Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis has opened up about the festival’s political undertones, whilst also explaining the need for a fallow year to take place next summer.
Eavis created the Glastonbury festival at the iconic Worthy Farm in 1970, before handing the reigns over to his daughter, Emily, in 1999. The two of them opened the gates to the 40th Glastonbury festival yesterday morning (June 25).
This year’s edition will mark the last until 2027 as the festival will take a year off next year – a tradition they have done once every five years since the 1980s to allow the farmland to recover.
Speaking in today’s version of The Glastonbury Free Press, Eavis shared his reasons for first introducing a fallow year all those decades ago: “I invented those in the ‘80s. It was very stressful with the license, the police, the village, the press and the council. I thought, ‘We’ll give them all a break so they’ve got nothing to complain about for a bit!’ And of course, the farm gets a rest. It was a really good idea. I think we’ll be ready for a break next year!”
Eavis also opened up about the festival’s political stance. Glasto’ is seen as adopting a predominately left-wing approach to its business, whether it’s campaigning for nuclear disarmament, environmental causes or world peace; or inviting activists to appear and speak at the event.
They famously invited then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to speak on the Pyramid Stage in 2017, where he drew a huge crowd and spoke of a “hope for the future”.
The festival has found itself marred in controversy this year due to the inclusion of Irish rap trio Kneecap on the line-up. Many senior politicians, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have called for the group to be axed from the line-up due to member, Mo Chara, currently facing terror charges – relating to an event last November where Chara displayed a flag of a proscribed terrorist group on stage.
Despite the pressure to remove Kneecap from the line-up, Emily Eavis responded yesterday, saying: “We remain a platform for many, many artists from all over the world and, you know, everyone is welcome here.”
Her father, Michael, has now hit back at critics who say that Glastonbury no longer has strong political stances. When asked if the festival still “stands for something” after 55 years, Eavis said: “Oh, heaven’s above, yes of course it does. And I think the people that come here are into all those things. People that don’t agree with the politics of the event can go somewhere else!”
The doors for Glastonbury 2025 are open now with thousands of people already piling in before the main show kicks off on Friday. The 1975 and Loyle Carner will headline the Pyramid Stage and Other Stage respectively, before Neil Young and Charli XCX on Saturday night, and Olivia Rodrigo and The Prodigy on Sunday.
Head over to BBC iPlayer to catch extensive coverage of the festival, and keep your eyes on mxdwn.co.uk to keep up with Glasto’ 2025 news.
