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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Entertainment
Louisa Streeting

Glastonbury Festival's biggest clashes after full 2023 line-up revealed

Glastonbury Festival has now released its full line-up of music and performing arts acts for 2023 with more than 100 stages and areas across the site. Anyone who has visited Worthy Farm before will know that it can take an eternity to get from one side of the festival site to the other, which always leads to some different decisions on who to watch.

For first-timers, clashes are an intrinsic part of the festival. Many people will attempt to dash from one stage to the other to catch two acts - which is possible for when watching artists who are playing near (or you don't mind spriting) - but sometimes it's best to just resign yourselves to one performance.

With the festival just a few weeks away, it's time to start planning who you're going to see (and for those watching at home, who to catch on BBC iPlayer). In light of Tuesday's announcement (May 30), here are the most infuriating clashes at Glastonbury 2023:

Full Glasto line-up: 'ChurnUps' given top slot and fans think they know who it is

Elton John vs Queens of the Stone Age

Sir Elton John played in Bristol last year. Pictured on the right is Josh Homme, lead singer of Queens of the Stone Age (Ben Gibson and Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for KROQ)

Sir Elton will be playing out Glastonbury 2023 on the Pyramid Stage, which he has said will be his last-ever UK performance before he bows out of music. His bumper set from 9pm to 11.05pm is expected to span his entire career and the star has promised a whole host of secret guests.

Queens of the Stone Age have been going since 1996 yet have only played three times in the festival's history, so this is a fairly rare performance. The US rock band will be headlining the Other Stage from 9.45pm until 11.15pm in time for the release of their new album.

The two artists produce wildly different music genres but will carry the burden of a difficult decision for many festival goers. With Elton set to retire, I feel like he takes the edge here.

Arctic Monkeys vs The Chemical Brothers

Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys in Bristol and The Chemical Brothers at Parklife in 2016 (Paul Gillis and Vincent Cole)

The Sheffield rock band is fresh from the opening night of their UK tour at Ashton Gate Stadium on the May bank holiday, which reaped rave reviews. They are Friday night's headliners in an epic set from 10.15pm to 11.45pm, marking ten years since they last headlined the festival.

This clashes with The Chemical Brothers DJ set which will be playing from 10.30pm for two hours in Arcadia's flaming spider. The electronic duo was forced to cancel its Worthy Farm show last year after band member Tom Rowlands contracted COVID-19.

You might be able to catch a bit of both if you divide your time depending on which side of the Pyramid Stage you are standing on.

Lana Del Rey vs Christine and the Queens

Lana Del Rey and Christine and the Queens (Amy Sussman/Getty Images and SADAKA EDMOND/SIPA/REX/Shutters​tock)

Fans of empowering pop music will struggle with this one. Lana Del Rey has only played Glastonbury once in her career almost ten years ago. The 'Summertime Sadness' singer will be headlining the Other Stage on Saturday and made her feelings known when the initial men-dominated line-up poster was first revealed.

Christine and the Queens will be headlining Woodsies (formerly John Peel) around the same time. His music leans more toward electropop and it will be his third performance at the festival.

Cat Stevens vs The Teskey Brothers

Yusuf Islam AKA Cat Stevens and The Teskey Brothers (Michael Campanella/Getty Images and SWMAGS)

Festival founder Michael Eavis personally selected Cat Stevens for the annual Sunday afternoon legends slot. The 1970s icon will be revisiting his back catalogue with hits like 'Wild World', 'Morning Has Broken' and 'Moonshadow' on the final day of Glastonbury 2023 on the Pyramid stage from 3.15pm until 4.30pm.

Over on the Other Stage will be Aussie-born The Teskey Brothers who've been around for 15 years, but it looks like it could be their first-ever Glastonbury slot. The blues rock group are on for an hour from 3pm on Sunday afternoon.

Lewis Capaldi vs Maggie Rogers

Lewis Capaldi is playing at the same time as Maggie Rogers (Amy Muir/REX/Shutterstock and Lanscine Janneh/BFA.com/REX/Shutt​erstock)

I sense some immense fandom crossover with this clash. Lewis Capaldi hasn't played the festival since he famously walked onto the Pyramid stage in 2019 dressed as Noel Gallagher after the Oasis singer questioned the popstar's slot.

He plays on the main stage once again on Saturday from 5.35pm until 6.35pm. Maggie Rogers will be on the Other Stage at 5.15pm for an hour, so again, you could dart between the two acts if you leave one early.

Mel C vs Rina Sawayama

Mel C and Rina Sawayama (REX/Shutterstock and Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella)

Many had hoped the Spice Girls would reunite for this year's Glastonbury Festival. This former Sporty Spice now DJs under Melanie C and is likely to bring in the crowds to the humble Avalon Stage on Saturday night at 9.35pm.

Also bringing the vibes at the same time is Japanese-British popstar Rina Sawayama, who has gained a huge TikTok following. She's heading to Woodsies, the furthest stage at the north of the site, at 9pm for an hour-long set.

Both artists play different music, but there is no doubt that they have similar fans.

Glastonbury Festival is at Worthy Farm in Pilton on June 21-25, 2023

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