Glastonbury 2023

They got both Finn & Mike Campbell to replace Buckingham so I’d guess he could return with Finn in place. Some or other member of the band is always out of favour, or missing.

They’re the act that Michael Eavis regularly refers to as the one he most wants. One of the biggest selling acts of all time whose last English dates were two nights selling out Wembley Stadium in 2019. The idea of them being anything but headliners would not even enter my thoughts.

does that article say it was GNR that issued a correction to the guardian ? Or did the guardian journalist look at Wikipedia after they wrote the article initially?

Absolutely. They’re bigger than any act headlining this year. None of them could sell out two nights at Wembley.

Now, I think G n' R will be fun but I agree, as much as I know bugger all about Lizzo, I know she's huge. Maybe not Sat night huge but Friday night, her headlining, then Arctic Monkeys then Elton John. I would have given her a miss but, again, big act.

Now that he's ticked the Stones off his list, they're pretty much the only other Jurrasic era giants left as a going concern he's not bagged (apart from the Kinks* who are talking to each other again but not gotten round to doing anything)

*Kinks are obviously not in same ball park of scale but would be utterly class. Saw FM in the point in 2013, they were an absolute class live act.

He often mentions Zep as well but I think Plant has definitely had enough of that. FM superb on the RDS in 2019 and they’d storm Glasto. I was astonished by how many youngsters were there, they seem to have an appeal to the youth that other acts of the era haven’t managed.

And the Kinks. If only. A perennial rumour but I think Dave Davies’ health must be a major factor. And his brother’s bloody-mindedness.

What hits does she have bar a couple of songs, she is nowhere near headlining status, she hasn't even sold out her Uk arena tour.

Gnr are legends.

So is Sam Smith ,look at the ticket sales for his upcoming tour, Brits and Grammy are utter trash.

Far better headliners this year than the dreck last year.

GnR aren't the problem. One of the biggest rock bands of all time. Haven't played before. All good.

Arctic Monkeys headling for the 3rd time is the problem.

I’ve no problem with the headliners though none are exciting bookings. Artics very popular but a very dull live band and it gets repetitive with repeat headliners as happened with Muse and Coldplay far too often.

And yes @scruff monkey the here acts in 2022 were far more varied and significant. I’m also uninterested in Taylor Swift but she’ll set the place alight in 2024.

Why does this nonsense keep coming up? Same said about Dolly Parton and others by people who don’t seem to understand the slight delay from sound to camera.

Nonsense re Dolly at Glasto, it arose due to people not being ably to understand the synching. I was at the set and it was clearly not mimed , some small glitches in the performance clarified that.

Same re Billie, this is just guff that the truly gullible take in from random YouTube videos. Please provide something from an accredited journalistic or industry source if you want to be taken seriously.

Definitely not miming when she was at EP either. This sort of gullibility is what led to Trump, Brexit, Bolsonaro, etc.

Can't understand how people are excited for Billie Eilish.

Marketing over merit.

Her performance on the Other was nowhere near as good in person. Bit flat. The Beeb can work wonders.

The kids love her though. She's still only 21 which is mental.

Just looking back, that Sunday in 2019. Methodist Church Choir, Mavis Staples, Kylie, Good the Bad and the Queen, Little Simz, Billie Eilish, Kamazi Washington, Janelle Monae, The Cure. Value for cash right there.

That’s one hell of an eclectic and brilliant mix. All of them I’ve seen have been impressive, and hopefully I’ll get to see Washington sometime.

It’s not, but given the proliferation of significant female acts it’s unusual when none are headliners. Glastonbury and Primavera Sound have admirably made a stance on this and both aim for as close to possible a 50/50 gender split. Easier for Glasto than a more indie-ish fest like PS.

Expect two of the three Somerset headliners to be female in 2024.

That's probably true. However yeah, it's gotta be Taylor for Saturday next time. Madonna though? Where to place her? Would have to be headline Sunday? And a British group/solo for Friday I suppose.

