http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth2012-02-17T13:49:29.084ZPosts of 2009 ArchiveGoogle Sites1http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/14647026709368533412009-03-05T14:35:08.102Z2009-10-13T17:15:46.937Z2009-10-13T17:15:46.937ZQueens Head and Cinema on the move?
GlastoEarth Exclusive, 5th March 2009

Early rumours heard by GlastoEarth hint at a few previously undisclosed changes being considered for the 2009 festival. The Queens Head may relocate to the corner previously occupied by Left Field, the cinemas moving to share the same field as Acoustic, and finally the hospitality camping in central back stage might be moved out to the old cinema field.

In recent years, the Queens Head has been drawing bigger crowds, with an increasingly strong line up. In 2009, Elbow played a packed small scale gig at this stage, in addition to their full scale slot on the Other Stage. They went on to win the Mercury Prize, the UK's most prestigious popular music award. Many festival goers have complained about sound clash between the Queens Head and the Other Stage. This new potential location could answer those criticisms.

The main cinemas, traditionally an out of the way affair, and giving the nearby campers good reason to pack their earplugs, may end up soaking up the spare space around Acoustic, along with the existing Red Flag real ale tent. Previously a religious group ran the two storey Common Ground cafe in this field, but were later banned from the Reading Festival, and were subsequently absent from Glastonbury in 2008.

With the move of the cinemas, those in the north west could have an easier night's sleep, but family camping regulars in the Cockmill Meadow, close to the new location, may be needing a few more earplugs.

See the festival site plan with the GlastoEarth Map






SingStar competitors at the Queens Head.
Photo by Guardian Tech Blog, Flickr.
Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comqueensheadandcinemaonthemove11http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/75772410682873387242009-03-20T17:10:48.276Z2009-10-13T17:08:44.327Z2009-10-13T17:08:44.326ZGlastoEarth 3D 2009 Arrives

It's been modelling-a-go-go over the last month here at GlastoEarth towers, and finally the first cut of GlastoEarth 3D 2009 is available! Take in a virtual view from up at Flagtopia, look down at the Pyramid from the farm, or explore the mini-maze of the central markets.

You'll find the 3D stuff in the Bonus Features section of the GlastoEarth map. If you already have a 2009 version, the 3D section should be available automatically - just fire up Google Earth. If your PC isn't too hot, try turning on just one section at a time. And remember to turn on Terrain in Google Earth - Worthy Farm must have it's hills, and indeed, the 3D version of the map depends on them being there to work properly.

There's a few gaps (everyone's favourite bus is yet to appear!), but the coverage this year is much more extensive, and the download much smaller. Between now and the festival though, expect a few additions. With any luck, a virtual Somerset cider will be yours for the drinking, and maybe the virtual falling over too.

Not got the map? GlastoEarth Map

Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comglastoearth3d2009arrives5http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/27482376531284921162009-03-10T16:52:03.245Z2009-10-13T17:08:09.612Z2009-10-13T17:08:09.611ZCampervan Expansion Proposed.
Space for campervans and caravans could expand if plans submitted to Mendip Council go ahead. Expansion of campervan space would be welcomed by regular van visitors. Tickets for this area - outside the main festival fence - have traditionally been much sought after.

The proposal also includes changes to the gates to ease queuing - including Gate B, popular with staff, that suffered from long queues at times in 2008.

The potential changes, which will not increase site capacity, will be open to public comment until Friday March 27th

Updated: Although reported by This is Somerset as being campervan expansion in the West, a source close to the festival has subsequently suggested that the proposal is for the regular van area in the East.

Photo by boliston, Flickr
Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comcampervanexpansionproposed7http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/35826407854510776352009-04-12T23:12:12.812Z2009-10-13T17:07:45.623Z2009-10-13T17:07:45.623ZFestival Releases 2009 Site Plan
The festival organisers today released the 2009 Fine Guide map, showing the main changes to the site for 2009.

As previously reported exclusively here, the Queens Head moves from it's previous spot near The Other Stage, to William's Green - a new entertainment area named in memory of Michael Eavis' grandfather.

The cinema field and two acres of Woodsies - previously public camping - are being given over to hospitality and crew camping, freeing up space in the 'interstage area' between the Pyramid and Other stages.

The indoor cinema moves into Norman's Close, to share the field with the Acoustic stage which remains in its familiar position. The outdoor cinema, a feature of the festival since 1989 where it had it's first home at the bottom of Kidney Mead, will not be present at the festival.

Oxfam Crew camping, which last year moved from Tom's Field to Big Lickle, this year moves again, one field north into Spring Field, following a rumoured breakdown in relations with the owner of Big Lickle.

Other changes, following a successful application to Mendip council, include - for the first time - three campervan fields in the west, labelled as a family area. The festival have not yet announced how passes will be allocated for the seperate east and west campervan areas. Additional parking fields have been added in the west, balancing against the parking fields now being given over to campervans.

Family camping for tents, which grew in 2008 with a newly allocated area in Spring Ground, gains a third area in 2009 in the corner of Paines Ground adjacent to Gate D.

Also in the west, where the festival has been expanding since 2005, the fenceline will grow to add a 22 acre crew camping adjacent to the Steanbow Farm Dairy Unit, bringing the total area inside the Super Fortress fence up to 750 acres - which excludes campervan fields and car parks.

