In the build up to this year's Glastonbury Extravaganza, on Saturday 9th August 2014 at Glastonbury Abbey, we take a look back to 2011, when the same event featured Katherine Jenkins. Fans of the Welsh singing star travel great distances to hear their idol, but locally the concert drew a huge crowd from around Somerset... as Paul Lund discovered as he chatted with fans leaving after the concert. 

Headlining the Extravaganza 2014 will be Robert Plant, former Led Zeppelin lead singer, and his band the Sensational Space Shifters. Also on the bill is George Ezra and the Wildflowers. Tickets from Glastonbury Abbey.

7 August 2011 Glastonbury Extravaganza: Katherine Jenkins & audience reaction with Paul Lund

As the Beltane celebrations draw to a close in Bushy Coombe, the newly weds Torrin James Smart and Jesse Lynn Smart - our May King and Queen - introduce themselves and how they met.
The Beltane events continue in Glastonbury throughout the day and night as the community feel the arrival of the summer and all it brings.

1st May 2014: The Beltane King and Queen - Torrin & Jesse Smart

1st May 2014: Beltane music & merryment around the Maypole

After the main ceremony had finished on the slopes of Bushy Coombe, Lynda and Molly gave their thoughts on how the day had gone for them.

1st May 2014: Beltane participants Lynda and Molly share their thoughts

At the heart of Glastonbury is the old Market Cross where the largest public gathering for Beltane is held every year. Jon Cousins has been the master of ceremonies and explains here the reasons for his attire and what the Beltane ceremony means for Glastonbury.

1st May 2014: Beltane in Glastonbury - Jon Cousins MC [tempEDIT 2]

The Beltane ceremony at Bushy Coombe was damp with light rain and drops hitting the microphone. This recording represents a moment between showers when there was no interference from the sky and rain gods. 

1st May 2014: Beltane Drumming At Bushy Coombe

Among spectators gathered at Bushy Coombe to witness the Beltain celebration and Maypole dancing were a party from Belgium. One of their leaders or organisers spoke to reporter Paul Lund about his own and his party's interest in watching the festivities.

People from far and wide now gather in Glastonbury to watch or take part in this most popular of all the pagan - earth based  ritual festivals. 


1st May 2014:  A coach trip from Belgium drops in on the Glastonbury Beltain

Temporary track to be replaced with a 2014 compilation of Beltane.... coming soon.

1st May 2014: Beltane Wildtrack - TEMPORARY TRACK

This year's May King and Queen of Avalon were chosen in Glastonbury! Wally or Dean and his new wife, Kat, gave an exclusive interview to Glastonbury UK, following their ceremonial coupling during the Beltane festivities in the town. 

Our reporter, Lisa Mae, received a blessing from both King and Queen and afterwards asked them about their special day.

Edited by Paul Lund
Reporter Lisa Mae

1st May 2015: Beltane in Glastonbury - May or Summer King & Queen - Wally and Kat

The band French Connection Jazz played their 'easy listening' repertoire to accompany aftertoon tea served to visitors at the Abbey House Open Day, on Sunday 23rd August 2015. 

This track is a selection of their numbers [part 2], recorded live, in 4 track stereo, inside the 'Tea Tent' marquee, on the lawn  at Abbey Retreat House, Glastonbury. 

French Connection Jazz are based in Somerset and available to play at public social and private functions.

Instruments played were: Saxaphone/Clarinet; Trumpet; Guitars. Acoustic with added amplification.
www.frenchconnectionjazz.co.uk
Contact: Nick De'Cesare - nick@frenchconnectionjazz.co.uk
07728 033 300 or 07878 429 929

Audio producer: Paul Lund [RPL.productions@virgin.net ]



23 August 2015: French Connection Jazz live at Abbey House PART 2 (MCH(w)FRev)

HOLY GRAIL TOURISM ROUTE
Introduction to the seminar/lecture given by Associate Professor, Dr Paul Fidgeon, of the London School of Tourism, University of West London.

Reporter: Paul Lund

3 November 2015: Interview with Prof. Paul Fidgeon at WTM, London, Glastonbury & the Holy Grail

Taken from BBC Radio 4 Farming Today - report about the closure of Glastonbury's high street banks and the effect on trade.

