As a 75 year-old Glastonbury devotee, there's one thing I have to pack

Liz has been going to Glastonbury almost every year since 2011 (Picture: Liz Hannon)

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled as the opening bars of Queen’s Under Pressure rang out from the Pyramid Stage.

Around me in the crowd, thousands of people waved flags and clapped along as the late Taylor Hawkins started singing ‘mmm numb a de, dum bum bae be’ and Dave Grohl took up the beat on the drums.

It was Glastonbury 2017 and the Foo Fighters were headlining after pulling out two years previously when their lead singer broke his leg.

Watching Dave swap places with Taylor for that tribute, carried by a wave of feeling from the audience, was a spine-tingling moment that I’ll always remember.

I’ve been going to Glastonbury almost every year since 2011 – this June will be my eighth festival, marking my 75th birthday year.

There have been some incredible moments – watching Beyoncé smashing her dance moves while secretly pregnant back in 2011; Dolly Parton on the Pyramid stage in 2014, and Metallica kicking huge grey balls into the crowd that same year.

Liz’s love of music took a backseat as while she concentrated on her family and career (Picture: Liz Hannon)

For me, the atmosphere of the festival is like nothing else. The huge crowds, magical moments and the opportunity to discover new music.

I’ve always loved live music. Growing up in the sixties, my dad took me to see Wilson Pickett and The Swinging Blue Jeans. I saw the Small Faces under the disco balls at Boston Gliderdrome, and when I moved to London in 1967, I went to gigs with musicians Peter Green and Georgie Fame at the nearby Central London Polytechnic students’ union.

But in my 30s and 40s, my love of music took a backseat as I concentrated on my family and career.

I raised my daughter Dora, now 42, and her brother Will, now 38, alongside juggling a job in social housing and later working for the health ombudsman – all with the support of my husband Trevor, now 71.

It wasn’t until my mid-50s that I got an opportunity to go to gigs again. Will, then a teenager, introduced me to rock and indie music, including bands like Radiohead and Bloc Party.

The atmosphere of a festival is like nothing else (Picture: Liz Hannon)

Liz was introduced to rock and indie music by her son (Picture: Liz Hannon)

I was working in central London, so I started looking at the ‘What’s On’ section of the Evening Standard and taking myself to gigs after work.

Often I went alone because at the time Trevor was working abroad. I saw Patti Smith and Willie Nelson, and took the kids to watch Ray Davies.

I actually enjoyed going to see live music on my own. It was something to do when Trevor was away and I could please myself – going and standing at the front, or sitting at the back.

Other times I went with friends, who began inviting me to things because they knew I liked music. My taste was broad and eclectic – everything from rock and blues, to indie and world music.

That’s how I ended up with my first ticket to Glastonbury, aged 61, in 2011. My friend, Rona Nicholson, invited me to join her and some other mates.

Liz (centre) would go see live music with friends (Picture: Liz Hannon)

It was my first experience of festival camping – I’d done Eurocamp when the kids were small, but that was about it. I wasn’t expecting the sheer scale of Glastonbury – it was like a whole new world.

I learned very quickly that, by the time I got back to my tent after a long day of walking, I was so tired that I’d just put my earplugs in, pull my sleep mask on and that was it. Five hours later we’d be out, doing it all again.

One of the first Glasto acts I fell in love with was LA band Dengue Fever, who were playing on a little stage as we walked down the hill. I was totally blown away and bought their record, which I still listen to now.

U2 were one of the headline acts that year and that was another mind-blowing experience. I remember one of my friends asking how I was with crowds, because there’s nothing quite like what you experience at a big festival.

Beyoncé that year was magnificent, too. I wouldn’t say I was a fan of her before… but I am now! Her voice and stage presence was incredible.

It was like a whole new world (Picture: Liz Hannon)

Liz has been to Glasto seven times so far (Picture: Liz Hannon)

Since that first Glasto I’ve tried to go every year. There was one year we sadly couldn’t get tickets, a couple of fallow years when the festival wasn’t held, and of course a break for Covid.

In total, I’ve been seven times so far, and this year will be my eighth.

In 2019, the year before Covid, we were mesmerised by Stormzy. We said we were only going to stay for a couple of songs and ended up watching the whole set.

Last year, Cat Stevens was a highlight and I also felt very privileged to have seen Elton John’s supposed final live show.

Quite often, when I get home from Glastonbury, I watch it all over again on telly – pointing to the screen and telling Trevor: ‘I was over there, standing by that tree for that set!’

It’s wonderful to get chatting with people through a shared love of music, too. While watching the Rolling Stones in 2013, a girl beside me asked if I’d ever seen them before. When I told them I’d first seen them in 1976 we laughed when we realised she hadn’t even been born then.

There’s a group of five of Liz’s who go together (Picture: Liz Hannon)

There really is nothing like watching live music. There’s something about the atmosphere, the sound and the reaction of the crowd that’s impossible to replicate.

Glastonbury isn’t for the faint-hearted, especially as you get older. You definitely need stamina and I try to take a folding chair if the ground is going to be wet because I can’t stand all day.

My other top tip is always having sun cream, a hat, and good waterproof walking boots – with gaiters if it’s a really wet year. I pay careful attention to the weather forecast before we go.

This year I’m looking forward to seeing LCD Soundsystem and Shania Twain, and also hopefully discovering some new bands on the smaller stages.

There’s a group of five of us who go now, myself and Rona, Maureen McEleney, Jon Broome and John Backwell. We started as a group of seven but sadly two of our friends – Patrizia Balia and Graham Dulake – have passed away.

I feel a real pride in still rocking at Glastonbury at my time of life, and still being fit and able to enjoy it.

For me, it’s about the atmosphere and experiencing something really special alongside good friends.

As told to Jade Beecroft

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