Glastonbury festival preview: 40 top tips
- Jun 22, 2010
Yes, it's that time of year again when the whole country unites behind a common cause, dresses up in ridiculous outfits, drinks far too much alcohol and gathers together to watch their heroes bring them joy. No, not the World Cup, we're all too hardened by dozens of disappointments for that - we're talking about Glastonbury Festival.
This year the biggest festival of them all turns 40 – so what better way to gear up for Glastonbury than to offer 40 top tips for what to do at Worthy Farm this year. Sure, it might take as long to read as it will to get through the legendary Glasto queues, but it will be a lot more fun. Promise.
40. Watch Stevie Wonder play the Pyramid Stage
Mystery Jets are with us on this one. Stevie Wonder closing the festival is shaping up to be a highlight this year, and signature songs 'Sir Duke' and 'Superstition' could just about steal the show.
39. Find out what is happening on Twitter
Glastonbury is so big that it is hard to have a clue what is going on lots of the time (this could also be due to temporary lifestyle choices, mind). So take a glance at Twitter to find out the latest and greatest news from the farm from those in the know.
38. Watch Rolf Harris play the Pyramid Stage
Even if nobody knows more than three of his songs and that pet show doesn't come on the telly anymore, Rolf Harris will have the crowd in the palm of his hand when he opens the festival.
37. Fill in your Clashfinder
This year Glastonbury has released all of the stage times as well as a handy Clashfinder, so you can work out how long you have to race across a muddy field to see Shakira. Just what I've always wanted.
36. Watch Shakira play the Pyramid Stage
Speaking of which, the mountainous talent Shakira will be making her Glasto debut this year in a set sure to be one of the cult classics of the 2010 edition.
35. Join the other tourists at the Stone Circle
This is where all the weird, trippy crazies hang out, man. It's not really, it's where all the newbies who have heard all about the Stone Circle come to sit with other people doing the same thing as them. Like Trafalgar Square with worse statues.
34. Watch Boyz Noize play West Dance
The leading light of the electro scene is sure to draw the crowds for his headline West Dance set.
33. Climb that big tower thing at The Park
There is a big, colourful tower that offers some lovely views of the site. If the weather is nice, it's well worth the queue.
32. Watch Mos Def play West Holts
The rap innovator makes a rare UK appearance at Glastonbury – see him do what he does best before he joins Gorillaz on the Pyramid Stage later on.
31. Dine at as many of Matt Proud's recommended eateries as humanly possible.
The man has taste.
30. Watch Fatboy Slim play East Dance
Because one middle-aged man and his turntables remains surprisingly thrilling at festivals.
29. Look out for underachieving indie frontmen
You can’t move at Glastonbury without a Pigeon Detective or one of their ilk appearing from nowhere. It's like I Spy, but with former NME cover stars.
28. Watch Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip play the Queen's Head
It's basically in a pub, which is great. It is perfect fare for the final night of the festival. And Scroobius Pip has the most spectacular beard.
27. Disappear down The Rabbit Hole
The surprisingly welcoming theatre of weirdness has Elvis (the real one) playing this year – if that doesn't convince you to give it a go, nothing will.
26. Watch Billy Bragg play the Leftfield
He is headlining and curating the returning Leftfield this year. Here’s hoping for another surprise collaboration with Bill Bailey.
25. Drink away at the Stonebridge Bar
Indie heroes from Hot Chip to Klaxons and Four Tet will be dropping by for DJ sets in a bar that is always a safe bet for fun and frolics. Get a pint of hot cinnamon cider en route to the Pyramid stage too - the perfect chilly evening pick-me-up.
24. Watch The XX everywhere
So in demand that they are playing at least twice (The Park and The Other Stage), The XX will sweep everything before them with sleeper hit after sleeper hit. Prepare to say: "Oh yeah, I do know this one."
23. Embrace the nu-folk invasion
From Laura Marling wooing The Park to Mumford & Sons conquering the mainstream over at the John Peel Stage, embrace nu-folk this Glastonbury or perish.
22. Saw Wow! with Craig Charles
Having been in both Red Dwarf and Coronation Street, Craig Charles has a wide-ranging fan base. He also has a Fantasy Funk Band to present at the Wow! stage. Where else are you going to spend your Saturday night?
