Whether you're in the mud of Worthy Farm, or watching the festival on your sofa with a bowl of Pringles, anyone can appreciate this years Glasto. With such an eclectic mix of music, 2019 could be the best of them all; for everyone going, we envy you.
The Chemical Brothers - The Other Stage
The kings of British rave music, Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, have headlined Glasto before, but this year they see themselves topping the other stage. Clashing with The Killers, Wu-Tang Clan, and everyone’s guilty pleasure (Sean Paul), they still stand out as the must see act to close Saturday night. With a new album, and countless electronica classics, the duo will blow your mind with their blistering light show and heavy tunes.
Dave - The Other Stage
Britain’s Top Boy went straight to number one with debut ‘Psychodrama’; he rarely plays festivals, hand picking the ones that he feels are worthy of his appearance, so both Dave is lucky to be at Glasto, and the Eavis family have been lucky enough to book him. His setlist will blend sincerity with energy, potentially cross-pollinating with other acts on the bill: AJ Tracey, Fredo and Headie One are all collaborators and playing sets across the weekend, so some special guests could be on the cards.
Lizzo - West Holsts Stage
Houston rapper Lizzo is one of the most important artists around at the moment. Labelled by many as Missy Elliot’s successor, her witty lyricism effortlessly addresses issues with race and sexism, whilst charismatically encouraging body confidence. ‘Cuz I love You’, Lizzo’s latest LP, embraces the grooves of soul and gospel, and subtly modernising the genres with the occasional trap beats. Listen to Tempo.
Ezra Collective - West Holts Stage
Everyone is catching the grooves of jazz at the moment; the genre has an inextricable link to many others at the moment, with Hip-Hop’s most influential really embracing the movement. It would be far too easy to box Ezra Collective into just just a jazz quintet though, they embrace a sound that is now locked into the hearts of so many from our country, and across the globe too. Their hour set will be one of the most spellbinding on the West Holts this year, the slick saxophone solos of James Mollison and Femi Koleoso’s jazzy drumming will go down a treat on Saturday afternoon.
Roy Ayers - West Holts Stage
“My life my life my life my life, in the sunshine” may be quite an ironic lyric to be singing in Glastonbury’s muddy fields of Avalon. However, this year on the West Holts Stage, that’s exactly what Roy Ayers fans will be chanting. No matter the weather, you know the American Soul Jazz composer will bring the warmth to Worthy Farm, boasting a back catalogue of euphoric summer tunes; he will go down a treat on the Sunday afternoon.
Octavian - John Peel Stage
With ‘Endorphins’ out in the open, Octo has a setlist to fulfil any vibe at Glastonbury. His unique blend of modern dancehall, trap and grime has been hailed by everyone from Virgil Abloh to Mura Masa, and his versatility makes him the perfect fit for the spectrum of acts you get at Worthy Farm. Over the next few years, he will undoubtedly climb up the bill, but catching him in the legendary John Peel tent could be a lowkey highlight of the whole of this year’s festival.
Koffee - Park Stage
‘Rapture’, Koffee’s most recent single, is this year’s summer banger. The track revels in reggae, but equally draws on sounds of dancehall and afrosoul to make something so compelling that you cannot help but dance to it. She has been called “the protojé of Chronixx, but her sonics are far more versatile than the reggae king. With a whole new EP, and ‘Toast’ lurking on her tracklist, she will take the Park Stage by storm.
Peggy Gou - Sonic
Flying the flag for South Korean techno, Peggy Gou’s tropical tunes have been on the radar of clubs all across the world. Her DJ sets see her mixing on vinyl, putting any long bearded, male hipsters who think they can spin a few tunes to shame. With the qualities to take on the world of dance music, she is a hidden gem on this line up, as if it was any other festival, she would be a lot higher up the bill.
IAMDDB - Sonic
Manchester’s music scene is really popping at the moment. Arguably, it always is, but right now the city is a breeding ground for urban talent; IAMDDB is right up there with the best of them. If you haven’t heard her single ‘Shade’ yet, then you’ve been hiding for a very long time, the synthy jam is incredibly infectious, and probably the best R’n’B song Britain has produced in a very long time.
Ama Lou - The Park Stage
North Londoner Ama Lou shone in her show for Colors Studios, she did a rendition of ‘Tied Up’ - a luxurious, silky tune that came out last year. The Drake endorsed artist will bring her captivating vocals to the Park Stage; expect a menacing performance, one that shows her slightly reclusive take on music. ‘DDD’, her debut EP, was accompanied with a short film; Lou is much more than a musician - her perspectives on videography are as immersive as her music, so expect a pretty special set.
Mall Grab - Silver Hayes
Australian born, but England living, techno demon Mall Grab has gone far and beyond the limitations of his genre by combining sounds of other hardcore scenes: jungle, breakbeat and industrial spring to mind, but really his sonics are completely on their own level. His set at Silver Hayes will be completely unmissable; this area in general, lowkey, has one of the best line ups at the festival this year, you can find everyone from MJ Cole to Tiffany Calver spinning tunes there across the weekend.
Easy Life - BBC Introducing
Leicester 5 piece Easy Life have made real waves this year with their singles and the ‘Spaceship’ Mixtape. The fact that they are on the BBC Introducing stage shows just how strong of a line up it is for 2019’s Glasto, but they are rightfully headlining the tent this time round. ‘Nightmares’ is their Jools Holland approved stand out single; a true anthem in the making, expect a lot of rowdiness for the indie act.
Sherelle - Samula
Reprezent and NTS radio host and selector Sherelle propelled to the forefront of the jungle scene a few months ago thanks to her boileroom set. Meticulously crafted, the 50 minute long performance mixed bespoke scatty jungle, like Slick Shoota’s ‘Hardcore Junglist’, with other London bred sounds like grime. She’s playing a few sets across the weekend, and christ will they go down a treat if the sun is blazing. Whatever the weather though, Sherelle’s energy is well worth turning up for.
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