End of Year Chat With Emily

[DaveElNino]

From http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news...chat-with-emily

Hello Emily, how are things at the farm?

Great, thanks. We're all geared up for Christmas!

Were you pleased with the reaction to the U2 headline announcement?

Yeah, it was a brilliant reaction. We normally let Christmas come and go before entering into the whole Who's Playing Glastonbury? thing. But the early announcement of U2 was great, because it gave us a real reminder that everyone is really excited about next year. The feedback we had was fantastic. And we had a record amount of people paying the balance on their deposits immediately after it was announced. That really proved that people want to see them. But then obviously they do - they're U2! When you think of those anthems in the context of Glastonbury - you know it's going to be special.

They are, of course, a band who polarise opinions.

Yes. I think if you're a band with a serious level of success over a long period of time, then you're always going to have that, particularly in Britain. But U2's songs are phenomenal. To see them singing With Or Without You or Where The Streets Have No Name will just be amazing. And I think U2 and Glastonbury have actually got real similarities, in terms of campaigning, positivity, and being very un-cynical. That's why it's really exciting. People get quite scared

to be positive, because it's such a cynical world. I think it'll be a great coming together.

Was booking them a smooth process?

It was, actually. It was a really direct, very simple conversation. The deal was done very quickly and without any hoo-ha from their whole team. It's amazing for a band that size to want to deal with us directly and keep it really simple. I really admire them for that. You get much smaller bands with a far more difficult system around them.

How are the other two headliners coming together?

Well, Saturday night is confirmed. And for Sunday night, we're looking at three main options right now. That's all being sorted out at the moment.

When do you think they'll be announced?

I can't give you a date yet, but probably early next year. We'd like to let people know. The great thing about next year is that there's a lot of bands who've been a big part of the Festival who really want to get involved and not necessarily in the slot that they would normally have. A lot of them are much bigger than where they're going to be playing. But there are some real Glastonbury heritage bands that mean a lot to us and mean a lot to the audience. I think people will be really, really excited about the line-up.

Sounds like it's going to be hard to match it in 2011?

Well, you say that, but that's actually coming along nicely too!

So, it's looking like England will be playing a couple of World Cup games during the 2010 Festival. Will you be showing the matches?

Yes. The game on the Wednesday night will definitely be showing on the Pyramid Stage screens. The other game, which it looks like they'll be playing on the Saturday or Sunday, obviously won't be on the Pyramid. But it will be shown on site somewhere, we're just not quite sure where yet. There was an England game on the Friday night at the Festival in 1998, and we showed that in the cinema field. It was during the Foo Fighters, and it was still absolutely packed at the

Pyramid.

What else are you busy with?

This week, we've been working on the Shangri-la area. We're opening that out a bit. It's going to be expanded into field called Clapps Ground which is behind it. The plan is that it's going to be much easier to get into in 2010. There will be multiple entry points, but it will also be more spread out, so that more people can get down there and enjoy it.

So, do you look at problems from the previous Festival and try to address them?

Absolutely. The stuff that's going on down there is really incredible and most people want to get over there, particularly after hours. I was caught in one of those jams on the railway line this year and it's not great. It's pretty uncomfortable and it's not very nice having someone shouting, "Stick to the left!" So we're hoping to avoid all of that by opening it out. And Shangri-la's plans for the area itself are, once again, looking pretty incredible.

They're already in full-swing with planning?

Yeah, we've been looking at plans and new ideas. And the Arcadia lot were down yesterday discussing all kinds of crazy plans. We're going through a lot of that planning at this point. We're also talking about doing something to mark the 40 years. There are lots of ideas flying around, but we want it to be something which everyone can access. So possibly something in the air.

Looking back on 2009, it's been a pretty good year?

It was a brilliant year. 2008 was a really important year for us and, I think, enabled us to have such a good year in 2009. It was a really successful year with some amazing acts. Blur obviously had a phenomenal gig. That's gone down as a little part of folk history. And Bruce and Neil were pretty phenomenal too. We really did have a great year.

And now you're looking forward to 2010?