21. Laugh at U2 fans
Yes, some people bought tickets purely to see U2. I know! Spot these people, laugh at them gently, then try to convert them to the thousands of fantastic bands playing Glastonbury who don't have bad backs.
20. Watch The National play The Other Stage
They happen to be the official best band in the world at the moment. According to, well, me, mainly, but still, they will be unmissable at Glasto.
19. Help somebody up who falls over
People always fall over at Glastonbury. Pick them up. You can feel good about yourself and they can feel, well, probably nothing whatsoever by that point.
18. Keep an eye out for special guests
From Jack White to Alex Turner to Jack White with Alex Turner, there have been some superb special guest slots in the past few years. Will they pull out the big guns for the 40th anniversary? The wise money is on The Strokes playing The Park Stage this time around. Ok, the hopeful money, but still worth checking out.
17. Watch the World Cup
England's game tomorrow will be shown on big screens on the Pyramid Stage. If they scrape through the second round match will be shown somewhere on site too. Even if we lose, you'll be at Glastonbury so you'll get over it much quicker than you would in real life.
16. Watch Julian Casablancas play the John Peel Stage
Even if his chums don’t turn up the king of New York cool will be strutting his leather-bound stuff with a solo set sure to excite on the John Peel Stage.
15. Listen to Worthy FM for the latest on-site news
Highly informative and interesting, plus good for wetting the appetite for bands playing later in the day. Also, this comes complete without Chris Moyles – always a bonus for the radio.
14. Dance to cheese with Ultimate Power
The cult London clubnight will be playing three DJ sets over the weekend featuring the very best of the very worst songs from Meat Loaf to Journey. In a good way.
13. Listen to Tony Benn
A politician who actually helps people, tells jokes that are funny and goes to Glastonbury every year. The festival favourite will be fielding questions and sharing his knowledge at the Speakers Forum.
12. Watch Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg play the Pyramid Stage
The unlikely combination of an ageing country singer and a gangster rapper will perform back-to-back on the Pyramid Stage in a sort of eclecticism-in-action afternoon. A collaboration could be on the cards too, with the US stars sharing a special bond over their renowned taste for mildly illegal smoking sessions.
11. Dance silently at Silent Disco at The Park
It's a disco, but it is silent. Except it isn't. Oh, you know about these things. They are fun. True fact.
10. Watch loads of great films in the Cinema Tent
Toy Story! Four Lions! Kick-Ass! Lots of films about music! If you need a sit down for a while, the Cinema Tent is a good shout.
9. Lose Yourself in Shangri La
Well if we told you what to do here then it would be harder to lose yourself wouldn't it? So just go and be what may.
8. Hunt down the musical legends
Ray Davies playing The Kinks hits, Slash playing Guns 'n' Roses' back catalogue, Carl Barat dropping Libertines classics – search out the old boys for some new fun.
7. Listen to Early Edition with Phill Jupitus, Marcus Brigstocke et al in Cabaret Tent
Lots of Daily Mail baiting, iPhone baiting, maybe even bait-baiting, and other witty anecdotal chit chat from Brigstocke and the boys.
6. Find a band with a funny name and discover they are actually quite good
Possibilities for this include Wonkavision, Gandalf Murphy and the Slandovian Circus and Prof Nohair and the Wig Lifters. Oh, and Snoop Dogg.
5. Watch fire-eating robots and steel dragons clash and fight in Trash City
Like dungeons and dragons except you have cider in your hand and aren't seven any more.
4. Watch Gorillaz on the Pyramid Stage
Only playing because U2 pulled out, Damon Albarn and his merry men will have more special guests than you can blow a vuvuzela at and put on a show like few others in the festival's illustrious history.
3. Spot Michael Eavis and hug him
He has got the second best beard at the festival (The Pip just pips him), plus he created the whole thing. Say thanks to the smiley man in physical fashion.
2. Watch secret gigs at the Strummerville campfire
Sit around the campfire where the former Clash man used to set up his own Glastonbury base. Expect secret sets from special guests, as well as the ever-brilliant Frank Turner and The Drums.
1. Ignore all of the above
Do whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it. It's the best way. Don't miss Stevie Wonder though, that would be ridiculous.
Keep checking back to Virgin.com for all the latest from Glastonbury Festival.
Greg Rose
