The late Hultsfred report
The train trip took about 22 hours and we only got seats, so when I say "ouch, my butt!", I mean it.
We arrived. It was very hot and dusty. "Checked in" and went looking for a good camping location. Wandered through a muddy swamp, got slightly panicky, but continued to wander. Finally we found a nice little dry enough spot between two other tents, where seemingly friendly people resided.
We unfolded the tent. Had to call for instructions. There were holes where the sticks needed to go, but ....well, we got it up anyway. It looked fine, but the mood was now a bit whiny and weary.
I borrowed a pneumatical pump..or whatever it's called, to blow up the air-matresses with. We struggled with that for about an hour. It was an old model they said, so it was a bit heavy to operate, and they were right.
Now we got everything settled and could finally take a break for a minute. As I said to Albin, now the hard part is over. Because arriving to a new location and setting up a tent among strangers, is not just physically, but mentally and emotionally challenging aswell. But now we got our little "home" settled and could go for a walk around the neighbourhood.
We located the "toilets" and the "showers", thank God there was a lake. The festival opened the next day, so we were there one day early, but the party had definitely started already on the camping area. People got so drunk that night...
Well, the festival camping area was as they usually are, and when we went looking around we realised that we had indeed found a very good and in comparison quiet place.
We lied in the tent, trying to sleep, listening to the wildlife..primal screams echoed through the air and portable stereos came and went by our tent, making sounds of battery driven civilisation. Tres pittoresque.
We woke up from a frying sun that really put emphasis on the tents coccoonish nature. I went for a swim in the muddy water, cleanliness factor unknown. I got wet and cooled down anyway. Albin made a point not to take any hygienic actions whatsoever during the whole trip. The high moisture level in the air became like an anti filth detector, not letting the dirt get a hold of you. Although I managed to introduce the element of toothbrushing in the morning. Everyone else was doing it, so I guess it was cool enough then.
I had packed just about everyhting that we could ever need on this trip, and all got used, except the dagger. Thank you universe.
Hm, well this is how long I managed to write just then. Now many months has passed by and the memory of the event is already fading. Why do memories fade? It's not fair. But I will try to catch up with thing...let's see.
The festival opened at noon, and a hot noon it was. Among with other equally sweaty festises we stood in line for quite some time before we got to enter the actual festival area. There were the obligatory drunken flag-waver, the already(!) muddy geek-gang, and not to mention the crazy student fraternity with gaffa tape all over their heads (ouch to get that out).
Many girls had high heals and very expressive constumes, quite a few nurse outfits were spotted, in fashion apparently. And the goth..so cute.
I think we were in the mom-son category. Saw a few more of those too and realized I was way more hip than other moms, that was my personal experience anyway, so do not spoil it.
The water bottles had to be emptied at the entrance and we were padded all over *shrug* for weapons and alcohol, bags were checked etc. I can stand this I thought, since they are preventing acts of violence this way.
With big eyes we strolled around trying to pinpoint all stages, toilets and watertaps. A certain someone didn't want o buy into the let's take it easy and sit down in the sun philosophy, and instead wanted to wander around all the time, so my feet got sore pretty fast. But that was also ok, everything was ok, so happy just to be there anyway.
The first concert we saw was Bergman Rock, or Bob Hund as I prefer to call them. They were excellent, as always, saw them once before at the Roskilde festival some 10 years ago. Extremely high energy, humouristic and definitely know how to flirt with the audience. I wish I had known all their new songs, since the people singing along seemed to have so much fun.
Then we ate, and ate and ate. So much good food, we tried almost everything. The indian kitchen was the best, spicy and juicy. When it got colder in the evenings we drank hot coffee and ate warm donuts. And it got very cold as soon as the sun set. The we went back to the tent and put on more clothes, but it was still cold. I blame the moist.
All the concerts are a little blurry now.
I remember especially one guy from the Slipknot concert ( Albin got trigger happy with the camera here, so a majority of the photos are from this concert, and Marilyn Manson) who was in the 40 region with balding head and body tinted in crimson covered with blonde fuzz. He was amazing, our lifeguard! We stood behind him, hence the detailed memory of his appearance, and in front of him was the famous moshpit. They went crazy in there, dancing ( or roaming) very violently, throwing themselves and pushing everybody around. The risk of getting a skinheads shiny head attached to your gum was a constant cause of fear. But this hairy guy, blocked all the "attacks" coming in our direction. It was like God had sent this man to protect us. And in another concert he was there too. Our personal guardian concert-angel. I never got a chance to talk to him and thank him, but I do it know. Thank you whoever you are!
I believe we had an overall divine protection throughout the whole trip, because nothing went wrong. People were very helpful and friendly all the time. Older and taller guys who saw Albin in concerts offered him to stand in front of them instead, so he could see allright. The hearing was not an issue, earplugs in!
The only real downer was Snoop, we had to wait I think a whole hour before the concert started, and there was nowhere to sit. In that moment there were about 30 000 people at the same spot, waiting, getting frustrated and tired. Then he shows soft porn on the big screen. When Snoop himself arrived we were already dissapointed with the whole ordeal so we stayed for maybe 20 minuted then went to see Millencollin, that Albin really wanted to see. We went to see Snoop more just to be able to say that we had seen him. Said and done.
Millencollin rocked. Yes, that was me saying that. Buit they did. And we got to talk with some dreadheaded guys there, cool dudes you know. Oh yes, it was they who called me a cool mom. No disagreements overheard.
One night, at the Nine inch nails concert it started to rain heavily and the sky was filled with low grey clouds as long as the eye could see. Then I despaired. Fearing our tent should be flooded, stuff floating away never to be found again. We, wet and nowhere to sleep. Oh, it was misery. So I spoke to the rain, did a little rain dance, and demanded it to go away! Yes, I made a deal with it too, but what that was is a secret, still. I was desperate, it had to stop raining. I called upon the winds and the angels to help us. All who had passed over before us. And they came and blew away the rain within an hour. Guess who was filled with bliss and gratitude and had a big grin drawn all over her face? Me. Albin thought it was no biggie, " it's just water"!
But the water made us see a concert we would have never seen otherwise. A concert that inspired me very much, with Hans Appelqvist. He was performing on a smaller stage, with a roof, called the Theatrebarn. We ran in there after NIN. And we got to sit too. This guy played very soft music, a little like lounge music, jazzy and low key. To that he showed a film about a couple meeting, falling in love, moving in together and breaking up, very poetic. I just loved the concept and the feeling of this.
The Hives, what a hoot! They are a great live band. I don't like their music very much, but they are definitely worth seeing on stage. It was they who wrapped up the whole festival, the last band.
What was best? Marilyn Manson is the one that first comes to mind. He could have been a little more flamboyant than he was though, because that's how you want him. I missed The Arc, don't remember why. Caught Las Palmas on the rookie stage, to honour a special friend. He only listened to them just before he died. Suede, or tears something that they call themselves now. A daytime relaxed concert, sitting in the grass eating and listening. Doktor Kosmos, Tori Amos, The Donnas...
Good shopping too. Many t-shirts we purchased, not to myself, but to the guys.
The journey home was like a big sigh of relief and contentment. We are tired, satisfied and happy and on our way home. Here we are now.
Goodbye Hultsfred, hope to see you again soon.
Love
Bebelina
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