Just three Welsh acts for Glastonbury?
With a small number of names still to be announced, the latest includes just three acts from Wales.
All on Saturday 26 June, Marina And The Diamonds will play the John Peel Stage, perform acoustically on the Avalon Stage and Cate Le Bon plays the Queen's Head.
It's tempting to lament this lack of Welsh representation; recent stories about the 'success' of Welsh music in light of The Joy Formidable signing an American record deal can easily be followed by media in Wales gnashing their teeth and wailing.
Our most successful bands of the moment tend to come from the more 'rock' side of things; and while the likes of Lostprophets have previously played the festival, they don't easily fit the musical and cultural identity of Glastonbury. It's difficult to imagine The Blackout winning over 30-somethings reliving their youth when the alternative is on the Avalon Stage.
Sure there are lots of Welsh acts out there who do fit into that mould, but obviously Emily Eavis and her staff have a difficult choice here. None of those acts are really big at the moment, and in the 'up-and-coming' league of UK acts, competition is fierce. So full praise for Cate Le Bon then, who's really making a name for herself.
According to my fellow blogger, Radio 1's Bethan Elfyn, we may well see a return to some respectability at the next Glasto: "I'd say that in 2011, having just heard about their plans on Radio 1 last night there's a good chance that will be one of the bands we'll be seeing on the gigging circuit in 2011.
"And Race Horses are going from strength to strength with , so I'd hope to see them hitting the biggest festival in Europe next June. Then as a complete wild card I think we'll see some new talent from North Wales being 'discovered' with the help of One Big Weekend, let's hope or Gallops or equally talented bands get the push they so deserve."
Add the fact that the Â鶹Éç Introducing stage is yet to be announced, maybe things aren't looking so bad for Wales after all.
Adam Walton
Bethan Elfyn
James McLaren
Laura Sinnerton
Comment number 1.
At 15th Apr 2010, DC wrote:I'm a bit lost here, as I don't quite understand what we're supposedly moaning about or what the point of this article is other than to have a non-specific moan about Wales allegedly being short-changed, again, while having a frantic flag wave about the country's potential for 'next year...'.
I'm amazed how often a non-existent slight is used to prop up the flag for this neverending one-sided staring contest.
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Comment number 2.
At 15th Apr 2010, James McLaren - Â鶹Éç wrote:Sorry this isn't as clear as it could be then. My point is that on the face of it, things could be construed as negative, but they need not be. I don't believe it's a 'slight' that there are only three acts - as I say, lots of Welsh acts at the moment are at a level at which there's a lot of competition. For those people who want to see more Welsh acts, there may be more on the bill next year.
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