Glastonbury Festival has evolved significantly from its humble beginnings in 1970. Back then, tickets cost £1 and included camping and a free pint of milk from the farm. More than 50 years later, Glastonbury Festival has become a global phenomenon, showcasing some of the biggest names in music. So how has the festival changed over the years? Attendance: 1,500. Tickets: £1 The first Glastonbury Festival, which was known then as the Pilton Pop, Folk and Blues Festival, took place in September 1970, coincidentally a day after Jimi Hendrix died. Festival organisers Michael and Jean Eavis were inspired by the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music and by the success of the Isle of Wight Festival and Woodstock in the USA. For just £1 a ticket included camping and a pint of milk from the farm and approximately 1,500 people attended the event. That year, recent chart-toppers The Kinks and Wayne Fontana were advertised on the tickets as the headline acts, although both pulled out. They were replaced by a band called Tyrannosaurus Rex, who were one of the biggest groups in the UK in the early 1970s. Attendance: estimated at 12,000. Price: Free The following year, the festival was held in June to coincide with the summer solstice. Re-named Glastonbury Fair, entry was free and the number of visitors increased to 12,000. The festival's famous Pyramid stage also made its first appearance. Constructed from metal and plastic sheeting, the stage was deliberately placed on the Glastonbury-Stonehenge ley line (a network of lines which are said to connect sites with spiritual and cultural significance). Attendance: 12,000. Tickets: £5 In 1979, the festival was held over three days and officially known as 'Glastonbury Fayre'. The theme for 1979 was the 'Year of the Child'. Special provision and entertainment was provided for children and it was at this event that the concept of the Children's World charity was born, which still exists today and works in special schools throughout Somerset and Avon. Despite the numbers attending, organisers suffered a financial loss and no one wanted to risk another festival in 1980. It was also this summer that Michael Eavis' youngest daughter, Emily was born. Attendance: 18,000. Tickets: £8 The festival returned after a year's break, now officially named 'Glastonbury Festival'. Organisers partnered with Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). CND was involved with promotion, ticket sales, and received a donation of £20,000 from the festival. It was in this year that it was decided to build a new sturdier version of the Pyramid stage - one that could be used all year round. When famous acts weren't performing on it, it could be used as a cowshed and a store for animal food. Using telegraph poles and Ministry of Defence metal sheeting as core materials, the new stage took two months to build. Attendance: 80,000. Tickets: £59 On 13 June 1994 the famous Pyramid stage burnt down in the early hours of the morning - just two days before the festival. Fortunately, a replacement was provided by the local company who also provided the stages for the NME and Jazz stages. It was also the first year that Glastonbury was televised. Channel 4 covered the event over the weekend. In 1997, the BBC took over broadcasting the festival. Attendance: 90,000. Tickets: £75 including official programme. Torrential rain just before the festival weekend resulted in 1997 being dubbed the "year of the mud". The festival covered 800 acres by this point and many revellers were photographed dancing to the acts in their wellington boots rather than the latest fancy footwear. Attendance: Official estimate, 100,000. Unofficial estimate, 200,000. Tickets: £87 including programme This year saw the return of the Pyramid stage (the third to be built) – it was 100 ft (30.4 metres) high and clad in dazzling silver. There was also more camping space with the introduction of a special family campsite. However, this year saw a huge influx of gate crashers. Peopleclimbed fences and crawled through ditchesto join the party. David Bowie headlined the festival with a two hour show which was shown in full for the first time on television. Attendees: 140,000. Tickets £97, including programme During the 1990s, when the festival's popularity was rapidly increasing, break-ins were particularly rife at the festival site and after a high influx of gatecrashers in 2000, Michael Eavis was fined for breaching licensing conditions. As a result his team built a £1m "super fence" when the festival returned in 2002, putting an end to mass break-ins. The ring of steel repelled all non ticket holders and 140,000 legitimate festival goers attended that year. Attendance: 153,000. Tickets: £125 including programme In 2005, a storm caused chaos at Glastonbury. Almost a month's worth of water fell in a few hours on the festival's opening day, washing tents down the hills and flooding campsites. More than 400 tents were submerged in floodwater. There were reports of people having to swim to their tents to retrieve their belongings - and some people were spotted canoeing around the campsite. Fire services pumped three million litres of water from the area, leaving it strewn with litter, sleeping bags, tent poles and mud-covered tents. In the years that followed it was reported that Mr Eavis spent £750,000 on flood prevention measures. Attendance: 135,000. Tickets: £145 including programme This year saw the introduction of Emily Eavis' Park Stage, bringing a whole new section of the Festival site to life, whilst the Dance Village cemented its reputation in its second year. The Unsigned Bands competition became the Emerging Talent Competition, which generated thousands of entries and a host of worthy winners playing on many of the Festival stages. Attendance: 134,000. Tickets: £155 including programme There was quite a stir in the lead-up to 2008's Glastonbury after rap megastar Jay-Z was announced as Saturday night's headline act. Jay-Z's headlining slot was controversial due to the festival's traditional focus on guitar-based rock and pop music. However, Jay-Z defied the doubters and became the first major hip-hop artist to headline Glastonbury, marking a turning point for the festival's line-up. Capacity: 203,000. Ticket price: £248 Jay-Z's performance in 2008 carved out a path for more hip-hop and rap headliners. Stormzy dominated Glastonbury's Pyramid stage in 2019. While wearing a stab-proof Union Jack vest, he used his set to highlight inequality in the justice system and the arts. This year's Glastonbury Festival would be the last for the next two years due to Covid-19 pandemic. Ticket price: £280 Capacity: 210,000 Thousands of music lovers welcomed the return of the Glastonbury Festival in 2022, after a forced hiatus due to Covid-19. This year's festival also featured its youngest-ever solo headliner in Billie Eilish and Sir Paul McCartney as the oldest. As well as the music, climate activist Greta Thunberg alsomade a surprise appearance, telling festival goers the earth's biosphere is "not just changing, it is breaking down". Capacity: 210,000. Tickets: £373.50 + £5 booking fee Glastonbury Festival will return on 25 June this year. Festival organisers have announced British band The 1975, rock legend Neil Young and US pop star Olivia Rodrigo will be headlining. Rod Stewart will also perform on Sunday afternoon in the "legend slot" - 23 years after his last appearance at the festival. This year will be last festival before the 2026 fallow year to let the field recover. If you were unable to get yourself a ticket for the world's biggest music festival - don't worry - the BBC will have extensive coverage throughout Glastonbury 2025. Follow BBC Somerset onFacebookandX. Send your story ideas to us on email or viaWhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
