This was the first year that the donations from the profits of the Festival were made to Greenpeace and Oxfam.  Michael Eavis felt that with the ending of the Cold War that people’s concerns had shifted away from the possibility of nuclear war to the concerns of the environment.  The Festival was also linked with […]

The festival took the name of the Glastonbury Festival for Contemporary Performing Arts for the first time, to reflect the diversity of attractions within the Festival.  It was the twentieth anniversary of the first Festival but unfortunately ended with a confrontation between the security teams and travellers who were looting the emptying festival site.  This […]

Again there were once again complications with the local council over the granting of the Festival licence. The Police were bought into the organisation and planning of the Festival for the first time. Donations of £100,000 were made to CND. Acts included: The Wonderstuff, Elvis Costello, Van Morrison,  Pixies and Suzanne Vega who appeared despite […]

The council’s decision to refuse the licence was overturned in court only in May.   1987 saw the introduction of the Womad  stage to the Festival. £130,000 was raised for CND and local charities. Acts included: Elvis Costello, Robert Cray, New Order, Paul Brady, Michelle Shocked and Van Morrison. Attendance:  60,000. Tickets:  £21. A reproduction of […]

Again, this was a bigger Festival than the preceding year’s event. Due to the growth there were additions to the farm office, communications, welfare and medical teams. The Theatre and Childrens Areas moved to new homes, the first Classical music tent was introduced and the market areas relocated from the top of the site. £130,000 […]

By 1985 Worthy farm was considered too small to accommodate the Festival so the neighbouring Cockmill farm land was purchased to enlarge the site by a further 100 acres. The sheer size of the newly enlarged site meant that communications were stretched to the limit – the ultimate test for any organisation. With tractors the […]

In January 1984 Michael Eavis successfully defended 5 prosecutions bought against him by Mendip District Council alleging contravention of the previous year’s licence conditions. All five charges were dismissed after a day long hearing at Shepton Mallet Magistrates Court. The local council then announced that the licence for 1984 would cost £2,000. The licence numbers […]

Deep in the South East Corner lies the Unfairground, the field for subversive art, performance and underground music. Infused with equal measure of anarchist spirit and satirical wit, this warped immersive zone repurposes everything, including you. Field Art & Performance Amidst the palaces of the Unfairground, Creative Director Sam Heggerty showcases radical art and performance, […]

West Holts is the outernational rhythm hub of Glastonbury, taking you on a journey from spiritual jazz and neo soul through cosmic disco, dance queen divas, breakbeat culture , afrofunk, reggae, hip hop, psychedelia and music that defies any categorisation at all. This year’s West Holts mix and poster are below, as well as a […]

Nestling in the centre of the markets, opposite the Cider Bus, and only a stone’s throw from the Pyramid Arena, the Bandstand’s mission is to surprise you. Amidst the craziness of Glastonbury, you might think that’s a bit of a tall order, but we can do it by being still more crazoo – or by […]