Glastonbury returns - as doors open after two year absence

Emily Eavis said Glastonbury is in "technicolour" this year with everyone "appreciating everything so much more" following the coronavirus pandemic

The Glastonbury Festival returns today
Author: Andrew KayPublished 22nd Jun 2022

After a two year break because of the pandemic, the gates open today for this year's Glastonbury Festival.

Sir Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish and rapper Kendrick Lamar will perform on the Pyramid stage while Diana Ross will fill the Sunday teatime legends slot.

Away from the main stages on the Thursday afternoon there will be a Diana Ross flash mob and on Sunday night closing the event will be a 'Burning Lotus experience'

The festival will also have a series of debates on things like the cost of living crisis, climate change, Ukraine and Black Lives Matter.

In 2019, Glastonbury raised £3 million for charity. Cllr Ros Wyke, the leader of Mendip Council has volunteered there for more than 20 years and told us how local communities also benefit

The Glastonbury line-up includes new acts such as Arlo Parks, Doja Cat, Easy Life, Fontaines DC and Griff alongside more established names including Crowded House, Primal Scream and Supergrass.

Pet Shop Boys will be headlining The Other Stage - the festival's second largest stage - in a "long-awaited" performance.

Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant will appear alongside American country and bluegrass star Alison Krauss following the release of their second collaborative album.

There will also be experimental pop music from Charli XCX and Caroline Polachek.

Three Ukrainian acts, including 2016 Eurovision winner Jamala, will bring an anti-war message to the site and there will be talks about climate change, Black Lives Matter and Russia.

People heading to this year's Glastonbury Festival are likely to be spared both sizzling temperatures and washed out fields, according to the Met Office

The train strikes are likely to impact the numbers of people choosing to arrive on the Wednesday via Castle Cary train station

For the latest travel information around the site click here

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