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Glastopedia: Interview with Creator Ben Smith
- July 20, 2024 ● From Fujirockers.org, Interviews
Glastopedia, an extensive and unofficial online compendium dedicated to one of the world’s most famous music festivals, Glastonbury Festival, offers a treasure trove of information on every aspect of the festival. From its history and timeline to detailed data on performers, venues, campsites, crew, and vendors, Glastopedia expands far beyond the capabilities of the festival’s official website and app to date.
I met Ben Smith, the sole creator of Glastopedia, in London during my year there, and had a chance to enjoy Glastonbury together this year. Having come across Glastopedia while doing my own searches for new performers on the horizon at Glastonbury 2024, I was excited to find out that my own acquaintance was the sole brain behind the encyclopaedic website. Here, we get insights into the inspiration and aspirations for the ever-evolving grassroots archive.
Interview with Ben Smith of Glastopedia
Ben Smith, the creator of Glastopedia, shares his journey from being a latecomer to Glastonbury in 2019 to becoming deeply obsessed with the festival, leading him to create what is now one of the largest unofficial encyclopedias dedicated to Glastonbury. Reflecting on his first experience, Ben describes how he was “blown away” by the temporary city that emerges and disappears within a week, sparking his curiosity and eventual deep dive into all things Glastonbury.
Since its inception, Glastopedia has grown exponentially, fueled by Ben’s passion for uncovering and documenting every aspect of the festival, from stages and performers to the people who build and run it. He reveals, “I’m a bit of a data nerd,” which is evident in his meticulous research methods, including scouring the web archive, old festival forums, and even long-forgotten Flickr accounts to unearth hidden details about the festival’s history.
Despite moments of doubt, Ben persevered, and Glastopedia is now flourishing, attracting around 100,000 visits per month. His dedication to maintaining an ad-free, community-driven platform is clear, as he emphasizes, “I never will monetize it… I just want it to be something for the people to use.” Ben’s work has also garnered attention from the festival community, with longtime festival workers reaching out to contribute information, further enriching the site’s content.
Ben shared further insights into Glastonbury’s unique atmosphere, its evolving yet evergreen nature, and the challenges of maintaining its grassroots identity in a rapidly modernizing world. He emphasized the festival’s open and accepting culture, allowing attendees to fully express themselves and pursue their passions. Ben described Glastonbury as a place where “anyone can do anything they are passionate about and showcase it there,” highlighting the festival’s commitment to providing a platform for creativity and self-expression.
A notable aspect of Glastonbury’s charm, according to Ben, is its resistance to modernization. He mentioned that while the festival’s website and processes may be considered outdated by some, this quirkiness adds to its authenticity. “The fact that everything’s a little bit shit… it’s kind of cute,” Ben said, drawing a contrast between Glastonbury’s organic vibe and the polished, Instagram-perfect aesthetics of other major festivals like Tomorrowland.
Ben also reflected on the festival’s commitment to sustainability, particularly in comparison to Fuji Rock. He acknowledged that while Glastonbury takes significant steps towards environmental responsibility, such as eliminating single-use plastics and using sustainable power sources, there are still cultural differences that influence the festival experience. For instance, he noted the prevalence of rubbish at Glastonbury despite its eco-friendly initiatives, contrasting it with the near-pristine cleanliness of Fuji Rock, where even the smallest piece of litter is rarely seen.
A highlight of the interview was Ben’s recounting of his favorite email from a long-time festival contributor, Alistair. Alistair, who has been involved with Glastonbury since its inception, shared stories about the festival’s early days and expressed appreciation for the website’s archival efforts. This exchange underscored the importance of preserving Glastonbury’s rich history, with Ben noting, “Archiving things is so important… Glastonbury is a culture and community of itself.”
Ben’s passion for documenting the festival’s history is evident in his meticulous approach to gathering even the smallest details, such as set times for specific performances. He expressed a deep sense of pride in his work, acknowledging that it is an ongoing project that will likely continue long after the festival itself. This dedication to preserving the festival’s legacy speaks to Glastonbury’s enduring impact and the importance of keeping its story alive for future generations.
The interview concluded with a discussion on the challenges of securing tickets for Glastonbury, a process Ben described as “the worst day of the year.” Despite the difficulties, he emphasized the importance of community and teamwork in overcoming these obstacles, staying true to the festival’s core values. He shared the strategy of forming groups and pooling resources to increase the chances of obtaining tickets, reflecting the festival’s spirit of collaboration.