Interviewees - Paul Manning and Ian Tucker

4 April 2016: Extract from BBC Radio 4s Farming Today - Banks in Glastonbury

Music from the Sanger's Horsedrawn Stage - in front of the King Arthur's pub.

The Hedgerow Crawlers
Last band on.

26 November 2016: Frost Fayre Sanger's Stage

From the Sound Archive - 22 January 2012

Imperial College String Ensemble - known as ICSE - came to Glastonbury to play a concert in St Benedict's Church. 

This programme was produced for broadcast by Glastonbury FM.

Production and sound by Paul Lund

ARCHIVE 22 January 2012: ICSE Orchestral Concert in assoc. with Paddington Farm Trust

GLASTONBURY OPEN-AIR TUESDAY MARKET AT THE MARKET CROSS

Paul Treasure and his fresh fruit and veg stall, supplied from Bristol.

19 March 2019: Glastonbury Open-Air Market, Paul Treasure's Fruit & Veg

5G Public Meeting in Glastonbury - 28 March 2019

Introduced by: Janice Carr
Speakers: Dr. Andrew Tresidder grew up in Somerset, and has been a doctor here since 1983. He was a GP in Chard for many years. He now teaches on, and works in the field of, the Health of Health Professionals in the NHS, lecturing nationally and internationally. His latest book, Health and Self Care for Health Professionals, is available as a free download from www.healthandself.care - hard copies available from good bookshops and via the website. Dr. Tresidder takes a special interest in electromagnetic and radio frequencies on health.
http://www.drandrew.co.uk/about-dr-andrew

Followed by Lisa ... speaking on behalf of Si Harwood
NB - A fixed position microphone was used to record this meeting, so variable sound quality results as speakers move around. 
Produced by Paul Lund.

28 March 2019: 5G Public Meeting in Glastonbury - Dr Andrew Tresidder and ... PART 1

Black Bee Honey, based in Frome - Somerset

https://www.blackbeehoney.com/

30 November 2019:  (2) Frost Fayre stall, Black Bee Honey

FROST FAYRE 2019

Everybody needs a little Booja Booja in their lives...

https://www.boojabooja.com/our-story/
https://www.boojabooja.com/booja-blog/general/winner-of-best-vegan-ice-cream-again/

30 November 2019: (1) Frost Fayre stall, Booja Booja Chocolate with River Mace

Addressing Climate Issues and Impacts - For Our Community

Saturday 25 January 2020
Sound quality is variable, unfortunately, due to the nature of the Town Hall acoustics, its hard floor, audio speakers and whether a public address microphone was used.  

Small groups met first to discuss topics and recommend actions - these were then brought to the collective part of the event which this recording captures.

25 January 2020: Glastonbury Peoples Assembly (Climate Action)II Part 2

25 January 2020: Glastonbury Peoples Assembly (Climate Action)II Part 1

CONCERT AT GLASTONBURY TOWN HALL - SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2020:
GLASTONBURY BRASS + GLASTONBURY MALE VOICE CHOIR + JOHNNY MARS

The Compere was Simon Parkin, BBC Radio Somerset

with local school children accompanying Johnny Mars as the
The closing act

Dare to Dream is a project to raise awareness of the effects mankind is having on the world.

8 February 2020: Dare To Dream launch in Glastonbury with Johnny Mars - the closing act

CONCERT AT GLASTONBURY TOWN HALL - 8th FEBRUARY 2020
THE LEGENDARY - JOHNNY MARS,
Plus Glastonbury Brass Band and Glastonbury Male Voice Choir,
With children from local schools,
Compered by Simon Parkin, from BBC Radio Somerset

Perform the musical launch of Johnny's One World Foundation with the  Dare to Dream, Aim to Achieve  project
"Standing on the Shoulders of Giants..."
Johnny Mars - famous for his harmonica playing and Blues band - now in his 77th year and still going strong, is passionate about the future for all our children in a world that is suffering through climate change and loss of our planet's wild species.
Recorded live in front of the audience and singers - not, therefore, a studio controlled sound environment!

8 February 2020: Johnny Mars launches his One World Foundation at Glastonbury Town Hall

Glastonbury Tourism Symposium
12 March 2020

Mr Jim Hardcastle of the Mendip Hills AONB Service
(AONB = Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) talks about how they market the experience of the Mendip Hills.

