The Glastonbury Lineup is Here… But Fans Are Divided

The most anticipated lineup in the UK festival calendar has landed, but where are the legacy artists?

After months of anticipation, Glastonbury has finally lifted the curtain on the much-awaited line-up for its 2024 edition. Following the resounding success of last year’s Worthy Farm Weekender, which featured memorable performances by Arctic Monkeys, Guns ‘N’ Roses, and Elton John, speculation has been rife about who would grace the iconic Pyramid Stage this June.

In a highly anticipated announcement, it has been confirmed that Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and SZA will lead the charge as headliners for the festival. Shania Twain will also take center stage on Sunday in the coveted legends slot, promising a memorable close to the weekend.

Joining the headliners on the prestigious Pyramid Stage are a slew of acclaimed acts including LCD Soundsystem, Little Simz, Burna Boy, PJ Harvey, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Kiwanuka, Janelle Monae, Olivia Dean, Paloma Faith, and Keane, ensuring a diverse and star-studded lineup for attendees to look forward to.

Whilst the lineup certainly caters to all, the unveiling of this year’s roster has not been without its troubles, as fans find themselves divided over the selection. Some have even gone as far as to dub it “the worst of all time”

One individual vented their disappointment on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, stating they were “gutted” after purchasing tickets. Another attendee delivered a more scathing critique, declaring, “This might just be the poorest lineup the festival has ever seen!”

For a festival renowned for pulling out all the stops – a lineup usually packed to the rafters with legacy acts – fans disappointment has been palpable across social media today.

However, for the first time in the event’s history, two of the three headline slots have been awarded to women in the industry. This historic moment represents a pivotal step forward in the ongoing push for gender equality and inclusivity within festival lineups. Glastonbury has previously faced backlash for its lack of diversity, as have other major UK festivals like Reading and Leeds.

In 2023, whilst addressing the lack of female headliners, Emily Eavis, the daughter of Glastonbury’s founder, Michael Eavis, said: “I’ve always been really passionate about gender split [on festival lineups] and I think, actually, our problem was that I’d been so outspoken about it that having a year when there wasn’t a female sent people a bit mad.”

This year’s lineup certainly proves to be more diverse in its representation. But at what cost?