The Internet isn't very happy about it.
Glastonbury Festival 2017 is upon us! Thousands of music lovers are already heading south west to see this year's line-up of Radiohead, Ed Sheeran and Foo Fighters to name a few - and revellers can expect some amazing secret sets from the likes of Lana Del Rey and Fleet Foxes.
But earlier this year we learned that the much-loved musical festival would be changing forever when Michael Eavis, the festival’s founder, announced his plans for a new name in 2019: Variety Bazaar.
The Glastonbury Festival, which takes place at Michael Eavis’ farm in Pilton, Somerset, has been going since 1970 and the news of a potential rebrand did not go down well online.
With the festival cancelled for 2018, plans were already afoot to uproot Glastonbury for 2019, moving from the 10,000-acre Eavis estate to 20 miles up the road due to land ownership issues. Rumours of a new name for when the festival returns, therefore, proved to be a step too far.
‘The Variety Bazaar,’ Eavis announced. ‘It’s a good name, don’t you think? But presented by The Glastonbury Festival Team. The Glastonbury Festival Team presents…the Variety Bazaar.’
‘I’ve been a risk taker all my life’ Eavis continued. ‘In 47 years of taking risks, so far touch wood, I haven't come unstuck. This might be one risk too far, I don't know.’
The decision didn't go down well online, but we were reassured this morning that we had it all wrong.
His daughter, Emily Eavis, who organizes the festival, was quick to clear up the misunderstanding and set the record straight. Taking to Twitter, she announced: ‘We're still planning an event in the future at a different location-which we are calling Variety Bazaar. But Glastonbury Festival will always be called Glastonbury and will remain at Worthy Farm!’
Phew. That’s a relief.
Michael Eavis hasn’t given any further details yet as to where the new festival will be held, but the Midlands is apparently the most likely location.
Glastonbury tickets sold out in just 50 minutes this year, and it's set to be one of the biggest years the festival has ever seen.
