I spent more time trying to get into acts than I did watching them, says Eleanor Peake
On Friday afternoon, I left my tent early at Glastonbury to get to the West Holt stage in good time. I’d been walking for forty minutes when I spotted a huge bottleneck of people, and my stomach dropped. I knew instantly that, like me, they were heading to watch Sugababes.
The noughties girl band were due to perform in 30 minutes time, but there were already hundreds trying to push down a narrow path towards the stage. The route was already at capacity. Tragically, it wasn’t the first time this has happened. In 2022,were put on the Avalon stage at Glastonbury, an even smaller venue; and was yet again shut down before all their millennial fans could arrive. I tried my luck then too and failed.
And yet, while thousands fought through queues to see acts on tiny stages – or like me, gave up – there was performances that barely drew anyone in at all. Take SZA; Sunday’s headline act on the Pyramid Stage. This huge field, with a capacity for 120,000 people, was barely a third full. The National, at the same time as the RnB singer, was also nearly empty. Janelle Moné could also barely fill the giant field.
Glastonbury misjudged its attendees. Nostalgic icons like Lavinge and the Sugababes should have been placed on much larger stages, while the decision to put the stars of the moment, such as Charli XCX, on intimate stages seemed ill-judged. Glastonbury’s intimacy is part of its charm – but the organisers may need to rethink how they balance this with giving the punters what they want and what they paid for. 220,000 people bought tickets for the festival this year, the highest number yet. Only a fraction got to see all the bands they had hoped for.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Glastonbury at home: how I replicate Glastonbury Festival at home for less than a tenner🎶✨ Here’s how to recreate the festival magic at home with budget-friendly tips
Read more »
Glastonbury Outfits: 9 Outfit ideas that are utterly perfect for Glastonbury 2024From BohoThese looks are giving major festival vibes…
Read more »
Glastonbury 2024: Story behind Edgar Phillips' beautiful Glastonbury wings sculpture at Stone CircleWhen Emily Eavis first asked Edgar to design a pair of wings in 2017, he had no idea they'd become a festival landmark.
Read more »
Glastonbury 2024 full line up and stage times for Pyramid Stage, Other and moreThe iconic music festival returns to Worthy Farm this weekend
Read more »
Glastonbury 2024 full line up, stage times and schedule for Pyramid Stage, Other, Woodsies and moreGlastonbury Festival takes place this week
Read more »
‘A weekend at Glastonbury is going to cost me over £1000Festival-goers' budgets are being blown on £12 espresso martinis and £12 daiquiris. Eleanor Peake speaks to revellers and does the maths
Read more »