The Birth of a Musical Legend: The Story of the First Ever Glastonbury Festival
The Humble Origins of an Iconic Event
More than five decades ago, in September 1970, a dairy farmer named Michael Eavis hosted a small gathering on his family’s land in Somerset that would one day evolve into the Glastonbury Festival — one of the biggest and best-known music festivals in the world. At the time, Eavis was grappling with a massive overdraft that threatened the survival of his farm, and he hoped that a music event might be the solution. “I think this is the quickest way of clearing my overdraft,” he said during a interview on the eve of the festival.
A Farmer’s Musical Dream
Eavis had long been passionate about music. Even as a boy at boarding school, he was punished for smuggling in a radio to listen to Radio Luxembourg. As an adult, he combined this passion with farm life, rigging a sound system in the milking shed and playing music for the cows — a practice he claimed boosted milk production.
After attending the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music in 1970, Eavis was inspired by the communal atmosphere of the event. “The sun was shining, people looked beautiful, and the songs were moving,” he said. “With my Methodist background and slightly puritanical upbringing, it felt like a revelation. I thought, ‘My God, I’ve got to do this.’”
The First Glastonbury
Originally called the Pilton Pop, Folk and Blues Festival, the event launched in September 1970. Entry cost just £1 — roughly £14 today — and attendees were offered free milk from the farm. The first festival featured Marc Bolan and Tyrannosaurus Rex, thanks to a stroke of luck after The Kinks pulled out. At the time, the festival drew roughly 1,500 people, many of whom were left in tears upon learning of Jimi Hendrix’s death, announced from the festival’s tiny stage.
Challenges and Changes
While the festival didn’t make a profit for 11 years, it gained a reputation as a haven for music lovers and free spirits. The controversy surrounding its creation — and resistance from authorities — only added to its allure, making it a rallying point for counterculture and music enthusiasts.
From Small Gathering to Cultural Phenomenon
Today, the Glastonbury Festival is a sprawling, iconic event that attracts top musical acts such as Neil Young, Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder, and The Rolling Stones. What began as an attempt to save a struggling farm has become a global symbol of music, art, and communal spirit.
Eavis may not have solved his financial woes right away, but he built something much more valuable — a legacy. “It was worth it for the success,” he reflected. “People came from America, Germany, and all over saying, ‘My God, it was fantastic.’ And it was worth it for that.”
The Enduring Legacy
Today, the festival is more than a music event — it’s a rite of passage for generations of music lovers, a beacon of countercultural ideals, and a testament to one farmer’s resilience and passion for music. Even after more than 50 years, the Glastonbury Festival is a symbol of how a bold dream can evolve into a global phenomenon, and how music can unite people across borders and generations.