Sunday 21 March 2010

Leftfield Stage Returns To Glastonbury, Billy Bragg to Curate


The Leftfield Stage is set to return to Glastonbury this summer. The tent, which, mixes 'pop and politics’, was missing from last year’s festival.

Organisers have announced that musician Billy Bragg is to curate the stage; the 52-year-old will book the bill for the Leftfield tent. "Glastonbury is the original activist festival," Bragg told the festival's official website.

"It has always had that political edge since it’s rebirth in the 1980s as a gathering for dissidents and dancers. Leftfield’s mixture of red and green politics aims to reflect the way activism plays an important part in the festival as a whole."

Says Bragg: "It will be a place where you can take part in political debates with leading activists and political figures and then hear some great music from people who believe in using their talent to inspire audiences to change the world."

Asked whether it's important as ever to have Leftfield at Glastonbury 2010, Bragg added: “Definitely. Not only are we facing the biggest economic meltdown since the Great Depression, but by the time we pitch the tent, we may all be living under a Conservative government committed to massive cuts in public services.

“Plus there is the continuing threat of global warming and the rise of the BNP to contend with. We’ll have plenty to talk about in our daily debates.”

There's no talk of artists yet, but organisers are promising a new site and a new tent. Past performers on the stage have included Brit-nominee Seasick Steve, Dirty Pretty Things and Kate Nash.

Headlined by U2, Muse and Stevie Wonder, Glastonbury takes place at Worthy Farm, Pilton, from June 23rd to the 27th 2010.

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