"Glastonbury is a fantastic event. So many young people in a community which is self-governing and tolerant. It confirms my belief that despite everything, humanity really does want to get on with itself. Michael Eavis is a genius for making it happen." Tony Benn, 2003.

Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts (to give it its full name since 1990) has been run by Somerset farmer Michael Eavis at Worthy Farm, Pilton - near Glastonbury - since 1970. This is the mother of all festivals.

It normally takes place on the last full weekend of June, and is known to take a year off now and then to give both the land (a working farm) and the locals a chance to recover.

After problems with excessive numbers in 2000, the local council insisted that the management structure become more professional, which resulted in Mean Fiddler (who run Reading & Leeds, Homelands and other festivals) being brought in to beef up
security and general organisation for 2002.

Improvements in organisation were made in 2002, and the 2003 Festival was considered a great success, with many of the problems associated with the Festival reduced or eliminated. A licence has been granted for a Festival in 2004.