Kasabian are to headline Glastonbury festival 2014, making their debut appearance at the top of the Pyramid stage bill on Sunday 29 June. The Leicester band are one of 87 names added to this year's lineup, which now includes Elbow, Pixies, MIA and Skrillex.
Festival founder Michael Eavis had promised this year's festival would feature fresh headliners, and has so far not disappointed: Kasabian join the previously announced Arcade Fire, who top the bill on the Friday night.
His daughter, festival organiser Emily Eavis, said: “We always take great pride in putting a great British band on to headline the Pyramid and this time it’s Kasabian, who are one of the most requested bands from Glastonbury-goers and an amazing live act. It’s going to be one hell of a show!”
Although Saturday's Pyramid stage headliners are yet to be announced, there are plenty of big names among the new additions to the bill. Perhaps the most interesting of these is Pixies, who have not performed at Worthy Farm since 1989. The grunge pioneers are currently preparing to release their fifth album, Indie Cindy, which is also their first in 23 years.
Alongside Kasabian and Arcade Fire are several artists who headline stages for the first time. Skrillex will bring his manic take on dubstep and electronica to the Other stage after performing a variety of DJ sets at last year's festival. House and garage duo Disclosure will headline a night on the West Holts stage, while James Blake brings his hushed brand of dubstep to the Park. Elsewhere, MGMT headline the John Peel stage, while Richie Hawtin will occupy one of the top slots in Silver Hayes.
There are plenty of names on the list who play Glastonbury for the very first time. Lana Del Rey, Chance the Rapper and Courtney Barnett have never played the festival before, while there are debuts for an array of legendary performers including Bryan Ferry, Dexys, ESG and the Sun Ra Arkestra. Lil Louis, François Kervorkian and acid-house legend DJ Pierre will be at Glastonbury for the first time to play Block 9. The Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté is also due to play after having to cancel his performance last year due to illness. He will perform on the Pyramid stage with his son Sidiki, with whom he has made a new album.
Emily Eavis said: “One of the great things for us about this year’s line up is that there are so many artists who have never played Glastonbury before, along with some of the most exciting new bands stepping up to play some of the big headline slots on main stages, like Skrillex and Disclosure.”
She continued: “We’re very chuffed to have some of the biggest acts in the world, like Arcade Fire, Dolly Parton and Jack White, making one-off festival appearances.”
White will likely debut songs from his forthcoming second solo album, Lazaretto, and is one of several solo artists on the lineup alongside MIA, Ed Sheeran, Jake Bugg and Robert Plant. The last plays alone despite rumours that Led Zeppelin could headline the Saturday night.
Before today's announcement, the festival had officially confirmed eight acts to play: Lily Allen, Disclosure, Dolly Parton, the Black Keys, Blondie, Lana Del Rey, Warpaint and Arcade Fire.
The Guardian is Glastonbury festival's media partner.
Full lineup so far ...
Arcade Fire
Special Guests
Kasabian
Dolly Parton
Jack White
Elbow
The Black Keys
Robert Plant
Lily Allen
Lana Del Rey
Skrillex
Pixies
Massive Attack
Disclosure
Paolo Nutini
Manic Street Preachers
MIA
Rudimental
Bryan Ferry
Richie Hawtin
Ed Sheeran
De La Soul
Goldfrapp
London Grammar
MGMT
Jake Bugg
Jurassic 5
Dexys
Above & Beyond
The 1975
Bonobo
Kelis
Blondie
Warpaint
The Wailers
Wilko Johnson
James Blake
Gorgon City
Metronomy
Tinariwen
Chvrches
Little Dragon
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
Kodaline
Interpol
Foster the People
Mogwai
Royal Blood
John Grant
Annie Mac
Lil Louis
Daptone Super Soul Revue
John Newman
Chromeo
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
Midlake
Angel Haze
Four Tet
ESG
The Sun Ra Arkestra
François Kevorkian
Parquet Courts
Sam Smith
Crystal Fighters
Nitin Sawhney
DJ Pierre
Toumani & Sidiki Diabate
Chance the Rapper
MNEK
Temples
Phosphorescent
Connan Mockasin
Public Service Broadcasting
Courtney Barnett
Gorgon City
Wolf Alice
Radiophonic Workshop
Suzanne Vega
Tune-Yards
Eats Everything
Jamie xx
Ms Dynamite
Breach
Chlöe Howl
Jagwar Ma
Danny Brown
