Who let Clarkson programme Glasto?

For the last few years Glastonbury has become renowned for putting ‘interesting’ acts in their headline spot.

This year they’ve pretty much filled the main stage with ‘interesting’ bands. In fact the bands are so interesting thatthey could have asked Jeremy Clarkson to pick the acts.

I’m not saying this is a bad thing. It takes all styles to make a festival - especially one the size of Glastonbury - and once you take the fact that there are plenty of other stages to enjoy - it’s pretty quirky fun.

So lets take a look at the Pyramid stage (aka the Dad rock stage).

On Friday Neil Young is headlining the stage followed by The Specials as the penultimate act.

But there is also Lily Allen and friendly folksters Fleet Foxes and the first band on the stage on Friday is Bjorn Again - the ABBA TRIBUTE act.

On Saturday The Boss, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band are headlining - then Kasabian are on bring things a little towards the 21st Century while still remaining dad-inoffensive.

But then we are going back a few decades to Crosby, Stills & Nash followed by Dizzee Rascal and Spinal Tap.

Then on Sunday you have Blur, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, Madness and Tom Jones.

And at the start of the day on that stage you have Status Quo and Tony bloody Christie.

If the goal was eye opening shock, laughter and then realisation that - you know what - actually that could make for a great day out - then they’ve succeeded.

And if Dad rock isn’t your scene then go the Other Stage for The Prodigy (which WILL be an amazing set), Glasvegas, Bat for Lashes, Bloc Party, Ting Tings and many more.

Not to mention the John Peel stage, the BBC Introducing stage and the Acoustic stage.

<!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; mso-layout-grid-align:none; punctuation-wrap:simple; text-autospace:none; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} p.MsoFooter, li.MsoFooter, div.MsoFooter {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; tab-stops:center 207.65pt right 415.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none; punctuation-wrap:simple; text-autospace:none; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:21.0cm 842.0pt; margin:70.9pt 2.0cm 70.9pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>

I think Glastonbury, now approaching its 40th year of existence, seems to have been through its quarter life crisis, had a snap at a mid-life crisis with JZ last year - and is now settling comfortably into middle aged.

While at the same time providing a garage and a room downstairs for its children, grandchildren, the cool kids from over the road and the odd wandering hippy.

Of course if you want a really interesting, friendly and top festival experience - book a ticket to Jersey Live in September and say hello to me.

Headliners Kooks and Basement Jaxx are joined by Passion Pit, Doves, Jack Penate, Twisted Wheel, Spinnerette, Frank Turner and my current favourites - Fight Like Apes.

But that isn’t all there is to it - you’ve got a silent disco, a great local stage and a VIP stage backstage with Frank Turner headlining on Sunday and a DJ set by Craig Charles.

That isn’t all though - you’ve also got the thing that splits Jersey Live from the other UK festivals - the Les Inrocks stage - bringing a touch of France and the French music scene to a UK festival - mixing France and the UK - much like Jersey itself in fact.

Then there is the brilliant dance arena with headliners Andy C & MC GQ, 2MANYDJS joining London Elektricity, Birdy Nam Nam, Beardyman and others.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Glasto goes back to the Boss (guardian.co.uk)
• Revealed: Full Glastonbury lineup (guardian.co.uk)
• Jarvis Cocker confirms Glastonbury appearance (idiomag.com)
• What do you think of this year’s Glasto lineup? (guardian.co.uk)
• Glastonbury Lineup Announced (jambase.com)
• Maximo Park to open Glastonbury (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Glastonbury 2009: Final tickets sell out (guardian.co.uk)

Share/Save

Social media festival coverage

Let me tell you about my weekend and the reason I haven’t blogged much in a few days. It all starts with an ftp client and a wristband.

[Read more]

Share/Save

Signs of growing up: The Proms

As I approach the marking of my 27th year on this planet I’ve decided to take a look at the signs of growing up I keep noticing as the days steam past me.
[Read more]

Share/Save

Tune in to me

When I joined the BBC in Jersey nearly six years ago one of the first things I pushed for was a radio show all about the Jersey music scene.

[Read more]

Share/Save

The 21st Century Mix Tape

Hands up if you ever spent four hours hunched over the radio, finger over the pause button getting ready to tape the Top 40?
[Read more]

Share/Save

What to do with the music?

As part of my day job I get sent dozens of CDs every week. These take the form of full albums, album samplers, white label promos and singles - even big package singles with sleeve notes.

[Read more]

Share/Save

Why music DOES cost

This was going to be a simple video post originally but I decided it required more than that as I started writing. So instead it’s a full post with a video attached.

[Read more]

Share/Save

How I split my music

Over the last few years I’ve interviewed a number of bands and musicians, from bands just starting out with their first gig up to bands with top ten albums and major recording contracts.

[Read more]

Share/Save

Four songs to close your eyes to

I had the chance tonight to do something I haven’t done in a very long time - sit down on the sofa, in the dark, with my iPod on and listen to music.

[Read more]

Share/Save

Next Page »