For more than 50 years, Glastonbury Festival has been an iconic fixture of the British summer, a place where music, culture, and communal spirit intertwine. Liam Bailey’s latest work, Glastonbury: The Festival and Its People, offers an unparalleled visual journey through this extraordinary event. This stunning collection of over 120 images, published by ACC Art Books, captures the festival’s unique essence from the early ’90s to the present day.
A time capsule of madness
If you’ve ever been to Glastonbury, you know that it’s more than just a festival – it’s an experience, a rite of passage, and a realm where the usual rules of life are momentarily suspended. Liam Bailey’s book encapsulates this spirit perfectly. Through his lens, we see the festival’s evolution while it remains true to its roots.
“When I first started going to Glastonbury,” Bailey reminisces, “it seemed that everybody was on the blag: performing, ‘working’, being part of a movement, all circumventing paid routes to getting in. Those days, if you were feeling brave or particularly skint, you could always jump the fence.” By 2002, however, Worthy Farm had enclosed the site with a massive aluminium ‘super fence’, making tickets the coveted entry into this paradise.
READ MORE: The most memorable moments of Glastonbury 2023
Glasto’s heartbeat
The festival now sees more than 145,000 ticket holders, with over 65,000 more building, performing, and keeping this temporary city running. It’s a marvel of human collectivism – a utopia where people from all walks of life come together. From the first Pyramid Stage in 1971, designed to project energy upwards and draw it from the stars, to the latest line-up of superstar performers, Glastonbury is a place where the past and present beautifully collide.
Bailey’s passion for documenting the festival is evident. Using his trusty Leica CL, he captures the festival’s raw energy and excitement. Unlike many photographers who focus on the big-name bands, Bailey zeroes in on the festival-goers – the real stars of Glasto. The images are a non-stop, random array of visual treats, capturing the post-apocalyptic, early-settlement vibe of the festival.
Capturing the magic
One of the most enchanting aspects of Bailey’s work is how he immortalises the ‘Glastonbury moments’. These are the random acts of kindness, the spontaneous dances, and the shared laughs that make the festival so special. Each photo tells a story, whether it’s of a pint bought for a stranger, a skin shared, or the awe-inspiring sight of the Wicker Man burning.
Reviewing and choosing pictures for this book felt somewhat like entering dream time. Bailey mentions that once on site each year, he feels as if he’s always been there. The images could be from 1993 or 2023 – the festival has a timeless quality that Bailey captures perfectly. This book is not just about the music; it’s about the collective energy and the feeling of being part of something bigger.
The tribes of Glasto
One of the things that kept Bailey coming back year after year is the sheer volume and complexity of human interactions. Glastonbury is a melting pot of different tribes, each bringing their own unique flavour to the festival. From the bohemian artists to the hardcore ravers, the festival is a tapestry of diverse cultures and personalities.
Bailey’s interest in group dynamics started early, influenced by photo stories in the Sunday Times magazine and National Geographic. He’s fascinated by the ties within the festival’s various tribes, and this interest is vividly reflected in his photographs. There’s something intoxicating about the huge act of human collectivism that Glastonbury represents, and Bailey feels compelled to record it.
The festival’s enduring allure
While some might argue that the festival has become too commercial, Bailey sees it differently. “Maybe it doesn’t matter,” he says. “Those who come now for their first time still have the same sense of wonder that I once had.” Bands keep coming back, even for reduced performance fees, and the festival continues to draw massive crowds.
Glastonbury is much more than a festival – it’s a celebration of music, art, and communal spirit. It produces a diversity of performances, significant fundraising, a platform for counter-culture voices, and a visual feast for the small screen. For a few precious days, nearly half a million people co-exist on the shoulders of the summer solstice, creating memories that last a lifetime.
Glastonbury: The Festival and Its People is a testament to this enduring allure. Through Bailey’s lens, we are reminded why Glastonbury remains the mother of all festivals – a place where the magic is real and the stories are endless.
Keep up to date with the best in UK music by following us on Instagram: @whynowworld and on Twitter/X: @whynowworld
