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It would be easy to explain all this away as a wholesome consequence of the economic times, but it is as likely to be the result of the population that grew up in nightclubs getting older; when it’s supposed to be time to put your bum in a theatre seat, do pub quizzes or go to a book club, many smart grown-ups aren’t playing. Allison, who is in her thirties, says: “I should have grown out of clubs. But putting your head in a speaker stack does something to your brain.” She thinks the rave generation “spent so many years on the dancefloor, it’s sort of in their blood, and it’s hard to let that go”.

Across the ever-expanding festivals diary, arts programming is increasing to the point that some events are starting to look downright swotty. Glastonbury had a literary tent called the University of Life. The Poet Salena Godden’s Monday-night literary rave-up, The Book Club Boutique, is appearing at various festivals this summer, fusing words, music and wildness in a way Hay has yet to offer.

At the Latitude festival, people hang from trees watching the ballet before heading off to the woods to party till sunrise. The festival’s art curator, Tania Harrison, says: “This year, Jake and Dinos Chapman, and Vivienne Westwood’s theatrical piece, The Active Resistance Manifesto, are promising to be as big a draw as any band.” She refuses to categorise a typical Latitude fan: “Just because there are arts and performances doesn’t limit us to a certain social group. A lot of people just want a bigger experience and they are not typical ‘artsy’ types.”

THE WAY WE RAVE

Mindful Decommissioned bullets around your neck as a political statement

Mindless Whistles and airhorns around your neck to make a racket

Mindful Free entry

Mindless £60 to get in

Mindful Tap water on request

Mindless £10 for a bottle of water

Mindful Proceeds go to good causes

Mindless Proceeds towards the DJ’s Ferrari

Mindful Chatting to the DJ

Mindless Worshipping the DJ

Mindful Listening to poets

Mindless Listening to cokeheads

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