‘This is what British youth look like’: Martin Parr’s Glastonbury 2023

This is my second Glastonbury festival, and it feels very different to my first venture last year. I now know my way round and am starting to see how much I had missed.

The other big theme to this year, or at least when I arrived, was the heat. Although mainly sunny, last year there was a chill in the air. This year finding those elusive places with shade is a big challenge. However by Friday it had calmed down, and then on Saturday it heated up again.

This year I am collecting portraits as I venture around, and one theme is standing out: men in pink gear. There is a constant challenge to persuade the subjects not to smile. This response is so built into the act of photographing, it takes a real effort to stop smiling, especially as everyone is having such a good time.

Although selfies are still going strong, one thing that has all but disappeared is the selfie stick. Ten years ago you could not move for them. It takes a huge crowd such as this to confirm such observations.

Because of the Guardian’s patronage, I now have a press pass which takes me into the pit area so I can look directly at the crowds. My first pit stop is the Park stage to see Los Bitchos. Getting in is not easy as the stewards do not recognise our passes, but being able to look at the fans direct is brilliant.

Next stop is the famous Pyramid stage to see Royal Blood, a band I had never heard of, but they must be big as they are playing the Pyramid. Getting to the stage is not easy as we are fighting against a wave of Foo Fighters fans, the supposed secret set but well out in the open. Getting on stage requires a bib and we are all thrown out after three tracks.

We then make our way to the Left Field stage and Billy Bragg. The two gigs could not be more different. We breeze through security, say hello to the man himself. and then watch the whole concert, rather than the customary first three tracks. A few photographers drift in and out.

The whole event is literally laid back, except Billy is as clear as possible where he stands on politics. In fact he formed the Left Field 40 years ago. One thing that does unite these two gigs: the audience know all the words and love to shout them out. That is when you become a real fan.

One thought that occurs to me, is that I am seeing approximately a quarter of million young people in one go. This is what British youth look like… What a beautiful bunch they are.

Photography and words by: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos

Assisted by: Nathan Vidler

Production: Matt Fidler