Emily Eavis, daughter of Glastonbury Festival founder Sir Michael Eavis, has revealed that her father considered ending the festival’s run in the 1990s. At the time, Glastonbury had grown in popularity, attracting world-renowned musicians like Oasis, Bob Dylan, and Radiohead. However, Sir Michael had decided to call it a day when he reached retirement age, and his wife’s death in 1999 spurred the event’s continuation.
In a recent interview on the BBC’s Sidetracked podcast, Emily Eavis disclosed that her parents had always promised that the upcoming event would be their last one. But it wasn’t just a refrain used to sell tickets — they genuinely did not expect to run another Glastonbury. At that time, the decision to host the festival was made on a year-by-year basis.
Sir Michael is now 88 years old and still involved in the festival’s organization. It remains one of the world’s most prestigious music events, with this year’s headliners including Dua Lipa, SZA, and Coldplay. Eavis has ensured this year’s Pyramid Stage line-up will have an equal number of male and female acts, with two women headlining for the first time in the festival’s history.
As the festival approaches, Eavis has already begun thinking about 2025’s performances. She stated there are “vague ideas” about who it might feature, and also admitted that the festival may take a fallow year in 2026 to allow the land and the cows that graze there to rest. Eavis has her sights set on Kate Bush as her dream headliner, even though she has not performed live since 2011.
In conclusion, Glastonbury festival founders, Sir Michael and Ruth Eavis, had always planned to end the festival at retirement age in the 1990s. However, the death of Sir Michael’s wife, Ruth Eavis, spurred the event’s continuation. Glastonbury has grown to be one of the world’s most prestigious music events, with this year’s headliners including Dua Lipa, SZA, and Coldplay. Eavis has ensured this year’s Pyramid Stage line-up will have an equal number of male and female acts, featuring two women headlining for the first time in the festival’s history
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