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Glastonbury Festival – live: Coldplay spark rumours of surprise set as fans queue outside beloved indie venue

Dua Lipa, Coldplay, SZA and Shania Twain are in the top spots for this year’s festival as ticket-holders flock to Worthy Farm in their droves

Roisin O'Connor
Friday 28 June 2024 03:01
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Joe Wicks leads hundreds of revellers in workout session at Glastonbury festival

British pop star Dua Lipa is preparing to be the first headliner of Glastonbury 2024, as she takes to the Pyramid Stage on Friday (28 June).

Thousands of music fans continue to arrive at Worthy Farm, having faced delays after a person was hit by a train, causing line closures for travellers leaving London.

Rumours of a surprise Coldplay set have caused queues to form outside the Cheese and Grain. Despite reports that the band is just rehearsing, fans are convinced otherwise.

Meanwhile, fears of a washout have been alleviated by the latest Met Office report forecasting cloudy spells and “the odd spot of rain” before sun and isolated showers this afternoon.

The weather is expected to stay mostly dry through to Sunday, with temperatures hovering around 18C-21C.

Across the weekend, an eclectic lineup will perform on the sprawling festival’s various stages. Here is the full Glastonbury 2024 lineup and set times.

Earlier this week, Glastonbury organisers confirmed they will not be showing England’s Euro 2024 round-of-16 game during the festival.

If you’re following from home, the BBC has shared its schedule of coverage for the weekend.

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Joe Wicks leads hundreds of revellers in workout session at Glastonbury festival

Joe Wicks leads hundreds of revellers in workout session at Glastonbury festival
Roisin O'Connor28 June 2024 03:01
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SZA is the festival headliner who will save our summers

The Grammy and Brit winner has earned widespread acclaim for her two studio albums ‘CTRL’ and ‘SOS’ – yet, based on the confusion sparked when she was announced as a Glastonbury headliner this year, many still don’t know her name. Here’s why you should absolutely dive into her work, writes Kate Solomon

Don’t know Glastonbury headliner SZA? Here’s why you should

The Grammy and Brit winner has earned widespread acclaim for her two studio albums ‘CTRL’ and ‘SOS’ – yet, based on the confusion sparked when she was announced as a Glastonbury headliner this year, many still don’t know her name. Here’s why you should absolutely dive into her work, writes Kate Solomon

Roisin O'Connor28 June 2024 02:01
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Elton John shares unseen footage from Glastonbury 2023

Elton John shares unseen footage from Glastonbury 2023
Roisin O'Connor28 June 2024 00:01
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The 22 greatest Glastonbury performances ever, from Paul McCartney to David Bowie

A40-minute blast of pure, undiluted zeitgeist. A gigantic crowd stretching away over hill and vale. A generation’s prejudices and expectations overturned like a flick of dust off the shoulder. A setlist chiselled into quicksilver by Zeus and carried to the stage by a choir of winged roadies. Or maybe just the Dalai Lama, blowing out the candles on a birthday cake.

These are just a few of the reasons why a gig playing out on the hallowed grounds of Worthy Farm might go down in Glastonbury folklore – one of those iconic moments that don’t just make the weekend, but mark out the evolution of pop culture. Glastonbury is where musical history is made and cultural colossi are crowned on a near-annual basis.

Ahead of the return of the world’s greatest festival, headlined this year by Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA, here’s a look back at the best ever Glastonbury performances.

The 22 greatest Glastonbury performances ever

Ahead of the festival’s return to Worthy Farm, Mark Beaumont picks some of Glastonbury’s greatest ever music moments

Mark Beaumont27 June 2024 23:31
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Emily Eavis reveals dream Glastonbury headliner and when the next fallow year will be

Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis has responded to questions about when the next fallow year will take place, while also revealing which artist she would love to headline the storied music festival.

The fallow year happens generally once every five years to allow the Somerset fields at Worthy Farm to recover, after around 200,000 music fans descend on the site each year.

With this year’s festival on the horizon, Eavis is already looking ahead to 2025 and beyond.

Emily Eavis reveals dream Glastonbury headliner and when the next fallow year will be

Glastonbury co-organiser answered some of the most-asked questions about the music festival

Roisin O'Connor27 June 2024 23:01
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When is Dua Lipa performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury and how to watch

When is Dua Lipa performing at Glastonbury and how to watch

Pop singer has said she wants to make her audience at the Pyramid Stage feel like they’re in ‘a small little nightclub’

Roisin O'Connor27 June 2024 22:31
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Elton John shares unseen footage from Glastonbury 2023

Elton John shares unseen footage from Glastonbury 2023
Roisin O'Connor27 June 2024 22:01
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A brief history of Glastonbury’s Sunday Legends slot

From Dolly Parton to Kylie Minogue and Shirley Bassey, the Sunday Legends slot at Glastonbury sets the stage for some of the biggest and best moments at the iconic festival.

A brief history of Glastonbury’s Sunday Legends slot

From Dolly Parton to Kylie Minogue and Shirley Bassey, the Sunday Legends slot at Glastonbury sets the stage for some of the biggest and best moments at the iconic festival

Roisin O'Connor27 June 2024 21:31
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PICTURE: Green Man at Glastonbury

A performer in Green Man costume entertains Glastonbury revellers on day two of the festival
A performer in Green Man costume entertains Glastonbury revellers on day two of the festival (Getty Images)
Roisin O'Connor27 June 2024 21:01
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Emily Eavis explains why a Glastonbury festival ticket ballot wouldn’t work

Emily Eavis has shut down the idea of a “Glastonbury ballot”, calling the dilemma over the demand for tickets “one of the worst sides to the job”.

The Glastonbury co-organiser, who is the daughter of festival founder Michael Eavis, opens the gates to Worthy Farm today and officially kicks off the 2024 festival, which is being headlined by Coldplay, Dua Lipa and SZA.

Speaking to the BBC in front of the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm, Eavis was asked about whether organisers would ever consider doing a ticket ballot, considered one of the fairest ways to allow people to apply for tickets to in-demand events.

“I think if we did a ballot, we’d end up with some people who weren’t necessarily as bothered about coming,” Eavis explained to presenter and DJ Annie Mac.

“It’s really hard to say this year because I know a lot of people didn’t get tickets and they wanted them. But you know, a lot of the time, the people who really really want them get them do through volunteering or through competitions.”

Emily Eavis explains why a Glastonbury festival ticket ballot wouldn’t work

Festival co-organiser acknowledged the huge demand for tickets but pointed out other means of securing a pass to Worthy Farm

Roisin O'Connor27 June 2024 20:31

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