Don't Ban Flags At Festivals!

Ever since our prehistoric ancestors began hanging out in big groups, they’ve been used to communicate. Countries employ them to stake territorial claims and display patriotic respect. Individuals bear them to voice silent protest, pride and support. There’s even one on the moon. Yet this age old and most basic form of identification, integral to freedom of expression, has along with crowd surfing and aerosols over 100ml, been banned from this years Reading and Leeds Festivals.

We are of course talking flags, which according to festival organiser Melvin Benn are a “nightmare” that “restrict the view of people behind”. But are they really that bad, do they really block the view that much and can they really ruin your festival experience? I for one think not.

Unless you’re prepared to lean all day against the metal stage barrier, while continually bombarding you’re M8s via OMG TXT MSGS with trumped up tales of fun and frolics, while failing to mention the constant pins and needles or lack of human contact, save for a Hi-Vis huddle of SiA security guards, just so as you can get a good, stiff necked look up Alex Turner’s left nostril, then you’re not going to see all that much anyway.

That’s why big screens are positioned on each side of the stage, so that those umpteen rows back can see what’s going on umpteen rows forward, and of course to create more revenue by advertising the latest Lynx scent, Airwaves flavour or Tampax size. Flag or no flag, the viewing experience won't be drastically improved or otherwise.

Surely the flag bearers, those martyrs who announce their love of Mum, their place of birth, their need for drugs, whoever, whatever, with pride, should be applauded, if for no other reason than providing a rudimentary festival GPS. How else am I going to safely navigate the thirty minute round trip from the stage, to the bar, via the portaloo and back again?

The point is there are plenty of things organisers can ban that will only enhance the festival experience for those actually there, the throwing of piss filled pint pots and occupying precious tent space with unnecessary gazebos for instance, but flags… no chance.