Glastonbury 2023 - Smaller Stages
I promised some recommendations of the smaller stages at Glastonbury. I’m afraid though, this is an impossible task. Every inch of the festival is bursting with brilliant bands, DJs, poets and other performers. It’s the highest concentration of creativity you’re likely to experience anywhere in your entire lifetime. Just think how powerful music can be and then multiply that by thousands, as the very best musical minds and souls converge in the fields of Pilton. I’m not too easily swayed by new age thought, but there’s no doubt in my mind that magic exists here, for at least 5 days of the year.
Call me a hypocrite, because due to work commitments I’ve long gone to Glastonbury with a tightly packed schedule of bands and DJs to see, but honestly the best way to experience the place is simply “bimble”. To wander with no direction, except maybe the general intention that you wish to experience whatever delights the festival might be willing to show you.
By all means have a short list of moments you simply can’t miss, whether that be music, poetry, theater, circus, cinema or talks. Then leave the rest to chance. Glastonbury is a huge beast, but there’s always something round every corner.
If you’re lucky, then you’ll happen upon some of the festival regulars in their natural habitat. Most play a number of shows whilst there, partly because none of the smaller stages ever have enough tickets to cover their full line up, so bands have to try and gather them up from various others.
There are the seasoned acts who have been playing there for 20 years plus. This includes bands such as: Dorset Cowpunk pioneers Pronghorn; the Cornish folk adventurers, 3 Daft Monkeys; local world fusion favourites Kangaroo Moon; Northern country punk provocateurs, Mik Artistik’s Ego Trip; The Baghdaddies, and their Balkan melodies from Newcastle; or those Bristol Bhangra favourites RSVP. Nearly all can be caught at various points throughout the weekend. I’d also be excited about the return of “dub diddly” folk fusionists Headmix if I was going to be there.
Then you’ve got the next generation along: acoustic rave duo Showhawk Duo; the one man phenomenon; Funke & The Two Tone Baby; the punky reggae party outfit from Cardiff, Junior Bill; sensational solo blues rocker Cam Cole; or hip hop hype men such as Too Many T’s and The Scribes. If hip hop is your flavour then there’s also a great live band called Mellowmatic and the frankly astonishing skills of the Beatbox Collective. Plus check out my man Feline fronting his multi-genre band Midnight Zu. You’ll have more than one chance to see them all I’m sure, so long as you wander off track enough to discover venues like The Bimble Inn, the Rabbit Hole, Rimski’s Yard or Small World.
The other three that I would point out as worth seeking out if you can, would be the Old Time Sailors, a 20 or so piece sea shanty riot; smooth soul singer Jack Tyson Charles whose voice is guaranteed to get you back on track should you go in too hard; and my personal favourite, Australian singer William Crighton, a truly captivating performer who is yet to get his proper due over here.
There are of course plenty more, and i’m sorry if I’ve left you out. I’ve not even touched on all of the incredible DJs there are either, you can’t even fall over without landing on one there. If I had to point you in some kind of direction then the Stonebridge Bar on Friday is pretty much a must, with DJ Yoda’s 50 Years Of Hip-hop set, and killer back to backs such as 6Music super human, Jamz Supernova b2b Bianca Oblivion or Hagan b2b Sam Interface, if you know, you know. Plus if you manage to go down the Rabbit Hole and find Funkington Manor, there are such wonderful souls as Glasgow funksters Shaka Loves You; psychedelic dub don Gaudi; breaks pioneers Stanton Warriors; and both Rob Da Bank and Tayo doing their Prince packed Purple Rave.
No FOMO here, honest. Pop back later and I’ll try and get you a quick guide to the South East Corner before the festival.
