Home > Focus On Festivals > Preview: Glastonbury 2013 Top Picks (Part 1)
Glastonbury is just a few short weeks away and with large parts of the lineup now announced, it’s time to start some serious planning. However, with such an expansive list of artists, where do you even start? We’ll be bringing you our top picks from around the stages in the run up to the festival, starting with some obvious choices from the Pyramid Stage, Other Stage, West Holts and The Park.
BBC’s ‘Sound of 2013’, sisters Este, Danielle and Alana Haim combine with drummer Dash Hutton to create music which seems to epitomise summer. It’s Fleetwood Mac meets the 90’s in the best imaginable way. Likely to be featured early in the day, their R&B meets folk-rock sound will no doubt act as the perfect wake up call.
We can’t deny this announcement felt somewhat predictable after the countless rumours but none the less with over 50 years in the business it seems about time that Jagger and co took their turn on the hallowed stage. With tracks like You Can’t Always Get What You Want, and (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction likely to find their way into a set list of countless classics it’s going to be one of those defining Glastonbury moments, which lingers long after their set draws to a close.
Love or loathe Amanda Palmer and the frequent controversy that seems to surrounds her, there’s no denying her ability to change and transform the landscape of music, perhaps best highlighted by her ability to raise £1.2m on Kickstarter to fund her most recent album. Nevertheless, her set will no doubt play to her cabaret nature and if she sticks to the likes of Want It Back rather than the utterly heartbreaking The Bed Song it might just compete with Lady Gaga’s 2009 set for one of the most interesting moments on the Other Stage.
The curve ball band of the pack, though it’s been several years since their last release there’s no doubting that Beth Gibbon’s and co have consistently released innovative songs, making up for quantity with quality. With an ever elusive fourth album rumoured for the last few years and a string of European dates this summer, we can only hope their Glastonbury appearance signals the follow up to classic tracks such as Machine Gun and Glory Box.
Master of one of a kind instruments, expect to see 3 and even 1 string guitars make their way onto the stage, as well as the Morris Minor hubcap guitar which inspired the title of his most recent album. Seasick Steve’s blues sound has the ability to turn heads and though he may argue that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” it’s fair to say this seasoned musician has plenty to teach to the young.
It’s somewhat fitting that the artist who originally penned and recorded The Rolling Stones’ first hit (It’s All Over) as part of The Valentinos takes his own place on the festival site. With recent health concerns it might be one of the last opportunties to witness the legend in action. If you’re lucky you can expect his version of Fly Me To The Moon and Lookin’ for a Love which scored the singer a top ten hit when released as a solo number.
Interesting to listen to, and perhaps even more interesting to watch, this Liverpool based trio offer quirky melodies which fuse 60’s psychedelia with pagan folk. A perfect match then for the playground nature of The Park Stage, they’ll either inspire squelchly foot stomps to Tangled Up In Stars if it rains, or barefoot celebrations to The Garden if it’s sunny. Either way, as one of the most talked about bands of 2012, they’re not to be missed.
Not to be confused with the retro purple sweets which taste of perfume, Palma Violets bring a rock sound to The Park Stage. Though they missed out on being named the BBC’s Sound of 2013, their first single Best of Friends was voted NME’s top track of 2012. We Found Love is something of a nod to the Arctic Monkeys and guarantees to get the hillside stage rocking.
For full line up information, visit www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
All work remains the copyright of its author, please don't duplicate without consent
Website by Hut Six Digital