00:00Alright you beautiful sun loving humans, if my slightly ahem un-British accent in the
00:06other videos hasn't given it away, I'm not from exactly around your part of town.
00:12Born on the wrong side of the Pennines for some, but raised in the glorious, sometimes
00:17scorching land of New Zealand, Aotearoa.
00:20And trust me, despite what you think, it does get seriously hot down under, especially in
00:26the North Island.
00:27Growing up as a Kiwi kid, later as a music journalist covering countless outdoor gigs,
00:32I learned pretty quickly along with everyone else how to be sun smart, we're talking about
00:37avoiding nasty sunburn, debilitating sunstrokes, and look to be honest for a minute the really
00:43scary stuff like melanomas and skin cancer.
00:47Now these are all things that can absolutely ruin your UK festival experience, whether you're
00:52at Glastonbury, belting out tunes at Transmit, or soaking up the atmosphere at BSD.
00:57Hyde Park.
00:58And honestly, there's nothing worse than waking up the next day after feeling like you've
01:03been baked in an oven, especially when you've got another glorious day of music ahead.
01:07preparing yourself to once again be baked in an oven.
01:11So what did this humble Kiwi, or Bogan as you might like to affectionately call me, learn
01:16from years of surviving sun-drenched festivals like Big Day Out, Lane Way, countless shows
01:22in Western Springs, or Tauranga?
01:25I'm feeling dead nostalgic.
01:27Here are my 5 top tips to stay safe and enjoy the UK's increasingly warm festival season.
01:34Alright, let's start with the basics.
01:37Something ingrained in every Kiwi kid from day one.
01:40Slip.
01:41Slop.
01:42Slap.
01:43Slap.
01:44Slap.
01:45Slap.
01:46Slap.
01:47Slap.
01:48Slap.
01:49Slap.
01:50Slap.
01:51Slap.
01:52Slap.
01:53Slap.
01:54Slap.
01:55Slap.
01:56Slap.
01:57Slap.
01:58Slap.
01:59Slap.
02:00Slap.
02:01Slap.
02:02Slap.
02:03Slap.
02:04Slap.
02:05Slap.
02:06Slap.
02:07Slap.
02:08Slap.
02:09Slap.
02:10Slap.
02:11wife tells me bucket hats are in this year so that's an option. It's tempting
02:15to go shirtless when the guns out, hence the phrase guns out when the sun's out
02:20but trust me a little bit of fabric and some sunscreen goes a long way in
02:25preventing a world of pain later. Next up, keep hydrated bro. Now I'm not saying
02:31don't have a good time and enjoy a few jars, it's a festival after all, but
02:35staying hydrated isn't about downling endless pints or those questionable
02:40festival cocktails. Alcohol is indeed a sneaky devil, it's a diuretic meaning
02:45that it makes you go to the toilet more leading to a rapid loss of fluids or in
02:49other words you break the seal and you got a wee quite a lot. Now combine that
02:54with sweating in the heat and you're on a fast track to dehydration so for every
02:58alcoholic drink make sure you're chugging down plenty of water or a sports
03:03rehydration drink of your choice. Your future non-sunstroke self will thank you.
03:08This next one's a lesson I learned the very hard way at the concrete jungle that
03:14was Auckland's laneway festival. Now we're all so focused on the sun beating
03:19down, we completely ignore the heat radiating from the ground. Unlike grass or
03:24soil, concrete and asphalt soak up the heat all day and then radiate it back
03:29upwards even after the sun starts to dip. At big festival sites with lots of hard
03:35surfaces this can be a ground incredibly hot so while you're thinking about a hat
03:40for the sun above remember to protect yourself from below, wear sturdy shoes
03:45with thick soles that insulate your feet and seek out patches of grass or shaded
03:49areas to give your feet and your whole body for that matter a break from that
03:54radiating heat. Now let's talk fashion or rather in my terms practical fashion.
04:00While that all-black outfit might look edgy with your wallet chain, your hooded top and
04:05your new rock boots, it's gonna absorb a ridiculous amount of heat. Trust me.
04:10Comfort and safety are way way cooler when you're trying to enjoy your favorite band.
04:15Cooler in both senses of the word. Why don't you opt for loose fitting clothes and
04:19light colors? Light colors reflect the sun's rays keeping you cooler. Loose styles
04:24allow for better air circulation helping your sweat evaporate. Think
04:28breathable fabrics like cotton linen or even those fancy moisture wicking sports
04:34fabrics that are all the rage. Ditch the heavy boots if you can. Your feet will
04:38thank you. Health over high fashion my friends. Health unbelievably over high
04:43fashion. And finally and this is crucial for those epic weekend festivals or
04:49Glastonbury. Pace yourself.
04:53You've got a whole glorious weekend of music and good times ahead. Don't go
05:00absolutely wild on the first night and risk completely burning out by day two.
05:05This means pacing your alcohol intake, remembering to alternate with plenty of
05:09water and, yeah this might sound boring but it's essential, do try and get a
05:14decent sleep each night. Your body's gonna thank you for it, you'll have more energy,
05:19you'll stay hydrated more easily and you'll be able to enjoy every single
05:23moment right up until the last encore. It's a marathon of music at the end of
05:28the day, not a sprint. So there you have it, five simple tips from a sun-soaked
05:33kiwi to help you stay safe and have an amazing time at your UK festivals and
05:37outdoor gigs. Now remember a little bit of planning goes a long way in ensuring you
05:42have incredible memories for all the right reasons. Stay safe, stay cool and above
05:49all else, enjoy the music.
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