ARTROCKER.COM PREVIEW: GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL

FRIDAY 22 JUNE

After grabbing a spot of breakfast, you may want to mill about by the main stage to catch Scandinavian nu-folkie types Adjagas. Failing that, spot a bucket-load of new talent on the John Peel stage, kicked off by Look See Proof, quickly followed by the highly rated Fear Of Music.

Hopefully the festival won't have been plagued by any biblical-scale weather overnight, as happened two years ago. However, even if you do have to paddle down a walkway resembling the River Ganges, make sure you make it to the East Dance Tent for 1.10. Artrocker faves, the newly re-christened XX Teens (no, not the dog-eared porno flick in your local video shop) should get your weekend started in fine fashion and are worth seeing for the demonically-possessed centre stage drummer alone!

A potential performance of the weekend sees the gypsy punks Gogol Bordello striking a blow for the underdog on the Pyramid Stage at ten to two. Expect facial hair, catapults and go-go dancers - essentially Papa Lazarou's circus accompanied by a soundtrack of The Pogues wrestling with The Clash on the floor of an Eastern European bar. That's how Phil Jupitus describes them anyway.

If that doesn't float your boat (or tent) you could always head over to the Other Stage and catch Johnny Marr and his new bessies Modest Mouse plugging the recently released We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, or fellow US indie hopes The Annuals on the John Peel. This latter option leaves you conveniently poised for the arrival of Good Shoes at three. Fleshed-out arrangements, tunes for days and more of a stage presence since their early days should ensure a triumphant gig for Morden's favourite sons. Alternatively, see how sloshed Winehouse is on the Pyramid Stage.

Punk-funkers !!! (that's 'Chk Chk Chk' to their friends) cut loose in the East Dance Tent at ten past four before Welsh wonders and long-term festival mainstays Super Furry Animals take the Other Stage by storm at 4.50. Urban alienation and apathetic youth are on the agenda for Bloc Party on the Pyramid at 6.15, although the smart money is on American bar-rockers The Hold Steady tearing up the John Peel Stage at the same time with their tales of gutter glory.

After possibly acquainting yourself with some dinner, stimulants and medieval toilet facilities you should be nicely set to take in the evening's highlights - which for many will consist of the Arcade Fire/Bjork double-header on the Other Stage. Alternatively you can lad-rock to your heart's content with The Fratellis, Kasabian and Arctic Monkeys leading the rowdy sing-a-longs on the Pyramid Stage. The third way, as it were, is a trip over to the Park Stage (wherever this may be) for an excellent evening bill featuring up-and-comers Cajun Dance Party, The Aliens and the formidable Spiritualized.

SATURDAY 23 JUNE

After a cosy night's recuperation in the tent, or all night rave-up in the Green Fields (the choice is yours people!) you should be all set for taking in the delights of a Somerset Saturday. This should involve some lying down in fields drinking pear cider, but also a trip to the Avalon Stage to see Broken Family Band's twisted Americana at ten to five.

Earlier in the day, Seasick Steve's quirky, rootsy sound is worth a passing glance on the Pyramid Stage at 11.30. There are once again plenty of good reasons to hang out at the John Peel Stage with a slew of 'The' bands (Hours, Rushes and

Heights respectively) handling business from midday.

The Jazz World Stage sees the Isle Of Wight's foremost musical magpies The Bees take over at quarter past two. Expect flourishes of funk, reggae, psychedelia and tropicalia amongst their sunny stoner schtick. The catchily-titled You Say Party! We Say Die! threaten to wreck the festival spirit a la Conor Oberst if their name is anything to go by, but are well worth a look on the John Peel stage at four. The Other Stage hosts erstwhile Electric Soft Parade members moonlighting as Brakes at 12.40, followed by the delectable Kate Jackson and co, The Long Blondes. Nutty Brazilian troupe CSS take over the stage at 3.50, and are followed, somewhat predictably by nu-rave forebearers Klaxons, toting some real tunes alongside the glowstick anthems.

Patrick Wolf's approach to the singer-songwriter genre is never less than contrary, taking in home-made electronica and warped poetics. He's threatening to throw in the towel soon so catch him on The John Peel Stage at 8.40.

Bruce Springsteen may not be at Glastonbury but his admirers The Killers fill Saturday's headline slot. If you can't bear the stadium-slaying Brandon Flowers and cohorts, avoid the Pyramid Stage like the plague, although with The Kooks and Paolo Nutini preceding, you probably know that already, art rockers. Instead, you can go and watch a semi-naked old man with his punk rock pals on the Other Stage. We love you Iggy! Still not interested? Head over to the Jazz World Stage at quarter-past-eleven to see Rodrigo Y Gabriela - two Mexicans, two guitars and a unique take on flamenco metal!

SUNDAY 24 JUNE

The lack of galvanising music acts between Sunday morning and lunch-time make it a great opportunity to take in some of the lesser visited areas of the site - head over to Lost Vagueness and check out the Diner, the Chapel and a whole host of weird and wonderful performers. If this festival business has made you feel all politicised, you can go and watch Tony Benn speak on the 1st Leftfield Stage at 12.55 or 2.55.

The Noisettes provide the first real musical treat of the day on the John Peel Stage at 1.45, following which you could hang around for Gothic Southend types The Horrors' organ-led garage noise. No idea what God-botherers Cold War Kids would make of these little devils, but they won't get a chance to see them as they're playing on the Other Stage at 2.40.

The Young Knives keep the spirit of 1979 alive with their own brand of post-punk on the John Peel at quarter-to-five. Earnest singer-songwriters are the order of the day on the Park Stage with Micah P. Hinson on at 5.30, followed by the implausibly old-sounding folk-blues kid Willy Mason, whose festival anthem 'Oxygen' - the catchiest paean to idealism this side of 'Imagine' - received a rapturous response last time around.

For something completely different head over to the Jazz World Stage to catch Beirut's wondrous melding of Eastern European sounds and North American bedroom indie, mostly the work of one nineteen year-old from New Mexico. Sunday evening on the main stage sees the Manic Street Preachers unceremoniously sandwiched between Shirley Bassey and the Kaiser Chiefs, before some fervent, epic rock 'n roll shenanigans from The Who. Fifty minutes later at 10.55 Beth Ditto and co take to the John Peel Stage for some riotous soul-punk strutting. If big band folk is more your thing, Bellowhead are rounding up the festival on the Avalon Stage, while leftie acoustic punk legend Billy Bragg invites guests and revellers to join his End Of the Festival Party on the 1st Leftfield Stage. Uninspired by any of these options for the final night? Dance around like a crazy loon to The Chemical Brothers on the Other Stage, forget where your tent is and end up having to hitch a lift to Shepton Mallet in the morning - in true Glastonbury style.