“I’m still hoping I’m going to be running next year. I’m going to be moving heaven and earth to make sure that we do.”
As the future of live music and festivals continues to remain unpredictable, there is a sense of hope and optimism many of us are attempting to hold on to as the contemporary music industry has faced the most tumultuous and devastating period in modern history.
As we have been reporting on the severe issues the performing arts and culture sectors across the world has been facing since the beginning of global lockdowns in March due to the pandemic, one cannot deny that it’s been a slippery slope into more upsetting news day by day; we too, have been attempting to hold onto this optimism as we write these.
Michael Eavis, the founder of the beloved and iconic Glastonbury Festival is keeping up morale and optimism despite the struggles; as we see in a new interview with ITV News West Country in which he states that there is uncertainty that Glastonbury 2021 is going to take place, with fans possibly having to wait until 2022 for the festival to return.
When speaking to an ITV News West Country reporter regarding the festival taking place next year and the concerns surrounding physical distancing, Eavis stated:
500 people is ok isn’t it. But my job, 250,000 altogether is too many people I suppose isn’t it really. I’m still hoping I’m going to be running next year…
I’m going to be moving heaven and earth to make sure that we do.
But that doesn’t mean it will necessarily happen. That is just wishful thinking really.
Speaking about the future of Glastonbury, Eavis remained as optimistic, yet as realistic as possible saying:
I am so confident that it will survive. The only certainty I think is the year after, 2022. To be perfectly candid, so we might have to wait for two years maybe.
But I am still hoping and we are fighting and working at it all the time to make sure it happens next year.
Eavis added:
You can’t kill it off just like that.
It will come back.
It will come back, probably stronger actually.
Back in June, Michael and his daughter and co-founder Emily Eavis shared their concern that if Glastonbury does not take place in 2021, they are fearing bankruptcy. Obviously, hearing Eavis express uncertainty regarding whether the festival is actually going to take place next year is indeed concerning – as we are all unsure as what is going to happen in the future. However, Eavis’ reassuring words are definitely a boost in morale, and we can only hope for the best.
Feature Image: @vishnurnair via Unsplash
