Pemberton Festival 2008

Pretty sure it'll be bigger, better, and planned thoroughly next year. I'm There!
Only this time... Pemberton will be ready.

Yes, the traffic sucked, and it was dusty, (it was not MUCKY?!), But what did you expect at an outdoor venue??. People who dont want to come to an outdoor concert should just stay at home. On a personal note, I had a BLAST, and even was in traffic for 3.5 hrs from Whistler coming home from work, I still made the concert. Ill be going next year too!!

I think it must be a part of human nature to want to complain or make sure that some negative points are brought up. It's a good thing really because this way we can take these points and only strive to do better! I think all in all the weekend was fantastic. The vibe from everyone I met along the way was positive and happy. I must say, I never stood once in a line up for the bathrooms for more than five minutes. I even got to go in a freshly hosed of potty, restocked of toilette paper and hand sanitizer!
After all the complaining is done all I have to say is ' way to go!' to all of those hard working volunteers who did the best they could to help out when the rest of their co-workers decided to ditch out and do a no show. Yes there should have been more people coordinating traffic, dealing with the parking lots, helping with check-in, and so on and I'm sure that if all the volunteers would have actually shown up, there could have been. So... let's take the good with the bad, learn for next time and say thanks to those who did their best at there job!
I do hope that Pemberton has the chance to do this festival again, and yes if it does... I WILL BE THERE!

What are you talking about? Jay Z controversy was more about whether a rapper should headline a traditional rock festival (some 10 times the size of Pemberton) He was hardly too controversial!
Is that all you've got blogging for the national broadcaster, 3 entries on a 3 day festival, very high school like review.
D-

too bad laura missed some key acts (Serj, Matisyahu) but the weekend was amazing. i didn't see i single punch thrown, the police did a great job, and the music was money.

just up the road, lies Pemberton, this great valley, surrounded by Coast Mtns. This weekend, thanks to the hard work of hundreds, it hosted PEMFEST! I shared this experience with many friends, made new, and basically had a thrilling time. Tom Petty, ColdPlay were worth the wait, and all bands I saw put on a great show. Logistics, traffic, site services issues aside this was an awesome 1st Annual, hoping for a 2nd! Way to go, Live Nation, all of you should put your feet up! Many from Whistler are very impressed with this Festival!

I can't believe you didn't check out Matisyahu! He performance was awesome! The crowd was chanting for more for such a long time that someone had to say over the PA that the they "know you fans want some more but Matisyahu will be playing a two hour show in Seattle tomorrow night". All of this before the Jayz show! I think they wanted to keep the focus on him, so lame, especially considering the main stage was running late anyway. Which you didn't report on. Jay Z wasn't even that good! People were leaving before it was even over to go get some eats. I had wicked seats for the main stage shows, the second and third nights, standing right on the fence to the right of the sound stage.

The Jayz show was not among the best performances of the event. It wasn't bad but it wasn't anything special.

I think she meant the "muck" by the water refill station. Saw a lovely stoner washing her feet by the tap, trying to get the dust off, only to step into a pile of mud and accost some more sober patrons.

The music was phenomenal, but yes, we need to complain in order to make Pemberton the sequel a more pleasant experience for the 30+ somethings like me with the income to fund things like a better planned recycling program/transportation system. I would gladly pay more for a seated section (i.e., think of the side set-up at UBC Thunderbird stadium, or a collapsable tiered structure), for paid volunteers to man traffic/security, get proper training, etc.

I did not wait in a line deeper than one person for a beer, so, for a Canadian festival they got one priority right on the first round.

Every act I saw was great. I did not witness or experience anyone being anything other than friendly to each other. Even the bus drivers who took the brunt of some people's frustrations remained calm and cool.

All said and done, I would wait even longer to have one more day...

Despite a few traffic and camping issues the festival was a great success. Overall the fans were well behaved and the variety and caliber of music was amazing. Next year should be even better.

You could buy any kind of drugs you wanted in the rv park at the airport. Didn't see one cop there all weekend. my girlfriend was drugged by someskids, it was a freaking nightmare,. They need 24 hour police next year and police dogs checking everone

Was an amazing weekend, bathrooms weren't as bad as made out to be. Food was fine, acts were amazing and everyong had an awesome time. Would definitely return next year without a doubt! Traffic was managable, half the fun was getting out there. Police dogs, are you kidding me, don't be a whiney baby

Having attended dozens of music fests over the years I know that there is no excuse for overflowing toilets and poor organization. The root cause is because organizers did not know how big the crowds were going to be and were not prepared. The best festivals limit there numbers so that they can be prepared for the crowds. If Pemberton continues with unlimited ticket sales expect the same problems every year.

I don't know what coco was talking about with the food. That food was ok at best, and at twice the price I would call it god awful.
maybe it is because I am a chef and know better....