12 March 2020: Tourism Symposium - Jim Hardcastle Mendip Hills AONB

Glastonbury Tourism Symposium
12 March 2020

Speaker - Nell Barrington - talking about how to 'Be the Best' in your tourism business.
www.barringtonassociates.co.uk Tourism-Marketing and Business Support

12 March 2020: Tourism Symposium - Nell Barrington - Be Your Best In The Tourism Industry

Glastonbury Tourism Symposium
12 March 2020

Annual event staged at the Town Hall to bring together providers of tourism services to share good practice and the latest trends in visitor and customer services...

Mr Gareth Allen, MD of Soundview Media, talks about using Virtual reality (VR) and Cross Reality (XR) to help promote and interpret your visitor attraction.
Soundview Media - https://soundviewmedia.co.uk

12 March 2020: Tourism Symposium: Gareth Allen XR & Soundview Media for Tourism

2020's Dawn Chorus - the sound of birds singing as the light reappears - will become historic for its quiet background of little or no human made sound.

So few times do you ever get to record the sounds of nature in a human populate area without some traffic noise, or other human generated sounds.

This male blackbird was singing on the roof top at around 5.30am. Some rustling in the background was a small mammal out foraging, ending with a wood pigeon.

24 May 2020: Blackbird Sings in the quiet dawn of Glastonbury

WELCOME TO GLASTONBURY UK - at the HEART of SOMERSET's MAGIC... where you can listen to a wide selection of interviews, reports, sounds and musical features from Glastonbury town and local areas, in the beautiful county of Somerset, England                                    ♥

These recordings were made for radio broadcast, podcasts and this online profile. They represent a cross-section of our community and its events and entertainments, here in our wonderful town and its beautiful green and pleasant surroundings. "Glastonbury always has something going on," say the folks who live here! It must be the top local town for the highest number of entertainment, culture and live music events. happening at any time. 

Glastonbury, or Ynys Witrin as it was known in very early times, was also said to be the Isle of Glass, now better known as the Ancient Isle of Avalon, meaning Isle of Apples. Apple trees and apple orchards are found throughout Somerset, but here in Glastonbury, they hold very special significance because of their history, myth and magic. 

The monks at Glastonbury Abbey claimed to have found the remains of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere within their sanctum. Joseph of Arimathea was said to have brought Jesus here and later the Holy Grail cup, and his walking staff which grew into the Holy Thorn.  Such stories are now legends which bring many pilgrims, seekers of the spirits and explorers of many faiths and of wisdom to the town each year. 

Glastonbury is located in the middle of Somerset, and some call it the county's Green Heart, whilst others say it is the Heart Chakra of the world. Glastonbury Tor was depicted in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The hymn, 'Jerusalem', from William Blake's poem, was said to have been inspired by the legends of Glastonbury and England's green and pleasant land which surrounds. The Tor with the mighty St Michael's tower on top is our most famous landmark, seen from miles around.

Attractions include the ruins of the once great Abbey; the Tor and St Michael's tower; spiritual and healing connections around Chalice Well; Leylines and earth magic; the Levels and landscape; plus the very unique shopping experience with the town's large number of independent shops or businesses - dedicated to giving customers quality and best service. Our community love and togetherness makes us different to most other towns.  

One event which is known worldwide is, of course, the Glastonbury Festival. 
This three-day musical spectacular is held most years at the end of June, but is NOT in Glastonbury itself - but some 8 miles away in the village of Pilton at Worthy Farm.

Glastonbury's location (now part of the Somerset Levels) once made this hill side community an island, surrounded by water. Boats would have been used to travel to and from nearby settlements.

We hope these recordings will initiate the start of an online Glastonbury Media Bank that will archive and keep a record of Glastonbury in sound, pictures and film for posterity, research, teaching and future generations.

To correspond with Glastonbury UK producers, or offer your help and support, write to glastonburysoundarchive@gmail.com 

If you've never been to see us here in the Ancient Isle of Avalon then a very warm welcome awaits you! Glastonbury has so many places to see and events to watch and entertain you - we can promise you a wonderful and fun packed time when you embrace our community.  

Come and see us real soon.

Glastonbury UK

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