I’m currently going through Glastonbury withdrawal.  My friend, Gowers, a Glasto veteran, warned me about this.  He said I’d want to tell everyone about it, and spend hours watching clips from youtube and the BBC (check & check).   Motivating myself to enter the real world again and go back to work has proven to be difficult after my lovely 3 days of listening to live music 12 hours straight whilst sipping Strongbow in a can.  It’s a shame I can’t just travel around the world to festivals all summer.   I was even lucky enough for my first Glastonbury experience to be the driest and hottest in recent memory. My wellies went virtually untouched all weekend.  I could probably talk about the memories and performances for days, but thought I’d sum up my favorite moments/performances of Glastonbury 2010: 

Rolf Harris: Although I write this blog for the Big Apple Brits, and am an admitted Anglophile, I was born and raised in America.  And before June 24^th, I had no idea who Rolf Harris was.  My friend Ben was kind enough to educate me on the institution that is Rolf Harris, and we even got to hear some of his greatest hits in the car ride to Somerset.  To my American friends, imagine Mr. Rogers if he were also an artist who sang and created his own unique instruments.  Rolf has painted the queen, sung with The Beatles and just may be the first human beatbox. Even though I didn’t grow up watching Rolf Harris, I was impressed with his humor and stage presence.  My English friends were loving it – singing along to some of the favorites: Tie Me Kangaroo, Down Sport,  Two Little Boys and Waltzing Matilda.  I, however, still don’t understand how he sold so many records of that version of Stairway to Heaven.  He played his famous wobbleboard and stopped a song once because the crowd wasn’t clapping along on the same beat.  He did give us a mini rhythm lesson and started the song again.   His set was the perfect way to kick off an unforgettable weekend.  

Mumford and Sons:  I left the Vampire Weekend stage a little early to squeeze under the blazing hot and crowded tent that housed the John Peel Stage.  Mumford’s debut album, Sigh No More, was released in the States in February and it’s my favorite album of the year so far.  They’re a folk indie rock band, complete with banjo, upright bass, and brass instruments.   And every song is packed with four-part harmonies, emotional lyrics and an upbeat climax that makes me want to do a little jig.  As soon as Marcus Mumford and the boys stepped onstage, I forgot I was in a sweltering tent and immediately started dancing and singing along with the masses.  Everyone in the crowd seemed to know every lyric to every song.  I honestly didn’t want the set to end.  Truly one of the best performances I’ve seen in years.

Surprise Performance by Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood:  The rumor of the day was that Radiohead were going to be the special surprise guests on The Park Stage that night.  They were favorites at Glasto, and it WAS the 40^th anniversary, but I wasn’t going to get my hopes up.  I rushed over after the Mumford and Sons set across the field and heard Thom Yorke’s dreary vocals.  I’m not a huge fan of Radiohead in general, but sitting on a blanket watching the sunset over the Park Stage as Thom Yorke provided the background music seemed suddenly magical.       

Broken Bells:  On Friday night, instead of watching Gorillaz on the Pyramid, I opted for checking out Broken Bells, the recent collaboration between Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) and James Mercer of The Shins.  Every song was superb.  You may recognize The High Road (I think it’s in a commercial) or The Ghost Inside.  Word traveled fast that the Gorillaz performance was disappointing and half of the crowd left midway through that set anyway.  I’m glad I made the better choice.

Kylie Minogue with The Scissors Sisters:  This was another rumor we heard that actually came true (we also heard members of Led Zeppelin would turn up – they did NOT).  How fitting that one of England’s biggest gay icons would make her Glastonbury debut with the disco glam rock band.  Kylie originally was set to perform at Glasto in 2005, but had to cancel the performance to be treated for breast cancer.  She was stunningly beautiful and sexy, dressed in a barely there lacy body suit, cape and thigh high metallic leather boots.   Kylie joined them for Any Which Way, kissed both Jake Shears and Ana Matronic on the lips, rushed off stage and left us wanting more.

Watching the World Cup in a field joined by 50,000 screaming fans:  We all know how it turned out, but there’s something so unique about watching such an important match with that many people in a field in the middle of nowhere. 

Muse and The Edge:  Muse is known for their amazing live shows.  Determined to be close enough to see Matt Bellamy’s face without depending on the massive screens, I gradually worked my way up to the front of the Pyramid stage during the Shakira and Scissor Sisters sets, the two acts preceding Muse.   Matt & company kicked off the set with their anthem hits Uprising and Supermassive Black Hole.  The stage was toned down for Glasto – no moving towers, spinning drumset or flying UFOs.    The most unforgettable moment of the entire weekend occurred when the Edge joined Muse during the encore on Where The Streets Have No Name.  Forced to cancel their Friday night gig due to Bono’s recent spine injury, The Edge got a taste of what it’s like to play for the 100,000+ flag-waving and sparkler wielding fans packed into the Pyramid Stage.  Hopefully next year Bono is fully recovered and eager to headline Glasto 2011.

Stevie Wonder:  How can I talk about Glasto and not mention the final set of the weekend by the legendary Mr. Stevie Wonder?  Certainly the happiest performer I’ve ever seen live, he even entertained some of my friends who don’t really like his music.  We all sang along to most of his classics including Signed Sealed Delivered, Superstition, and I Just Called To Say I Love You.  Michael Eavis, founder of Glastonbury, joined him onstage for the fitting last song of the evening : Happy Birthday To You.  With 40 years under his belt of booking amazing performers, one would think Mr. Eavis wouldn’t be as tone deaf as he was.  Don’t quit your day job, Michael.  Happy 40^th Glasto!