Alex James has "sympathy" for Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis for the massive job he takes on every year.
The Blur bassist has the utmost respect for Michael, 77, for what he achieves with his renowned music festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset - which is taking place this weekend - because he now knows how much hard work it is from organising his own event 'The Big Feastival'.
When Alex started his festival with TV chef Jamie Oliver he phoned his friend Michael - whose festival is headlined by Arctic Monkeys, Mumford & Sons and The Rolling Stones - for advice, something the festival veteran was only happy to provide.
Alex told BANG Showbiz: "I have sympathy for Michael, and the job he does. I know that firm quite well, I get on very well with them. They've actually been really helpful. I've had a few questions for them in the past year or so! Michael's given me lots (of advice) but I'm not telling!"
Alex think's it's brilliant there are now so many festivals because when he first started playing them with Blur there were only two main ones in the UK.
The 44-year-old musician is confident his unique mix of music and food will prove to be a hit with festival goers.
He added: "When Blur started doing festivals 20 years ago there was only Glastonbury and Reading really. There were two main ones but now they're everywhere you go in the entire world; from Indonesia to Peru there are music festivals which is brilliant. The music festival market is kind of really tough but I'm trying to do something slightly different which is music and food and family, this idea of creating a nice gentle family weekend."
Alex and Jamie present 'The Big Feastival', a feel good festival of food and music for all the family, featuring Mark Owen, Basement Jaxx, Rizzle Kicks and Lianne La Havas.
The event takes place over the weekend of August 31 to September 1, for more information and tickets, visit www.thebigfeastival.com.
Tagged in Alex James Mark Owen