Break in those walking boots, the full Glastonbury 2024 lineup is out! With just under three weeks to go before over 200,000 music lovers descend on Worthy farm, a combination of meticulous weather watching, canned cocktail purchasing and dedicated clash-finding has taken over many a festival goers life, figuring out how to make this year’s festival the best one yet.
Amidst all the excitement though, esteemed musician Nadine Shah drew headlines this week when she silenced long-standing rumours that she would be added to the line up. Speaking frankly, she highlighted that although Glastonbury is a bucket list achievement for many artists, it can also be a pretty costly one to play. With 62 different stages onsite, Glastonbury punters are absolutely spoilt for choice, but it remains true that the smaller names can sometimes fall by the wayside, drawing small appearance fees that are becoming increasingly difficult for individuals to justify in a cost-of-living crisis.
The rumours are untrue. I am NOT playing @glastonbury i would have liked to but I wasn’t offered a televised stage so I declined. It’s too expensive a hit for me to take otherwise. ✌🏽
— Nadine Shah (@nadineshah) June 4, 2024
At a fan level, we’re all strapped for cash too. If you’ve been lucky enough to secure that ticket, it probably feels more important than ever to feast on the buffet of Glasto’s big names, to tick off your favourite artists and make some bucket list memories in front of a glorious pyramid stage. But with so many styles of music on offer, Glastonbury is also the best place in the world to try something new. In getting away from the main stages (which you can check out later on iPlayer anyway, let’s face it), there’s more room to dance, way shorter bar queues, and plenty of opportunities to discover a brand new artist that you can champion long after even the worst festival blisters have worn off. For our money, here’s 12 musical picks that you’ll be glad to come home knowing.
Arxx – Greenpeace, Thursday, 1.45pm
Kick starting the party early doors, Arxx are a punk duo from Brighton who are primed and ready for their first ever Glastonbury, spreading the message of queer angsty magic with the masses. Having just gotten off a supporting tour for Fletcher, they’re in fine live shape, with synthy ‘Crying In The Carwash’ set to be a particular festi banger.
Olivia Nelson – Wishing Well, Thursday, 6.45pm
Just 21 years old, Olivia Nelson is following in the footsteps of her Pyramid Stage namesake Olivia Dean by spearheading a new era of soulful pop that pulls in threads of other genres to create something fresh. If you miss her here, she’s playing several sets across the festival weekend, in celebration of her winning the 2024 instalment of Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent competition
ShyGirl presents ClubShy, Thursday, Levels, 12pm
You’ll probably already be familiar with the musical stylings of ShyGirl, but you might not know what her set looks like in the form of ClubShy, leaning into her love of electronic music and sticky-floored nightlife. Expect collaboration, spice, and a whole lot of energy to get things going at one of Glastonbury’s most visually impressive dance stages.
Emma Jean Thackray, San Remo, Friday 10am
Remember those aforementioned lageritas? Onsite western-themed bar San Remo (the former Beat Hotel) is famous for them, but if 10am feels a bit too early for a cocktail, Yorkshire-born Emma Jean Thackray will be easing you into a fresh day of music with a DJ set that draws on her experience as a jazz bandleader, multi-instrumentalist and producer.
Grace Carter – Lonely Hearts Club, Friday, 3pm
Having placed third on BBC’s Sound Of… poll for 2019, London singer-songwriter Grace Carter has been on a bit of a slow burn, trying to better acquaint herself with the kind of artist she truly wants to be. With 2023 EP ‘A Little Lost, A Little Found’, she seems to have cracked it, shaping R&B ballads that are open about the melancholia and alienation that affects so many of us growing up.
Sabiyha, Strummerville, Friday, 10pm
Drawing on the vibrant musical DNA of her guyanese and indo-Caribbean heritage, south Londoner Sabiyha crafts pop music with punchy beats and rousing sentiment, navigating themes of sexuality, mental health and trauma. Swot up in advance with 2023 extended play ‘Sheerkhan’, which Sabiyha dedicates to the strength of her mother’s maiden name.
Problem Patterns, The Hive, Saturday, 3:05pm
A four-piece from Northern Ireland, Problem Patterns have honed a talky-emo riot grrrl approach to music making that feels scrappy and intimate in a really fun way. ‘TERF’s Out’ and ‘Pity Bra’ are our ideal setlist picks, but it’d be pretty difficult not to have a good time in their good-humoured wake.
Charlotte Plank – Lonely Hearts Club, Saturday, 9:30pm
A rising star of UK and Australian dance music, Charlotte Plank has earned her stripes through collaborations with Rudimental and Vibe Chemistry, before striking out on her own with New Zealand megahit ‘Nightshift’. With big ska horns and a drum-and-bass beat, it’s going to go incredibly hard on Glastonbury night out.
Moonchild Sanelly, The Bandstand, Sunday, 12.30pm
In her third of four performances at this year’s festival, Moonchild Sannelly will be taking on the Bandstand, showcasing exactly why she has the energy to win over any casual lunchtime punters who may be ambling past. A breakout star of Damon Albarn’s Africa Express project (amongst many other achievements of her own), she is quickly recognisable for her signature blue-hair, and potent blend of ‘future ghetto funk’.
Paris Paloma, BBC Introducing, Sunday, 4.30pm
Having seen huge success when her track ‘Labour’ struck a chord with TikTok users who wanted to share their experiences of misogyny and female disempowerment, Derbyshire’s Paris Paloma is showing huge promise as a moving, relatable lyricist. If this year’s Glasto stays dry, this will be the perfect set to sit down and fully take in, a small moment of peace before the bustle of the final night fully kicks in.
Get Glasto ready:
- Plan where to camp at Glastonbury
- Get Glastonbury tips from a vet
- Check out the lineup in full
