Music, Style & Culture

6 Bands To See At Glastonbury Festival ‘09

Apart from our wellies and rain macs there’s one essential ingredient the nay-sayers forget to remind us about when it comes to preparing for the Pilton Pop Fest – without doubt, Glastonbury kicks festival behind when it comes to bands.

Apart from our wellies and rain macs there’s one essential ingredient the nay-sayers forget to remind us about when it comes to preparing for the Pilton Pop Fest – without doubt, Glastonbury kicks festival behind when it comes to bands. On the eve of this 'ere annual extravaganza, we heartily suggest if you make haste and feast your ears (oh yeah, and eyes!) on the following:

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The Specials

Rising unemployment, a visible rift in the cultural status quo and the racial profiling of gigs leaving venues a wee bit deserted… sound familiar? Welcome back to 1981! The punk-ska pioneers of their time (after The Clash, of course), if the thought of hearing ‘Ghost Town’ live doesn’t get you swivelling Pyramid-ways we thinks you may need to clean your ears and probably have a good chat with the Rev.

Pyramid Stage, Friday 26th June

Listen to The Specials on Spotify

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Skream and Benga

How to beat a pop-tart at their own game? Release a stonking, subwoofer-blasting version of their debut single and see which one the masses adore. Skream’s remix of La Roux’s ‘In For The Kill’ could just be the biggest usurp of 2009, and no doubt with fellow dub-master general, in the form of Benga, this set could be the time that the finest British genre gets its finest hour. Expect some deranged facial expressions and a distinct loosening of the hips – plus they’re on twice, double bonus!

West Dance, Friday 26th June

Listen to Skream and Benga on Spotify

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East 17

For a trip down memory lane, as Calvin said it’s acceptable if you were born in the 80s… mind you anyone over the age of 30 or under the age of 19 may wish to reconsider. Having said that if they play ‘When The Thunder Calls You’ we may be seen clinging railings and howling like a long lost puppy. Brian may just want to ensure he watches out for any stray ‘rolling’ tractors.

Dance Lounge, Thursday 25th June

Listen to East 17 on Spotify

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The Big Pink

Everyone and their uncle will be cramming into the Peel tent for this one, and we can’t beat them so we’ll join too! Milo Cordell and Robbie Furze will have you lapping up their drone guitars, deeply-buried romantic souls and whisps of dry ice. Top tip you’re your herbal highs are just not kicking things up that notch, indulge in this version of mind alteration and you’ll be glad.

John Peel Stage, Saturday 27th June

Listen to The Big Pink on Spotify

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Boy Crisis

Come back Brooklyn, we’re not done with you yet. Sexy, funny and bloody well catchy, ‘Dressed to Digress’ and its repetition of “you’re the shit girl, you could do me like Bruce Springsteen” is a bit of an alternative festival hit. Don’t be mistaken – it won’t quite give you that ‘moment’, but dancing is compulsory. This year’s Teenagers, fo sho.

Dance Lounge, Saturday 27th June

Listen to Boy Crisis on Spotify

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Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

Loving the Boss comes top in the list of compulsory festival feelings – later we’ll dwell on the come down bit – but, seriously, the man will be 60 this year and we defy you not to find his stage skidding moves heroic. Surely ‘Born to Run’ was born to be echoed across the vales of Somerset by nigh on 100,000 people and if we consider last year’s stadium shows anything to go by, expect hits and lots of them. Miss this and well you’ve kinda missed the whole festival.

Pyramid Stage, Saturday 27th June

Listen to Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band on Spotify

For the full line up click here. Check back tomorrow for '6 More Bands To See At Glastonbury '09'.