Glastonbury Festival, now in its 46th year, has just released its first major lineup for the 2016 edition, taking place at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset from June 22-26.
Let’s be honest here – it’s pretty damn safe, and could mostly be predicted by the US festival lineups like Coachella, Bonnaroo, Governor’s Ball and Panorama.
It was already announced that Adele would be the main headliner. Now, it’s been revealed she will do so alongside two of the most unbelievably safe headline picks of all time, Muse and Coldplay.
Zzzzzzzzz.
I know, I know, you can’t expect a daring and edgy lineup from the biggest festival in the world, but come on. I guess after last year’s intense anti-Kanye controversy, they decided to lay so low that protesters would fall asleep before they could even think about complaining.
While the lineup was predictable, it’s by no means bad. Notable others include Foals, Beck, LCD Soundsystem, PJ Harvey, ZZ Top, Disclosure, New Order, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Last Shadow Puppets, and Explosions in the Sky.
But what’s most exciting about this year’s lineup is the influx of hip-hop and grime artists on the bill. Okay, so there’s not tonnes, but there’s an incredibly solid selection, including Skepta, Stormzy, Lady Leshurr, Little Simz, Vince Staples, along with hip-hop’s one-man jazz prodigy Kamasi Washington. And the most exciting part is that they’re not stuffed down near the bottom (although we’re pretty damn stoked to see Hinds down there,) they’re way up top where everyone can see.
Just look!
It’s awesome to see the world really taking notice of grime like this – having quietly brewed in its little corner of the world for years now, 2016 is the year that grime takes over. Yes, sure, going global will undoubtedly bring all of the trials and tribulations of mainstream success, but for now, we’re excited to see where it goes.
Read our feature on the growth grime and one of its biggest labels, Boy better Know
Image: Glastonbury Festival