Somebody asked about the differences between Coachella and UK festivals – 21 huge cultural chasms

12.

‘Glastonbury is becoming more and more of a “poser/influencer” festival these days. I’ve been going since 2009 and the noticeable changes over the last few years are massive, even more so now Vodafone cover the site in masts allowing full 5g coverage, the place is full of people on their phones.

I remember the days when your phone would die two days in and you’d lose all your friends and not know what time of day it is or where you are until you went back to your tents and caught up with everyone. I absolutely adored the place for many years, the last three have really put me off, you’ve changed maaaan!’
–hermit_tortoise

13.

‘As an American who grew up in the US and later started going to UK festivals in my twenties onwards, it’s a culture difference. After going to my first Glasto festivals in the early ’00s I realized America will never have a festival atmosphere with the same vibe. People at UK festivals are dedicated to having a great time, people at American festivals are dedicated to looking like they’re having a great time. I’ve never wanted to go to an American festival again.’
–GingerBuffalo

14.

‘I think partly because we are a much more reserved culture as a whole no big hugs or smiles in day to day life, if someone asks how you are it’ “alright” or “not too bad” where as America is “awesome” or “killing it”.

So when we get the chance to let our hair down and have a few drinks we make the most of it. Same is true for Japan and Korea as random examples. Also a culture of group singing/chants at school and in sports helps.’
–Ok-Onion-780

15.

‘Woodstock 99 didn’t fuck about.’
–TheRebelPercy

16.

‘Coachella is purely vapid. Not sure about the others. UK festivals are gritty, atmospheric and real. No one cares what you look like or where you went.’
–Krispykreemi

17.

‘It seems just so so vapid and hollow. I could be totally wrong as I’ve never been, but I feel about Coachella the way I feel about Dubai! No thank you.’
–simmyawardwinner

18.

‘Because Americans are odd. They might look like us but they’re a completely different kettle of fish.’
–johnl1979

19.

‘I think the late 80s/90s rave scene shaped UK festivals. From the outset, organisers wanted to capture that ecstasy spirit, raves in a field, then the crossover of Madchester bands etc. The summer of love lives on. The crowd stumping up a couple of hundred quid for festi tickets now were the kids dancing off their nut for a tenner a few decades back. UK festivals tap into that. While you can find that in the US if you know where to look, there was never the cultural shift the UK went through.’
–OpziO

20.

‘Coachella is full of yanks and as we all know yanks take themselves very seriously. They can’t have a laugh and everything is very surface and vapid. If they had to slog through a festival site that resembles the Somme they wouldn’t do it. Brits however are self deprecating and would happily walk for miles in mud in order to watch their favourite band and drink beer.’
–raquille-

21.

‘Coachella and Burning Man: the reality doesn’t live up to the hype. It’s hot, dirty, can’t easily charge my phone, been on my feet since dawn and it’s still an hour before the band whose-shirt-I’m-wearing-but-have-never-heard are on.

UK festival: If it’s not ankle deep mud and/or the sun is out and we’re already smashing expectations. If music gets played, that’s un-beatable.’
–reverandglass

Source r/AskUK Image Screenshot