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Arctic Monkeys and Guns N’ Roses have been confirmed as headliners for Glastonbury 2023. They join Elton John on the line-up for the U.K. festival, which takes place at Worthy Farm from June 21-25.
Festival organizer Emily Eavis, in an interview with The Guardian, moved to defend the decision to book three white male headline artists. It is the first time the make-up of all three headliners has been that way since 2017. Eavis had previously committed to achieving a 50/50 gender-balanced line-up but suggested that this year had proved impossible at the top of the bill.
"We’re trying our best so the pipeline needs to be developed," Eavis is quoted as saying. "This starts way back with the record companies, radio. I can shout as loud as I like but we need to get everyone on board.”
Lizzo will perform before Guns N’ Roses, with Eavis suggesting she was capable of headlining, but that the slot "had already been promised to someone else." An unnamed female headliner pulled out earlier this year, according to Eavis, when their "touring plans changed." Artists including Rihanna and Taylor Swift had been rumored for the 2023 line-up.
Others on the 2023 bill include Amadou and Mariam, Blondie, Candi Staton, Carly Rae Jepsen, Chvrches, Fatboy Slim, Fred Again.., Hot Chip, Joey Bada$$, Kelis, Lil Nas X (playing immediately before Elton John), Maggie Rogers, Manic Street Preachers, Phoenix, Rina Sawayama, Shygirl, Slowthai, Sparks, Sudan Archives, the Chicks, the War on Drugs, Thundercat, Tinariwen, Warpaint, Weyes Blood, Wizkid, Young Fathers, and Yusuf/Cat Stevens. More names will be added in the run-up to this year's sold-out event.
