Glastonbury announce U2 as headliners for 2011

Glastonbury Festival organisers have confirmed that U2 will join Coldplay, and Beyonce as Pyramid Stage headliners at this year's Glastonbury Festival.

The news was announced at this evening's NME Awards, via a video message from U2 guitarist The Edge, who was congratulating Michael and Emily Eavis on winning the NME Award at Brixton for Best Festival.

Festival organiser Michael Eavis said, "After the disappointment of U2 being unable to play last year, we’re now doubly excited at the prospect of the Friday night supergroup breaking the sound barrier."

The Edge, said in his video message: "It's more a way of life than a festival. I made it last year to the Friday show - got to play with Muse, got to hang out, ate a veggie burger and fries, and got to play on the Pyramid Stage. I have to say there is something really special and iconic about that stage. So we're all looking forward to coming back to pick up where I left off. And we're so excited to get to play in front of the world's greatest festival audience. We'll see you there".

It will be the first visit to the Festival for U2 who had to pull out of last year's event after lead singer Bono injured his back, although The Edge appeared on the main Pyramid Stage last year as special guest of headliners Muse.

In June the Friday headliners celebrate their 20th anniversary together, and the band are sure to play a hit laden set as well as showcasing songs from their new album which they are currently working on. Festival goers can expect them to present a song called 'Glastonbury' which they wrote specially for last year.

Saturday's line-up will be headlined by the previously announced Coldplay, and Sunday's headliner will be Beyonce.

Glastonbury Festival has also revealed it wants to reward people for choosing to come to the event by public transport or by bicycle. So, this year, for the first time, the Festival launches a Glastonbury Festival Green Traveller package which they hope will provide an extra incentive for Festival goers to "go Green".

Ticket holders who arrive at the Festival by public transport or bicycle will be given a Green Traveller lanyard, offering:

- Vouchers for discounts on main meals
- Solar showers, solely provided for Green Travellers
- Access to compost toilets
- A discount on a Festival T-shirt

Over 50 per cent of Glastonbury Festival's CO2 total emissions come from how the Festival goer makes their way to the site. The Festival have said they understand that public transport can be expensive and will be working on trying to keep the prices this summer fair.

The Festival said, "And yes, we know that getting on a train or bus isn’t necessarily as easy as jumping in a car parked outside your house. But once you have decided to head for your bike, the bus stop or the train station, we'll do our best to make Festival life a little bit easier for you - from the moment you're dropped right by the gate!"

There will be more information on the Green Traveller scheme (and how it will work) announced soon.

Tickets have sold out for this summer's Glastonbury Festival which runs for five full days from Wednesday 22nd until Sunday 26th June 2011 across a 1000 hectares (2470 acres) of beautiful countryside at Worthy Farm, Somerset. Resales of unwanted tickets are expected at some point in mid-April.

No other acts are confirmed yet for the Festival, although as usual eFestivals will bring you the very best-sourced rumours, allowing festival-goers to see who is playing long before the bands are formally announced - keep your eyes on the Glastonbury 2011 rumours, updated as we receive information.

International ticket buyers must pay their balance payments between 9am (GMT) Friday 25th February 25th and 11:59pm (GMT) Friday 3rd March 2011. Balances will be paid either online at http://wwww.seetickets.com/g2011 or on the booking line: 0844 412 4635.

UK ticket balances will be payable in the first week of April 2011 (9am Friday 1st April until 11.59pm on Thursday 7th April).

Anyone who doesn't pay their ticket balance during the applicable week will be automatically refunded their deposit (minus a £10 admin fee).

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