While the music might kick off in earnest at Glastonbury Festival from Friday, when the main stages finally opening up shop, with revellers arriving at Worthy Farm from Tuesday night and through the gates at 8am on Wednesday morning, there is plenty to see and do before the weekend proper kicks off.
Wednesday is great for pitching tents and getting acquainted (or reacquainted) with the site, seeing what is new, what’s moved and a general lay of the land. The Green Crafts Village is bustling for those wanting to escape the heat of the sun and get stuck in. And if you have the energy, join the massive throng that gathers above The Park to watch the sun setting before fireworks and a ritual phoenix-burning open the festival.
Those feeling invigorated by being back on the farm after so long rock up at the Greenpeace Stage for Power Ballad Yoga, which seems more power ballad and less yoga, but oh so fun! Greenpeace Kids area next door is also open with its pirate ship and craft-making for little ones of all ages.
Thankfully for those bringing little ones, the Kidzfield opens from midday on Thursday offering all sorts of wild and wacky adventures for kids, face painting, rides, puppet shows, the famous pink castle and kidzfield’s own helter skelter! Any respectful festival-goer would also be amiss not to pick up one of the two freshly printed papers that are hot off the presses across the festival weekend, the first of which is available on Thursday morning.
No one can really wait for the music and other acts to start either, and so the Theatre & Circus area as well as smaller stages open up from around 10am on Thursday. And Thursday is when some of those famed “secret” sets Glastonbury is famed for begin. Nova Twins and Pigs (x7) appear over on Truth Stage to riotous scenes while things are rather busy but slightly gentler over at Williams Green as Spice Girl Mel C pumps out a DJ set including mash-ups of Spice Girls and Nirvana songs among others.
Then it’s the main man himself, Glastonbury Festival founder and Worthy Farmer himself Michael Eavis singing a few covers with his band, lapping up all the love and generally having a great time.
After a few technical hitches which sees the Williams Green tent filled to the brim and begin steaming, Dan Smith-led Bastille are joined by the 11-piece brass-band Old Dirty Brasstards for pumping 8-song set featuring the English band’s big hits Things We Lost in the Fire and Pompeii.
The Elvis Presley and Nirvana mash-up band Elvana appear on the Williams Green next for a set of hits from both acts that bring nothing but smiles ahead of a full set from Old Dirty Brasstards before the crowd disperses into the night.
Photography & words by Kalpesh Patel at Glastonbury Festival on Thursday June 23rd 2022
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