Expect more detailed news on site changes here at GlastoEarth in the run up to the festival.

Follow glastoearth on Twitter for updates as they happen.
Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comfestivalreleases2009siteplan6http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/78357417940939403442009-04-22T21:39:06.728Z2009-10-13T17:07:30.283Z2009-10-13T17:07:30.282ZDance Village Adds a New Dimension.
The festival today announced the 2009 plans for the Dance Village, which include a new first: 3D visuals for dance music fans at the 3D Disco, combining with the Silent Disco outfit for the after-hours session.

The new visual treats will come from Novak, an arts collective from the North East of the UK, who have performed their Hi-Def 3D Disco work at festivals and other arts events around the world. The audience wear 3D glasses to see the "eye popping" video and graphics.

The Silent Disco concept - where clubbers don radio headphones - first appeared at the festival in 2005, allowing all night dance sessions without breaching an increasing regime of noise monitoring and regulation by the local council.

The following festival, in 2007, saw the Silent Disco idea rolled out to a second venue, in The Park area that was a key part of the event's expansion that year.

Elsewhere in the Dance Village, the main East and West tents are promised to be "Bigger, badder and better", with the Pussy Parlure in the classic Spiegeltent staying on board for its fourth year alongside the Dance Lounge, and the funky outdoor G-Stage.

New venues include a "triple-domed Magic Bubbles area" with a more relaxed sounding vibe of food and chill-out, and The Boudoir which the festival is currently keeping under wraps.

In recent years, Glastonbury has continually expanded its dance music offering, from just two main venues in 2004 - the Dance Tent and The Glade - to more than ten venues expected this year.

Video: 3D Disco in Trafalgar Square, London

Follow glastoearth on Twitter for the latest news and mumblings.
Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comdancevillagegetsanewdimension6http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/18496125905701401622009-05-06T19:46:49.348Z2009-10-13T17:07:02.117Z2009-10-13T17:07:02.117ZTrash City Unveil 2009 Plan
GlastoEarth Exclusive

Trash City, whose "post-apocalyptic rave" was a massive hit in 2008, today confirmed their plans for 2009.

Remaining in the field they first occupied last year in the festival's late night area, the collective will be adding a new mutoid creation and a performance experience, alongside three successful venues from the previous set up.

The newest creation is "a giant interactive pinball table-cum-music venue, in which the audience, as the pinball, gets catapulted through a series of incredible worlds, culminating in a giant light-up score". We're baffled as to what this will turn out like, but can't wait to be part of the weird kinetic action.

Back again is the travelling gay disco NYC Downlow, set in a derelict Manhattan apartment block, with a breathtaking film set appearance. Inside one is transported back to the heady days of clubs like the famous Studio 54, with disco tunes and neon kitsch. NYC Downlow first appeared at the festival in 2007, and was an overnight success for revellers seeking some 70s boogie action and a mustachoid crowd, both fake and real!

New this year is a live art and theatre group, going by the curious name of You Me Bum Bum Train. GlastoEarth somehow doubts the myspace profile of being a 99 year old female, but is reassured by Trash City's mysterious Ruby Blues that they will be "high-jacking a real life plane crash and taking the audience for a wild through a random array of weird and wonderful worlds". 

We're expecting the familiar aircraft to be playing a starring role, "...for the ultimate Alice In Wonderland experience" they claim, and the YouTube video certainly doesn't disappoint in the fascinatingly strange rating.

The Tarantino Dusk-Til-Dawn inspired Dragstrip venue returns - hopefully without actual killer bats - but certainly with DJs, bands and a nightly aerial Vampire Show. Burlesque performances round out the menu of twisted attractions.

Also getting a place again is the Rubbish Fairy, dressed with the spoils of possibly the world's most creative bin plundering, and featuring art, music and performance.

And of course there's the stuff the mutoid waste company does best: The scrap pile art, mutant vehicle parade and pyrotechnics.

Arcadia, who last year lit up the skies with their incredibly gas installations, will this year move to their own field next door, just over the railway track.

As in 2008, Trash City is expected to be licensed until 6am again this year, and will no doubt be rammed soon after midnight. Our tip to avoid the crowds is go early, or go very late.

For the latest updates, follow glastoearth on Twitter
Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comtrashcityunveil2009plan9http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/52195594721195864052009-05-08T21:03:14.496Z2009-10-13T17:06:49.976Z2009-10-13T17:06:49.976ZEavis Gives Go Ahead For Iconic Tower
GlastoEarth Exclusive

The landmark Left Field tower will appear again at this year's festival, despite the absence of the Left Field organisation, GlastoEarth has learnt.

We spoke to Rob Floyd, a partner in Pro-Weld Fabrication who led the engineering of the tower, about its inception in 2004 and its future.

Appledore shipyard had been earmarked to the do the engineering, but had then collapsed. "My partner Rich bumped into one of their shop stewards in a pub... he wondered if we could help with the tower."

The engineering of the tower - designed by artist Graham Jobbins - was subsequently rescued and led by the Pro-Weld team. "The Workers Beer Company [WBC, union backed founders of the socialist campaigning organisation, The Left Field] asked us if we'd use union labour... we said yes... and rented a new factory unit to build the tower".

