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By Jamie Fullerton

Posted on 25/05/09 at 07:19:27 pm

And so, today (May 25) the UK’s bank holiday was characterised by – as well as beer garden residencies and general laughter (not from me) at the fact that Newcastle United got relegated – the announcement of the full Glastonbury line-up.

We already knew that Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and Blur were set to headline, but new names confirmed today to get the Excel printout highlighter moist include Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Lily Allen, The Specials, Friendly Fires and Rolf Harris.

It’s always exciting when the full list of acts hits you, as you scan the screen letting out sporadic “ooh!”s and “eh?”s, chortles and squeals of delight as your brain processes the information and precisely the kind of Worthy Farm weekend you’re going to have slowly becomes apparent (before you inevitably get wasted on disco biscuits on the Thursday night and don’t leave your tent until the Sunday).

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But log on to Facebook and Twitter and it’s clear that after the initial flurry of excitement a large degree of scepticism has been pinging around.

continued...

“Underwhelming”, a friend of mine described the list as on Facebook. Even bastion of dust the Daily Mail stuck its creaking oar in, asking whether the line-up is the oldest ever (ha!).

Still, with the news that Status Quo, the aforementioned Specials, Madness and Crosby, Stills & Nash are also set for Somerset, the Snail has raised a relevant issue. If we were to do a tot-up, the combined age of even just the headliners would be too large a number to type out in one working day.

Is this a bad thing? Should Michael and Emily have booked younger names to head up the Pyramid Stage?

Well, I was always told that you shouldn’t shoot down an idea unless you can come up with a better one yourself. And I’m struggling to think of a young contemporary act who could make the step-up, so I’ll refrain from taking pot shots.

Arctic Monkeys? Undoubtedly big enough, but they did it too recently, just two summers ago. Radiohead? Again, 2003 is still fairly recent memory for some, and they’re already signed up for the Reading And Leeds Festivals.

My only realistic tip would be Kasabian, based on the strength of the ace new album 'West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum' and recent live shows, but it’s arguable that they’re not quite at headliner level.

No, the simple fact is that we’re just not living at a time where there are enough hip young guitar-slingers to fill a Somerset field to the top with – it ain’t 2001 any more, my friends.

And should Fantasy Glastonbury Manager 2009, with a realistic budget, be launched, I highly doubt that you’d be able to come up with a better line-up. Although it would allow you to drop Pendulum from the bill, which would go some way towards achieving it.

Glastonbury can only book the best line-up in eternity if there are the bands around to do it – you can’t build a gold palace after you run out of the shiny stuff after the first wing’s complete and you’re just left with scrap copper for the rest of it.

And anyway, the list still boasts more than enough leg-tinglingly swish bands to get sleeping bag-wettingly excited about, even if we may not be in for a year that’ll be documented as a classic in the Worthy annums.

For me, the festival is one of the main reasons I’m in love with music, and I reckon that June 26-28, whether you actually end up watching Damon and co, is going to be another brain-swelling blur of amazing-ness.

Blog - is this the most middle-aged Glastonbury line-up ever?

