Nestled in the heart of the Glastonbury Festival grounds resides the beloved Croissant Neuf Summer Stage. For over 30 years, this vibrant venue has delivered unforgettable musical moments and drawn enthusiastic crowds with its friendly, community-driven atmosphere. Beyond top-tier acts, the Croissant Neuf Summer Stage represents the enduring communal spirit and creative energy pulsing through Britain’s most iconic music festival.
Table of Contents
Origins and Background
The Croissant Neuf Summer Stage first launched in 1989, seeking to expand the live music offerings in the vibrant Croissant Neuf area founded by Arabella Churchill years prior. Its initial success led to establishing the Summer Stage as a Glastonbury mainstay for discovering fresh talent ever since.
Founding Background
Croissant Neuf founder Arabella Churchill first envisioned the stage as a way to showcase up-and-coming genres like electronica, world music, and underground club sounds. By incubating new talents within Glastonbury’s creative ecosystem, legends have been born on the Stage for over 30+ years.
Milestones
- 1989 – First Summer Stage constructed and launched
- 1992 – Expanded capacity to 300 people
- 1995 – Introduced late-night silent discos
- 2005 – Supported Oxfam and WaterAid charities
- 2012 – Featured US artists like Haim and Lady Gaga
- 2016 – Hosted secret sets by DJs Eats Everything and Carl Cox
- 2019 – Remodeled PA system and visual aesthetics
Legacy
Today the Stage stands as hallowed ground that feeds off Glastonbury’s freewheeling energy to catapult emerging artists while allowing icons to recapture their scrappy upstart days through intimate gigs.
Over three decades, the multi-faceted Summer Stage has cemented itself as a staple venue thanks to key features:
- Prime Location: Flanked by the Glastonbury Café and Stone Circle, it enjoys heavy foot traffic
- Diverse Lineups: Up-and-coming genres like electronica and world music shine here
- Intimate Scale: Capacity hovers around 300 people with close audience connections
- Vibrant Atmosphere: Colourful décor and an energetic vibe pulses day and night
The Stage Setup
The physical Croissant Neuf Summer Stage stands as an open-air sheltered space measuring approximately 5000 square feet. Its curved covering and scattered seating make taking in shows a cozy, communal experience.
Structures and Design
The Stage itself features a Spiegeltent-style wooden frame adorned by sweeping canvas peaked “tents” stretching 40 feet high. This construction style harkens to vintage dance hall structures. Scaffolding crisscrosses bearing strings of festive lighting balls.
Purple and green floodlights rim the roofline’s edges, casting colourful hues out into Worthy Farm’s fields by night. Rainbow prayer flags flutter down on all sides as well, framing the structure.
Layout
The layout features a centrally located stage area for musicians flanked by speaker stacks. PA systems and lighting grids ensure high-quality acoustics and visuals. Surrounding the stage lie chest-high barriers separating standing-room crowds from scattered side benches. These rotating viewing zones mean audience members can sit or stand based on personal preferences.
Capacity
Capacity tops out around 300 people, allowing a relatively intimate experience compared to Pyramid Stage’s tens of thousands. Even with sold-out crowds, the Summer Stage feels immersed in music without being uncomfortably packed.
Backstage Access
Unlike the restricted Pyramid backstage, Croissant Neuf operates through a communal spirit. Attendees might readily bump into artists prepping side stage or technical crews tweaking sound balances with a smile. Wander behind the scenes to grasp how bonhomie and creative passion fuel Worthy Farm magic at its best.
Unforgettable Musical Moments
Beyond its impressive physical stage, the Croissant Neuf venue delivers individual magic through decades of euphoric musical moments:
Launching Legends
The Stage’s 1989 debut quickly cemented its reputation for identifying talent in the raw. Early bookings like Radiohead in 1993 exposed little-known gems who later became household names selling out stadiums worldwide.
While the Pyramid area favors heritage rock acts, the Summer Stage eagerly promotes unheralded genres, diverse songwriters, and underground club DJs. Once destined for obscurity, alumni like electro duo Disclosure, indie folkster Lucy Rose, garage revival band The Big Pink, and Scottish songstress KT Tunstall all found launchpads here.