The tower became an iconic feature of the festival site, with it's projecting beams visible across the valley throughout the night.

Late in 2008 however, following the surprise announcement that  The Left Field wouldn't be appearing at the festival in 2009, the tower was set to disappear. "We recieved an email from WBC... There's no Left Field, no Left Field tower".

The absence of the organisation caused consternation with some hard-core festival fans - feeling it showed an erosion of the festival's cherished values. The Left Field subsequently announced a new focus, staging an event in Texas for Billy Bragg's Jailhouse Doors project, bringing music into prisons.

The tower however, has now recieved a reprieve. "We got a call from Graham... he'd had a chat with Michael Eavis, and Michael had said yes, of course we're having the tower", said Rob. Now it's full steam ahead for the artist and the Pro-Weld team, who expect to be erecting the tower later this month. "It'll be in the same place... it can't go anywhere else unless we sink another four tons of concrete!". The build team will include Bill Burroughs, designer of the current Pyramid Stage structure.

It's not yet decided whether the Left Field lettering, at the top of the structure, will remain. Rob, nonetheless, was talking about the future. "One idea is to make a stage underneath... like a bandstand".

With the tower living again, Left Field fans can perhaps have hope that the organisation and the festival will work together again. And for those with less lofty ideals, it is, of course, a beacon of navigational hope when too much cider means all else is lost.

The Left Field tower is featured in the GlastoEarth Map, in the Bonus Features' 3D layer, modeled by Chris Harbour with the kind help of Pro-Weld Fabrications.

Photograph by wentloog, Flickr.

For the latest updates, follow glastoearth on Twitter
Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comeavisgivesgoaheadforiconictower6http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/65868704862775987722009-05-11T21:32:29.577Z2009-10-13T17:06:31.848Z2009-10-13T17:06:31.848ZSite Build: 2009 is Under Way
News Roundup
Site preparation for this year's festival is now in full swing, including a new reservoir, more drainage improvements, a new crew facility and the first signs of the main fence.

Eve Trackway, suppliers of the custom designed "ring of steel", first laid trackway and poles ready to plant in late April. Now sections of the SuperFortress are becoming visibile on the rolling hills of the vale of Avalon.

The expanded fence this year will bring the core of the site up to 750 acres, from 720 acres last year. The total site area has also grown, now topping 1,350 acres with the added campervan and parking in the west.

Glastonbury remains firmly the biggest green field festival in the world, nearly twice the size of other major festivals such as the hugely popular US Bonnaroo.

Coming back down to earth though... despite significant drainage improvements following 2005, and a relatively dry 2008, upgrades continue, with new pipe runs being laid in the lower area of the site, including through the Pyramid field. The UK's national weather agency, the Met Office, has predicted a strong chance of a long hot summer, but the festival organisers it seems aren't leaving things to chance.

Over at Goose Hall, just across the track from the site of the old Left Field stage, a new a new permanent structure is well under way, looking set to replace the marquee previously used as the main crew food area during the site build. As with the rebuild of Goose Hall itself in 2008, the structure is being built in high quality stone, sympathetic to the traditonal architecture of the surrounding area.

The biggest addition - although one few visitors will notice perhaps - is a new £400,000 240,000 gallon reservoir to supply water to the festival. It replaces the temporary tanks normally squeezed in around the main farmhouse.

thisissomerset.co.uk quotes Phil Miller, Festival infrastructure manager: "We are hoping to save on the amount of water brought in. The reservoir will be more environmentally friendly. There will be fewer lorries coming on to the site and less plastic. The new reservoir will be safer and better than the temporary reservoirs used in the past and should improve the water pressure on site."

Phil added: "We started building the reservoir in February and aim to finish it by May 27. I believe we will have it up and running before the event. We've got to do it!"

GlastoEarth will bring you more site build news in the weeks to come, plus an exclusive full on-site report just before you are beginning to fill your rucksack.

For the latest updates, follow glastoearth on twitter
Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comsitebuild2009isunderway3http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/48617853448095263182009-05-13T00:14:20.195Z2009-10-13T17:06:18.216Z2009-10-13T17:06:18.216ZArcadia Return, to Turn Up The Heat
The geezers of gas are back - in a field of their own.

GlastoEarth Exclusive

After the dust settled from 2008, with the Jay-Z debates finally laid to rest, it was a field in the festival, not an act, that remained cemented in many festival goers minds. Any random sample of opinion would bring up the same verdict... Trash City was the enduring memory of those late, lost nights, a world away from the headline grabbing acts.

The backdrop to the storming success was Arcadia Spectacular, whose flaming installations lit up the night sky as part of the "Apocalyptic Rave" in the late night corner of the festival.

This year they take a well earnt step up, taking their own field just across the track from Trash City. At the hub is the Arcadia Stage, featuring the fiery After Burner DJ tower. Strummerville, founded after the death of The Clash lead singer Joe Strummer, are reassuringly again in their usual spot, near the memorial Strummer stone behind the Arcadia Stage.

