Jules wrote:

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How about this pub for meet up. It's the nearest, veggie options and cater for wheat and dairy free for me. Think it used to be called The Rat's Castle.

www.thealbanypubguildford.co.uk

What do you think? What time are the Rats due on stage?

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 Sounds good to me. Guess Rats around 9.45 if headlining but no idea when curfew is

Not sure. Most likely after 9 pm sometime. Heres a short interview with Simon from Eagle Radio, the festivals 'preferred partner'. Simon thinks Guilfest is going to be one of the best gigs of the summer and is looking forward to it.

http://www.964eagle.co.uk/guilfest/2014.php

Jules wrote:

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Do we know what time the Rats are on stage and the timings of the other bands?

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 Official Rats on at 9.30 pm.From official site.

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/guilfest-2014-lineup---stoke-7425369

At the end of The Boomtown Rats Bob stumbles around the stage and sings 'Did someone put something in my drink?'. No sometimes real life is stranger. Like Dun Laoghaire's finest sons playing on a huge stage (literally) in front of a huge and adoring crowd. Comebacks don't get much better than this, and Bob was  truly glad and humbled to be playing at such a festival as Guilfest.The locals wanted a music festival and the Rats gave them an occasion to savour.

The band was on fine form. Geldof seemed charged up and didn't pause to speak until after the first 5 songs at least. The only minor change in the set was the inclusion of Close As You'll Ever Be. It was hot-Geldof at one stage wanted the audience to take all their clothes off.

Not sure if the media has picked up on this but before Banana Republic Bob said he was not really into nationalism, and let it be know that he wanted Scotland to stay in the Uk. He received a polite ripple of applause from the audience for his views, which  doesn't tell us much either way.

Only slightly irritating things were during Neon Heart the lighting tech had a very bright light shining from the stage onto the audience. Directly into our eyes for about three minutes, so we couldn't really see the band on stage properly. This accured again a few minutes later so not sure if it was a technical problem or just a lighting man having a bad day (or smoking too much something!)

Another minor quibble was Geldof doing a 'rap version' as Suss alluded too before, of the opening verses of Rat Trap. Basically fast talking his way through, rather than singing- it just comes across as a lazy way to get through their biggest hit, so not sure what is influencing him to do this?

This was a great choice to go to. The place was rammed come 9.30, and so many of the audience seemed to know the songs and you could feel the 'affection' for Geldof in the air. Some friendly vibe that is hard to put into words but you just pick up the feeling that Geldof and the Rats music has meant something to the locals down the years. The PA announcer at the end of the gig seemed a bit shaken, glad that Guilfest was back on and wondering how the next couple of days could possible live up to the opening night. Blitzkreig bop Rats style.

When the interviewer asks Bob if there will be new music Bob says no one would be interested.I don't believe him. If they can sell out tours and do great gigs like Guilfest which had an official crowd of 15,000 then anything is possible.

It'a a  bit insulting to the fans when our hero thinks people would not like a new album. If he was confident in his writing skills then would it be such a problem.? Would never have happened in the old days. Why the Geldof solo albums when obviously the Rats are much more popular. Surely the fans at the gigs would buy the new Rats album.We bought all the others...... and a new album is better than a t shirt than runs.