Nestled atop Glastonbury Festival grounds lies Strummerville, the only stage dedicated to a bonafide rock icon. Overlooking a vista of tipis, Strummerville is a living memorial to Joe Strummer, the legendary frontman and guitarist of The Clash, who passed away in 2002.
Overseen by his widow, Lucinda Tait, the space “means everything” to her, allowing Strummer’s legacy to thrive in a place he “absolutely loved.”
Strummerville offers a more intimate festival experience, with Lucinda emphasizing its role in “meeting people, sharing opinions, sharing musical genres and ideas.”
A central campfire, surrounded by sofas, evokes memories of Strummer’s own Glastonbury experiences with his family in the 1990s.
Lucinda recalls that the area, then primarily a parking and camping spot for festival workers, became the site of Strummer’s impromptu campfires.
“He was a big champion of giving people time, space and an opportunity to air their music or their views…that’s what the campfire was about,” she explained.
“It was really about a meeting of minds because the fire does something, it just makes you relax, it makes you talk and think, it opens you up.”
Over the years, Strummer and Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis forged a strong friendship, with Strummer attending the festival “through thick and thin.”
“We were there right for those really, really wet ones, when the festival was abandoned and the stages were shut down,” Lucinda noted.
“I think Michael had a soft spot for Joe because Joe always championed the festival when everyone was saying, ‘oh, it’s just a mud bath’,” Lucinda added.
“I think there was a mutual respect for each other and Joe just felt a connection to this place, keeping his spirit alive means everything,” she stated.
Despite his long association with Glastonbury, Strummer officially performed only once, in 1999 with his band The Mescaleros.
“It was interesting to see him really hyped up before he went on stage.”
“And he just so wanted to do it well, and he did. It was amazing.”
“But it was interesting to see him nervous, because it meant so much to him,” Lucinda shared.
Strummerville often hosts surprise sets from established artists, as well as providing a platform for emerging talent.
“The bands that we have are mainly not on the big, big radar, but we have wonderful people like Olivia Dean, who we’ve championed for about five or six years,” Lucinda said.
Despite its intimate atmosphere, the area surrounding Strummerville draws large crowds.
The band Fat Dog’s performance on Thursday night drew a massive audience, leaving the “whole hill heaving.”
“I thought I was going to come down here this morning and it was going to be a level playing field… It was mega,” Lucinda commented.
The stage also attracts fans of The Clash.
“We were worried when they moved us up here that no one would come up the hill, no one would find us, but we just made it really special.”
“A lot of people just want to talk about Joe, how to let go and 1979 and ‘I was at that gig in Bristol when…’ and it’s just lovely.”
“Strummerville has introduced young people to Joe’s music, but also his ethos.”
“People come and hang out, and it’s lovely to see so many young people, it’s just great.”
And what would Strummer think of it all?
“Oh, he’d love it. I don’t think he’d leave the campfire,” Lucinda concluded.
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