The Arcadia field will also feature the Invisible Circus (we assume they will be visible, somehow), crumpet based foody niceness from 'The Strumpets with Crumpets', the 'Hemp Space', and a handily placed bar. Also in the field expect to see Arcadia's Flaming Trees and Victorian Lamposts.

Although the Arcadia name is seemingly new, it's not been a short ride. Partners Pip Rush and Bertie Cole have enviable pedigrees.

Pip's career began when he was "crawling around explosive Mutoid parties whilst still in his nappies" and went on to learn the craft of welding, to then turn it into art. Bertie earnt his stripes as the tent master for the company that supplies the mammoth Acoustic Stage at the festival and many other events worldwide.

Arcadia has rolled out their wares at several festivals including Ireland's The Electric Picnic and the UK's Beautiful Days. It's at Glastonbury however, that they have revealed their full glory. "We've set ourselves some big goals", Bertie said, ahead of revealing the plan to us tonight.

We await the flames. They await the gas bill.

In this area, in 2008, the music license was until 6am, with an a hour earlier for the bars. Like the neighbouring Trash City and Shangri-La, expect Arcadia to be rammed in the peak times after the main stage headliners finish. Our tip to avoid the crowds: Go early, or very very late.

For updates, follow glastoearth on Twitter

Photo by Russ Garrett, Flickr. Used under the Creative Commons License.

 
 
FRIDAY
 
16.30 DUB FX (Live)
17.30 STATIC JAMMA
18:30 BABY HEAD (Live)
19:15 DREADZONE
20:15 BLACKOUT (Live)
21:00 TRISTAN
21:30 CIRCUS SHOW
21:50 FREEFALL COLLECTIVE (Live)
22:50 LEE MORTIMER
23:40 CIRCUS SHOW, SHOW
00:00 SUBSOURCE (Live)
01:00 HYBRID
02:00 DISCO OF DOOM (Live)
03:00 end

SATURDAY
 
18:00 GUNS OF NAVERONE (Live)
19:00 DUB FX (Live)
19:30 SMERINS ANTI SOCIAL CLUB (Live)
20:30 KID BLUE
21:30 CIRCUS SHOW
21:50 SICKNOTE (Live)
22:40 ALEX METRIC
23:40 CIRCUS SHOW
00:00 FREELAND
01:00 FAR TOO LOUD
02:00 EVIL NINE (Live)
03:00 end
 
SUNDAY

17:00 KING PORTER STOMPER (Live)
18:00 DUB FX (Live)
18:30 PRONGHORN (Live)
19:30 POWERSTEPPERS
20:30 JAZZSTEPPA (Live)
21:30 CIRCUS SHOW
21:50 BAOBINGA B2B RESO
22:50 THE EGG (Live)
23:40 CIRCUS SHOW
00:00 ZION TRAIN (Live)
01:30 FREQ NASTY
03:00 end
 
Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comarcadiareturntoturnuptheheat8http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/65007277848210281402009-05-17T22:51:30.199Z2009-10-13T17:06:01.936Z2009-10-13T17:06:01.936ZNews Roundup: Trash City Basketball Court, Sculpture at Arcadia and... William's Green
News from around and about... The NYC Downlow, at Trash City, will be expanding it's Manhattan theme this year with the addition of an urban basketball out front, running block party entertainment during the day. In the same field, the freaky You Me Bum Bum Train experience will be starting in the old aeroplane - as we suspected - but where it will really lead is being kept under wraps.

Just over the track, the Arcadia crew will have sculpture mob Wrekon bringing their creations to the field and at the Arcadia Bar. Wrekon - based in Italy - have a heritage with Trash City founders Mutoid Waste Company and share the love of subversive art rendered with metal and a blow torch. Previous outings for the Wrekon include Japan's Fuji Festival, and the Rocket Festival in Spain.

Further north on the site, the festival itself has formally announced the William's Green area, featuring the relocated Queens Head as well as festival regulars the Chai Waller who move from their usual crossroads place in the central markets. We've seen their decor in the past, and rate these guys and gals massively.

Also in William's Green will be The Snug, a new silent disco venue run by Joe Bananas, a new outdoor circus stage, and a double sided 25 square metre video screen showing films and earlier main stage performance. Nearby, in the spot previously occupied by the Jazz Lounge perhaps, will be a new sound system Reggae Delights.

For the latest updates follow glastoearth on twitter
Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comnewsroundupbasketballcourtmetalsculptureandwilliamsgreen9http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/91408068713268345882009-05-21T20:25:58.111Z2009-10-13T17:05:49.264Z2009-10-13T17:05:49.264ZShangri-La lift the lid on 2009
GlastoEarth Exclusive - follow glastoearth on twitter

Shangri-La today revealed their ambitious plan for this year’s Glastonbury Festival, bringing new venues, acts including the Africa Express Sound System, Thursday night music, and an eclectic array of performance artists, all under Shangri-La's 2009 theme 'DYSCOTOPIA'.

The HUB, a new central feature of the area, will include a distorted version of an information centre, with "propaganda bursts" from people who "seem to drift in and out of reality".

Daytime entertainment at The HUB is provided by the Trans Siberian March Band from Russia, French outfit Le Fanfare en Petard, Orkestra Del Sol, Masters Of The Kazooniverse, DJ Russ Jones, Jason Mayal, Stoke Newington International Airport, and circus performers including big beat percussion, wall runners, tightwire acts and witch doctors.