Looking ahead, Ben is excited to continue expanding Glastopedia, particularly focusing on the festival crew’s stories and exploring new ways to present data, such as visualizing how stages have evolved over time. He concludes by expressing his excitement for the future, hinting at new projects in the works that will further deepen the site’s offerings for Glastonbury enthusiasts. Overall, Ben’s insights provided a deeper understanding of what makes Glastonbury so special—from its grassroots origins and commitment to sustainability to its unique culture and sense of community. His passion for the festival and dedication to preserving its history shine through, offering a glimpse into why Glastonbury continues to captivate and inspire so many.
General Website Information
Glastopedia covers the festival’s rich history, providing insights into each year’s events, weather conditions, and standout performances. It includes comparisons across different years, allowing users to see how the festival has evolved. The site also features detailed statistics and interactive maps to enhance the browsing experience.
Venues and Performers
Explore the 401 venues and 5,600 performers that have graced Glastonbury over the years. From the iconic Pyramid Stage to lesser-known, intimate spots, Glastopedia provides detailed information on each venue’s capacity, genre, and unique characteristics. The performer section highlights headliners, Sunday legends, and poets in residence, along with performance statistics.
Campsites and Crew
Find the perfect place to stay with comprehensive details on the 97 campsites available, including regular spots, crew and performer areas, and luxurious glamping options. Learn about the 99 crew members who make the festival possible, from festival founders to production designers.
Vendors and More
Glastopedia lists over 1,300 vendors, including food and drink stalls, traders, and bars. The site also features spotlights on special aspects of the festival, quizzes for fans, and practical information on packing and causes supported by Glastonbury.
Ad-Free and Unofficial
Created by Ben Smith, Glastopedia is an ad-free, unofficial guide to the festival. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the official Glastonbury Festivals. The site aims to be a comprehensive, user-friendly resource for festival-goers and fans alike.
Explore Glastopedia to delve into the vibrant world of Glastonbury Festival and immerse yourself in the festival community with detailed information and fun insights.
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The Rising Star “4s4ki” Makes her Fuji Rock Debut!
- August 13, 2021 ● Bands, Experiences, From Fujirockers.org, Interviews
Having started producing her own music at an astonishingly early age (in grade five or grade six, by her recollection) 4s4ki released her first full album in 2020, and makes her Fuji Rock debut this year. I caught up with her via Zoom, to get a feel for where she is headed. READ MORE
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ZOO Interview: Get Ready for a Catalonian Block Party!
- July 16, 2019 ● Bands, Interviews
The Latin-ska-hip-hop band Zoo comes from Valencia, Spain, and though it’s their first time at Fuji Rock, several Zoo band members have played the festival before. The bands Obrint Pas and La Grossa Sorda are well remembered for rocking the damn house with wild Spanish horn-fueled punk at both the White Stage and super fun late-night parties at the Crystal Palace Tent. Zoo is a contemporary evolution of these sounds. Imagine a merging a ska band with, hip hop MCs, and a raging Barcelona dance club, and that’s pretty much what you get with Zoo. When they play in Europe, it’s a giant Latin house party and audiences are in the thousands. Now they’re coming to Fuji Rock 2019 for sets at the White Stage and Crystal Palace, and also to the Tokyo Wednesday night pre-event on July 24, Radical Music Network. We caught up with band leader and MC Panxo for an email interview to learn a bit more about the band. From the sounds of it, the message is: Fujirockers! Put your hands up! And get ready to dance!
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Banda Bassotti’s Japanese Romance: An interview with Luca Fornasier, aka DJ Goldfinger Selecta
- July 10, 2019 ● Bands, Interviews
Italian group Banda Bassotti have been likened to the Clash for mixing ska, punk and a fight for social equality, especially in the 1980s and 1990s. They also rock the house in a very major way, so expect them to whip the crowd into a frenzy when they play on Fuji Rock’s White Stage on Sunday, July 28. This is Banda Bassotti’s third visit to Fuji Rock, though the last time they were were here was 14 years ago in 2005. A lot has happened since then: In 2006 the group released a song called “Fuji Rock” on their album Vecchi Cani Bastardi. Last year, founding member and vocalist Angelo Conti passed away, with tributes stretching from Rome to Japan. We caught up with the band’s manager Luca Fornasier to talk about Banda Bassotti, two decades of coming to Japan, and his own upcoming DJ sets as Goldfinger Selecta at both Fuji Rock and at the Tokyo pre-fest party, Radical Music Network.
