10 incredible photos of Glastonbury through the years

22 June 2023, 08:00

With Glastonbury back this weekend, here are some of our favourite images from the legendary festival.

Glastonbury returns to Worthy Farm in Somerset this weekend (23rd to 25th June 2023), and with it comes all the excitement, sights, sounds, sensations... even smells.

Radio X decided to pick ten of our favourite images from the archives that sum up the spirit and magic of Glastonbury. What would yours be?

1. Glastonbury - the early days

   

   Glastonbury was first held in September 1970, the day after Jimi Hendrix died. Its roots were in the hippie and free festival, but it went on to embody the spirit of peace, unity and care for the planet. The first Pyramid Stage was literally built out of corrugated iron used for cowsheds.

2. Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage in 1983

   

   It's incredible to think that for a long time, Glastonbury lived in the shadow of other festivals like Reading. This shot from 1983 shows how small the festival used to be - you could watch the Pyramid Stage artists close up from the comfort of your own tent.

3. Glastonbuy nightlife

   

   Very few festivals can compete with the sheer diversity of activities that take place 24 hours a day at Glastonbury. You'll see some sights as you make your way around!

4. Glastonbury - The Other Stage, The Park and all the other great areas

   

   There are so many stages to take in at Glastonbury oustide of the Pyramid... The Other Stage, the John Peel Tent, The Park, West Holts, the multiple dance stages... there's so much to absorb.

5. Glastonbury's sacred spaces

   

   Well into the 21st Century, the spiritual side of Glastonbury continues to have its influence. The festival apparently takes place on ancient ley lines and has its own prehistoric stone circle, whether revellers gather at all hours.

6. Glastonbury's performance art areas

   

   The gian fire-breathing Arcadia spider is back for Glastonbury 2023, and it's always impressive to see the pyromaniac arachnid. Recent attractions include the replica seaside pier, the Unfairground, the "drive-in" Cineramageddon and the ever popular Shangri-La and its predecessor Lost Vagueness.

7. Glastonbury's unpredictable weather

   

   June in Britain can be a bit of a lottery when it comes to weather - and the hundreds of thousands of people can soon turn a downpoir into a swamp. But, occasionally, there will be a scorcher of a year, and a muddy Glastonbury experience is a music fan's rite of passage.

8. Glastonbury camping

   

   It's not just about going to watch performances - Glastonbury is about throwing off the shackles of everyday life, getting in a tent and getting back to nature with your mates.... And it's also about stumbling through hundreds of identical looking tents at a million o'clock in the morning.

9. Glastonbury's communal spirit

   

   The sight of flags waving in front of a headliner on the Pyramid Stage is one of the enduring sights of modern Glastonbury festivals. Some think it's inconsiderate to other festival-goers, others think it wouldn't be the same without them. But there's no denying that people coming together to enjoy music, art, debate and more is something we should celebrate.

10. The pure scale of Glastonbury festival

    

    Glastonbury is less of a music festival and more of a mini-city that springs up for a week, complete with its own rules and regulations, philosophy and lifestyle. Have the best weekend of your life!