Unforgettable Moments at Glasto
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, more commonly referred to as Glastonbury or simply Glasto, is set to take place from 27 to 29 June 2008, and revelers can’t wait for the festivities to begin. Situated at Worthy Farm, between the villages of Pylle and Pilton east of the town of Glastonbury in Somerset, England, this event is considered to be the world’s largest greenfield music and performing arts festival, drawing musicians, performers and fans from far and wide to enjoy three days of fun and entertainment.
Although the Glastonbury Festival is best known for its world-class contemporary music, it also features comedy, dance, theater, cabaret and circus acts. Since its beginning in 1981, when the festival was organized by local farmer Michael Eavis under the name of Glastonbury Festivals Ltd, the festival has steadily grown in popularity. It is now run jointly by Glastonbury Festivals Ltd and Mean Fiddler Plc, and in 2007 the festival program featured more than 700 performances on more than 80 stages, entertaining a crowd that exceeded 177,000.
So what can festival goers expect? Past attendees agree that entering the venue is like traveling to another world where, although British law still applies, the rules of society are somewhat freer and more relaxed with everyone there to have a great time. The festival site is split into distinct areas, ensuring that there is something for everyone. The Pyramid stage and Dance stages have a West End of London vibe, but here no one is turned away by a condescending bouncer – everyone is invited to every venue. Those who enjoy something a little more laid back will appreciate the Jazzworld and Acoustic areas. There are also family oriented areas such as the Circus fields and the Kids field to keep mom, dad and their offspring happy. The Field of Avalon, the Tipi Field and The Green Fields, as well as the Stone Circle in the Sacred Space, offer alternative, and certainly less noisy, aspects of festival life.
Musicians and performers who will be on stage during the weekend include Kings of Leon, The Gossip, The Feeling, KT Tunstall, Kate Nash, Jay-Z, Crowded House, James Blunt, Seasick Steve, Shakin’ Stevens, The Verve, Neil Diamond, John Mayer, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Leonard Cohen, Panic at the Disco, Massive Attack, Hot Chip, Hilltop Hoods, Duffy, One Night Only, Scouting for Girls, Black Cherry and many, many more.
The objective of the festival when it first began, as stated by founder Michael Eavis, was to “encourage and stimulate youth culture from around the world in all its forms, including pop music, dance music, jazz, folk music, fringe theater, drama, mime, circus, cinema, poetry and all the creative forms of art and design, including painting, sculpture and textile art.” The festival has remained true to this objective and the 2008 Glastonbury Festival program promises to be better than ever before, with organizers feeling confident visitors to the festival will have a most memorable weekend.
