What we did this Summer

Published on: 11/08/2023

As we edge into September, the long summer days have disappeared and we’re drifting into autumn. We may not have been treated to the finest weather this summer, but our tribe still had some awesome adventures.

With changing of the seasons, we’re reflecting back and hopefully giving some inspiration for summer 2024. First, we hear from Senior Sales Executive, George Nolan, who had some amazing musical adventures at Glastonbury and the Fringe!

By George Nolan

This summer I took a week off in June to go and live the Glastonbury experience and a week off in August to be consumed by the Edinburgh Fringe festival. Easily the best two events I have EVER experienced!

Apart from being opposite ends of the country and one, slightly more rural than the other, the similarities between these two landmark events are surprisingly vast. The vibe, atmosphere, performers, culture, and consumers all make these two festivals incredibly special and people like, me, yearning to return year after year.

It was my first year of attending Glastonbury, (12^th attempt at getting tickets) and I can honestly say it did not disappoint and lived up to every single expectation and hype friends and family had given it. We were blessed with, perhaps, the only gorgeous five days of actual summer towards the end of June and the sun did not stop shining.

This is the other stage at Glastonbury and where I saw the standout performance of my time at the festival, Fred Again. He embodied the spirt and vibe of the whole atmosphere and I came away a new mega fan of his. I know this isn’t the pyramid stage OR Elton John, but you’ve all seen plenty of images of those…

How to describe my time at Glasto? Easy, I can’t. There is no word in the English language that will or could do any justice to the sheer joy, happiness and love I felt for the full five days – what an experience and I genuinely implore ANYONE to go and experience, even if ‘festivals aren’t for them’.

This was my second year at the Fringe festival, (sixth time in Edinburgh). I just love this city. Full of the beauties and history of a city steeped in mystery & intrigue. Bar a few shops and restaurants, it feels like the city centre would be in the exacts same condition and shape 100, 200, even 300 years ago. A proud city yet incredibly diverse, cultured and above all welcoming showcasing some of the weirdest and whackiest performances and modern art.

The beauty of these two festivals is that all walks of life are welcome, and judgement, perception, prejudice, and hate are nowhere to be seen. They’ve both truly stood the test of time and are just as relevant now as they were when they were around 50+ years ago.

Now, how to pick a top 10… well there’s way more but please see below after far too long deliberating and in no order…

This is the Royal Mile at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This is the busiest and most vibrant street during the festival as it is where artists and performers come to promote their shows with flyers, leaflets, and short demos. The street is alive with music, performers and the hustle and bustle of the festival.