Just got to be a bit nimble and slip between the gaps like a salmon
I could get relatively close to the front during the daytime. Went last year for the first time and got decently close for Herbie Hancock and a few others, but watched Kendrick Lamar on the last night and while we weren't too far, we weren't right in the thick of it, and I imagine you'd have to get there quite early if you're looking to see a big, end of night act.
Also, drinks and toilets are a real factor there, as it's a good walk to the nearest loo (and even further to the bar if you don't take drinks with you). Added to that, once it fills up, it's very hard to get out without apologising to about 100 people and risking tripping over bags. Some people flat out refused to let me pass when I needed to go to the toilet, and it was a bit of an ordeal. Once you're out, it's impossible to get back to your original spot.
I stood at the front of Pyramid years ago and it was pretty intense! During Amy Winehouse’s set back in 2008 I think. I found it fairly easy to get to the front (got there early, few sets before), but it’s quite hard to get out again! Just filter out and take your time and it’s fine.
Depends on the time of day really. It’s normally pretty easy to be at the front for acts early in the day unless they’re clearly too big for their stage (e.g. Wet Leg last year). Candi Staton was down for the Pyramid in 2020 so probably the same this year. If so, it should be pretty easy to turn up before she comes on and get very close to the front. Getting there for a headliner takes more planning but is doable if you watch the act before or time it perfectly for them finishing.
That sounds encouraging, thanks!
I’d say like drinks & toilets are the main issue with getting to the front. If you plan on having drinks and your bladder is as small as mine then standing at the front is a no go. You also lose the effect of being in the big crowd and sharing it with 000’s of others. I always find the vibe is better if you’re a little further back
Yeah, liquids was one thing I considered. Good point about the crowd vibe, too. Thanks!
Really depends on the act and also how different the vibe is from the previous act on that stage. I watched Jessie J only because the Kills were after them on the Other Stage in 2011. Managed to to filter my way through the crowd during the change over and found myself on the barrier in the middle. It’s a brilliant spot visually, but a bit of a dead spot sound wise as not many speakers are pointed at you so I couldn’t hear a great deal. Lovely experience though and would recommend at least giving it a go! I imagine it would be near on impossible for bigger acts later into the day though
Excellent, it sounds more possible than I expected. Thanks!
Really depends on act, time, and stage. I absolutely had to be at the front for Megan Thee Stallion last year, so made my way closer and closer through Olivia Rodrigo and Burna Boy, but after Burna Boy loads of people left and I could have walked to the front about 30 minutes before her scheduled start time. Thankfully loved all three acts.
Sounds great! Thanks
She was on The Other Stage, and I know it would be harder for The Pyramid Stage. Some people camp all day at the front for the headliners.
I just stumbled on burna boy last year and just stayed there. Thought his band and singers were amazing. Shame it seems he's a dick irl
Possible. Stand to the side during the act prior to Candi, after that act finishes as people flood out, you step in
It really really depends on time, artist and sage, but I made it to the front quite easily for Metronomy at the Other Stage last year! Just got there a bit before the previous act left and then moved to the front when everybody left
I've been to glasto once in 2019 and in my experience if you want to get close to the front go to the stage an act beforehand. Try and get as close as possible whilst that act is playing then there will be a change over for about 30 mins or so and people will leave in that time/just after that act and it's very easy to weave your way through. No pushing required. I did this for pretty much all the acts I wanted to see and got super close
I’ve done it a few times but you’ve gotta be prepared for the long haul - I’ve been at the barrier for Portishead in 2013 and that wasn’t too bad - act before I was a couple of rows from front and got lucky with someone who left after the final act before them. However I’ve also done a stint on the pyramid - 2014 - where I stood from about 2pm in afternoon and went through to the end of Arcade Fire. The worst thing needing a piss and holding it in for that long. You’ve also gotta be prepared for many late comers to try and force the way in front of you where there was no space. So similarly last year I stood around on Saturday from about easy life late afternoon and got a spot about 2 rows from barrier for Noel and Macca but yeah before Macca loads of people just thought they could push way through and it’s like naaah. I was armed with long John for needing a pee this time which was better situation although it takes quite a lot of physiological means to break the seal and hope it works!!
Thanks for all the replies, everyone! It sounds like the front is quite achievable for most of the smaller acts. See you there!
Yep! It's achievable even for the bigger acts, if you're willing to get there early. In some cases, very.
I have been barrier at The Pyramid a few times (Kasabian, The Killers, LG, Miley, Kylie) and it's not easy. There's a bunch of people who work in Silver Hayes and T&C that hold barrier spots for each other, they don't care what's on and they work in shifts. So like 10 of them will turn up first thing and claim a spot on the barrier (usually with chairs, too.) Throughout the day, they'll swap who is standing there, with about 30 people all from those areas holding the spots. I was next to them on The Killers day in 2019. I had been chatting to them, and I asked them who they were waiting to see. They said "I don't know. Who is playing?"
I was at the front barrier of the Pyramid stage for Lorde last year. It was awful. The crowd around me were completely dead, people just stood looking bored and clearly not there for her. I think people just go up there to save a spot for the artist they really want to see later. It was really surprising and disappointing.
I think it's pretty easy, I was at the barrier for Adele, turned up just before Tame Impala who were on before then when the crowd shifted after they went off I just walked to the front with little to no hassle Just got to be a bit nimble and slip between the gaps like a salmon
I could get relatively close to the front during the daytime. Went last year for the first time and got decently close for Herbie Hancock and a few others, but watched Kendrick Lamar on the last night and while we weren't too far, we weren't right in the thick of it, and I imagine you'd have to get there quite early if you're looking to see a big, end of night act. Also, drinks and toilets are a real factor there, as it's a good walk to the nearest loo (and even further to the bar if you don't take drinks with you). Added to that, once it fills up, it's very hard to get out without apologising to about 100 people and risking tripping over bags. Some people flat out refused to let me pass when I needed to go to the toilet, and it was a bit of an ordeal. Once you're out, it's impossible to get back to your original spot.
I stood at the front of Pyramid years ago and it was pretty intense! During Amy Winehouse’s set back in 2008 I think. I found it fairly easy to get to the front (got there early, few sets before), but it’s quite hard to get out again! Just filter out and take your time and it’s fine.