Glastonbury revellers arrive in their thousands ahead of festival's official opening as Met Office warns fans of humid weather and 26C sun

Daily Mail​

5 hours ago

Thousands of fans have been arriving at Glastonbury today ahead of the festival's official opening – with forecasters warning of humid conditions with a chance of rain.
Campers arriving at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset came with their tents, chairs and plenty of alcohol – with some already cracking open some cans while in the queue.
The Met Office warned of a mixed bag of sunshine and rain for the festival this week with 'with sunny spells and scattered showers expected throughout the day' today.
But it will still feel warm as temperatures are expected to rise over the coming days to reach 24C (75F) by Friday, 25C (77F) on Saturday and 26C (78F) on Sunday.
Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Ramsdale said: 'Sunny spells are expected for the rest of Wednesday over Worthy Farm and it's likely to stay dry. Things will feel warm and rather humid, with a maximum temperature of 22C (72F).'
Organiser Emily Eavis opened the festival at 8am while standing alongside her father Sir Michael Eavis, 89, who founded the event on his Somerset dairy farm in 1970.
They counted down and cheered with other members of the Glastonbury team, with Sir Michael sat in a wheelchair, as the festival opened while a brass band played.
This year will see headline performances from British band The 1975, veteran singer Neil Young and his band the Chrome Hearts, and US pop star Olivia Rodrigo.
One of the more controversial acts is Irish rap trio Kneecap who have been in the headlines recently after one of their members was charged with a terror offence - although Ms Eavis said in an interview this morning: 'Everyone is welcome here.'
A festival goer wearing hair curlers speaks on the phone as she arrives on site
The first festival goer enters as the gates open on day one of Glastonbury Festival today
Today is one of the busiest day for arrivals at Worthy Farm as the gates open for the festival
Those arriving at the festival at Worthy Farm today can expect a mixture of sunshine and rain
Liam Og O hAnnaidh was charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in London in November last year.
Last week the 27-year-old, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts.
He was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the group's performance at the festival, taking place on the West Holts Stage at 4pm on Saturday, is not 'appropriate' and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she thought the BBC 'should not be showing' Kneecap's performance.
Asked how she had responded to the Prime Minister's comments on Kneecap playing at the festival, Ms Eavis told BBC Breakfast: 'We haven't responded to that.
'At the moment we're just focusing on bringing the best festival to the people that want to come here. We're incredibly lucky that so many people want to come to Glastonbury. It blows us away. We've got millions of people trying to get tickets.'
When the reporter pointed out that it was 'quite a thing' for Keir Starmer to comment, she added: 'I know, it is, it is. I mean, there have been a lot of very heated topics this year. But we remain just a platform for many, many artists from all over the world. Everyone is welcome here.'
Eavis, 45, also told BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Nick Grimshaw that opening the gates is 'one of my favourite moments of the whole weekend'.
She added: 'So much goes into all those areas... all that planning, all that speculation, all the opinions, all the debate, all the outrage, all the love, all the feelings that just are generated every day, all the press, all the noise.
'To be able to actually look everyone in the eye on those gates and bring everyone in, and just think, actually, it's all really just about this. It's all about these people having the best time over the next five days.'
Performing in the coveted Sunday tea-time legends slot this year is Sir Rod Stewart who previously said he will be joined by his former Faces band member Ronnie Wood, as well as some other guests.
His performance is to come after the Maggie May singer postponed a string of concerts in the US, due to take place this month, while he recovered from flu.
Speaking to BBC News about the performance, he said: 'I just wish they wouldn't call it the tea-time slot. That sounds like pipe and slippers, doesn't it?'
He previously said he had persuaded organisers to secure him an hour-and-a-half slot after initially being offered 75 minutes.
'Usually I do well over two hours, so there's still a load of songs we won't be able to do,' he said.
'But we've been working at it. I'm not gonna make any announcements between songs. I'll do one number, shout 'next', and go straight into the next one. I'm going to get in as many songs as I can.'
Organiser Ms Eavis has said the festival, which has capacity for 210,000 people, has sold 'a few thousand less tickets' this year in a bid to avoid overcrowding.
In an appearance on the Sidetracked podcast, Eavis outlined the changes that have been made to this year's festival and said music area Shangri-La is 'going full trees and green space' which is 'completely the opposite to anything they've done in the past'.
Traffic builds up on the route to the site of Glastonbury Festival in Somerset this morning
Revellers queue for entry on the first day of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm today
Some festivalgoers are seen getting creative in their transportation methods - using carts
A man wears a shirt featuring the Glastonbury ticketing system waiting screen today
