The Left Field at Glastonbury 2024 is set to promote political activism and discussion, as well as live music. The co-founder of the area, Billy Bragg, hopes to create a space where festival-goers can “recharge your activism.” This year, the Left Field will feature performances from newcomers like English Teacher, Bob Vylan, Sprints, and Pillow Queens, as well as talks and debates around political topics such as trans liberation, the Israel and Palestine conflict, the post office scandal, immigration, and the housing crisis.
Bragg believes the general election coming up on July 4 made it easier to focus on key issues, such as housing, immigration, and accountability. He is also keen to prioritize discussions around trans rights, particularly given recent comments from Lee Anderson suggesting the Tories will focus on trans issues and culture wars in the election. Bragg also plans to sprinkle the panels with Labour MPs like Angela Rayner, who could potentially be in government next year.
In a recent interview, Bragg spoke more broadly about keeping politics alive in new music and debate alive at Glastonbury, which he sees as a space to celebrate the common good. He argued that Glastonbury’s spirit remains largely the same – a hunger for people to come together and listen to music – despite ongoing cultural wars. Bragg has been vocal about trans issues, including his recent dispute with J.K. Rowling, and emphasized that social media is not a place for nuanced debate. However, he also believes that by standing up and being counted, everyone can make a difference around social issues and promote feminist, gay and trans rights.
The Left Field is a space for young people to learn, recharge and engage around issues that matter to them. Bragg and his co-founder Juliette Wills hope that the Left Field can continue this tradition for years to come, inspiring young people to take on political activism and make the change they want to see in the world
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