Finally, it's here! The Glastonbury line-up, in full, and the roster is as expected. Arctic Monkeys: check. Arcade Fire: check. Chumbawamba: check. In fact casting your eye over the line-up, from the Who to Amy Winehouse, it feels like everyone great and good in music today is going to be in Pilton this June.
So why does it feel like something's missing?
I can't quite put my finger on it because, on the surface of things, the bands look impressive and there're plenty of them who I definitely want to see. I just don't feel that excited.
Perhaps it's that for me personally, the highlight of 2005's Glastonbury was the anticipation of seeing the White Stripes (my favourite band, like, ever). I knew they would blow me away and so everything else was a bonus. But this year's must-sees don't so much feel like "I'd rather die in a nasty accident than miss them!" but more "Yeah, they're ok. Aren't they playing V festival?"
I suspect another factor is that between now and '05, I've been a bit spoiled (and I know this will garner me no sympathy) as I've seen virtually all the headliners before and many of those adorning the Other Stage too. But I assure you, it's not just me. Day to day I'm detecting an ever increasing kind of "pre-deflation" in the run up to the festival. But when pressed, no one can really say why it is they're not dead excited to be going.
I suspect once there, with the Arctic Monkeys in their swing, I'll kick myself for ever doubting that this year was going to be anything other than fan-blooming-tastic. But until then, are you too suffering from Glasto pre-deflation?