The Continental Drifts team again bring Club Dada, with the Africa Express Sound System in a top Saturday night slot.

The original Africa Express - formed by Damon Albarn in response to the lack of African artists at the Live 8 event - first appeared, as a live act, at the festival in The Park area in 2007. For many, the performance was the musical highlight of the festival. Musicians from across Africa, including Malia, Senegal and Algeria were joined by western acts such as Billy Bragg, Norman Cook and Albarn himself. 

Elsewhere in the Dada line up, there’s a mystery slot cheekily slipped in on Friday night, billed as "Someone amazing but we would be sacked if we told you who", which will no doubt set tongues wagging in the run up to the event.

Club Dada's entertainment begins late afternoon Thursday, and on Saturday afternoon – supported by the Arts Council of Great Britain – it hosts Club Attitude for the first time at the festival, with performances from top disabled artists including Deaf Rave and punk band Heavy Load.

Bassline Circus is back too. By day, expect a performance arts centre and cinema, with interactive installations, films, and fun and games, hosted by Glasgow’s Lowsalt and Autonomous Arts from Manchester.

In the evening, Bassline moves up a gear and onto the beats, with a mix up of DJs and performance acts. ”Top underground DJs, MCs, bands and the best of the New School circus crews connect the threads of the UK and European scene. DIY Smokescreen ATG crew London City Soldiers, Mr Psik Jstar plus more” say the Bassline crew.

By night, the music and performance theme continues. The line up will include Daddy Freddy, Jungle Drummer vs DJ Fu Wax, Inferno Bobby Friction and The Insiders.

New in Shangri-La this year is the Snake Pit, with a no-tattoo no-entry policy (and yep, if you lack the requisite skin job, there'll be a tattoo parlour ready to sort you out.). The Snake Pit will have stage shows and exotic cabaret. The organisers say it's a "glam dress code" thing, too. So bring your glad rags, and hope the sun shines on a mud free Pilton, just like the Met Office has said it will. Probably.

Also fresh for 2009 is the The Bodyshop. Detail is scant at the time of writing, but Shangri-La talks of an outfit specialising in body alterations and upgrades. (On Monday morning, can we all have full body replacements?)

Slumbarave reappears, with four-poster beds, an indoor spa and the Jacuzzi Lounge. Slippers and dressing gowns will be laid on, and guests can expect game weirdness such as "Mono Slipper Racing" (no, me neither) as well as late disco action from Absinthia and the Laundrettas.

Old hands of the Glastonbury late night area - Phil's Deluxe Diner – will be in Shangri-La again, with round the clock food, cocktails and DJs.

And if that lot isn’t enough, there’s a myriad of other attractions, rounding out the largest of the late night areas at the festival. Places include Come and Play, Area 51’s Underwater Lounge, Madame Nazreens Fortune Telling Booth, Gramophon Salon, Peoples Front Room, Smash and Grab, Temporary Autonomous Artists and Igloo.

Look forward to some strange days, and stranger nights.

CLUB DADA LINEUP

THURSDAY: Hoe Down - Folk Punk Ceilidh
17.00 - 17.45 Alejandro and Magic Tombolinos – Steaming gypsy jump
18.00 - 18.45 Brothers Bab – Ska and urban weirdness
19.00 - 19.45 Victor Menace!! –fastest East European music ever 
20.00 - 20.45 Cut A Shine – Annual hoe down masters get ready to Dozy Doe
21.00 - 20.45 The Destroyers –UK’s most amazing and weird gypsy act – 17 piece
22.00 - 23.00 Pronghorn – Kings of CowPunk and Endorseters 
23.00 - 00.00 Deathray Trebuchay – Frank Zappa on acid meets a East European film set.

FRIDAY 

Afternoon: Magpies Nest – Absolute masters of the new UK folk and acoustic and bring us their best .

12.00 - 13.00 DJ Crowe Club 
13.00 - 14.00 Run – Celtic Jump
14.15 - 15.00 Katy Carr – The UK’s most intellectual and fascinating song writer 
15:20 - 16.20 The Long Notes - Folk traditionalists with a dynamite twist. 
16:40 - 17.30 Ruth Theodore – Incredible soulful singer song writer 
17:50 - 18.40 Johnny Flynn – The famous young troubadour on a solo outing 
18.55 - 19.55 Lazy Habit – Hip hop pioneers 
20.00 - 22.00 The Pyramid Audio - DJ Massive
22.00 - 23.20 DJ Head Gardener and friends – bizonkers DJ special 
23.20 - 00.10 The Delegators – Superb and crisp rocksteady from Spain 
00.20 - 01.10 Surprise Superstar Guest - Someone amazing but we would be sacked if we told you who. 
01.30 - 02.40 The Dynamics – Absolutely amazing French act that remixes everything from Zeppelin to White Stripes in a ragga stylee 
03.00 - 03.45 Blackberry Wood – From Canada a Bonzo dog. 
04.10 - 05.00 Warlords Of Pez – They are simply insane, from Ireland, something very surreal and punky. 
05.00 - 06.00 DJ Head Gardener – Captain of the Secret Garden Festival and top enigmatic DJ. 

