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The welcoming scent of Glade festival

It made its name as one of many parts of another festival, but since spreading its wings outside of Glastonbury in 2004, Glade Festival has grown into a behemoth of its own, even having to move site to satisfy demand. With some of the best electronic artists in the world on the bill year after year, it’s amongst the greatest dance festivals on the planet.

TFF chatted to organiser Nick Ladd about the move from Glastonbury, and what makes Glade a special four days for kids in adult bodies:

Why did you get involved with festivals?

Because I had had some of the best times of my life at them! Festivals put you in touch with so much art and music and general joie de vivre... a four day camping trip with your mates surrounded by endless creativity, loads of cool people and lots of laughs... it deepens friendships, brings out your own creativity and engenders personal transformation. I learned a lot about life, the universe and everything by being at raves and festivals.

Why move out on your own from Glastonbury?

Everybody loved the Glade at Glastos that came and we saw there was a need for a dance based event that was a true festival rather than just a bunch of dance tents in a field... something with a bit more diversity heart and soul for people with more discerning tastes

Don’t you every feel like ditching Glastonbury altogether?

Definitely not... Glastonbury has given more to UK festival culture than can possibly be imagined... it’s awesome and we will always wanna give back to it - it’s the Momma!

Which other festivals inspired you?

In England the Big Green Gathering. I loved the community involvement and the heart it had... I just wanted more dance music at it!

What do festivals mean to you?

For me the key thing is they are a place where people can come and express themselves freely, to get away from the social conditioning that modern life imposes on us. At festivals people are much friendlier to strangers, more open minded, more imaginative and more open hearted. To experience that reality bubble, and to laugh and dance and listen to music, even just for four days, is a healing and inspiring experience that uplifts people and show us glimpses of human potential. We need this more now than ever with all the fear based bullshit we get fed in the mass media telling us to be afraid of one another - festivals are good for your soul and good for the planet!

What has been your favourite moment from the festival?

The Glade is one amazing experience after another. We have got so many passionately creative people who make the different areas, my favourite moments are always seeing what they come up with year on year. This year we have got three amazing art installations coming over from Burning Man – it’s gonna be awesome!

What bands do you choose? How do you choose them and do you stick specifically to any genre?

Mostly the line ups for each tent are chosen by the promoters running the night - people like BLOC, Mulletover, Nano Records, Liquid Connective, InSpiral, Overkill, Blast, The Rinse - people that are totally connected at grass roots level with their scenes. That’s what gives the Glade its freshness and uniqueness. In 2004 we were the first UK event to have a dedicated Breakbeat Tent and two years later we were the first to have a proper dubstep line up. The genres really are lead from that.... over the 13 stages we blend the biggest names in electronic music with what’s popping at street level.

What can you get from a festival that you can't with a live gig?

The longevity is the key....and the kind of people that come to festies are much more interesting - people who have got nuts to go camping for four days, people who are prepared to step out their comfort zones a bit - because that’s when transformation with anything happens... and the whole experience is just way deeper because of the time involved.

Would you say a festival is about the bands you put on, where you put it on or the people who come?

It’s about the whole dingaling! At the Glade we blend every type of electronic music with world music, indie electro and acoustic folk and acid rock as well as circus, cabaret, comedy, a healing area, a zone for workshops and talks dedicated to consciousness evolution and loads of quirky side shows - all of these put on by people that love festivals for the vibe not the money. Add to that all the super groovin people that come to Glade and you got on big 4D live painting that evolves constantly - every art piece, every performance, every bit of fancy dress, every dance move... it’s all part of it

Where do you see festivals going in the next ten years?

I don’t really know... what I do know the Glade is gonna keep diversifying creatively to keep improving this unique hybrid between a rave and festival we got goin on

What’s the best thing about Glade?

The people that run all the areas and the people that come – it’s one of the friendliest, up for it, having it groups of people I have experienced anywhere in the world.

Here's another interview with Nick alongside Anselm Guise from the festival last year: