Glastonbury 2024 line-up is worth the wait

It may have been kept back a little longer than normal, and there have been the usual grumbles about it, but the Glastonbury 2024 line-up stands up to scrutiny…with a wide range of genres represented, some of the best emerging acts featuring in the programme, and a load of old-school favourites to keep the sing-alongs going across the festival site.

If you have a spare six hours why not take a listen…

With a combined monthly Spotify listening audience total of 224 million, the three main headliners are, without a doubt, big hitters, and whilst Coldplay may have many ‘love to hate them’ detractors, it’s a safe bet that they will fill the Pyramid field with ease.

Meanwhile, Dua Lipa and SZA ensure that the gender imbalance argument doesn’t raise its head (at the headline level at least), and whilst the traditional old-generation Glastonbury fans might feel these acts are ‘too poppy’ those same naysayers ought, perhaps to think back to the very first Worthy Farm venture into live music, which went under the name of ‘Pilton Pop’.

But Pyramid headliners aside, if you are at Glastonbury 2024, which acts should you mark in the programme as ‘must sees’?

Running down the list of 95 officially confirmed acts, there are a lot of familiar old names who may still be on your bucket list if you’ve not caught them before. And what better place than Glastonbury to get your first live experience of bands and musicians such as Shania Twain, PJ Harvey, Cyndi Lauper, Avril Lavigne, Bloc Party, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Breeders, Dexys, Gossip, James Blake, Keane, Nitin Swaney, Paloma Faith, Paul Heaton, Steel Pulse, The Streets, or Faithless?

Of course, whilst these may all be acts you are intimately familiar with through their extensive combined back catalogues, there are also many bands you might be aware of, but haven’t really listened to much, and festivals are the perfect opportunity to explore the musical roads that, for you, are maybe a bit less travelled.

So, if you are looking for recommendations, here are the bands we think you’d be daft to miss:

Baxter Dury

Fontaines D.C.

Idles

Kneecap

Squid

Yard Act

Who else might be on the full line-up?

There is always a huge amount of speculation around the full Glastonbury line-up, and whilst we have nothing to back up our own list of possible acts, we just know they all deserve the chance to play.

For a more info on some of these, pop over to our ‘2023 wrapped up’ review article, but very quickly here’s a run-down of the names that Glastonbury’s many stage bookers ought to have on their radars:

VLURE

Last year’s ETC runners up played what the BBC Introducing crew described as the best set they’s ever seen on their stage. They went on to win Scotland’s ‘best live band’. They are immense.

HotWax

This is a band riding an enormous wave and we would love to see it finally break on a big Glastonbury stage this year so they can paddle back out and grab the next rip-curl.

SNAYX

Snapping at the heels of the industry, SNAYX are quite simply something to behold. Fierce, but with a grin the size of a Cheshire cat.

Funke and the Two Tone Baby

After a massive crowd at the Greenpeace stage next year this one-man powerhouse is going on to bigger and better things.

Personal Trainer

Amsterdam’s latest (and possibly greatest) musical export. Powerful performances and louche lyrics.

Viagra Boys

They blew away the crowd at The PArk last year and we’d love to see them back for a second round of punk attitude.

About Bunny

A proper festival band with songs that are original but instantly familiar.

Gurriers

An Irish band who will appeal to fans of Fontaines D.C. – but thery are better.

Scustin

More Irish talent – from a band who can deliver two bands for the price of one as their music skews between funk and frolics.

CHALK

It may be the year for the Irish to vanquish the festival scene if this band’s cinematic soundscapes catch the ear of enough people.

Victor Ray

If you are someone who loves everything that Ed Sheerean and Rag’n’n’Bone Man do then your will adore Victor Ray.

The Bevis Frond

After over 40 years of continuous recording and touring it’s about time that Glastonbury put The Bevis Frond into the programme.

Blue Orchids

Yes, we know they are regulars at Glastonbury – but bring them back please.

Mik Artistik’s Ego Trip

The man, the myth, the legend. No more needs saying.

Enjoyable Listens

After a ‘pub’ gig in one of the larger Glastonbury bars last year we want to see Enjoyable Listens givven wider exposure. The world is ready.

CUD

Unlikely NME coverstars (back in 1992), the CUD band are firmly out on the road again with new material that easily equals their best original output.

Glastonbury is more than music

The music is central to the fun – but it’s maybe more about the people! And what brilliant people they are…