Glastonbury Festival: A Celebration of Music, Art, Performance & Connection

As the 2023 five day festival begins in Sommerset, England, we're giving you the scoop of what to expect before heading to one of the biggest live events in the world.

Glastonbury | Marca

If you’re not familiar with this infamous show, we'll give you some short & sweet history. Glastonbury began in the early 70s after the death of Jimi Hendrix, which was originally hosted as a Blues & Folk festival. After it's first year, it shortly turned into a headlining, open-air concert with added performances by pop and rock artists like The Kinks and Al Stewert. Following its official first year, multiple popular acts gathered from across the world for a chance to perform some of their biggest hits on their stages.

Its original name “Glastonbury Fayre” soon became “Glastonbury Festival” where it became a yearly performance that not only provided good music and a good time but fought for various prevalent social changes. With more music lovers and fans across the world wanting nothing more than to share the space with their idols, the festival was forced to expand their venue from few to multiple stages.

Paul McCartney | The Guardian | Harry Durrant | Getty Images

Some major acts within its lineup include artists like Billie Eillish, Paul McCartney, Amy Winehouse, Jay-Z, The Cure, and more. Ranging from various genres, styles, and talents, the roster included both legends and up-and-coming artists, which sets itself apart from other venues.

This special event also allows festival-goers to tent overnight, bringing with it a nostalgic camp-out experience that brings a sense of connection. Another way this popular celebration stands out amongst others is its sense of being present and highlighting multiple areas of art. Not only do they feature some of the biggest talents from across the globe, but they highlight other connectable facets such as poetry, physical art, theatre, and more.

Other takeaways include hundreds of vendors, physical artists, field cafes, activities, and more, which are located right on the campgrounds. Ticket holders can even secure a time slot to perform on designated mini-stages, allowing them to showcase their own talents in the realm of music.

Glastonbury Festival | SWNS

The array of musical talents that will be performing on the center stage include big names in the industry such as Guns & Roses, Elton John, Joey Bada$$, The Chicks, Becky Hill, and more. With a glorious mix of independent to established artists, there's plenty to explore and discover at this live event. The incorporation of older & iconic artists to younger and more current ones brings along a wide array of music fans of all ages.

Over 100 stages feature these incredible acts to occupy over 200,000 attendees with a stellar performance of their hit songs or latest albums. Each stage holds various allocated genres to help guide music fans to their favorite type of music. As more musical styles are created, Glastonbury adds in new stages to accompany them, such as 'Jazz World', 'NME', and 'Acoustic'. The most well-known and popular stage, 'The Pyramid' typically houses the biggest performers of the year, which this year will include The Arctic Monkeys, Lizzo, Raye, Nova Twins, Wizkid, and more.

With the festival already underway, we're ready to see Glastonbury history be made.