The Ned Wood Archive

I’m going down to Worthy Farm
I’m gonna join in a rock ‘n’ roll band

Brandi Carlile, Pyramid Stage, June 2025

Sam

The six o’clock alarm rings for Sam and for all of the other daydream believers and homecoming queens on the recycling centre morning team. Sam’s been playing a mix tape in his head including: the sitar-like riff from Heart Full of Soul, I’m not looking for a New England, Jupiter from the Planets, and the Staples Heavy Makes You Happy – Sha Na Boom Boom Yeah. He’s also playing the “big boys don’t cry” bit from I’m Not In Love, but he’s pretty sure he didn’t put that on the tape. He rewinds New England a couple of times, but he still can’t remember how Kirsty’s verse starts.

He hasn’t had enough sleep, but a full veggie breakfast and a boiling hot cup of tea set him right and he’s ready for whatever the recycling belt can throw at him. Day 3. They’re over the hump. The next time the six o’clock alarm gets them all up will be the last time it gets them all up.

It’s already hot enough when he gets to the recycling centre ahead of his seven a.m. start. Everyone is outside soaking up the sun. Most of the talk is of Lady Gaga and what she played and what she wore and how often she changed. Sam rewinds his mix tape and starts again. Sat beside the telephone. When it didn’t ring, I knew it wasn’t you. How’s the rest of it go?

Dave comes up and kicks his boot. Wants to know whether he went to Fontaines or Idles. Doesn’t wait for an answer. Tells Sam that he did Idles. After all, the rules are: if you’ve got a clash, go to the smaller venue. Also, go to the act that you haven’t seen for the longer time. As they’d both chosen Fontaines in 2024 that meant it was Idles this time. At one point the previous evening Sam had thought of doing both. Straight from Left Field to Other stage. 15 minutes of Fontaines, then over to Peel. Fifteen minutes of Idles. Maybe he should have. Turns out Florence Welch turned up instead of Sam. Did a couple of songs on stage. Ones that Bowen wrote. One of the Greats. Music by Men. Sam doesn’t know either, but he will get to hear them on and off from Dave that morning.

“What they should have done is get Billy Idol to guest with Idles,” Sam suggests.

“I hear Joe Strummer will be appearing with the Cords.”

“My mama told me when I was young ‘we are all born superstars’”

“And Billy Bragg was at the Struts.” A bit subtle that one.

“I might as well give music by men a try”

“Beans on Toast with Last Dinner Party.” Oh, I like that.

And so it goes. On and Off all morning. Fantasy guest appearance puns in between the singing of Lady Gaga and Florence Welch songs.