From £1 tickets to super fences and hip-hop - Glastonbury through the years
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Glastonbury Festival's Evolution: From £1 Tickets to Global Music Phenomenon"
Bbc News
8.0
TruthLens AI Summary
Glastonbury Festival, which began in 1970 with a modest ticket price of £1 that included camping and a pint of milk, has transformed into a major global music event over the past 50 years. Initially known as the Pilton Pop, Folk and Blues Festival, it attracted around 1,500 attendees. The festival was inspired by the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music and the success of iconic events like Woodstock and the Isle of Wight Festival. The first festival's lineup featured popular acts such as The Kinks and Wayne Fontana, although they withdrew, leading to the substitution of Tyrannosaurus Rex as one of the main acts. The festival's subsequent evolution saw significant changes, including a name change to Glastonbury Fair in 1971 and the introduction of the Pyramid stage, which was strategically placed on a ley line said to connect spiritually significant sites. By 1979, the festival had grown to 18,000 attendees, but financial losses led to a temporary hiatus in 1980. The festival returned in 1981 as Glastonbury Festival, marking the beginning of a more structured and community-oriented approach, including partnerships with organizations like Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
As the years progressed, Glastonbury Festival continued to expand in both scale and diversity, with attendance skyrocketing to over 200,000 by 2008. This year marked a pivotal moment with Jay-Z headlining, challenging the festival's rock-centric tradition and paving the way for a broader range of musical genres, including hip-hop. The festival faced challenges, such as severe weather conditions leading to flooding in 2005, prompting significant investments in infrastructure and flood prevention. After a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival resumed in 2022, featuring notable performances from Billie Eilish and Paul McCartney, alongside climate activist Greta Thunberg. The 2023 festival promises performances from The 1975, Neil Young, and Olivia Rodrigo, while also preparing for a fallow year in 2026 to allow the festival grounds to recover. Glastonbury has not only become a cultural touchstone but also a platform for social and environmental activism over its storied history.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article traces the evolution of the Glastonbury Festival, highlighting its transformation from a modest event in 1970 to a global music phenomenon. By detailing key historical milestones, it emphasizes the festival's cultural significance and its role in shaping the music landscape.
Cultural Impact and Growth
The narrative showcases how Glastonbury has grown not just in attendance but also in its cultural relevance. Initially attracting only 1,500 attendees with a ticket price of £1, the festival has now become a staple in the global music scene, drawing thousands of fans and featuring renowned artists. This shift reflects broader trends in the music industry and the increasing commercialization of festivals.
Community and Legacy
By including information about the charitable aspects of the festival, such as the Children's World charity, the article portrays Glastonbury as an event committed to community and social causes. This angle fosters a positive image of the festival, appealing to audiences who value social responsibility in entertainment.
Potential Omissions
While the article celebrates the festival's history, it may gloss over challenges faced, such as environmental concerns, commercialization criticisms, or issues related to ticket accessibility. By focusing primarily on the positive aspects of Glastonbury's growth, it could create a somewhat skewed perception of the festival's overall impact.
Manipulative Elements
The piece does not appear overtly manipulative, as it presents factual historical data. However, the emphasis on positive developments could lead readers to overlook the complexities and criticisms surrounding the festival. The celebratory tone may serve to reinforce a nostalgic and idealized image of Glastonbury while downplaying any negative aspects.
Comparison with Other Reports
In the context of similar news articles, this piece stands out for its detailed historical perspective. Many reports focus on current events or lineups, while this one places Glastonbury within a broader historical framework. Such a narrative can foster a deeper appreciation for the festival and encourage engagement from both long-time fans and newcomers.
Societal Implications
This retrospective on Glastonbury may influence public perception of music festivals as cultural landmarks. It can bolster support for future events and inspire similar festivals, potentially impacting the local economy and tourism. Additionally, it reinforces the idea that music festivals can be platforms for community engagement and charitable initiatives.
Audience Engagement
The article likely resonates more with music enthusiasts, festival-goers, and those interested in cultural history. It appeals to readers who appreciate the evolution of music festivals and their societal roles, as well as those who might be considering attending Glastonbury.
Economic Considerations
While the festival's history may not directly affect stock markets or global economies, its popularity can influence related sectors, such as tourism, hospitality, and entertainment. Companies involved in event management or music production may find insights from this article relevant for strategic planning.
Global Context
In terms of global dynamics, the Glastonbury Festival represents a microcosm of the cultural exchange that occurs through music. The celebration of diverse musical acts can serve as a unifying force, promoting understanding and appreciation across different cultures.
AI Considerations
There is no strong indication that AI was used in the creation of this article. However, if AI tools were employed, they might have contributed to data analysis or content structuring, ensuring that historical facts were presented in an engaging manner. This could subtly shape the narrative by emphasizing certain themes over others.
The article is largely factual and rooted in historical accounts, making it reliable in terms of the information presented. However, its selective focus may lead to an incomplete understanding of the festival's complexities.