29 comments

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Nee Animosity [Visitor] //May 25 2009 at 20:40
The line up is okay but the real question is... Is the Rice man on in the comedy tent?
Jamie Fullerton [Member] //May 25 2009 at 21:16
Good question - I've only seen him playing at SFA's new year's eve bash at the Royal Festival Hall, never at Glasto, I'd dearly love to change that.
[Visitor] //May 25 2009 at 21:34
WHERE THE FUCK IS KANYE WEST? HE WOULD OWN THE OTHER STAGE!
Scotty [Visitor] //May 25 2009 at 22:01
poor lineup
nick [Visitor] //May 25 2009 at 22:43
how is this a poor line up ? are u honestly serious? The wide range of artists always kills off the competition aka reading and be serious if eavis wanted the young guns such as the arctics he could easily, but he didn't as its been done before to not great effect. also when will the time come when people realise this festival is all about having a massive party and music is just to compliment the atmosphere.. and this year it will be the best festival again with specials madness kasabian friendly fires the boss, yeah yeah yeahs to name a few also what other major festival bosts one of the craziest and most amazing night lifes such as shangri la which glasto offers
Riceman!!!! [Visitor] //May 25 2009 at 22:45
What have I got in my pocket? Riiiiiiice!!! What do I shout when I chuck it? Riiiiiiice!!!
Dan B [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 00:10
Very happy with the line up, so many great bands. The awful thing is numerous headliner clashes and the worry of missing some very special guest performances and missing great live acts by not being at the right stages. This years gona be a good un though!!!.
ben thomas [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 00:26
this is awesome! i'm 17 and there are more than enough young bands on the bill to perfectly complement the more experienced acts. is damian rice playing?? i cant find him :(
theo [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 09:03
it is a good line up! i agree with nick.
Rob Galloway [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 09:50
TOM JONES ... how ace is that going to be
[Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 11:53
my family have got sunday tickets and yesterday just cheered us all up. My mum and dad are exited about madness, blur and tom jones. my sister'll be off to see ladyhawke or someone and me and my brothers are looking forward to yeah yeah yeahs there's something for everyone even though some of the acts seem a bit old we've grown up listening to them because of our parents so you can enjoy them however old you were (although i was hoping for arctic monkeys)
Gemma Hurst [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 13:00
It's a fantastic line-up. To people who say it's crap - to fill it with bands who have only broken through would have been a bit dull. So for Glastonbury to book bands that have inspired a large percentage of new bands that are booked on is great news. Can't wait for next month!
andy [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 13:19
I find it hard to believe that Pete Doherty would be put on the other stage alone. Wonder what the odds are for another Libs reunion?
Adam Priestley [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 13:54
Great lineup - what makes Glasto is not really the headliners, but the other stages and smaller performers. Although saying that, I'm going to be watching The Boss and Neil Young go at it - awesome. Still the best party in the world...
case [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 15:06
just the fact that fucked up are playing has thrown me completely ... never in a millions years.. but can't wait
2plus2isjoe [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 15:52
Thank you Jamie Fullerton, someone from the NME actually talking some sense. Now could you tell Luke Lewis to shut up please?
Wrexham26 [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 16:00
I think it is a relatively old line-up, but i think thats good news. Because us teenagers can discover new old music if that makes sense. For example, I'm 16 and have started listening to Blur on Spotify, and they are truly brilliant, i cant wait for there live shows. And another friend of mine has actually got into Neil Young, needless to say the rest of us are yet to be convinced...
The V [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 16:56
Well i cant bloody wait this is my first every Glasto and i can tell you now that it is not to old! People like friendly fires, White lies and Glasvegas just show this, and i really do think that it is going to be something special!
Silas [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 17:47
I ain't the most pleased ever with the line up, there are a few bands that id probably make an effort to see though. I'll probably just spend my time wondering around finding music ive never heard to before and liking it
glimmers_of_hope [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 17:50
I love Riceman too, he is awesome.
John [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 19:21
One of the best line-ups, Ever. Diverse and Dangerously Awsome!
Peter Richardson [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 20:48
Any of you who haven't ever witnessed Springsteen live (probably most of you) will be blown away, simply the greatest live performer of the past 20 years... prepare to be seriously impressed... do not miss it
dava [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 20:48
what a line up cum on glasto
Graham Dakin [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 21:14
It's been said already up there ^ but glastonbury is never about the lineup, last year i actually missed half the bands that i wrote down before going in planning to see but still had THE all time best festival experience of my life and considering it was about my 10th, done at last minute on not much money and without many friends or my girlfriend to accompany me. It's just the greatest party known to man. The only thing that's got me pissed is that sunday night headliner slot i mean Gong/Sean Kuti & Fela's Egypt 80/Chase and status/Peaches/Echo and the bunnymen/The Prodigy/Blur that just takes the piss! I would happily watch every single one of those but will probably end up blur especially after nick cave/madness.
Jack [Visitor] //May 26 2009 at 22:02
Yeah but, one word, BLUR!!
jenn [Visitor] //May 27 2009 at 04:45
how can one say this line up is no good? it's fooking brilliant!!! better than coachella...or any other festivals around summer to be honest. blur, csn, neil young, specials, echo and the bunnymen. fuck me, that's just greatness! sigh-won't be going :(
[Visitor] //May 27 2009 at 13:56
who is this mysterious riceman??
[Visitor] //May 27 2009 at 13:58
does anyone think theyre likely to have a libs reunion? if they are could someone say where it's likely because i always miss all these secret performances and stuff and i think i would cry if i missed it!
tenthavene [Visitor] //June 1 2009 at 19:27
do not miss the opportunity to miss springsteen live,he will put the rest in their place!seen him four times last year and going 3 times this year and i am only 24!

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