So the line-up's been announced, the pre-Festival excitement's mounting and the Official Glastonbury website can reveal the first in a series of exclusive interviews with performers at this year's Festival. What more could you ask for to whet your appetite for the feast of music, arts and (don't hold your breath but do cross your fingers!) glorious weather that is to come?
First to bite the bullet and answer the Webteam's questions is Scottish singer/songwriter K.T. Tunstall , who will be returning this year after a storming set at the 2005 Glastonbury Festival clutching a brace of new songs from her forthcoming album. Want to know what the Rum Run is? K.T.'s weather forecast? Her tips for the finest food to be found at Glastonbury?
Read on...
Have you been to the Festival before?
The first time I came to Glasto was three years ago. I was singing with a Jewish hip-hop band called Oi Va Voi - I played one gig and stayed for five days! It was one of the best times I've ever had - 10 of us set up a little circle camp in the Green Fields. One of my favourite bits was down at Lost Vagueness watching a trumpet/clarinet combo, being served pink gin in a tea cup by a 50s beauty salon lady. I love the food there too, bloody lovely porridge!
Do you have any memories of previous Glastonbury Festivals that you wish (or are able!) to share?
Being taught complex reggae moves in the pissing rain by my best buddy whilst watching Toots + the Maytals, listening to the 'bollocks' game throughout the night (someone shouts 'bollocks' and you wait for a reply; beautifully simple) My friend Kev also invented a very dangerous game called the 'Rum Run'...
But the highlight had to be a group of people who found a pushchair and started trying to persuade strangers to get in and be pushed down the steeply sloping metal walkway. “Tall Man in the chair! Tall man in the chair!” (Cheers as tall man agrees). “Ginger man in the chair!” (Boos as ginger man declines etc). A zenith was reached when they successfully managed to persuade a copper to get in the chair.
Have you ever seen in the sunrise at the Stone Circle on a Sunday morning?
I think I did! I certainly saw a few from somewhere.
What is your drink of choice at Glastonbury?
Red wine, rum for the rum run obviously, and a hip-flask of good single malt whisky.
Do you spend the Festival living in luxury, or down with the masses in a tent?
Tent every time!! However, a choicy £20 air bed with the nice soft felty stuff on the top, and a backstage pass to get to the posh bogs make it considerably more classy.
Who do you most want to see of the other performers appearing at this year's Festival?
I would have paid double to see Bjork - she's such a phenomenal live act. But won't get there in time. I'm going to try and see Willy Mason and The Who , and get some beany stew and then I'll be well happy.
How do you choose what to play at a Festival? Do you play your favourites or the crowds'?
My favourites and the crowd pleasers are usually the same. The fast, loud, catchy ones. We'll definitely be going for a whip-crackin' set list! A lot of my new stuff is a lot faster, but no one will have heard most of it so fingers crossed we don't get egged.
Who's influenced your performance/on stage style?
I couldn't say anyone in particular, I'm not very good at the old tricky dicky moves - tend to end up getting over-involved in my guitar lead or falling over the monitor. Must get some jumping lessons from Ricky Kaiser...
What is it like playing open air gigs as opposed to arenas/clubs/indoor venues?
The crowd are really far away so I tend to shout very loudly when I speak between songs... I'm learning the physics of amplification slowly but surely. I do love a little club, but you don't get the euphoria of a festival. There's an awful lot of love in the air when you're outside.
How will you be dressing at the Festival? T-shirt and shorts or Sunday best?
I haven't decided yet - there's got to be a healthy degree of pikeyness whichever I choose. Wee dress if it's hot, tights if not.
No sleep until Monday or tucked-up in bed with your ear-plugs every night?
A few hours with the plugs definitely enhances my experience of life in general, and particularly when one must dance maniacally. Between 8am and 1pm I find to be the most helpful.
Given Glastonbury's reputation, will you be buying crystals and looking for ley lines?
Absolutely. You'll find me getting my hair read whilst asking the standing stones for new harmonies.
Will you be hanging about backstage, or out and about with the crowds?
Both I expect, it's lovely to get to say hello to people you've always admired from afar, but the fun really starts out front with people going commando whilst wearing daring mud suits.
What was the first song you ever wrote? And how old were you?
Only You , about being cheated on, which had never actually happened to me, when I was 14. I think Myles had just been unfaithful to Claudia on Dynasty .
What one song – by another performer – do you wish you had written?
Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
How is your record collection made up; vinyl, CD or download?
CDs and about 3 downloads.
Assuming you're not a fully trained meteorologist, what's your gut instinct on this year's Festival weather? Sunshine or rain?
Ahhh... the great stones tell me it will be a scorcher! With the odd scattering of biblical floods possible.
