Glasto Line Up Hints

Eavis gives clues to headliner

09 Jan 08 - Michael Eavis has been talking to 6 Music about who’ll be headlining this year’s Glastonbury festival and while he isn’t giving any specific names away, he did drop some hints.

“We’re giving it [a headline slot] over to a significant black musician this year, which will make a change. A change of flavour if you like.” He explained, “Moving away from the Anglo Saxon sort of rock n roll thing.”

This adds credence to reports that the festival is undergoing something of a rethink this year, with a more unpredictable selection of acts performing. It does however mean that many of the regular oft-touted acts won’t be appearing. So that’s two big names crossed out then.

“For one thing, the bands aren’t available,” Eavis continued, “Radiohead are doing their own thing and Coldplay aren’t around this year either. All other regular headliners, they just weren’t there basically, so we had to look elsewhere and we’ve found some stuff that we’re absolutely thrilled about.

“I can’t expect those [regular] bands to come and do it every time y’know? Radiohead have played about five times, and they’ve been so good to us. The best set of all time, in the past fifty years was Radiohead in 1997.”

“We’re giving it [a headline slot] over to a significant black musician this year" - Michael Eavis

But organisers won’t be ignoring all the classic acts, and it’s not just about the Pyramid stage headliners, as Eavis was keen to emphasise, saying,

“Of course we’ve got a load of all the other faves, I’ve got a wonderful selection of bands playing on the Jazz World stage. We were after one of four bands for headlining the Jazz World stage, and I got all four! I couldn’t believe it, so yes, it’s looking good.”

The tout-busting process will be the same as 2007, with potential festival goers either uploading their photo and details online - via www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk - or completing a registration form available from branches of Millets.

“It’s the same process as last year entirely, because it was so successful,” Eavis explained, “There was apparently no touting whatsoever. It’s a bit tedious, all that pre registration thing, but it does work.

“We got 400,000 [registration applications] last year, so if we hit the same sort of figure… I’ve got no way of knowing if we will or we won’t. Will be people be fed up with the mud?”

Registration for this year's Glastonbury festival will be open from 9am on 1 February till midnight on 29 February. Registration won't reserve or guarantee you a ticket but if you don't register you won't be able to apply for one when they go on general sale on 6 April.

As always, The Glastonbury Festival will be held on the weekend of 27 June, 28 and 29 at Pilton Farm in Somerset.


Matt Everitt