NEXT summer will be three long years since the Glastonbury Festival took place.

The 2020 and 2021 installments of the world's largest greenfield festival have been called off due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2020, Glastonbury was all set for a huge 50th birthday party, celebrating a half century since dairy farmer Michael Eavis decided to stage his own pop, folk and blues festival on his Pilton land.

Last year, your County Gazette marked the anniversary with a special supplement, Glastonbury 50. 

And this year, we are going to keep the party going, with the publication of a new supplement - and something a bit extra for festival fans.

Editor, and Glastonbury Festival anorak, Paul Jones, has spoken to performers from festivals past to find out what the event means to them.

From Steamhammer to Status Quo, Marsupilami to Maximo Park, the supplement - entitled View From The Stage: 50 Years of Glastonbury by the People that Played - will explore how it feels to tread those hallowed boards, and what the peformers themselves think of the festival.

And Glastonbury fans can also get more insight and intrigue from years gone by at Worthy Farm, in the form of a special View From The Stage book, which is set for release alongside the publishing of the supplement, on June 10. 

Chard & Ilminster News: View From The Stage: 50 Years of Glastonbury by the People that Played

Paul said: "I never set out to write a book about Glastonbury, but when talking to such a range of performers from across the immense history of the festival, I found it would be impossible to leave such insightful stories out.

"So, if you want to find out who ended up driving around the festival site looking for Michael Eavis' cottage, or how Damon Albarn ended up with a 'custard pie' in his face, you need to read View From The Stage!"

You can pre-order the 164-page book now, for £6.50 (including UK P&P), with international postage available.

Click here to pre-order