Glastonbury Top Tens: The best of the rest

Highlights from John Peel, Jazz World, Avalon, Arcadia, more

United Kingdom | by Justin Madgwick, Steve Jenner, Daniel Fahey | 01 July 2009

As we all know, it's not all about the main stages at Glastonbury. Here are the top ten highlights from around the site...

Babyhead, Acradia
It’s not everyday that you get to watch a band play from a giant spaceship, so anybody that stumbled upon Babyhead’s mid-afternoon show in Arcadia was in for a double treat. Specials-like ska and an energetic frontman, whose musical box constantly looked like it might fall onto the crowd below, made for possibly the best set away from the main stages – a typical Glastonbury treat. DF

Jamie T, John Peel Stage
Even finding the time to showcase around five new songs (including ‘368’ and ‘Dance Of The Young Professionals’), London troubadour Jamie T left a panting John Peel tent gasping for air during a monster of a set on the Friday. ‘Sheila’, of course, was the song of the set, but it was Mr T’s endless energy during ‘Salvador’, which left him in a pool of sweat on the floor with his guitarist that showed the true vigour of his performance. DF

The Martin Harley Band, Acoustic Stage
The soulful folk-jazz-country-blues rock trio were the perfect early afternoon tonic for bleary eyes and tender heads on the Sunday. The soothing tones of 'If The World's Gonna Change' and 'Money Don't Matter' washed over the horizontal crowds around the periphery like waves over slumbering seals, before the band cranked it up for a rousing 'Nobody's Fault Like Mine' that got most on their feet and even a few moshing at the front. SJ

Baskery, The Avalon Stage
Sweden is synonymous with blondes and vodka, but country and western? Not on your Nellie. Not so it would seem as female trio Baskery made quite clear on the opening day of Glastonbury. Their breakneck country sound, deep with triple harmonies, kicking banjos, sweeping guitar work and double bass rhythms was perfect in the sunshine – a delightful find. DF

The Destroyers, The Avalon Stage
The 15-strong collective whipped the overflowing yellow tent into a complete frenzy with a riotous performance that fused gypsy folk with a gothic turbo charge. SJ

Speed Caravan, Jazz World
A Completely unexpected blow away performance with so many ingredients it shouldn't work, but the energy and drilling bass make this a must see in the future. JM

Baby Charles, Pussy Parlour
With frenetic guitar work and James Brown-esque funk grooves, Baby Charles were an idyllic anecdote to the rest of the Dance Village on Sunday afternoon. ‘Feelgood’ could’ve been straight off of ‘Live At The Apollo’ as the flute, saxophone and trombone shook the foundations of the mirrored hall. DF

Stereo MC's, The Glade
Small stage, not a big act, but both unite to give a storming session of bass, beats, moves and grooves as Rob B delivered the perfect mixture of new and old school tracks. ‘Connected’, Get On It’ and ‘Step It Up’ are amongst the big appreciation numbers. The pyro display at the end topped a top performance that leaves your internal organs reeling from the bass lines. JM

The Rumble Strips, John Peel Stage
“Let’s have a party!” yelled Charlie Waller before the group plough into ‘Not The Only Person’. The Rumble Strips’ brassbound set in the John Peel Tent was one giant karaoke session with Waller the one really testing his lungs. A bouncy ‘Girls And Boys In Love’ and ‘Motorcycle’ fit seamlessly together, especially with added keys, while newbie ‘Daniel’ should become a festival staple as the year progresses. DF

Blockheads, Avalon,
Blockheads ran through all the hits like ‘Hit Me’, ‘Clever Trevor’ and ‘Inbetweenies’ delivering the feel good set of the night. Phill Jupitus adds to the quality for two songs giving the crowd a cracking close to Avalon. JM

By Daniel Fahey, Steve Jenner, Justin Madgwick