This year's event will see headline performances from The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo
A man sleeps as he waits in the queue for the opening of Glastonbury Festival this morning
Thousands of campers are descending on Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm this morning
Traffic builds up on the route to the site of Glastonbury Festival in Somerset this morning
Festival founder Sir Michael Eavis sits in a wheelchair as the gates of Glastonbury open today
Revellers arrive for entry on the first day of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm today
Revellers queue for entry on the first day of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm today
Festivalgoers are seen trying to get some sleep ahead of the doors to the festival site opening
Fans are loaded up to the hilt as they lugged in their possessions for the five-day festival
Traffic builds up on the route to the site of Glastonbury Festival in Somerset this morning
Glastonbury founder Sir Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily Eavis open the festival today
Revellers queue for entry on the first day of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm today
Among the acts expected to draw large crowds this year is alternative pop star Charli XCX, who will perform songs from her genre-defining sixth studio album Brat.
She is performing on Saturday night on the Other Stage, 15 minutes before the West Holts stage is graced by US rapper Doechii, another artist who has exploded in popularity in the last year.
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Other performers include Irish singer CMAT, Prada singer Raye, US musician Brandi Carlile, Nile Rodgers and Chic, hip-hop star Loyle Carner, US pop star Gracie Abrams, indie outfit Wet Leg, Mercury Prize-winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective, US rapper Denzel Curry, and rising star Lola Young.
The line-up also features a number of acts listed as TBA, as well as a mysterious act called Patchwork, who will take to the Pyramid Stage on Saturday.
This year the BBC will provide live streams of the five main stages - Pyramid, Other, West Holts, Woodsies and The Park.
Tonight at 10pm the festival will open with a theatre and circus act set in the Pyramid Arena which will showcase acrobatic and circus performances, culminating in a fireworks display.
Forecasters have said Glastonbury-goers can expect a mixed bag of sunshine and rain this week.
Crowds are seen gathering outside Worthy Farm in Pilton as they wait for the gates to open
Festival-goers descend on Glastonbury at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, this morning
Revellers arrive for entry on the first day of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm today
Glastonbury founder Sir Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily Eavis open the festival today
Thousands of campers are descending on Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm this morning
People arriving at Glastonbury Festival this morning pull packed trollies with their belongings
People arrive laden with bags this morning ahead of the five-day event held at Worthy Farm
People walk into the site at Worthy Farm in Pilton today carrying all their belongings
Traffic builds up on the route to the site of Glastonbury Festival in Somerset this morning
Keen festivalgoers share sharing a laugh as they queued for entry into the music event today
Glastonbury founder Sir Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily Eavis open the festival today
Thousands of campers are descending on Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm this morning
Revellers queue for entry on the first day of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm today
Glastonbury founder Sir Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily Eavis open the festival today
Colourful tens are seen at Worthy Farm earlier this week ahead of the Glastonbury Festival
The festival is set to open with a theatre and circus act set at the Pyramid Stage tonight
Traffic builds up on the route to the site of Glastonbury Festival in Somerset this morning
Glastonbury founder Sir Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily Eavis open the festival today
Thousands of campers are descending on Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm this morning
Ticket-holders have been advised to prepare for mainly warm weather, but to also bring waterproofs to the five-day event which could see thunderstorms over the weekend.
Speaking about today's weather, a Met Office spokesman said: 'Despite the risk of some showers, there will still be plenty of dry and bright intervals in between.
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'Temperatures will be around 24C, so slightly above average for the time of year, making for a pleasant, if occasionally damp, start to this year's festival.'
Tomorrow is expected to be cloudy but dry with temperatures of around 22C. Those setting up tents may find it even trickier than usual, with winds strengthening during the day.
'Thursday evening will see those winds taper off and make for a pleasant evening with some sunshine and cloud helping to keep things warm,' the spokeswoman added.
More gusty winds are likely on Friday - the day that the main music acts begin - but there should be some sunny spells and temperatures of around 23C.
There is less certainty over the weekend, although high pressure could lead to longer dryer spells and thunderstorms.
'It's also likely that there will be very warm, humid air pushing in from the south at times, potentially bringing brief hot spells and even the risk of isolated thunderstorms,' the spokeswoman added.