Genres
True to its founding ethos from Arabella Churchill, musical diversity rules. The genres witnessed range from rock to reggae, folk to funk, and electronica to eclectic global sounds:
- Indie rock & left-field bands (The xx, Foals, alt-J)
- Club scene DJ sets (Carl Cox, Eats Everything)
- World music (Femi Kuti, Sierra Leone Refugee Allstars)
- Singer-songwriters (Newton Faulkner, Martha Wainwright)
- Electronica & dance (London Grammar, Jessie Ware)
- Hip hop & rap (Lady Leshurr, Nadia Rose)
- Heavy sounds & experimental (Enter Shikari)
- Pop & mainstream crossover (Ellie Goulding, Zara Larsson)
Notable Performances
- David Bowie – Surprise piano session in 2000 had crowds rapt
- Amy Winehouse – Pre-fame acoustic set marked raw talent in 2004
- Muse – Matt Bellamy first witnessed crowd-surfing at their gig
- Adele – Sang “Hometown Glory” weeks before her career exploded
- Daft Punk – Donned furry raccoon masks spinning unreleased tracks
- Ed Sheeran – Returned for nostalgia to debut Divide album songs
Atmosphere
The Croissant Neuf Summer Stage reputation endures through intimate artist-audience interactions. Dancing with Haim, mosh pits for Slaves, and singalongs during Lewis Watson’s “Honest” created shared memories under the lights.
Serendipitous moments like Thom Yorke of Radiohead popping in to see Swedish indie band Little Dragon had jaws dropping. Whether planned or impromptu, musicians let loose creatively unburdened by Pyramid-sized pressures.
The Festival Experience
Beyond the stellar entertainment, visitors need proper preparation for navigating Glastonbury Festival’s endless entertainment offerings and Croissant Neuf specifically:
Getting There
- Apps & Signage: Pinpoint Summer Stage spots on the sprawling rural site
- Crowd Control: Approach side entrances to avoid Worthy View clogs
- Transport: No vehicles inside; prepare for walks between stages
When To Arrive
- Queue Early: Big-name acts draw queues hours pre-show
- Plan Strategically: Ensure travelling between must-sees is feasible
- Pace Yourself: Prevent exhaustion by balancing intense crowds with mellower Recovery Fields
What To Bring
Come prepared to suck the marrow out of your Croissant Neuf experience:
- Weather Layers: United Kingdom’s temperamental climate can whip up fast
- Foot Protection: Wellies and hiking shoes handle mucky paths
- Hydration: Refillable bottles tap into free WaterAid stations
- Sustenance: Counter festival price tags by packing healthy snacks
- Cash: Prepare small bills as funky food trucks and bars may lack adequate change
Insider Tips
Follow Croissant Neuf veteran advice for smooth operations:
- Reconnaissance Walks: Wander to uncover the area’s secret gems
- Charge Devices: Conservation mode and onsite charging stations prevent missing moments fumbling with dead phones
- Meeting Points: The front Wizard statue makes finding separated friends easier
- Two Hands Rule: Keep one hand ready to catch crowd surfers at livelier sets
After Parties
When the Summer Stage’s last encore wraps, night owls find refuge in adjacent areas:
- Stone Circle: Acoustic all-night jams until sunrise
- Trash City: Psy-trance DJs fuel raging dusk-to-dawn dances
- Unfairground: Otherworldly mutant vehicles and art cars host renegade raves
Rather than solely bee-lining between Pyramid headliners, visitors who stray into the mystical side streets of Croissant Neuf bask in the unexpected. Spread glow stick liquid love at secret disco hotspots. Lend your lungs to communal singalongs on the Hill Top Stage. Soak up the legacy of Arabella Churchill’s rainbow-splashed creative enclave that keeps Glastonbury’s soul alive.
Legacy as a Glastonbury Icon
Beyond the scheduled performers, participatory happenings give the Croissant Neuf Summer Stage its beloved status for festival veterans. Here are some iconic moments:
- Surprise 1993 Radiohead Set: Caught legend Thom Yorke and band chilling pre-fame
- Secret Silent Discos: Spontaneous 3 am dance parties till dawn
- Costume Contests: Awards for the wildest audience outfits
- World Cup Screenings: England matches aired in 2010/2014 amid euphoric crowds
- Kiefer Sutherland Cameo: Sang impromptu whiskey-fueled song in 2017
Its intimate scale allows priceless fan-artist connections lacking on bigger platforms. For musicians like Ed Sheeran, Haim, and Dua Lipa, part of the luster remains to return to Croissant Neuf years later for nostalgia.
The Stage also serves as consecrated space to honour departed greats. Impromptu tributes surfaced in recent times:
- David Bowie: Aladdin Sane lightning bolts and Space Oddity mass singalongs
- George Michael: Cinema Paradiso aired Wham! videos as fans belted out lyrics
- Keith Flint: The Prodigy tracks pumped from Worthy View bars to salute the raver spirit
Despite its growth, the Croissant Neuf Summer Stage retains a sacred DIY spirit traced back to Arabella Churchill herself hopping the fence in 1971 before the festival existed. Spontaneity remains king through impromptu renegade sound systems, guest performers sitting in, and crowds gathered for communal singalongs.
