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"Glastonbury came about thanks to one mildly eccentric farmer who had nothing to do with the music industry at all. Because of him, people can put a face to the event too, and they respond to his ownership of the festival."

Mud, mud, glorious mud

British weather being what it is - usually terrible - the mud at Glastonbury in recent years has become almost as famous as the music. The festival in 1997 was subtitled the Year of Mud, and photos of music lovers caked in muck were seen around the world.

Unfortunately for those attending, this year might be just as bad - the Met office's weather forecasts do not bode well. Don't let that news dampen your spirits too much, however. We Brits are a hardy bunch, and there's nothing we like better than a little adversity.

BACKGROUND

• Glastonbury squelches to life

• Big Brother comes to Glastonbury

• Police on watch as Glastonbury fills up

• 'Mudbath ahoy' for Glastonbury

• Stella's vests set to rock Glastonbury

Going down a storm at Glasto

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"I wouldn't say I preferred the mud," Stokes says. "But I would say it brings out a different atmosphere. You can't deny that when Glastonbury's sunny, it's beautiful. You can sit down and relax and it's just brilliant. The mud makes everything more like hard work, but you see huge numbers of people just getting on with it and mucking in together."

Music, music, glorious music

There are around 2,000 acts at Glastonbury this year - an impressive number, but with only a weekend to cram everything in, you really have to pick and choose who you go to see. If the place is, as weathermen predict, a mud bath, getting around will be a little trickier and getting from one stage to another might become more like a military operation than anything else. So who's playing?

The Pyramid Stage is the place to see the biggest names over the weekend. Norwegian trio Adjagas have the prestigious job of opening the stage on Friday lunchtime, but most eyes that day will be on Arctic Monkeys, who are headlining.

"I haven't got to much of a plan about who I'm going to see, but I'll make sure I catch Arctic Monkeys," Llewellyn Smith says. "I'm really interested to see how they shape up headlining such a big festival - it's the biggest Glastonbury ever.

Stokes is also keen to see Sheffield's finest: "It's going to be a massive test for Arctic Monkeys, but I think they'll do really well. This is definitely the biggest gig they've done so far. I remember hearing their new album for the first time and thinking how good Do Me A Favour would sound at Glastonbury, so it'll be great to see them play that."

The Killers are headlining the same stage the following night, while The Who will close the festival on Sunday in what could be an emotional set.

"There was talk it was going to be The Who's last ever show," Stokes continues. "It's not, as they've booked more dates, but I sense it might be a wind-down to their touring days. I know Pete Townshend has been very keen to play for a couple of years, so they'll give it their all. It'll be a very special show."

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