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Interview: The Waterboys’ Mike Scott
- April 30, 2019 ● Bands, Interviews
The Waterboys appeared at Fuji Rock in 2014 for the first time, and will be returning to Naeba this year. The UK band was formed in 1983, centered on Mike Scott. Mike has been known as one of the UK’s greatest songwriters for over 40 years, with many other artists covering his songs; for example “The Whole Of The Moon” covered by Prince. We got an opportunity to interview Mike during his recent stay in Japan. He talks about his previous appearance at Fuji Rock and looks ahead to this year’s festival appearance.
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Camper Van Fun
- April 2, 2019 ● Experiences, From Fujirockers.org, Interviews
Imagine bypassing railway stations and boarding your very own private vehicle for Fuji Rock. Enjoy the comfort of cup holders, electric outlets, air-con, and bunk beds. Keep your beverages chilled and your rucksack tucked away. Best of all, when it rains, you will be 100% watertight.
As for the amenity that many ask about, “only use it in an emergency” is what the rental lot attendant instructed before we headed off down the highway.
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Fujirockers chat to Albert Kuwano of AQ Bevolution!
- July 18, 2018 ● Essentials, Experiences, Food, Interviews
Starting last year, with the addition of Craft Beer Market at Fuji Rock, bringing along 4 booths of the country’s top brewers and importers, (concurrently offering a total of around 20 different craft beers at one time) the standard for quality beer at the festival was substantially raised. This was great news for beer fans all throughout Naeba. READ MORE
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Interview – Big Willie’s Burlesque
- July 18, 2018 ● From Fujirockers.org, Interviews
“Big Willie” McNeil is a long-time friend of Fuji Rock, playing just about as along as the Palace of Wonder has existed, also inhabiting new stages like Cafe de Paris. You could say these places were built for him and his love of burlesque, one of the first forms of musical theater. We had the good fortune to catch up with Willie as he was packing up feather boas for the flight over.
1. Tell me the truth Willie, do the burlesque girls look as good in the morning without the makeup?
It’s amazing what make up, push up bra’s, dancers fishnet tights and heels can do. False advertising actually! But they do call it make up… One time I did a big show in Chicago with around 20 dancers and the next morning on the flight home when everyone was in their sweats and tennis shoes, I didn’t even recognize some of the dancers who I didn’t know well!
2. What can we expect from you at Fuji this year?
A special international show! I have two Cuban musicians, an Italian guitarist, my Argentinian dancer Carolina plus for the special ‘G&G Orchestra’ show Elvis and two background singers. We’ll play Cuban and American music.
3. Any acts you looking forward to?
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Fujirockers Interview: Jim “Vinyl Nasium” West
- July 17, 2018 ● Interviews
Vinyl mania has long been part of the Fuji Rock culture, including musicians, DJs, fans and the festival production team. Now that passion manifests as the Blue Galaxy Stage, an expansive circus tent powered by two turntables and a roster of DJs with truly immense collections of rare ska, reggae, world music, Japanese garage, and all manner of vinyl rarities. The man powering the Blue Galaxy is Jim West, a British vinyl nut who’s been coming to Fuji Rock for 20 years. He will DJ four and a half hours each evening of the festival (though only three hours on Sunday). Now a full-fledged festival area, the vinyl stage is in reality Jim’s baby. In 2011, he launched the Fuji Rock’s first vinyl-only DJ stage, Jim’s Vinyl Nasium as an experiment in the World Food Court. Over the following years, the Vinyl Nasium got better and better. After the 2016 Fuji Rock, the organizers couldn’t help but make it into a proper area, so in 2017, they expanded it to become the Blue Galaxy Tent. This year, guest DJs will include Sim Cas, the Cumbia Kid (aka Jason Mayall), Caribbean Dandy, Astro Black (US), DZ (Basque Countries), Koichi Hanafusa (Fujirockers.org), King Nabe and the Club Ska All-Stars and several others. Yet for the meat of each evening, it will be powered by Jim West and his fellow vinyl maniac Salam Unagami. To learn more of the backstory for this unique DJ stage, we caught up with Jim for a quick Q&A interview.