If you could ask yourself an interview question, what would it be and what's the answer?
“What is your favourite sweetie?” It's a toss up between lemon bons bons and kola kubes.
First to bite the bullet and answer the Webteam's questions is Scottish singer/songwriter K.T. Tunstall , who will be returning this year after a storming set at the 2005 Glastonbury Festival clutching a brace of new songs from her forthcoming album. Want to know what the Rum Run is? K.T.'s weather forecast? Her tips for the finest food to be found at Glastonbury?
Read on...
Have you been to the Festival before?
The first time I came to Glasto was three years ago. I was singing with a Jewish hip-hop band called Oi Va Voi - I played one gig and stayed for five days! It was one of the best times I've ever had - 10 of us set up a little circle camp in the Green Fields. One of my favourite bits was down at Lost Vagueness watching a trumpet/clarinet combo, being served pink gin in a tea cup by a 50s beauty salon lady. I love the food there too, bloody lovely porridge!
Do you have any memories of previous Glastonbury Festivals that you wish (or are able!) to share?
Being taught complex reggae moves in the pissing rain by my best buddy whilst watching Toots + the Maytals, listening to the 'bollocks' game throughout the night (someone shouts 'bollocks' and you wait for a reply; beautifully simple) My friend Kev also invented a very dangerous game called the 'Rum Run'...
But the highlight had to be a group of people who found a pushchair and started trying to persuade strangers to get in and be pushed down the steeply sloping metal walkway. “Tall Man in the chair! Tall man in the chair!” (Cheers as tall man agrees). “Ginger man in the chair!” (Boos as ginger man declines etc). A zenith was reached when they successfully managed to persuade a copper to get in the chair.
Have you ever seen in the sunrise at the Stone Circle on a Sunday morning?
I think I did! I certainly saw a few from somewhere.
What is your drink of choice at Glastonbury?
Red wine, rum for the rum run obviously, and a hip-flask of good single malt whisky.
Do you spend the Festival living in luxury, or down with the masses in a tent?
Tent every time!! However, a choicy £20 air bed with the nice soft felty stuff on the top, and a backstage pass to get to the posh bogs make it considerably more classy.
Who do you most want to see of the other performers appearing at this year's Festival?
I would have paid double to see Bjork - she's such a phenomenal live act. But won't get there in time. I'm going to try and see Willy Mason and The Who , and get some beany stew and then I'll be well happy.
How do you choose what to play at a Festival? Do you play your favourites or the crowds'?
My favourites and the crowd pleasers are usually the same. The fast, loud, catchy ones. We'll definitely be going for a whip-crackin' set list! A lot of my new stuff is a lot faster, but no one will have heard most of it so fingers crossed we don't get egged.
Who's influenced your performance/on stage style?
I couldn't say anyone in particular, I'm not very good at the old tricky dicky moves - tend to end up getting over-involved in my guitar lead or falling over the monitor. Must get some jumping lessons from Ricky Kaiser...
What is it like playing open air gigs as opposed to arenas/clubs/indoor venues?
The crowd are really far away so I tend to shout very loudly when I speak between songs... I'm learning the physics of amplification slowly but surely. I do love a little club, but you don't get the euphoria of a festival. There's an awful lot of love in the air when you're outside.
How will you be dressing at the Festival? T-shirt and shorts or Sunday best?
I haven't decided yet - there's got to be a healthy degree of pikeyness whichever I choose. Wee dress if it's hot, tights if not.
No sleep until Monday or tucked-up in bed with your ear-plugs every night?
A few hours with the plugs definitely enhances my experience of life in general, and particularly when one must dance maniacally. Between 8am and 1pm I find to be the most helpful.
Given Glastonbury's reputation, will you be buying crystals and looking for ley lines?
Absolutely. You'll find me getting my hair read whilst asking the standing stones for new harmonies.
Will you be hanging about backstage, or out and about with the crowds?
Both I expect, it's lovely to get to say hello to people you've always admired from afar, but the fun really starts out front with people going commando whilst wearing daring mud suits.
What was the first song you ever wrote? And how old were you?
Only You , about being cheated on, which had never actually happened to me, when I was 14. I think Myles had just been unfaithful to Claudia on Dynasty .
What one song – by another performer – do you wish you had written?
Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
How is your record collection made up; vinyl, CD or download?
CDs and about 3 downloads.
Assuming you're not a fully trained meteorologist, what's your gut instinct on this year's Festival weather? Sunshine or rain?
Ahhh... the great stones tell me it will be a scorcher! With the odd scattering of biblical floods possible.
If you could ask yourself an interview question, what would it be and what's the answer?
“What is your favourite sweetie?” It's a toss up between lemon bons bons and kola kubes.
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