Glastonbury festival founder Michael Eavis has responded to criticism of his choice of 2015 headliner, Kanye West.

Earlier this week, Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis’ tweeted the news that controversial rapper Kanye West was revealed as a headlining act of Glastonbury 2015.

The announcement prompted a wave of criticism on Twitter, including a Change.org petition to cancel the act and ‘get a rock band’. 

However, a follow-up tweet by Emily perhaps summed up the mood in camp Glastonbury: a photo of Michael in shorts, holding a poster reading “YEEZY DOES IT!”

Glastonbury is billed as a contemporary performing arts festival, and has previously featured eclectic headline acts including Jay-Z, Radiohead and Ash. 

eavis.jpg

History lesson

According to research by Infogr.am, the vast majority of Glasto’s headline acts have been rock outfits. Rock is a broad musical umbrella, covering indie bands like The Smiths, Blur, and Kings of Leon to Psychedelic Furs, UB40 and Hawkwind. 

In 1992, Senegalese star Youssou N’Dour performed the only headline mbalax (national popular dance music of Senegal and the Gambia) gig in the festival’s history.

Read Access‘ recent feature on headline acts – featuring Harvey Goldsmith CBE and Wayne Hemingway MBE – here.

Got a story for Access All Areas? Email Tom Hall
Follow us @Access_AA
Or on Facebook and Instagram
Read the latest Access All Areas here.

 

Glastonbury festival founder Michael Eavis has responded to criticism of his choice of 2015 headliner, Kanye West.

Earlier this week, Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis’ tweeted the news that controversial rapper Kanye West was revealed as a headlining act of Glastonbury 2015.

The announcement prompted a wave of criticism on Twitter, including a Change.org petition to cancel the act and ‘get a rock band’. 

However, a follow-up tweet by Emily perhaps summed up the mood in camp Glastonbury: a photo of Michael in shorts, holding a poster reading “YEEZY DOES IT!”

Glastonbury is billed as a contemporary performing arts festival, and has previously featured eclectic headline acts including Jay-Z, Radiohead and Ash. 

eavis.jpg

History lesson

According to research by Infogr.am, the vast majority of Glasto’s headline acts have been rock outfits. Rock is a broad musical umbrella, covering indie bands like The Smiths, Blur, and Kings of Leon to Psychedelic Furs, UB40 and Hawkwind. 

In 1992, Senegalese star Youssou N’Dour performed the only headline mbalax (national popular dance music of Senegal and the Gambia) gig in the festival’s history.

Read Access‘ recent feature on headline acts – featuring Harvey Goldsmith CBE and Wayne Hemingway MBE – here.

Got a story for Access All Areas? Email Tom Hall
Follow us @Access_AA
Or on Facebook and Instagram
Read the latest Access All Areas here.