VF returns to Glasto's Left Field

United Kingdom | | 15 April 2005

Babyshambles, The Others, British Sea Power, and loads more are joining us in lending their support to the global fight for economic and social justice by playing on Glastonbury's Left Field Stage.

After literally bulging at the seams for most the weekend last year, the Left Field tent is back and bigger, increasing in capacity from 3,000 to 4,500 for 2005 - and just as well judging by this lot ...

On the Friday night, Virtual Festivals will be teaming up with Buck65 to host the stage for the second consecutive year, featuring performances from British Sea Power, The Beat, The Lovegods, and a special collaboration between Sonic Audio and some very special Mancunian guests who can't be named for legal reasons. Go on, you work it out!

The Saturday night will be a full-on Love Music Hate Racism show, topped by Babyshambles and The Others, with Lady Sovereign and hosts Skitz and Rodney P, as the Left Field rocks against the Nazis.

Sunday night is Global Solidarity Night and will be headlined by Left Field's own International Cultural Attache, Billy Bragg, joined for the evening by Steve Earle and Alison Moorer, before Glastonbury pulls down the shutters for two years in fine style.

VF's own Herculean 'fixer' John Bownas has been appointed stage manager and will be responsible for making sure the whole thing runs smoothly all weekend (ha ha!). He mused: "Saturday night should be interesting, what with Babyshambles and The Others playing back to back. It should be, well, suitably shambolic!"

Whatever happens, the meaning behind Left Field is more important than the bands that play it. Campaigning for social equality and economic justice everywhere from Asian sweatshops to south-coast boat yards, Left Field has become one of the most vibrant and politically charged venues on the Worthy Farm site - one that VF is more than happy to shamelessly plug!

The stage is also very close to the heart of Michael Eavis, who last year got involved in the construction of a massive tower designed to identify both the location, and the underlying message, of the Left Field. (Look closely and you'll see the Glasto boss depicted alongside images of workers from around the world in different guises.)

According to Geoff Martin, from the Battersea and Wandsworth TUC which organises the Left Field, Eavis is extremely excited about this year's programme - something he too shares.

Geoff told us: "This stunning line up of talent will have the Left Field buzzing this year. We've got a bigger tent, a bigger area and we're cooking up a programme that will pack the place to the rafters. We've also got some very special guests in the pipeline along with a film premiere, campaigning initiatives, a Cuban Fiesta and the famous Left Field happy hour."

Previous guests have included Hugh Cornwall, Republic Of Loose, Mick Jones, Tony Benn and Bill Bailey. VF will be there to cover the whole thing and hopefully catching up with some of the bands for a chat and a cup of tea. If you're at Glastonbury, make sure you check it out.

For more info on Left Field click here. Glastonbury Festival 2005 takes place at Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, from 24-26 June. Click here for more.