Exactly. Really looking forward to it. It's incredibly exciting. The fact that's the Festival's been going for 40 years, with a lot of the original people still working on it, is fantastic. And I think the Glastonbury crowd is without doubt the best in the world, too. They're a really generous, un-cynical crowd. People come here to enjoy themselves, whatever the weather or the conditions. The Festival just wouldn't work without that commitment from the people who buy the tickets. So, yeah, I think the anniversary is giving everyone a chance to take stock. There's a real feeling of pride and excitement and love for the Festival. It looks like 2010 is going to be a pretty special year for us.

Edited December 24, 2009 by DaveElNino

[zahidf]

From http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news...chat-with-emily

[kaisherz]

interestings.

Yea, just hoping to high hell that is Muse for Saturday.

[Pinhead]

Expanding into Clapps Ground seems like a really good idea - particularly for access which can now come from anywhere along East Holts as well as from the end of the railway line. Normally this is Avalon Crew area I believe, so if that group is moving (to outside the fence?), then the festival area down there in the S/E is technically expected to expand once again!

Can't wait!!!!

[Okky]

Muse on saturday then! That's good, means they wont clash with chems/orbital on sunday

[fullfathom5]

Glad she's confirmed they will show the footie somewhere and for russy - no it won't be on the pyramid mate...

[Wooderson]

Muse on saturday then! That's good, means they wont clash with chems/orbital on sunday

[Okky]

Could also mean that Muse are on Sunday but not headlining though, right?

[kaisherz]

Whats to say neil is going to tell you even if he does!?! Did he write anywhere that he expects them to be a headliner?

And youuve just read it there from emily herself , some bands will be down lower than they should. muse?

[Okky]

Well surely Neil would have some idea if they had a headliner nailed on for saturday? Although he had no clue about U2...

[MrPink]

Whats to say neil is going to tell you even if he does!?! Did he write anywhere that he expects them to be a headliner?

And youuve just read it there from emily herself , some bands will be down lower than they should. muse?

[robalotalob]

Whats to say neil is going to tell you even if he does!?! Did he write anywhere that he expects them to be a headliner?

And youuve just read it there from emily herself , some bands will be down lower than they should. muse?

[pedmills]

Remember there was that whole quote about the Sunday headliner being a young person's band. If Muse are playing Saturday then either things have changed, or the band on Sunday is going to be either pretty small or has headlined recently, which would be crap for the 40th anniversary.

I personally hope Muse AREN'T the saturday headliner because if Led Zeppelin/Rolling Stones/Prince etc were possibilities I'm sure they would been snapped up, not just "options".

[Okky]

Levs - muse - rage for sunday night headliners... Oh what a night that would be!

[1mills]

Well surely Neil would have some idea if they had a headliner nailed on for saturday? Although he had no clue about U2...

Edited December 24, 2009 by 1mills

[LondonTom]

Muse on saturday then! That's good, means they wont clash with chems/orbital on sunday

[philly_eds]

Levs - muse - rage for sunday night headliners... Oh what a night that would be!

[Ashaz42]

thumbs up to this! : )

how about Fri: pixies - u2

Sat: foo fighters - led zep

Sun: muse - ratm

pretty hopeful i know but... omg omg omg omg omg!

[BlackHole2006]

Ergh, no thanks to the saturday.

[Zacko]

thumbs up to this! : )

how about Fri: pixies - u2

Sat: foo fighters - led zep

Sun: muse - ratm

pretty hopeful i know but... omg omg omg omg omg!

[Vieuphoria]

actually i think Matt was very excited about Rage's reunion when it happened in 2007. They're his favourite band, he said he would love for Muse to support Rage. Not that it would happen at Glasto though.

[ghandi]

Exciting times ahead! Got a lump in my throat reading Emilys interview. U2 Friday must be followed by Stones on Saturday. Sunday after last year with Blur must be a singalong and i reckon its between Muse or Coldplay and one other. Or as said Muse might take a lower slot. It's going to be great waiting to find out. Can't wait to see the line ups though, its going to be epic folks

[srvman]

Levellers for sunday!

[NeilVJ]

I can't see it being a massive band for the Sunday as they would have been booked already

So I think this means Sat - Rolling Stones, Sun Muse or Elbow or Coldplay

[pehaw]

I can't see it being a massive band for the Sunday as they would have been booked already

So I think this means Sat - Rolling Stones, Sun Muse or Elbow or Coldplay