29/04/2008 08:25:00
The Guardian revealed the official line-up for Glastonbury 2008 today, and it looks to be diverse collection of musicians.
Headliner Jay-Z will be joined by an eclectic mix of performers - ranging from Cardiff favourite Shakin' Stevens to England's Fatboy Slim. The festival, held near Pilton in Somerset, will also play host to the likes of Crowded house, Editors, Massive Attack, Elbow, Mark Ronson and Duffy.
The varied line-up will be welcomed by those who feared that Glastonbury 2008 was in danger of being dominated by hip-hop fans - a concern that arose following the announcement of Jay-Z's headlining spot.
Speaking to the Guardian, the organizers expressed their pleasure at presenting such a varied and diverse bill. Emily Eavis, who runs the festival with her father, claimed that the John Peel stage represents most of what's been going on in British music over the last year. She added that she and her father had a keen sense of what festival-goers are looking for. She also said:
"The consensus seems to be that there is something for everyone."
Despite the line-up announcement, speculation about one empty spot on the main pyramid stage is still rife. The Evening Standard reported that the organisers refused to rule out an appearance by London based songstress Amy Winehouse.
Established in 1971, the Glastonbury festival now typically attracts up to 150,000 visitors to South West England a year, and generated over £73 million in 2007. Michael Eavis continues to promote the environmentally friendly ethics of the festival by urging 2008 campers to use biodegradable tent pegs made of wheat and potato starch rather than the metal variety.