Cindy’s Story: My First Festival, My First Crowd Surf

The Build-Up

For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed about going to a festival. Not just the music, but the whole thing—the lights, the atmosphere, the feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself. And more than anything, I dreamed of one day crowd surfing to my favourite artist, RAYE.

When a friend asked me to join her at my first festival this year at Broadmasters, I almost said no. I was nervous, worried I’d feel out of place, or that I wouldn’t be brave enough. But something in me said, this is your time. So I said yes.

The Queue, the Wait, the Build-Up

We queued for hours that day just to get to the front. The sun was high, and people around us were buzzing with energy, already chanting and singing along to the sound checks. I remember looking up at the endless sky, thinking, this is really happening. Every second of waiting built the anticipation until my chest felt like it could burst.

The Moment

Finally, evening fell, and the sky turned that perfect shade between blue and black, with streaks of pink still clinging on. RAYE stepped out, and the crowd roared. When she started singing Suzanne, my absolute favourite, I knew this was it.

My heart raced as I tapped the shoulders of the people next to me. They nodded, smiled, and suddenly—hands lifted me up. I was in the air, floating above thousands of people. I closed my eyes, stretched out my arms, and just let the music and the moment take over. For a few glorious seconds, I wasn’t nervous, I wasn’t shy—I was free.

After the Music

Later that night, I sat with my friend around the tents. The sky above us was filled with stars, clear and endless. My cheeks ached from smiling, and everyone kept asking me about the crowd surf. I couldn’t stop replaying it in my head. For years I had dreamt of this moment, and now it was mine.

Quietly Glorious

That night I realised something: life’s about showing up for the moments you’ve always dreamed of, no matter how scared you feel. Quietly Glorious felt like it was made for people like me—people chasing real, honest moments. And now, all I want is to keep it real, keep that smile, and keep showing up for the life I’ve always imagined.

— Cindy, Cardiff