I think that Glasto are doing it cleverly, aiming for a balance but not confining themselves as Primavera have done. When you set quotas for gender then race, disability, sexuality will follow and you tie yourself up in knots. The Eavises are wisely going down the egalitarian route but giving themselves some wriggle room.

And, as ever, the acts that can sell out large venues will be the acts that get the big slots irrespective of their race, gender, etc.

The Saturday night headliner gets a longer and later time slot still. GnR will do 2 1/2 hours.

Anyway Taylor defo for 24, maybe Madge but I suppose Rhianna or Dua Lipa too.

Ive been to Witness, Oxegen etc loads, Picnic a few times, Glasto (lost count) Mad Cool, Rock Am Ring and now go to End of the Road every year.

End of the Road is the only one that comes close to Glasto in terms of the buzz there, albeit a lot more chilled and easy. First thing I judge, can you bring your own booze in. If not, its a no from me.

Sound at Glasto is usually great. Theyve had new audio guys for the last decade or so. I bring less and less every year. 1 rucksack and the missus brings a small rucksack.

Theres nowhere like Glasto. Apart from the New Orleans French Quarter festival but thats a different jaunt!

Friday sad Saturday’ headliners have finished at the same time (11.45) for several years. Sunday is usual 11.30.

McCartney got longer but that’s to be expected. I’ve never known any priority in time for Saturday nights. At the previous fest in 2019 The Cure had the longest set on Sunday night. The last festival before that in 2017 Radiohead on the Friday night had 2hrs 15mins, 30 mins more than Ed Sheeran on the Sunday and 15 more than the Foo Fighters on the Saturday. Clashfinder was my source.

Any night is good for an act to headline, though some artists may see it differently. And I reckon Madonna would not want to compete with Taylor Swift on crowd numbers over the weekend.

The first couple of times I was at Glasto, a couple of our group were always of the mindset to sit as far back as possible to avoid the crowd. Looking at the crowd, it always looks like a nightmare from the distance.

However later (Once the couple stopped going) we decided to give it a go to go in further. When at the Pyramid now we usually aim for between the sound stages, towards the front and this is no problem. Yes, it's crowded. You will not be sitting down for the last couple of acts on the Pyramid. But there is room to breathe and move than it looks (Usually). But, of course you can grab your chair and sit further back. Sound on the main stages are fine, even back a bit due to the layout. The Pyramid and Park have slopes behind them, West Holts has a lot of stalls around it etc.

I've only ever also been to EP and a couple of other much smaller festivals. As has been said above, Glasto is large. It can take you 20 mins + to get from one stage/area to another (You most certainly will get your ten thousand steps in). But if you stay at the main stages, you are missing a HUGE amount. (Having seen the Arctic Monkeys there before, I would be giving them a miss if I get resale tickets).

Hauling your stuff... Depends on what you want, how you want to get there and where you want to go. I'm old... so very old. So we usually fly into Bristol. Usually Wednesday. Do a big booze shop and some last minute things (Wellies maybe) in Bristol and get the bus on Thursday morning. Usually stay 5 mins or so from the Bus gate area as it's far enough back that music won't cause an issue if you are back early (Although removing trees between Other Stage and this area lead to a noticable increase in volume. But this IS a music festival and if one complains about the music being too loud, maybe it's not for them 😀).

So when leaving the tent to head in, I usually have my chair, fleecy top, poncho (Depending on weather), bog-roll, baby wipes, empty 1.5 litre bottle for water and booze. As I don't drink shorts, I try to stick to wine for alcohol as drinking gallon after gallon of beer and then standing in the middle of a crowd for a few hours is... yeah, is taxing. (But I do sample the local ciders. It would be rude not to, in sommerset). So it's not too bad at all. Some go lighter, some haul carts.

If it's your first time, pace yourself, have a realistic timetable (You are NOT going to catch a bit of clashing acts). hydrate and have fun. It's both bigger and smaller than you think and both more than and less than you expect. I know that sounds stupid. But at times we make it sound like it's heaven on earth. It's not. But the people and craic is great ans it should be experienced by anyone who has even a passing interest in music festivals.