SATURDAY

Day: CLUB ATITUDE: Attitude is Everything have been at the forefront of disabled access to festivals for years, here a whole afternoon of the coolest bands from their community. 

14.00 - 14.20 DJ Chinaman (Deaf Rave) – Deaf DJ plays the coolest tunes 
14.20 - 15.10 Spaceships Are Cool - Using cool sci-fi toys, samplers, making bizarre music 
15.30 - 16.30 Al Cool ands Stranger Wines – Bizarre mash ups and new acoustic sounds
16.30 - 16.45 Jamie Renton (Chilli Fried) – World famous worldbeat DJ
16.45 - 17.40 Heavy Load – Brighton’s Buzzcocks goes bonkers. Film star band of heavy players 
18.00 – 19.00 Peyoti For President - Latin Manu Chou-like conquistadors of political punk. 
19.00 – 23.00 Killa Dilla – DJ’s – Natty Bo and Sizzle are the coolest old 78 and 45 DJs with Ska, Swing and Calypso

Night: Dada Spectacular
23.15 - 24.15 No.1 Station – Top ska and rocksteady Outfit ~
24.30 - 1.15 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (Chicago)
01.30 - 03.30 Africa Express Sound System
03.30 - 04.00 DJ Jason Mayall – The Eavis of Fuji Rock Festival, Japan 
04.00 - 05.00 Fat 45 – A dirty great big Soul Revue from Brighton’s 45s
05.00 - 06.00 DJ Jason Mayall 

SUNDAY 
14.00 - 14.30 DJ Lee – Soul and funk super DJ from Abu Dhabi 
15.00 - 16.00 Kim Lone – An amazing women who puts the Winehouses of this world in the shade 
16.20 - 17.20 Tarantism – Glastonbury heroes, UK’s finest singer songwriters and festi geniuses
17.40 - 18.30 Monty Casino – Funky dunky groovemerchants 
18.50 - 19.40 Brothers Bab – Jumping ska and Latin funksters. 
19.40 - 21.40 Jah Free and friends – Reggae veteran dubs it out 
21.40 - 23.20 Le Vagabond Boogaloo Club – Gypsy dance and cumbria DJ s from Hackney.
23.20 - 00.20 Trans Siberian March Band - 10 piece Gypsy Brass champs… 
00.40 - 01.40 Orkestra Del Sol – Scotland’s answer to a Serbian Speed Brass band. 
02.00 - 03.10 Les Fanfare Petard - Jumping French Hip Hop Brass maniacs
03.30 - 04.15 Polka Madre – Mexicos Gogol Bordello and welcome revolutionaries 
04.15 - 05.00 DJ Tofowski – Tofu was born and bred in the mud of this field. Gypsy beats.

Comperes include Des Occonor, Chris Tofu and Mandy’s Cousin.
Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comshangri-laliftthelidon20094http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/65162179863195880162009-05-28T21:40:24.849Z2009-10-13T17:05:36.664Z2009-10-13T17:05:36.664ZNews roundup: Trash City House Band, Arcadia Line-up-dateness and 3D joy.
Yep, it's time for another news roundup. This is where we at GlastoEarth (okay, I really mean me - it's just me, I admit it), bring you some little nuggets of random information, lovingly wrapped in random verbiage.

First up, the best DJ booth in the world? Hmm... Let's take a step back, to a time when I used to stay up, sometimes as late as one o'clock. Back then, the undisputed most exclusive wheels-of-steel cockpit was the main booth at the legendary New York Sound Factory.

The exclusivity worked liked this: If you weren't Junior Vasquez, you couldn't play in it. You don't get much more exclusive (or arsey) than that.

But the coolest DJ booth... ahhh... now that accolade I will now personally award to Arcadia's Mothership. I imagine their booking process works like this:

Arcadia: "Would you like to play at our field at Glastonbury?"
DJ: "Erm... there's a few things on, can I give you a call back?"
Arcadia: "The tower shoots flames and has lasers".
DJ: "I'm in."

Now this is a verrry roundabout way of pointing out that they don't just do DJ's. Some wriggling tentacles of stage below the flaming tower mean that Arcadia have live acts too, with Zion Train, The Egg and Evil Nine amongst others, doing their stuff this year. For the current lineup and times, see our (my) updated news story.

Now away from the new pups, and over to their Glastonbury birthplace: Trash City. I'm reliably informed (i.e. they told me themselves) that 'TC' now have a house band, Hooligan Night. Now for me, if someone says 'house band', I can only think of one thing: Glen Ponder, on I'm Alan Partridge. Suffice to say though that, with a mutoid creation like Hooligan Night, you're not going to find a jazz synthesiser act who's played wine bars in both Norwich and Ipswich.

Instead there's Ruby Blues and a bunch of other collaborators, who are all upstaged by the four armed robot drummer. It's all in their debut video, with backdrop footage of mutoid messyness from last year at Glastonbury.

Aaaand finally, just a little word to say that Shangri-La have kindly donated some of their 3D site plans to GlastoEarth. If you've got the map already, just have a look in the 3D bit, in Bonus Features. And if you've not got the map, go here.

