Exciting - or not - the Glastonbury crowd
I can't remember a Glastonbury Festival that sustained the feel-good atmosphere quite like this one - but musically it failed to reach the sublime heights of previous years.
Willie Nelson, Gorillaz and Shakira all failed to connect with an eager Pyramid Stage crowd, whereas Rolf Harris and Snoop Dogg succeeded by shooting 10,000 volts of their very different forms of kitsch into the happy campers.
There was plenty of talk about the newer British acts being unable to excite a festival crowd. It's not about scale and pyrotechnics: 's ability to put the audience into the present with his presence is shaman-like. His set with Jonny Greenwood was a highlight.
Festival organiser Michael Eavis says he already knows the three acts that are going to headline Glastonbury next year. He told me that Madonna was past the point in her career where he would ask her to headline. Really? If Shirley Bassey is OK, then why not one of the most influential female artists in the history of pop?
But if that's the decision, so be it. Instead, how about this line up: Beyonce, the Rolling Stones and Prince?
Until then, here are some images from this year.
Somewhere in the crowd, the 91Èȱ¬'s Mark Radcliffe is singing along to every word of Willie Nelson's set:
The security team constantly hands water to the crowd at the front of the mosh pit:
The crowd for Snoop Dogg:
Some shade at last:
The 6 Music planning chart with booked guests taped to the side of the radio truck:
Meet you at the ice-cream van?
Hot dogs:
Take me to Shangri-La:
Someone wasn't paying attention in the lesson about Isaac Newton:
The morning after:
A single chair:
Clearing out until next time:
Comment number 1.
At 28th Jun 2010, ian-russell wrote:Pop schmop. It brings to mind the Eloi...
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Comment number 2.
At 30th Jun 2010, bristolgirl35 wrote:But Shirley Bassey didn't headline. A 5pm Sunday slot is very different from a headliner.
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Comment number 3.
At 23rd Jul 2010, Foreman wrote:Another interesting article that I find on the 91Èȱ¬ website. I liked the images here, especially those that show so many people.
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