GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL:
Glastonbury Festival, affectionately known as ‘Glasto’, is not just a music event – it’s a rite of passage, a sprawling city of creativity, and a celebration of freedom and expression. Held annually (with some fallow years) in Somerset, Glastonbury is considered the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world.
porary city of over 200,000 people, united by music, mud and magic, as well as commanding a global audience of millions. Its iconic blend of music, arts, activism and community spirit has made the event one of the most famous and beloved festivals in the world.
I have friends who have attended the event many times, industry colleagues who work there each year and loads of DJ friends who have actually performed at the event, most of whom at some point have invited me to attend. But as yet I haven’t done so and enjoy the event from the comfort of my living room, with a cold beer in my hand, fresh food in the fridge and the luxury of a flushing toilet and hot shower when I need them. Joking aside, for many the thrill of finding their tent in the dark, getting trapped in a chemical toilet and wearing the same clothes for several days is something they relish in order to see their favourite artists.
For those lucky enough to get tickets there is a world of entertainment and creativity to be experienced, much of which people like me will never get to see on a TV screen. However you consume Glasto, there is no denying that it is the ‘greatest show on earth’ and I personally use the coverage to gain valuable research on new, on-trend and retro music styles that I then use in my work as a DJ and music producer. Let’s take a closer look at the phenomenon that is Glastonbury!
Origins and Evolution
The roots of Glastonbury stretch back to 1970, the day after Jimi Hendrix died. Michael Eavis, a local dairy farmer inspired by the Bath Blues Festival and the spirit of the 1960s counterculture, decided to host a music event on his land. That inaugural festival cost £1 per ticket and included free milk from the farm. Acts like T. Rex headlined and about 1,500 people attended. From those humble beginnings, Glastonbury has grown into an iconic global event, evolving from a modest folk festival into a multi-stage, multi-genre mega-event. Each new decade brought shifts in culture, politics and music that Glastonbury embraced: from punk in the late 70s, to rave culture in the 90s, to a resurgence of global and experimental music in the 21st century.
Music & Beyond
While music is the beating heart of Glastonbury, the festival offers far more than headline sets on the famous Pyramid Stage. Visitors can explore a kaleidoscope of areas catering to every taste and interest. The Other Stage, West Holts, and John Peel Stage provide alternative and genre-spanning lineups.
The Green Fields emphasise sustainability, healing and crafts, offering workshops and quiet spaces for reflection. The Park is known for eclectic bookings and surprise performances. Silver Hayes and Arcadia bring the late-night electronic edge.
Shangri-La and Block9 come alive at night with immersive art, electronic music, and mind-bending visuals. Theatre and Circus Fields bring street performers, comedy and avant-garde performances to the open air.
Whether you’re dancing in the rain to a surprise set, meditating at sunrise, or watching giant puppets march through the crowd, Glastonbury defies being pigeonholed. It’s as much a celebration of human creativity as it is a music event.
Glastonbury’s musical diversity is one of its defining features. The Pyramid Stage, the festival’s main stage, has hosted an incredible range of acts, from David Bowie, Beyoncé and The Rolling Stones to Stormzy, Paul McCartney and Billie Eilish. But while the headline acts draw attention, it’s often the lesser-known corners of the festival that steal hearts.
Many artists view a Glastonbury appearance as a career milestone. It’s where legends are made, and sometimes reborn.
Oasis never played Glastonbury Festival as headliners – something that remains one of the most surprising ‘what-ifs’ in British music history.
Oasis and Glastonbury: A missed opportunity
Despite being one of the most iconic British bands of the 1990s, Oasis never took top billing at Glastonbury Festival. The band did perform once, but not in the way many might assume.
Oasis performed at Glastonbury in June 1994, just before their debut album Definitely Maybe was released. At the time, they were rising stars, not yet the Britpop giants they would soon become. They played on the NME Stage (now known as the John Peel Stage) and delivered a blistering set that helped cement their status as one of the UK’s most exciting new bands.
Their setlist included early anthems like ‘Supersonic’, ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’, ‘Shakermaker’ and ‘Live Forever’. It was raw, loud and brash – everything you'd expect from early Oasis. Noel Gallagher has since referred to the gig as a landmark moment in their career, calling it one of the most memorable shows of their early days.
The Glastonbury experience
One of Glastonbury's defining features is its unpredictability and scale. Attendees can spend days on-site and still not see everything. Mud, rain and long walks are part of the charm – more badges of honour than inconveniences. Many say that the real headliner isn’t the artist on stage, but the spirit of the festival itself.
The event has developed a reputation for surprise performances (like when Radiohead, The Killers or Lady Gaga play unannounced sets), and each edition is packed with moments that quickly become part of festival lore.
Every corner of Glastonbury is brimming with imagination and possibility. You can stumble upon poetry slams, impromptu puppet shows, feminist discos, or an impassioned climate change protest – all in a single afternoon.
The magic of the mud
Rain and mud are as much a part of...
