Photo: Andrew Allcock via Glastonbury Festival Website
Initially known as the Pilton Pop, Folk, and Blues Festival, the music gathering took place at Worthy Farm, opening the day after Jimi Hendrix's tragic demise. The following year found the celebration, donning its new moniker, The Glastonbury Fayre, and shifting the date to coincide with the summer solstice. This humble event gradually evolved into the celebration that is globally known and beloved today - the Glastonbury Festival for the Contemporary Performing Arts. Expanding to include circus-like performances, theatre elements, and music, the celebration now encompasses several days and features multiple stages. Glastonbury's first television broadcast in 1994 helped ensure the festival's ongoing success and popularity to this day.
Photo: Matt Cardy via Glastonbury Festival Website
Legendary artists such as David Bowie, Dolly Parton, The Cure, Adele, Florence + The Machine, Snoop Dogg, and Katy Perry have honored the event's stages throughout the decades. Rather than focusing on headlining acts of Glastonbury's 2024 lineup today, this review features some of the events' hidden gems. Lesser-known (to the United States, usually) artists, such as The Vaccines, The Last Dinner Party, Justice, and Mannequin Pussy, will be highlighted. (Disclaimer - since the event is based in England, a VPN may be necessary for optimal content selection, such as full artist sets. However, there are numerous performances available on YouTube that those of us 'across the pond' can access without such a service).
Formed in West London, English indie rock band The Vaccines has been taking to the stage since 2010. The band's current lineup includes Justin Hayward-Young (lead vocals/guitar), Arni Arnason (bass/vocals), Timothy Lanham (guitar/keys/vocals), and Yoann Intonti (drums). Immensely popular, the group has toured with huge names such as Arctic Monkeys, The Rolling Stones, Imagine Dragons, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Some notable tunes to check out include Wetsuit, Your Love is My Favourite Band, and Headphones Baby. Upbeat, feel-good songs featuring high-energy music that makes you smile are on offer here.
Newly formed London indie band The Last Dinner Party took the music scene by storm in 2021. Featuring five members, the band's roster includes Abigail Morris (vocals), Lizzie Mayland (vocals/guitar), Emily Roberts (lead guitar/mandolin/flute), Aurora Nishevci (keys/vocals), and Georgia Davies (bass). Winning the BBC's Sound of 2024, and their first album, Prelude To Ecstacy, debuted atop the UK album charts, outselling records by The Weeknd, Noah Kahan, and Taylor Swift to claim the coveted title. Selections such as Caesar on a TV Screen, Gjuha, My Lady of Mercy, and Mirror come highly recommended. Impeccable vocals, avante-garde music, and immense talent and creativity are hallmarks of the band's songs.
Formed in 2003, the French electronic music duo Justice are no stranger to the music scene. Members Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay have been hard at work on their new LP after a five-year hiatus, releasing Hyperdrama in April of this year. Justice are known for incorporating strong rock influences from bands such as Daft Punk into their music. Some tunes to consider include Neverender, Safe and Sound, and Incognito. Listeners can expect highly catchy songs laced with infectious beats that are sure to keep them dancing for hours at the club.
An American exception to the list, Mannequin Pussy is an indie punk rock band from Philadelphia. Formed in 2010, members include Marisa Dabice (vocals/guitar), Colins Regisford (vocals/bass), Maxine Steen (guitar/synths), and Kaleen Reading (percussion). Emerging from the slumber of a five-year hiatus, the group released its latest offering, I Got Heaven, on March 1st of this year. Songs to give a try include I Got Heaven, Control, Loud Bark, and Softly. Vibrant music paired with a wide array of attention-commanding vocals are staples that leave fans of Mannequin Pussy clamoring for more.
Photo: Anna Barclay via Glastonbury Festival Website
Although I have only experienced snippets of this event through videos and photographs, I still feel as though I've stumbled into a magical Wonderland. I can only imagine how it must feel to experience all the sights and sounds of Glastonbury in person and fully immerse myself in the whirlwind of activity. Combining headlining acts such as SZA, Coldplay, Dua Lipa, and Avril Lavigne with artists like those highlighted here ensures something available for nearly everyone's musical taste. The music itself is just the tip of the iceberg - myriad performance acts, local artisans, and ceremonies held on grounds steeped in rich cultural lore explain why the festival has bloomed into a five-day celebration.
Written By Vanessa Siebrass
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