Coldplay, Kylie Minogue and the White Stripes are among the headline acts slated for this year’s sold-out edition of the Glastonbury Festival, to be held June 24-26.
Veteran artists Brian Wilson, Van Morrison and Elvis Costello are also on the bill for the main Pyramid stage, alongside New Order, the Killers, Doves, Garbage and Kaiser Chiefs.
“It’s going to be even better this year,” organizer Michael Eavis said of the British fest. All 112,000 tickets to the annual event went on sale April 3, and sold out in less than three hours.
Up-and-coming U.K. rock acts dominate the Other stage, including Razorlight, Kasabian, Bloc Party, Futureheads and Athlete. Interpol, the Bravery, Rufus Wainwright, the Dears, Hot Hot Heat, Brendan Benson and Cake round out the North American quotient for the stage, while Fatboy Slim and Royksopp will offer up danceable electronica.
The John Peel stage will feature performances by Bright Eyes, M.I.A., Secret Machines, Dresden Dolls, Rilo Kiley, the Go! Team, the Tears and M83, while Steve Earle, Tori Amos, Ani DiFranco, Glenn Tilbrook, Kathleen Edwards and Allison Moorer will visit the Acoustic stage.
As previously reported, Eavis has decided to skip the festival in 2006 to allow the grounds time to regenerate. “Next year we’re taking a usual fifth year off,” he explains. “It’s perfect for us and it gives all the right messages to the rest of the world. We don’t do it because we have to do it and its not tied to commercial interests.”
Since its inception in 1970, Glastonbury has become one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the British summer festival calendar.
Headlining acts last year included Paul McCartney, Oasis and Muse. The event raises funds for such charities as Oxfam, Greenpeace, WaterAid and various local organizations.