With Sir Rod Stewart and Neil Young the only confirmed headline acts for this year’s Glastonbury, fans had feared the legendary music festival could be dominated by ‘wrinkly rockers’.
But organisers have taken note and signed up two much more youthful acts, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Event insiders say they have pulled off a ‘coup’ by signing pop-rock band The 1975, and Disney star turned pop-punk singer Olivia Rodrigo.
Both are set to perform on the festival’s main Pyramid Stage, with The 1975, fronted by 35-year-old Matty Healy, likely to appear on the Friday night and Ms Rodrigo, 22, on the Sunday night.
Heart Of Gold singer Young, 79, is expected to perform on Saturday while 80-year-old Sir Rod will do the traditional Sunday teatime ‘legends’ slot.
A Glastonbury source suggested there may still be another surprise appearance from a ‘major, major band’ to be announced, but said this would not impact the main stage headliners.
‘Everyone is pretty pleased with this year’s line-up now,’ the source said.
‘At one stage, with Neil Young and Rod Stewart’s names already out there, some people were concerned that this year’s festival was going to be defined as the year of the wrinkly rockers.
Disney star turned pop-punk singer Olivia Rodrigo will headline Glastonbury 2025, The Mail on Sunday can reveal
British pop-rock band The 1975 will also headline the festival; the band are fronted by 35-year-old Matty Healy who formerly dated Taylor Swift
Sources at Glastonbury were concerned young people could be put off the festival with Rod Stewart (pictured) and Neil Young the only confirmed headline acts thus far
‘Both The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo are massive names who appeal to a much younger audience, so the hope is that Glastonbury will appeal to the youngsters this year as well as those who might want to see Neil or Rod.’
Healy is a former boyfriend of Taylor Swift, and son of actors Denise Welch and Tim Healy. The band have released five albums, all of which went to No 1, and have said headlining the main stage at the festival was their ‘ultimate goal’.
Signing Ms Rodrigo also helps Glastonbury boss Emily Eavis head off criticism over the lack of female acts booked for this year’s event, which runs from June 25 to 29.
She faced a huge backlash in 2023 when Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Sir Elton John took top billing – without a single female headliner.
Last year she compensated by booking Dua Lipa and SZA as headliners and Shania Twain for the legends slot.
79-year-old Neil Young (pictured) confirmed on January 3 that he would be headlining Glastonbury, just days after he mysteriously posted that he would not be involved in the festival due to the BBC’s ‘corporate control’
Now renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and iconic Pyramid Stage, the festival was first held in 9 September 1970 after being created by Sir Michael Eavis CBE and his wife, Jean
Coldplay took the other headline slot – for a record fifth time – prompting a source to joke of this year’s line-up: ‘At least we didn’t have to turn to Coldplay again!’
Ms Eavis said: ‘It is difficult with female artists because there aren’t enough headliners. But we’re also creating them. We’re putting the bands and female artists on smaller stages and bringing them through all the time.’
Ms Rodrigo, 22, performed at Worthy Farm in 2022 on the smaller Other Stage. Since then she has amassed almost 40million followers on Instagram and won three Grammys.
Other acts rumoured to be appearing this year include Nile Rodgers and Chic.
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