To read the full article, you’ll need to have a physical copy of the magazine which you can sign up for here for 6 issues delivered to your door from just £16!
https://store.promobile.online/products/pro-mobile-magazine-6-issue-1-year-subscription
You’ll also get full access to this article and the last year of articles, reviews and play lists via the Pro DJ App
porary city of over 200,000 people, united by music, mud and magic, as well as commanding a global audience of millions. Its iconic blend of music, arts, activism and community spirit has made the event one of the most famous and beloved festivals in the world.
I have friends who have attended the event many times, industry colleagues who work there each year and loads of DJ friends who have actually performed at the event, most of whom at some point have invited me to attend. But as yet I haven’t done so and enjoy the event from the comfort of my living room, with a cold beer in my hand, fresh food in the fridge and the luxury of a flushing toilet and hot shower when I need them. Joking aside, for many the thrill of finding their tent in the dark, getting trapped in a chemical toilet and wearing the same clothes for several days is something they relish in order to see their favourite artists.
For those lucky enough to get tickets there is a world of entertainment and creativity to be experienced, much of which people like me will never get to see on a TV screen. However you consume Glasto, there is no denying that it is the ‘greatest show on earth’ and I personally use the coverage to gain valuable research on new, on-trend and retro music styles that I then use in my work as a DJ and music producer. Let’s take a closer look at the phenomenon that is Glastonbury!
Origins and Evolution
The roots of Glastonbury stretch back to 1970, the day after Jimi Hendrix died. Michael Eavis, a local dairy farmer inspired by the Bath Blues Festival and the spirit of the 1960s counterculture, decided to host a music event on his land. That inaugural festival cost £1 per ticket and included free milk from the farm. Acts like T. Rex headlined and about 1,500 people attended. From those humble beginnings, Glastonbury has grown into an iconic global event, evolving from a modest folk festival into a multi-stage, multi-genre mega-event. Each new decade brought shifts in culture, politics and music that Glastonbury embraced: from punk in the late 70s, to rave culture in the 90s, to a resurgence of global and experimental music in the 21st century.
Music & Beyond
While music is the beating heart of Glastonbury, the festival offers far more than headline sets on the famous Pyramid Stage. Visitors can explore a kaleidoscope of areas catering to every taste and interest. The Other Stage, West Holts, and John Peel Stage provide alternative and genre-spanning lineups.
The Green Fields emphasise sustainability, healing and crafts, offering workshops and quiet spaces for reflection. The Park is known for eclectic bookings and surprise performances. Silver Hayes and Arcadia bring the late-night electronic edge.
Shangri-La and Block9 come alive at night with immersive art, electronic music, and mind-bending visuals. Theatre and Circus Fields bring street performers, comedy and avant-garde performances to the open air.
Whether you’re dancing in the rain to a surprise set, meditating at sunrise, or watching giant puppets march through the crowd, Glastonbury defies being pigeonholed. It’s as much a celebration of human creativity as it is a music event.
Glastonbury’s musical diversity is one of its defining features. The Pyramid Stage, the festival’s main stage, has hosted an incredible range of acts, from David Bowie, Beyoncé and The Rolling Stones to Stormzy, Paul McCartney and Billie Eilish. But while the headline acts draw attention, it’s often the lesser-known corners of the festival that steal hearts.
Many artists view a Glastonbury appearance as a career milestone. It’s where legends are made, and sometimes reborn.
Oasis never played Glastonbury Festival as headliners – something that remains one of the most surprising ‘what-ifs’ in British music history.
Oasis and Glastonbury: A missed opportunity
Despite being one of the most iconic British bands of the 1990s, Oasis never took top billing at Glastonbury Festival. The band did perform once, but not in the way many might assume.
Oasis performed at Glastonbury in June 1994, just before their debut album Definitely Maybe was released. At the time, they were rising stars, not yet the Britpop giants they would soon become. They played on the NME Stage (now known as the John Peel Stage) and delivered a blistering set that helped cement their status as one of the UK’s most exciting new bands.
Their setlist included early anthems like ‘Supersonic’, ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’, ‘Shakermaker’ and ‘Live Forever’. It was raw, loud and brash – everything you'd expect from early Oasis. Noel Gallagher has since referred to the gig as a landmark moment in their career, calling it one of the most memorable shows of their early days.
The Glastonbury experience
One of Glastonbury's defining features is its unpredictability and scale. Attendees can spend days on-site and still not see everything. Mud, rain and long walks are part of the charm – more badges of honour than inconveniences. Many say that the real headliner isn’t the artist on stage, but the spirit of the festival itself.
The event has developed a reputation for surprise performances (like when Radiohead, The Killers or Lady Gaga play unannounced sets), and each edition is packed with moments that quickly become part of festival lore.
Every corner of Glastonbury is brimming with imagination and possibility. You can stumble upon poetry slams, impromptu puppet shows, feminist discos, or an impassioned climate change protest – all in a single afternoon.
The magic of the mud
Rain and mud are as much a part of...
To read the full article, you’ll need to have a physical copy of the magazine which you can sign up for here for 6 issues delivered to your door from just £16!
https://store.promobile.online/products/pro-mobile-magazine-6-issue-1-year-subscription
You’ll also get full access to this article and the last year of articles, reviews and play lists via the Pro DJ App
