CANCELLED: Glastonbury 2021
Due to the ongoing pandemic, Glastonbury festival, which was due to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2020, has been postponed until 2022
On social media, the festival organisers announced: 'With great regret, we must announce that this year's Glastonbury Festival will not take place, and that this will be another enforced fallow year for us. In spite of our efforts to move heaven and hearth, it has become clear that we simply will not be able to make the festival happen this year. We are so sorry to let you all down.'
Who was meant to headline Glastonbury 2020?
The Friday headliner was, as predicted American rap sensation Kendrick Lamar. The Compton-bored artist, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his raps, is the most innovative and celebrated hip-hop star of his generation. His lyrical flair and fearlessness have fuelled a stream of hits from 'To Pimp and Butterfly' to 'Humble'. The headline slot was to be Lamar's first time playing Glastonbury.
Taylor Swift, who is on a candy-coloured comeback mission, was to play the Pyramid Stage for the headline slot on Sunday 26 June. Taking advantage of a conveniently timed Blank Space in her European tour, the country star turned pop sensation was to draw on seven albums' worth of hits that span cutesy Love Story to the more mature musings of Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince. Having never played a UK festival, Swift had declared she is 'Taylor made' for Glastonbury.
Announcing the news on Twitter, the festival's founder Michael Eavis said: 'She’s one of the biggest stars in the world and her songs are absolutely amazing. We’re so delighted.'
Who better to headline the landmark 50th anniversary Glastonbury Festival than one quarter of the Fab Four, Paul McCartney? He last played the Pyramid stage in 2004, with a set that spanned The Beatles' greatest hits, via Wings and McCartney's solo material. And he was to return to headline on Saturday 27 June, at the ripe age of 78.
McCartney broke the news with cryptic flair, via a tweet picturing Philip Glass, Emma Stone and Chuck Berry. Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis said of the announcement 'There really was no-one that we wanted more for the 50th anniversary.'
Motown queen and supreme talent Diana Ross was to play the Sunday afternoon Legend slot on the Pyramid stage, following in the footsteps of Dolly Parton, Kylie Minogue, Lionel Richie and Shirley Bassey. Sharing the news on Twitter, Ross enthused: 'This is a dream come true. To all the fans across the world, this is my tribute to you.'
The former lead singer of The Supremes broke records as the most successful girl group in America, shaping the sound of the 60s with 12 number ones including Baby Love, Stop! In the Name of Love and You Can't Hurry Love. As a solo artist in the 70s and 80s, she reached giddy new heights with Ain't No Mountain High Enough and I'm Coming Out, and now reigns supreme as the most successful female musician in history.