For updates, follow glastoearth on twitter
Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comnewsrounduptrashcityhousebandarcadialine-up-datenessand3djoy5http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/38800905893177188042009-06-05T10:50:30.477Z2009-10-13T17:04:25.862Z2009-10-13T17:04:25.862ZGlasto World Cup Nets Cash for WaterAid

When two strangers met at last year's festival and chatted about having a game football in front of the Pyramid, they were thinking of a bit of a kickabout and jumpers for goalposts.

Nearly a year later, they've amassed a small army of players and cheerleaders, signed up Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs as pre-match entertainment, got a fundraiser for WaterAid well under way, and caught the attention of Emily Eavis.

Andrew Hogg, who's chat with Chaz Watson started it all off, explains. "We were at the eFestivals forum meet... and we were chatting about football... I'm a Boro fan and Chaz is an Aberdeen fan, so we were commiserating! We just thought it would be a bit of fun to have a match, nothing serious".

Back on the forum the idea took off, with teams for England and Rest of World quickly coming together. In March, they began to realise it could be a more than just a kick about, when Pat Gilbert from the Q Glastonbury Review magazine got in touch, wanting to to field some players and do some coverage. "That was the turning point", Andrew told us.

In April, Andrew and Chaz took the idea further. "We thought it would be good to have something other than just the game". They got in touch with Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs, mentioned the fund raising for WaterAid, and the boys agreed to be the pre-match entertainment.

eFestivals, hosts of the forum that brought the pair together, then offered to sponsor the kit. Andrew's fundraising meanwhile was relentless and brazen. On Twitter to Jonathan Ross: "any chance of bunging in some tax payers cash"... and quickly enough 'Wossy' promptly stumped up £100 for WaterAid.

Now, with Emily Eavis showing an interest, Andrew and Chaz deserve to be proud of how their little idea has grown.

But they remain down to earth.

"We bought some kids goalposts from eBay, but they're a bit small. If people are having difficulty scoring, maybe we'll go back to jumpers."
 
 
Glasto World Cup,
Front of Pyramid Stage,
Wednesday
3.00 pm: Hobo Jones & the Junkyard Dogs
4.00 pm: Glasto World Cup Kick off: England vs. Rest of World
5.00 pm: Trophy, and then off to the Cider Bus!
 
 
 
For festival news updates, follow glastoearth on Twitter
Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comglastoworldcupnetscashforwateraid6http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/56404869106435644222009-06-11T17:19:21.538Z2009-10-13T17:03:07.884Z2009-10-13T17:02:35.267ZTort's Pick of the Festival

FAQ writer Tort talks us through an eclectic musical journey

I’m a prodigious wanderer when it comes to Glastonbury and spend a great deal of my time off on my own, snooping around in little corners of the festival and creating a photographic record in order to both embellish the F.A.Q’s on this website and also to include within my own festival photography galleries. The advice I give within the F.A.Q’s is to only pick 2 or 3 “must see” performances each day, but nevertheless I have to confess that I've been diligently studying Halvin's excellent “Clashfinder” for the last few days & working out a vague plan of the routes I'm going to take around the festival.  I did the same thing last year and was surprised at how much I achieved. 

Assuming the weather is fine, the first thing I would advise anybody to do is to take a wander up to “Flagtopia” where you can get the most unbelievable views across the whole of the site. It’s a bit of a climb but it’s so worth the effort and it really gives the Glastonbury newcomer their first taste of exactly how enormous the festival is. 

For those who get their tents up early enough and are looking for something to do at 3pm on the Wednesday afternoon you could do worse than popping along to the Pyramid Field to see my good friends Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs. Fresh from their support slot on the recent Levellers tour these 3 men of Kent will astound you with their instrumental dexterity!!!  If you miss them on the Wednesday they will be doing several other gigs over the course of the festival. 

One of my favourite smaller festivals is Endorse-It In-Dorset where the music is geared towards the punk / ska / skiffle end of the spectrum. I’m therefore going to be making a bee-line for Club Dada in Shangri-La on the Thursday evening for the Punk Folk Ceilidh Hoedown, where Endorse-It organisers and cowpunk aficionados Pronghorn head the billing. 

One area that made an enormous impression on me last year was Trash City with the amazing pyrotechnics and flaming DJ Tower which had an old school rave atmosphere in a Mad Max setting. Arcadia, who were responsible for these attractions last year, will have their own field in 2009 and I’m especially looking forward to spending some time there with my hands in the air for Hybrid’s session on the Friday night. 

The larger stages of Avalon and Croissant Neuf get plenty of press coverage and rightly so because they both have wonderful atmospheres and great line ups. But smaller Greenfield venues like the Tadpole, One World and Mandala Stages, as well as places like the Bimble Inn in The Park are less well advertised. Some have entertainment programmed all the way through the weekend from Wednesday onwards so I’ll be making sure I spend plenty of time flitting between these places and catching up with old favourites like 3 Daft Monkeys, Biggles Wartime Band, Tarantism, Loonaloop and the Weirdstrings.  

I’m heavily into what is generically called “World” music and one of the most amazing experiences I have had at Glastonbury was the extraordinary Africa Express collaboration which Damon Albarn brought to the Park in 2007.  This year we have an Africa Express Sound System to look forward to so I will be back at Club Dada for this to dance into the early hours of Sunday morning.   

