Charli XCX to Headline Other Stage at Glastonbury Amid Crowd Concerns

Charli XCX is set to bring her exciting Brat show to Glastonbury this year, but fans are expressing worries about the crowd situation. Although there was much speculation about her taking on the Pyramid Stage, she will instead headline the Other Stage.

Coming off five Brit Awards and three Grammy wins, Charli XCX is undoubtedly one of the biggest names anticipated at Worthy Farm. Her recent album has had a huge impact on culture, making her a highly desired talent for the festival.

Her appearance was announced on the Sidetracked podcast hosted by Nick Grimshaw and Annie Mac, confirming that she will headline the Other Stage on Saturday night. She will perform alongside other notable artists like Loyle Carner and The Prodigy on the Friday and Sunday, respectively.

However, Charli's performance coincides with that of Neil Young, who has been previously confirmed, leading to concerns about the expected high turnout for her show on a smaller stage.

Last year, over 60,000 fans gathered for Avril Lavigne’s set on the Other Stage, and Charli herself had to end her own performance early due to crowd overflow at Levels. Nick Grimshaw mentioned, "The field was so packed that they closed the whole area. I would have thought Charli would be on the Pyramid Stage."

Many fans took to social media to voice their concerns, with some calling the situation ‘dangerous.’ One fan stated, "I can’t believe they put Neil Young as a headliner when Charli XCX was already set for another stage. It's a genuine danger from a crowd management perspective to have her on such a small stage."

Another fan chimed in, describing the scheduling of Charli on the Other Stage while Neil Young headlines the Pyramid as possibly "the worst scheduling decision" in recent years. Others expressed anxiety over the potential chaos that could ensue.

Crowd control is a significant issue for all festivals, including Glastonbury, which has had to shut down stages in response to overwhelming demand in previous years.

In light of these concerns, Glastonbury Festival issued a statement assuring fans, "As always, we will have a robust crowd management plan to ensure safety, working with relevant authorities to prepare for crowd volumes and movements."

While some fans argue that Charli's crowd size might warrant a larger stage, the podcast hosts provided an alternative perspective on her choice of the Other Stage. Annie noted, "Charli’s show is quite minimal, which might not translate well to the Pyramid Stage. She might want to create something unique for her performance, without the constraints of a larger venue."

Nick also pointed out that her light-heavy show might need darker conditions to be fully experienced, making the Other Stage a more practical choice considering the sunset timing.

This complex scheduling adds to the excitement of Glastonbury, as it is often seen as a balancing act of musical styles, crowd sizes, and production requirements.

Glastonbury, CharliXCX, Crowd