The Future Calls
As Glastonbury organizers Michael and Emily Eavis continue evolving the event, Croissant Neuf and its breakout Summer Stage will undoubtedly keep surprising. Despite rumours of the duo’s eventual retirement, their legacy seems secure through stewardship plans retaining the family-run spirit.
Festival Expansions
Eavis upgrades expanding capacity to over 200,000 attendees and new stage opportunities ensure Croissant Neuf’s academy of talent cultivation will continue pumping fresh blood into the festival ecosystem.
Location
While the original Croissant Neuf camp began adjacent to the Emerging Talent field, increasing real estate pressures saw its relocation near the Other Stage. However, its Worthy View home continues making its wonderfully weird welcoming energy the ultimate refund from reality annually.
Year-Round Retreat Centre
In 2022, the founding Churchill family announced plans to develop a permanent Croissant Neuf retreat centre on-site offering year-round courses, masterclasses, talks, and events related to music, arts, food, and wellbeing. Slated to break ground in 2025, this legacy project will nurture future generations of Worthy Farm magic alongside maintaining Arabella’s legacy.
After weathering a 2020 cancellation due to Covid, anticipation for Croissant Neuf’s return brews more eagerly than ever. However, as the coming times unfold, the Summer Stage’s vibrant concerts and dance parties will continue soundtracking Glastonbury well into the future.
Insider Tips For Visitors
Navigating Glastonbury Festival and making the most of beloved areas like Croissant Neuf needs savvy strategies:
> Packing
The English weather calls for adjustable layers – prepare for all conditions:
- Outer Layers: Quality rain jackets and umbrellas
- Footwear: Sturdy wellies plus hiking shoes for long walks
- Head Cover: Sun hats or beanies depending on the elements
> Transport
With sprawling rural geography, transit takes planning:
- Camping Gear: Pack light with portability since lugging stuff far
- Apps: Download maps to navigate eight+ square miles
- Rechargers: Bring backup power banks and charging packs
> Self Care
Pace yourselves through long days to avoid missing moments:
- Replenish Often: Drink water, snack healthy
- Sun Protection: Lather up regularly – clouds deceive!
- Rest Zones: Recharge at peaceful areas like Healing Fields
> Connecting
Avoid losing friends in crowds:
- Totems: Flying unique festival flags/symbols helps visibility
- Meetup Markers: Memorize stranger rendezvous like rainbow arches
- Apps: Share real-time locations to coordinate migrations
> After Hours
Sustain steam into late-night celebrations:
- Caffeine: Seek out cold brew bars open 24 hours
- Catnaps: Brief site sleep revives between dance tent sets
- Pace Yourself: Alternate booze with water to dodge daytime drops
The entire Glastonbury terrain overflows with sensations demanding attention simultaneously. By preparing gear, transit, and self-care smartly, revelers optimize fun while respecting limitations.
Plan Your Pilgrimage
Attending Britain’s storied Glastonbury Festival promises an experience overflowing with sights and sounds for the ages. When there, be sure to patronize Saint Arabella’s legacy by catching a set at the Croissant Neuf Summer Stage.
Sing or sway along with inspiring new favourites under the enchanting lights, sharing the sacred communal spirit found only at Worthy Farm’s perennial jewel. Discover secret renegade sound systems, costume dance-offs, and pop-up theatre. Soak up the good vibes that legends from David Bowie to Adele channeled building careers. Watch stunned as icons of tomorrow take fledgling steps toward their Pyramid headline futures after passing the Croissant Neuf initiation.
Make friends, memories, and classics-in-the-making at this uniquely Glastonbury icon that celebrates freedom of creative expression year after year. Let your soul steep in the Croissant Neuf ethos of building loving, weird, and welcoming spaces that compel strangers to come together. Catch the contact high of community dancing ecstatically at sun-kissed day parties and neon-lit after-hours revels.
However many times you make the sacred pilgrimage to Worthy Farm, may a chunk of your heart eternally occupy Arabella Churchill’s psychedelic playground that amplified talents like Adele and Haim from obscurity into bold-font headliners. For over thirty years, Croissant Neuf’s indie icon lounge lizard spirit stokes the flames of creative passion that sculpt Glastonbury’s legacy as the world’s marquee music festival.
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