Paul McCartney, Kendrick Lamar and Olivia Rodrigo have been announced as among the stars performing at Glastonbury 2022.
Out of the 89 names announced so far, 48 are women or acts that include female artists, meeting festival co-organizer Emily Eavis’ previously stated intention for Glastonbury 2022 to achieve gender parity on its bill. “Our future has to be 50/50,” she told the BBC in 2020.
The festival, which was cancelled for the last two years, makes its return with McCartney as Saturday night headliner – his second time atop the Pyramid stage, having performed in 2004 – and Pulitzer prize-winning rapper Lamar, who will make his debut at the festival to close the Pyramid Stage on the Sunday night.
It had already been announced that Billie Eilish will make her second appearance at Worthy Farm in Somerset on the Pyramid stage, along with Diana Ross, who will be following in the footsteps of fellow veteran superstars including Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie and James Brown in the Sunday “teatime legend” slot.
Eilish is among a strong pop presence at the festival, with Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Charli XCX and Caroline Polachek all appearing.
The festival will also feature debut sets from Herbie Hancock, Phoebe Bridgers, Sam Fender, Turnstile, TLC, Wet Leg and Yves Tumor.
Other acts announced include Kacey Musgraves, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Pet Shop Boys, Foals, Haim, Lorde and Robert Plant, who will appear alongside Alison Krauss.
The names announced are the first shortlist of acts for this year’s festival, which takes place on 22-26 June. The full line-up is expected to be published in May. Visit the event’s official website for further information.
McCartney and Lamar were among the headline acts for the cancelled festival in 2020, which would have been its 50th anniversary year. Taylor Swift was also due to headline in 2020, but thus far does not appear to be performing this year.
Prior to the announcement, McCartney teased the news on Twitter in the form of a Wordle clue. He used six squares rather than the traditional five, presumably to hint at the word “Glasto” – and not “Mexico”, to the chagrin of hopeful South American fans.
This year’s Glastonbury will act as a belated birthday celebration for McCartney, who turns 80 on 18 June, making him the oldest ever headliner at the festival. By contrast, the Friday night headliner Eilish will be the festival’s youngest ever solo headliner.
Festival organizer Emily Eavis said: “It really is so exciting to be back. And it feels like we all need it. Everywhere I go, people tell me how much they’re looking forward to the festival’s return and how they’ve all been waiting for it. This will be our first Glastonbury for three years. It’s the biggest buildup we’ve ever had!”