A Limited edition print Maceos bar at Block 9 at The Glastonbury Festival

I was commissioned by a member of the crew to paint Maceos Bar at the Glastonbury Festival, and it was a fine experience indeed.

Unlike most bars, Maceos is temporary—built once a year for the festival—but when you arrive, it feels as though it’s been there for decades.

Like the best venues, it’s all about the people. Maceos is home to a wonderfully eclectic mix of characters, and much of my work involved observing and sketching its unique clientele.

This included scaffolders, musicians, DJs, transvestites, circus performers, lost clubbers, litter pickers, arty types like me, and just about anyone society wouldn’t call “average.”

They all gather here for just a few weeks each year before being flung back into the real world.

I’ve always loved painting people, and capturing the spirit of Maceo’s was a real treat.

A bit about Maceos

Maceos is Block9’s semi-secret crew bar at Glastonbury Festival, tucked behind the NYC Download nightclub in the South East Corner.

Though technically for staff, festival-goers can sometimes gain access by securing a coveted wristband from someone inside.

More than just a bar, Maceos serves as a laid-back haven amidst the festival’s intensity, offering a space where DJs and artists unwind. It has hosted impromptu sets from acts like Disclosure and Fatboy Slim, and even a surprise DJ set by Neneh Cherry.

With its intimate vibe and eclectic music, Maceos embodies the spontaneous magic that defines Glastonbury’s underground culture.