This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/7476701.stm

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Soggy Glastonbury ready to rock Soggy Glastonbury starts rocking
(about 1 hour later)
Revellers at the Glastonbury Festival are facing a weekend in wellies yet again after rain hit the site. The Glastonbury Festival is gettinginto full swing as fans face a weekendin wellies yet again after wet weather.
Heavy showers fell late on Thursday and further light rain is forecast, but it has been dull and dry so far on Friday. Heavy showers fell late on Thursday andfurther light rain is forecast. Some125,000 fans were on site by Friday.
Kate Nash was first on the Pyramid Stage, with Kings of Leon, Pete Doherty and Jimmy Cliff also on the bill. Kate Nash was first on the PyramidStage, with Kings of Leon, Pete Dohertyand Jimmy Cliff also on Friday’s bill.
Police said there were 125,000 people on the festival site. The number of thefts was up sharply on last year but there were fewer drug-related arrests. But the event has not sold out andorganisers have put £50 day tickets forSunday entry on general sale for thefirst time.
Kate Nash told fans: "It's been an honour to open the festival and I hope you have such a good time.
Franz Ferdinand are due to play an unannounced gig on Friday night on the Park stage.
Theft increase
A total of 137,000 fans are expected over the weekend. Police said the number of thefts was up sharply on last year but there were fewer drug-related arrests.
A police spokeswoman attributed the increase in thefts - from 19 at this stage in 2007 to 127 by Friday morning - to sunshine during the day on Thursday.A police spokeswoman attributed the increase in thefts - from 19 at this stage in 2007 to 127 by Friday morning - to sunshine during the day on Thursday.
"When we have had sunny weather in the past, we tend to find tent-thefts go up," she said."When we have had sunny weather in the past, we tend to find tent-thefts go up," she said.
A suspected thief was also detained by festival-goers after allegedly disturbing two women in their tent overnight.A suspected thief was also detained by festival-goers after allegedly disturbing two women in their tent overnight.
As well as the music, other attractions include a silent disco, a planetarium, a whirlpool bath and a replica New York nightclub. The wet weather on Thursday night has left the site damp with some mud underfoot.
The event in Somerset is in its 38th year. But fans are hoping further rain will hold off and prevent a quagmire on the scale of the last two festivals, in 2007 and 2005.
Canvas cafe
A total of 137,000 fans are expected over the weekend. They are hoping further rain will hold off and prevent a quagmire on the scale of the last two festivals, in 2007 and 2005.
It seems like it wouldn't be the same without rain Glastonbury revellerIt seems like it wouldn't be the same without rain Glastonbury reveller
Those mudbaths have been partly to blame for putting fans off buying tickets this year.Those mudbaths have been partly to blame for putting fans off buying tickets this year.
"I did think twice about coming back because last year was such hard work," said Naomi Hadfield, 25, from Liverpool."I did think twice about coming back because last year was such hard work," said Naomi Hadfield, 25, from Liverpool.
"But I thought 'I hope it's better weather', and I chanced it," she said, sheltering from the rain in a canvas café selling hog roasts and giant Yorkshire puddings."But I thought 'I hope it's better weather', and I chanced it," she said, sheltering from the rain in a canvas café selling hog roasts and giant Yorkshire puddings.
"It seems like it wouldn't be the same without rain," said her friend, 21-year-old Tom Kelly. "It's an English tradition.""It seems like it wouldn't be the same without rain," said her friend, 21-year-old Tom Kelly. "It's an English tradition."
Not sold out Jay-Z debate
The event has still not sold out. On Thursday evening, organiser Michael Eavis said they were "within a few hundred" tickets of a sell-out.
Another reason for the slow sales has been the choice of headliners, with particular criticism for Jay-Z's slot at the top of the bill on Saturday.Another reason for the slow sales has been the choice of headliners, with particular criticism for Jay-Z's slot at the top of the bill on Saturday.
Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis explains why the festival is so specialGlastonbury organiser Michael Eavis explains why the festival is so special
"He doesn't belong here," Ms Hadfield said."He doesn't belong here," Ms Hadfield said.
"In his field he's the best of the best. However, he's not my cup of tea and one of the reasons it didn't sell out is because he's headlining.""In his field he's the best of the best. However, he's not my cup of tea and one of the reasons it didn't sell out is because he's headlining."
Twenty-year-old Harriet Read from Bristol said she was looking forward to seeing Jay-Z, despite not normally being a fan.Twenty-year-old Harriet Read from Bristol said she was looking forward to seeing Jay-Z, despite not normally being a fan.
"I can't wait - it will be awesome," she said. "It's at Glastonbury and I just want to know how it will pan out."I can't wait - it will be awesome," she said. "It's at Glastonbury and I just want to know how it will pan out.
"I want to know if he will kick the critics' asses or if it will be awful.""I want to know if he will kick the critics' asses or if it will be awful."
Rumours have spread around the site that the New York rap giant will be joined by high-profile guests, such as his wife Beyonce, Coldplay singer Chris Martin or rock collaborators Linkin Park. Silent disco
Some smaller stages, such as the Queen's Head, the Left Field and the Dance Lounge, hosted music on Thursday. As well as the music, other attractions include a silent disco, a planetarium, a whirlpool bath and a replica New York nightclub.
With no main stages open, there were huge crowds spilling out of the Queen's Head tent to see hot new acts such as Glasvegas and Santogold.
Biker bar
Other fans explored the other attractions, activities and oddities on offer.
This year sees a new area called Shangri-La, which hosts the Jacuzzi Lounge, the Gramophon Salon - a Japanese café where waiters in kimonos serve records - and a 1950s-style US diner that doubles as a nightclub.This year sees a new area called Shangri-La, which hosts the Jacuzzi Lounge, the Gramophon Salon - a Japanese café where waiters in kimonos serve records - and a 1950s-style US diner that doubles as a nightclub.
A look at how many people, stages, tents and loos there are at GlastonburyA look at how many people, stages, tents and loos there are at Glastonbury
Another area offering eccentric twilight adventures is Trash City, which has expanded this year.
That is home to the Dragstrip biker bar, the NYC Downlow disco, the fuselage of an apparently crashed jet and the futuristic sculptures of the Unnatural History Museum.
"There's more than just music," says Joey Scott, 16, from Bristol. "At some festivals, there is just music. Here, you never run out of things to do.""There's more than just music," says Joey Scott, 16, from Bristol. "At some festivals, there is just music. Here, you never run out of things to do."
Some fans arriving on Friday are expected to face delays in getting to the site after a nearby fire at a scrapyard a mile away.Some fans arriving on Friday are expected to face delays in getting to the site after a nearby fire at a scrapyard a mile away.
The fire is still burning and police said the A37 road would remain shut for much of Friday as a result.The fire is still burning and police said the A37 road would remain shut for much of Friday as a result.