Glastonbury Timeline & History
1970
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September 19th: Event starts its life as the Pilton Pop, Folk & Blues Festival
1971
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Name changes to Glastonbury Fair
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Pyramid Stage: First version built
Conceived by Bill Harkin, the stage was a one-tenth replica of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It's built using Kwikstage scaffolding and 300 sheets of expanded metal.
1972
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Glastonbury Fayre documentary released
Directed by Nicolas Roeg.
1978
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Impromptu festival occurs after travellers arrive from Stonehenge
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Pyramid Stage: Harry Williamson's version appears
The Polytantric Stage was used at the impromptu 1978 festival and in addition to the Main Stage in 1979.
1979
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Name changes to Glastonbury Fayre
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Alister Sieghart: Starts working in the festival's information stall
1981
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Name changes to Glastonbury CND Festival
First year joining the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
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Pyramid Stage: Second permanent version built
Constructed from telegraph poles and metal sheeting from the Ministry of Defence.
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Alister Sieghart: Helps build Pyramid Stage
1984
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January 17th: Michael Eavis successfully defends five prosecutions
These were brought forward by the Mendip District Council for breaching the 1983 license.
1985
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Cockmill Farm purchased
Increases festival size by over 100 acres.
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Jim Fox: Starts working as a performer in the Green Fields
1988
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Fallow year
Taken to give the land, locals, and organisers a break.
1989
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Hilary McManus: Designs the 'dancing figures' logo
1990
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Name changes to Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts
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June 25th: Riots break out between travellers and security
This results in 235 arrests and £50,000 worth of damage.
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Outside Cinema: Dolby Stereo added
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Malcolm Haynes: Starts out booking for World Music Stage
1991
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Fallow year
Taken due to the confrontations between travellers and security in 1990.
1992
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The Experimental Soundfield: Debuts as its own area
1994
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Festival is screened on national television for the first time
Channel 4 airs the entire thing live.
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Outside Cinema: Screen destroyed in Pyramid Stage fire on June 13th
Replacement measures 56ft wide by 24ft high, at the time the biggest 35mm cinema screen in the country. Dolby Digital is also introduced with an upgraded sound system.
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Pyramid Stage: Stage burns down on June 13th
Bad luck strikes one week before the festival. A replacement stage is used in 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, and 1999.
1996
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Fallow year
1997
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BBC takes over television coverage
1999
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Lou Fitzpatrick: Starts working in the Site Office
2000
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Outside Cinema: Screen upgraded to 64ft wide
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Pyramid Stage: Third and current version built
Designed by Bill Burroughs, now four times the size of the original.
2001
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Fallow year
2002
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Super fence is introduced to stop gate-crashers
It stands 14ft high and costs over £1 million.
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Mean Fiddler takes over logisitics and security
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Kaye Dunnings: Starts working as a performer at Lost Vagueness
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Lou Fitzpatrick: Becomes Assistant Coordinator of the Dance Tent
2005
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Glade Stage: Original stage moves to Dance Village as G Stage
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The Dome: Called Drifts Dome
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Malcolm Haynes: Founds Dance Village
2006
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Fallow year
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Glastonbury documentary released.
Directed by Julien Temple.
2007
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Pre-registration and photo ID tickets introduced
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NYC Downlow: Festival's first gay venue debuts in Trash City
Built with a £2,000 budget supplied by Joe Rush
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Michael Eavis: Receives a CBE for services to music
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Alister Sieghart: Founds Cubana Salsa Tent
2008
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Trash City: Moves from Theatre & Circus Fields to the old Tipi Fields
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Cubana Salsa Tent: Moves from ? to Dance Village
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Bimble Inn: Moves from the Tipi Field to The Park
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Tipi Field: Moves to its current location near The Park
Replaced by Trash City in the Southeast corner.
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Kaye Dunnings: Founds Shangri-La
2010
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BBC Music Introducing: Moves from The Park to the Dance Village
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Left Field: Moves from what is now William's Green to its current location
This occured after it not appearing at the 2009 festival.
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The Igloo: Moves to The Common
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NYC Downlow: Moves from Trash City to Block9
2011
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Campo Pequeno: Old lock gates used to construct venue
Gates donated by Britsh Waterways
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The Common: Swaps fields with Arcadia
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Arcadia: Swaps fields with The Common
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Cubana Salsa Tent: Moves from Dance Village to near Left Field
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Glade Stage: Changes to G Stage in Glastonbury Fair
2012
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Fallow year
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Festival takes back control of logistics and security
2013
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Free University of Glastonbury: Moves from HMS Sweet Charity to The Crow's Nest
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The Glade: Area is used for the Spirit of '71 stage
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Spirit of '71: Becomes its own area, replacing Glastonbury Fair
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Arcadia: Moves from Trash City to The Glade
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Joe Rush: Builds the Phoenix above the Pyramid Stage
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Malcolm Haynes: Founds Silver Hayes
2014
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Strummerville: Moves from Unfairground to Glasto Latino field
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The Glade: Returns to its rightful home
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Arcadia: Moves from The Glade to its current location
2015
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Strummerville: Moves from Glasto Latino field to its current location near the Tipi Field
2016
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John Peel Stage: Moves fields from Sugg's Ground to Long Ground
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The Experimental Soundfield: Returns as part of The Glade
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NYC Downlow: Rebuilt into current version
2018
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Fallow year
2019
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A ban on single-use plastic water bottles is introduced
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Glasto Latino: Moves to West Holts field
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Block9: Expands to two adjacent fields, Block9 East and Block9 West
2020
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March 18th: Festival cancelled due to Covid-19 on March 18th
Enforced fallow year.
2021
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January 21st: Festival cancelled due to Covid-19 on January 21st
Enforced fallow year.
2022
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Glastonbury: 50 Years & Counting documentary released