Then as far as the entertainment on the main stages is concerned, well everybody’s tastes are different, but when it comes to live music in the open air I tend to err towards uplifting tunes which put a smile on my face and get my creaky old knees moving.  My personal recommendations are therefore as follows:- 

I saw Speed Caravan at WOMAD last year and they blew me away with their foot stomping set of Arabic / rock crossover music played on the ancient Oud. So if, like me, you are growing a little weary of the seemingly endless stream of indie guitar bands these guys will restore your faith that there really is something new in rock’n’roll. 

Being a 60’s child Rolf Harris always holds a special place in my heart and he has become a Glastonbury legend over the years. But if you feel his jokes are getting a little tired then pop up to Avalon for the Lancashire Hotpots instead and a spot of Chippy Tea! 

Easy Star Allstars are doing 3 sets over the course of the weekend and will be playing each of their 3 albums in turn. They came to most people’s attention a few years ago with their “Dub Side Of The Moon” covers of Pink Floyd classics in a dub style.  This was followed by “RadioDread” for all you shoegazing fans of Thom Yorke & co. But fresh off the press is their “Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Dub Band” and I hope to be up & about in time to catch this on the Pyramid Stage first thing on Sunday. 

Amadou and Mariam are the blind couple from Mali who have been making excellent Afro-pop music for years but really came to the fore in 2005 with their Manu Chao produced “Dimanche a Bamako”. Their recent “Welcome to Mali” has pushed them even further into mainstream awareness and their joyous sound will be perfect for a sunny Sunday afternoon. 

Tinariwen are another group who have come out of Africa and become enormously popular in Europe with their shuffling desert blues and traditional dress of the Saharan Touareg nomadic tribesmen. They are appearing on the Pyramid on Saturday but I am especially looking forward to their collaboration with innovative folksters Tunng in the Park. 

And then finally I’m breaking with tradition. I’ve not actually seen a headline act on the Pyramid Stage since the Chemical Brothers played in 2000 and I’ve never had the opportunity to enjoy the fireworks at the end of the Sunday night headliner’s set.  But I’m a huge fan of Damon Albarn, not only for his work with Blur but as much for his projects with Gorillaz and Monkey, Journey To The West and his innovative involvement with Africa Express. So I’m going to get myself down to the Pyramid on Sunday evening for a good old singalong and to hopefully get a few photos of those lovely fireworks over the Pyramid. 

So those are my plans. Some will come to fruition, others will no doubt end up being binned because I’ll have stumbled across something that grabs my fancy more at that particular moment in time.

But whatever you choose to do – Happy Glastonbury!

Pictured top: Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs, performing at Endorse It. Photo by londoninflames, Flickr.

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Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comtortspickofthefestival4http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/3432551091312863192009-06-18T15:48:06.692Z2009-10-13T17:03:07.882Z2009-10-13T16:59:56.722ZBassline Circus Brings Free Party Veterans to Glastonbury

In a weeks time, owners of abandoned warehouses and remote rural plots may be able to breathe a collective sight of relief, for a few days at least.
 
Just as comedians vacate to Edinburgh in August, it seems that the free party scene is about to temporarily implode into a small field in Pilton.

 

Tucked away in the Shangri-La corner of the festival site, in one of Europe's biggest geodesic domes, Bassline Circus are bringing together names that may seem like they are from a lost age.
 
DiY, veterans of the five day Castlemorton illegal rave in 1992, will be represented by Digs and Woosh, taking over the Bassline decks at 3.30am on Friday. DJ's from Smokescreen and Reclaim The Streets regulars Desert Storm will be adding to the mayhem, alongside Total Resistance.

 

It may be a far cry from the free form nature of the underground party scene, but for some, going legal has been a release rather than a bind.

 

"When you get older, needing an income, doing a few proper events like Glastonbury can keep you in the scene - instead of having to leave it completely and do a 9-5 job", Bassline partner Ryan told us today, speaking from Worthy Farm.

 

Despite the Bassline's collective's respectable exterior though, Ryan is far from selling out. "We live in our trailer all year round. We were pitched up on a farm near London in the winter when my wife gave birth. A midwife came over, then after that it was just us around our burner."

 

Looking forward to events in just over a week, Ryan is not surprisingly upbeat. "At the festival, it's going to be a melting pot... we're bringing together outfits from across the country, from Glasgow, from Manchester, from all corners..." and his enthusiasm goes beyond what he's up to himself with Bassline: "Trash City and Shangri-La are a great example of the positive effect that the scene can have."

 

Indeed. You'll know where to find us in a week's time.
 
Photo by AleReportage, flickr.
 
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Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.combasslinecircusbringsfreepartyscenetoglastonbury9http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/glastoearth/37175153996923355082009-06-15T18:56:58.157Z2009-10-13T17:03:07.882Z2009-10-13T17:02:15.868ZPhotos from the Site!
Preparation for 2009 is well under way. Yesterday we walked the site, from the farm to the Stone Circle, and all over.

Check out our exclusive photos from behind the scenes, as the greatest show on earth is assembled.

Paul Holmespaholmes@gmail.comphotosfromthesite3