RouteNote’s guide to Glastonbury 2025
Planning to attend Glastonbury 2025? Our guide has everything musicians and fans need to know, including lineups, tips, and how to make the most of the festival.
Each summer, a sleepy corner of Somerset is transformed into a celebration of music, culture, and creativity. Glastonbury Festival is a world of its own. With over 200,000 attendees, hundreds of artists, and a deep-rooted legacy, Glastonbury is right at the heart of the UK music calendar. As this year’s festival approaches, we are here to offer a comprehensive guide for musicians and festival-goers alike, whether you’re hitting the stage, soaking in the vibes, or simply trying to navigate the madness.
Glastonbury 2025 runs from Wednesday 25 June to Sunday 29 June, held at its iconic home: Worthy Farm, nestled in the rolling hills of Pilton, Somerset. It’s an event that’s as much about exploration as it is about the headliners. Spanning over a thousand acres, the site is home to more than 100 stages, countless hidden corners, and a culture of discovery that’s impossible to replicate.
For musicians, attending Glastonbury isn’t just about watching other artists perform—it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in a living classroom of creativity, industry trends, and audience dynamics.
This year’s Pyramid Stage headliners are as follows:
- The 1975 Pop-rock, rich with nostalgia and modern topic.
- Neil Young, a living legend, returns to headline once more.
- Olivia Rodrigo, headlining Sunday at just 22, is the embodiment of Gen Z’s raw, emotional songwriting, proving vulnerability is marketable, relatable, and powerful.
Also worth noting is Rod Stewart, who will fill the coveted Sunday Legends slot. His set promises classic hits reminding musicians of the enduring value of timeless songwriting and strong branding.
While the Pyramid Stage may grab headlines, it’s Glastonbury’s wide array of stages that sets it apart. Stages like West Holts, Woodsies, The Park, and The Other Stage host everything from global fusion and jazz to alt-pop and grime.
For musicians, these stages are where inspiration is sparked. Where experimental sets collide with bold visuals. Where upcoming artists test out new ideas. Where producers, beatmakers, singer-songwriters, and bands find spaces to be unapologetically creative.
And then there’s Shangri-La, Arcadia, and Silver Hayes, the nightlife backbone of Glastonbury. With a focus on electronic music, immersive stage design, and countercultural vibes, these areas blur the lines between performance and installation. If you’re an electronic producer or visual artist, these zones will be your bread and butter.
One of Glastonbury’s strengths is its role in platforming emerging talent. Artists who’ve performed in lower-tier slots in past years, such as Wet Leg, Arlo Parks, or Nova Twins, have gone on to critical and commercial acclaim and success . If you’re an artist or label watching the horizon, Glastonbury’s smaller stages are often the most predictive indicators of what’s next.
The BBC Introducing Stage remains a staple for unsigned and independent acts. Many who perform here are graduates of DIY distribution and digital-first promotion, proof that independent musicians can reach Worthy Farm without traditional label backing.
This years Introducing Artists are as follows:
- Adult DVD
- Alt Blk Era
- Beth McCarthy
- Chalk
- Cortney Dixon
- Deeps
- Divorce
- Fiona-Lee
- Jacob Alon
- Jasmine.4.T
- Jess Iszatt
- Jo Hill
- Lambrini Girls
- L E M F R E C K
- Lola Moxom
- Maia Beth
- Mali Haf
- Men An Tol
- Moreish Idols
- MRCY
- Native James
- Nectar Woode
- Nia Smith
- Nina Arya
- Oneda
- Phoebe Schub
- Webmoms
- Westside Cowboy
…with more to be announced
As a distributor, we know how powerful this visibility can be. Glastonbury is a career milestone that continues to carry weight with press, streaming platforms, and the wider industry.
Secret sets
Part of Glastonbury’s charm lies in its tradition of secret sets. In 2023, Foo Fighters played a surprise gig. In 2025, speculation swirls around a mysterious act named “Patchwork,” listed without explanation on the Pyramid Stage schedule. Some suggest it’s Four Tet. Others whisper of reformed indie favourites or megastar pop guests flying in under the radar. These surprises don’t just drive audience excitement, they encourage online conversation.
Learning from the festival, as an artist
There’s no better way to improve as a performer than to observe the best. Glastonbury offers a rare opportunity to see a range of approaches, from stripped-back solo sets and theatrical pop productions to modular synth wizardry.
Pay attention to how artists shape their setlists, pace their shows, engage with audiences, and use lighting, video, or stage banter. Think about how they’ve tailored their live experience to fit the space, the vibe, and the moment.
What to pack and prepare for
You’re probably familiar with the basics: waterproofs, sturdy boots, and enough water to stay hydrated. But here are some extras especially worth packing if you’re a music creator or performer:
- A portable charger or power bank – essential for staying connected and capturing content.
- Ear protection – especially important seeing as you’ll likely be exposed to high SPLs for multiple days.
- Offline mixes or demos – just in case you find yourself in an impromptu conversation with someone in the biz.
In a music industry increasingly driven by digital-first strategy, performance data, and content algorithms, Glastonbury remains a space where music is deeply physical, communal, and human. Whether you’re performing on stage, dreaming of doing so in the future, or simply soaking up the atmosphere with fellow fans, Glastonbury 2025 is a great opportunity to learn, to connect, to reflect, and to be inspired.