Glastonbury Festival To Take 2006 Off

(CelebrityAcess MediaWire) — The Glastonbury Festival will take a year off next year, as it has done twice before. "It has been part of Michael Eavis' practice to regularly have a fallow year, to allow the land time to recover and the cows to have more time grazing outside during the summer," says the festival's website. "It is a regenerative exercise not only for Michael, but also for the hundreds of people who make Glastonbury what it is. It comes back with a bounce and with new energy and enthusiasm."

"The previous two times Michael took a year off, he was able to focus on major projects. In 1996, he brought mains water to the site. In 2001, he developed the fortress fence which has secured the future of the event. Michael already has plans to look further at water supply and possibly build a reservoir in 2006, which will benefit future Festivals."

"The time off provides respite for those local residents who find the Festival intrusive – and will allow Michael and his wife Liz to enjoy a well-earned lengthy holiday. Rest assured – he is already planning for 2007."

Mendip District Council’s Licensing Board agreed in principle on January 17 to grant a licence to Glastonbury Festival 2005 from June 24-26 to run an event with an attendance of 153,000. Compared to 2004, this represents an extra 3,000 people, which are for additional day tickets on June 26 for local residents. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen