Glastonbury festival

The Glastonbury festival is a music festival that has been likened to a British Woodstock. Although consisting mostly of contemporary bands it include areas dedicated to Folk, world music, dance as well as comedy, theatre and circus. Originally heavily influence by the hippy ethics and the free festival movement in the 1970’s a large part of this festival make references to this, including the green futures/healing fields and the reputation for drug taking. The festival site also has is own purposely constructed stone circle.

The festival actually takes place at Worthy Farm near the small village of Pilton, but since Glastonbury is a nearby town already associated with mystical happenings it has lent its name to the event. The nearest town to the festival site is Shepton Mallet but there continues to be interaction between the people espousing alternative lifestyles living in Glastonbury and the festival itself.

The festival is organised by local farmer Michael Eavis, who has hosted the event since its inception.

The first festival (a smallscale event called the Pilton Festival) was in 1970, followed by the larger scale Glastonbury Fayre of 1971. The festival was not held again until 1979, and has been an annual fixture since 1981 (albeit with breaks in 1988, 1991, 1996 and 2001).

External links:

• http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/