Hi all.

Continuing from my previous blog with an update. I received my final degree results and I got a 2:1 in Law and History. Woo! I am delighted with this. Maybe a little bit of extra work could have got be that 1st class degree but I am happy enough with my 2:1. So hopefully I can move onwards and upwards with my career.

Moving on however, this blog is going to talk about our great wet British popular music festivals. I for one cannot get enough of them and we cannot get away from them with one happening somewhere in the UK every weekend from now until mid September.

For me, these occasions are fantastic even if it's just to sample a real sense of camaraderie and easygoing atmosphere that believe it or not still exists in the fast paced British lifestyle today. Swansea of course still has a relatively slow paced lifestyle. But festivals are about the last place left in Britain where likeminded people can get together and have a great time and let their hair down. Rain cannot even ruin these parties.

Swansea seems to have missed out on a popular music festival however. Festivals are big business these days. Yet when the Fflam festival came to be announced there was absolute uproar from residents. This kind of defies logic. Particularly when we already have events at Singleton Park, Swansea residents are used to streets of bars and clubs and we are a modern emerging city. (Bendy bus fiasco aside of course) It is as if Swansea gets so far before people stand in the way of change. But this could be part of another rant I could make.

Moving on, just by comparison – The small channel island Jersey holds a two-day event that attracts major names with the population of the island being 90,000. The Isle of Wight hosts a major festival that attracts MTV and ITV monies despite having a population of 140,000. Swansea City in comparison has an estimated population of 228,100 yet we do not have anything even remotely in comparison.

I understand maybe logistically sometimes Singleton Park is not the best venue but this can be resolved. What I could never understand however is that Brynmill residents responded to the idea with sheer abhorrence. There seemed to be a hatred of 'youth' that was emerging in some of the comments by residents. This is not the sign of a vibrant open-minded modern city. The most ironic thing about this is that music festivals are attended by all ages.

Also just to crank up the existing rivalry between Cardiff and Swansea. Cardiff hosts a free festival on the grass outside its civic centre. Yes it's free! Last year Ash, Glasvegas, The Automatic and the Young Knives all rocked Cardiff at no cost to the consumer. I believe the event is also going ahead this year too. The only thing free in Swansea is a fight in Wind St. But as a major event goes South Wales does not really have anything in comparison with Reading and Leeds, Glastonbury, T in the Park in Scotland or Oxegen festival in Ireland.

Despite my love of British festivals, I am not going to one this year. After nearly drowning at V festival last year I am venturing to Benicassim festival near Valencia in Spain. Also I will be making an appearance at Sziget festival in Budapest where at both events I can hopefully enjoy temperatures into the 90s everyday.

Comparing the prices of British versus European festivals. Both Euro festivals were considerably cheaper than British ones. Benicassim is effectively a Spanish beach holiday. Benicassim allows camping for up to 10 days with a 4-day festival that is headlined by Oasis, Kings of Leon, Franz Ferdinand and The Killers. Sziget is even better value. This is an entire 7 days of festival activities. With performers including Bloc Party, Lily Allen, Snow Patrol, Editors and Wales' own Manic Street Preachers. A pint of Hungary's finest here only costs a mere £1.10. I cannot wait!

Next time I update this I will have donned the cap and gown for my graduation and have arrived in Barcelona, which is where I begin by travels. Hopefully I will be able to update this as I travel.

As a final point, here are my top 5 tips for festival going in Britain

1. Take a poncho as it will rain at some point

2. Wake up at 5am so you can get a shower first before they become unusable

3. If your going to V festival collect your empty cups, they will give you 10p for everyone you recycle at the cup return areas. I even picked discarded ones up off the floor around me. Sounds disgusting but in 15 minutes I had enough cups to exchange for a wonderful £10 note. Beat that credit-crunching tip.

4. Take Wellington boots and for women do not take 'fashion wellies' as what they have in looks they lack in actual waterproofing ability as my girlfriend found out last year.

5. Padlock your tent about 5 times and keep all valuables on you at all times, or you are asking for trouble.

Anyway – Speak soon.

Christopher Jones