I am very sad to be the bearer of bad news.

[mr_bizarre]

Yes you read that correctly, there will be no Leftfield stage at Glastonbury 2009

Leftfield, the place where I cut my teeth with The Workers Beer Company all that time ago is the latest victim of however you want to call it, the depression we are going through. This is indeed a sad day

And the story goes a little bit like this:

Last year when it looked like Glastonbury wasn't going to sell out, the organisers looked towards the other areas that make up Glastonbury to make up the deficit. In the past whatever money has been offered for payment to Glastonbury from Leftfield has always been accepted gracefully and without question. However as Leftfield ran a 10% stake in the festival, a 10% share of the possible loss of £2,000,000 was expected. An offer was made but not accepted. In the end the festival it seems wasn't out of pocket by as much but the damage had already been done and Glastonbury didn't see the Leftfield as being financially viable anymore. And this is a great shame. We don't know what is going to be there next year.

We are down but not out for fighters we are!! And we will once again ride high! And to look at the other side of the coin this will push the Leftfield to march on with getting it on the road! Taking our message internationally! The Leftfield Stage are booked for a festival in Austin, Texas for 2009 and hope to host some amazing gigs for next year too! We will be doing our best to make Glastonbury in 2010, whether this is not possible or not you will still see the Leftfield name standing proud at other events globally!

And finally:

The headliner for the saturday night at Glastonbury will be..................The Boss himself, Mr Bruce Springsteen!

[MikeyB37]

Glastonbury didn't see the Leftfield as being financially viable anymore.

[Blackjack Davey]

Gutted if it turns out to be the case. Shame but I'm sure the festival will replace it with a similar stage.

Still, i fear some of the magic will definitely be lost.

On a happier note, I hope your right about the boss for Saturday night.

Excuse my ignorance but how did you come by this information

[meatyparson]

shame ! but if it means phil jupitus wont be there then it isnt all bad !

[harper11]

i went there less this year due to a few factors

no bar inside

no plastic flooring

leftism fatigue

[oafc0000]

Gutted... I love this stage....

[The Badger Bites Back]

Bad News indeed............ The King Blues and Jimbob 2007 were the highlight of a wet festival!!!!

Will be sadly missed

[dannypal]

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i love the leftfeild tent its the place i spend most of my time at. sad news

[glastofreak]

Very bad news if it is true

[mr_bizarre]

Gutted if it turns out to be the case. Shame but I'm sure the festival will replace it with a similar stage.

Still, i fear some of the magic will definitely be lost.

On a happier note, I hope your right about the boss for Saturday night.

Excuse my ignorance but how did you come by this information

[eFestivals]

I;'ve just had a convo with someone who tells me that there's many factual errors in the reasons given for no Leftfield, but that it's true that there'sd no Leftfield. I'm going to get the details from the horses mouth now, and there'll be an article shortly.

I also believe that, as yet, no headliners have been booked.

[Wooderson]

The magic will deffo be lost. There was an atmosphere up at the leftfield unlike anything else on site. And the cocktails / late bar were a real winner en route towards the hill of death!

Hope to see you boys back in 2010 - take a year off an come back rough, rugged and raw.

The Leftfield's inevitable replacement "The Billy Bragg Tent" won't be the same though.

[glasto_mongrel_2008]

Ah poo! I had a great afternoon there this year :-(

[mr_bizarre]

I;'ve just had a convo with someone who tells me that there's many factual errors in the reasons given for no Leftfield, but that it's true that there'sd no Leftfield. I'm going to get the details from the horses mouth now, and there'll be an article shortly.

I also believe that, as yet, no headliners have been booked.

[scudetto_boy]

I think this is wrong & it'll be there next year.

[popcornmaster]

No TONY BENN?

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

And americana pop noooooooooooo!!!

what a kick in the balls

[darrenbha]

Gutted by this news. The bookings have been top notch the last few years

[TalkShow Bob]

Man leftfield was my fave bit of the site, or at least in my top 3!

[mr_bizarre]

Gutted by this news. The bookings have been top notch the last few years

[eFestivals]

Neither BWTUC or Glastonbury wanted to go into details about why the Left Field won't be at Glastonbury 2009. However, there's statements from both the Festival and the Left Field's organiser Geoff Martin in an article here:-

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/081205c.shtml

The article also contains some speculation on next year's headliners.

Edited December 5, 2008 by eFestivals

[glastofreak]

thanks for the up date IF those headliners are true friday Radiohead or some bunnies on here will be jumping of cliffs.

[angelheaded hipster]

Whatever the reasons, I couldn't be more disappointed about this. The music bookings had indeed just been getting better and better, and it always seemed so important to me to have an area where festival goers who perhaps weren't that politically-minded could stumble into and be inspired to get involved and maybe make some very important changes.

Also, selfishly, I can't describe how lovely it was to have one week of the year when I wasn't made to feel like an idealistic idiot. I'm sure it gave many many more people, especially those not living in big cities, the chance to touch base with others who share their views and beliefs and garner strength for another year living in an increasingly cynical and apathetic world. This does feel to me like part of what I know as the heart of Glastonbury will be gone.

To all of those Glasto regulars pre-2002, how were politics represented at the festival before the Leftfield? Any ideas on what we should be expecting in its place?

[504329lt]

Considering this was the main place for music on the Thursday night, the 5 day festival 'myth' really does stick in the throat.

I don't know why this has happened, but it is a terrible shame. Last year's festival (music wise) was saved by this tent.

I may apply for a refund.

[eFestivals]

the 5 day festival 'myth'

eFestivals has been told by Glasto staff that they'll definitely be extra entertainment on the Thursday and perhaps the Wednesday over and above what there's been in previous years. There's no reason to disbelieve this, even tho it won't be at the Left Field.

[Joshuwarr]

no!!!!!!!!

So many special moments there this year. Where will Tony Benn go?! Where will Billy Bragg play?! :'(