Ready for some decent music and a vibe like no other? That’s right - Glastonbury’s back this June 2022 and it’s set to be a big one. After sadly being cancelled for two years in a row, the crowd is roaring for a party. So this year’s going to be huge!
It’s been a dreadful time throughout the Covid-19 pandemic for everyone, and all festival-lovers have had a serious case of cabin fever! It all began when the beloved event’s 25th anniversary was called off due to COVID-19, leaving thousands of excited ticket-holders mourning a much-anticipated chance to see the likes of Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar live in person. And speaking of icons, there aren’t many more iconic acts in the world right now than the might Diana Ross, who has been confirmed just this week as definitely playing on the Legends Stage! A taste of classic Motown will be coming to Somerset!
Sadly that was just the start of it! Music lovers keen for some sun, fun, and socialising to break up a calendar full of lockdowns have had a dispiriting two years in general! Finally, after more than half of the UK’s famed festivals have been postponed or abandoned, at last, it’s time to wave our festival hand waving flags!Which can only be a good thing - One of the most dispiriting things about lockdown was the loss of shared events, that unbridled joy in attending an event, whatever it was, with likeminded people around you and just experiencing that sense of enthusiasm and just plain happiness! After us, us humans are social creatures by our very nature and that was sorely missed.
A Look Back In Time...
So what makes the UK’s best-known contemporary music festival so special?
Glastonbury has long been a chance for us ordinary folk to catch a rare glimpse of music legends, packed into a 5-day lineup of budding talent, rising stars, and eclectic new vibes - it’s precisely what makes the UK a leader on the global music scene. From its humble roots as the 1971 ‘Glastonbury Fayre,’ where enigmatic David Bowie sang amid rainbow flags, to the evolving Pyramid Stages of the 1970s and 1980s, there’s a lot to be loved about a festival that manages to unite while catering to such diverse tastes in tunes.
Highlights of the 1980s included New Order, Van Morrison, Tom Paxton, Marillion, and more as tickets went for a mere £8, and the festival was a birthplace for the colourful, trainer-clad ‘90s scene where acts like Tom Jones, Radiohead and Morrissey, and more led a packed field in song.
Since its humble roots as a £1 show in the ‘70s, Glastonbury has clearly come a long way, and yet while the music changes, the feel of the field of festival flags retains its charm. What makes the UK’s favourite outdoor festival is the cheerful faces - we’re all here for a good time, and we’ve got smiley face flags to prove it! In recent years the Glastonbury festival has almost become a rite of passage for under 30s in particular, almost the holy grail of Must-Do events for any self-respecting youngster - And why not? Music and joy has always been the chief expression of the young and so it should be.
What’s Happening This Year?
After two years of lying fallow, Glastonbury 2022 will pick up where 2019 left off, (hopefully!) and this year’s day-passers and campers are in for a treat. Whether you’ve already ordered the smiley face bunting for your tent or you’re just tuning in online, 2022 will be the official 25th anniversary and it’s going to be a reunion with music!
While headlining act Billie Eilish has been confirmed and names like Elton John are being mentioned in a hushed whisper, 2022’s full lineup has not officially been announced quite yet. If you’re ready to go with your CND hand wavers and rainbow flag tent markers, stay on your marks. While the setlist for the 22 and 26 June festival is still a secret, rumours include Diana Ross, Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, and our favourite Swedes - ABBA.
How To Survive Glastonbury!
The world’s most iconic music festival is very likely almost the muddiest, so if you’re planning a trip, you’ll need to bring your wellies. Our top tips for surviving Glastonbury include arming yourself with a decent tent and all the water, painkillers, and battery packs you’ll need to avoid getting separated from your friends. Add energy bars to the mix, a stove if you plan to barbecue, and don’t forget your favourite Smiley Face Acid Flag, or Jolly Roger for your tent!
So that’s surviving, but how about surviving Glastonbury in style? Our festival veterans will have you know that mud, mud, and more mud makes a telescoping flag pole essential. If you’re in it for the music, don’t get lost in the rain when your flagpole slips away - and the longer the better if you want to stand out in a sea of tents. We recommend making your tent a truly unique one if you’re planning to dance yourself silly, so consider a stand-out rainbow windsock or a custom flag like no other if you’re planning to find your tent when exhausted!