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There are six main music stages at Glastonbury. Each has an identifiable musical policy but they all still have a fairly diverse range of artists. In addition, there are a number of smaller venues scattered around the site, often connected with cafes or other organisations, and many impromptu perfomances.
This is the place if you like superstars, light and laser shows, and big crowds. For a dozen years, the Pyramid Stage was a permanent structure, used as a cow barn for the rest of the year. This burned down just before the 1994 event, and the stage is now purpose-built each year.
Bands to expect this year include : Radiohead, The Prodigy, Steve Winwood, Van Morrison, Sheryl Crow, Sting, Smashing Pumpkins, Supergrass, Dodgy and Beck. If the rumour about the Rolling Stones is true (which it almost certainly isn't), they'll be on the Pyramid Stage on Sunday night.
If ever a stage's lineup could be judged by it's name, the NME stage had to be the one. So it's a bit of a disappointment that they've renamed it The Other Stage. The music policy is unlikely to change much, however. Indie, alternative, Britpop; call it what you want, but if you can read about it in the New Musical Express, you can watch it here. The crowds are smaller than for the main stage, but the density is usually higher. One of the busiest areas of the festival is the path linking the two main stages, so a stone bridge is being built this year to improve the access.
Main bands this year are Reef, Kula Shaker, The Chemical Brothers, The Bluetones, Ash, Seahorses, Placebo, and Mansun. Unfortunately Neil Young, who was scheduled to play on this stage, can't make it. Other personal favourites lurking down the lineup are Ben Folds Five, Catatonia (featuring the delicious Cerys), Sneaker Pimps, and Stereolab.
Opened for business at the 1995 festival, where at times there were as many people trying to get in as were already inside. That year, the lineup was programmed by Steve Hillage from ambient techno duo System 7, and reflected his tastes to some extent as you'd expect. This year, the access and capacity have been improved, and Bristol promoter Malcolm Haines is in charge of the lineup. He's promising a "diverse and eclectic schedule", featuring "uptempo [and] intelligent dance music". The live/DJ mix will be about 50/50, with the top DJs getting up to two hour sets.
So far lined up are Primal Scream headlining on Saturday, Daft Punk (probably headlining Sunday), The Orb (probably headlining Friday), System 7, Lionrock, Bentley Rhythm Ace, and Death In Vegas. DJs include Mixmaster Morris, DJ Ritu, and Simmer, resident DJ at Shimmy in Bristol.
As you'd expect, you'll find Jazz and World Music here, but also rap, funk, trip hop, and fusions of all the above. Massive Attack are headlining the Friday night, together with Spearhead, Red Snapper, and Nightmares On Wax. Also on are David Byrne, Galliano, Finlay Quaye, and Ernest Ranglin.
Concentrating on, but not limited to, acoustic music, this year you'll find the Bootleg Beatles, BR5-49, Chuck Prophet (ex Green On Red), Coal Porters (featuring Sid Griffin), Kathryn Tickell Band, and The Prayer Boat.
Located on the edge of the Green Fields area, the Avalon stage is a popular choice for those wanting stay away from the big crowds down in the arena. The music is a mixture of folk, world, reggae; anything goes really. The Daily Planet are playing one of their three gigs at the festival here on Saturday, you'll also find Ani DiFranco, Astralasia, The Anthill Mob, and Tower Struck Down.
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