Redfining radicalism, the multinational way

Michael Eavis has said in today’s Observer that Glastonbury’s radical roots will return.

For the last five years I’ve been saying that Glastonbury Music Festival Pilton Pop Festival has lost the plot.

Now we know why.

Michael Eavis.

I admire what Michael achieved with Glastonbury Music Festival Pilton Pop Festival in the past.

Under Michael’s past stewardship, all through the 80s in particular, in the areas of political and environmental awareness/campaigning, Glastonbury Music Festival Pilton Pop Festival’s achievements were outstanding.

Mr Eavis gave the public a music festival which didn’t preach; it didn’t ram views down one’s throat. Glastonbury Music Festival Pilton Pop Festival simply took a point of view, and maintained it, on a line of public causes.

This strategy started to fall apart during the 1990s.

By the time the early 2000s arrived, widespread criticisms that Glastonbury Music Festival Pilton Pop Festival was becoming a mainstream, global, money-chasing event were heard internationally.

Those criticisms have not gone away. They have become louder and even more widespread.

This year, critical voices have reached a new crescendo.

 

With U2 headlining on Friday night and Beyonce on Sunday, it is difficult to see precisely how Michael Eavis’ statement that Glastonbury Music Festival Pilton Pop Festival will return to (its) radical roots, will materialise.

The most radical inclusion in this year’s line-up is The Wombles.

And yet Michael Eavis has gone on record as being not in favour of Uncle Bulgaria et al appearing on-stage at Pilton.

The disappointing thing is that Glastonbury Music Festival Pilton Pop Festival continue to make it almost impossible for quality unsigned bands to appear on anything other than a sidelined stage.

Seriously, Michael, if you want to get radical you could book less multinational music artists and get some top quality unsigned bands in.

Glastonbury Music Festival Pilton Pop Festival is supposed to be a music festival.

Stop forcing the Radio One playlist down people’s throats.

Get radical.

So in an attempt to help Michael Eavis get back to his radical roots, we would like to invite you to name, below, some quality artists who you would like to see sharing the stage(s) at Glastonbury Music Festival Pilton Pop Festival.

The top four acts will appear on our ‘anti-Glastonbury Music Festival Pilton Pop Festival playlist, which will go out the same weekend as the festival.

Just for fun.