The 2007 Glastonbury Festival
Rock, Folk, Dance, Circus, Politics, Mud and a CBE for Michael Eavis
The 26th Glastonbury Festival opens 22 June 2007. Michael Eavis, organiser of this, the world's largest open-field festival, has just been awarded a CBE. Read why here.
Its Glastonbury time again (June 22-24). What is now the biggest open field festival in the world is about to open again for the 26th time at Worthy Farm, Pilton, in Somerset, England. During that time, the festival has hosted some of the world’s biggest names and witnessed some of the world’s greatest mud baths. It has also developed from small beginnings in 1971 as a ‘Pop Folk and Blues’ event costing £1 entry (this included free milk from the farm), into a major Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts with tickets costing £150.
Founded by farmer Michael Eavis, who was recently awarded a CBE for his work on the festival, the 1971 event saw 1,500 people enjoy a handful of bands (including Mark Bolan, Keith Christmas, Stackridge and Al Stewart) play on one stage. 2007 will see 150,000 people deciding which of over 300 acts to see or listen to on one of six stages.
Pyramid Stage
The main stage where this year’s performers include the Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, The Fratellis, The Kaiser Chiefs, Manic Street Preachers and survivors of Woodstock, The Who.
Other Stage
This ‘alternative’ main stage looks slightly less mainstream and more interesting with artists including Bjork, Super Furry Animals, Iggy and the Stooges, Biffy Clyro and Coldwar Kids.
John Peel Stage
Named for the dearly-lamented DJ, this tented venue hosts a mixture of new and breaking bands together with established names doing something new. Mark Ronson and the New Pornographers are two many will have heard of.
Jazz World Stage
Does exactly what it says on the tin. A mixture of people well-known in the music mainstream (like Amy Winehouse) through to those unknown outside their own communities of fans (such as Soweto Kinch or Fat Freddy’s Drop).
Dance Village
This area offers those into dance culture the chance to mix and match, with a choice of dance punk, Nu Rave, house, techno, hip hop, dub, electronica and hardcore on offer. There’s even a Silent Disco for the times when party-goers just want the atmosphere without the sounds (the music comes through headphones only, rather than through a standard PA system).
Acoustic Tent
Finally, not strictly ‘acoustic’, but the place designated as ‘real’ and where nature meets music. No synthetic sounds here to put folk off their real ales and organic beanbags. This year sees appearances from notables such as Sandi Thom, Eric Bibb, The Men They Couldn’t Hang, The Bootleg Beatles, and the London Community Gospel Choir.
Other Attractions
Just in case that’s not enough to keep people’s attention, a host of other areas have been established. These include ‘Left Field’ (political action), Kidz Field, the Jazz Lounge, the Field of Avalon (essentially a good old-fashioned folk festival) which features Robin and Bina Williamson (Robin is another Woodstock survivor), and the Waterboys amongst many others), a Cinema Field where films are shown and, as if there were not enough music already, a Bandstand for those who don’t quite fit elsewhere. And, for anyone with some energy left, there are also circus and other entertainers.
The Bad News and the Good News
The bad news is that there are no tickets left for this year’s festival. They sold out within hours.
The good news is that BBC will broadcast many of the performances (or at least parts of them) over the weekend. The even better news is that there will be further Glastonbury festivals in future. Watch their website for details.
