After months of rumours, Glastonbury organisers have confirmed that Bruce Springsteen will headline this year’s festival.

The Boss will don wellies and tackle the inevitably mud-caked Worthy Farm to play the Somerset festival’s Saturday night slot, organiser Michael Eavis said today.

“I’m so pleased that Bruce Springsteen has agreed to come to Worthy Farm for the first time. He’s one of the all-time rock legends and I’m confident that this will be one of our best shows ever.”

The American rock icon’s booking confirms that the June festival will return to its roots this year, after straying from its traditional territory in 2008 by inviting US hip-hop star Jay-Z to headline.

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Despite a long and lauded career, the rapper became the target of a wave of disapproval after festival-goers and musicians, including a vocal Noel Gallagher, claimed the festival was betraying its rock roots.

One of the world’s most respected musicians, Springsteen has won 18 Grammies, two Emmies and an Oscar. After 37 years in the music industry, he has sold 120 million albums and penned a multitude of hit singles – Born in the USA and Dancing in the Dark among them.

Currently enjoying critical acclaim for his new album, Working On A Dream, Springsteen will also play at London's Hard Rock festival, in Hyde Park, this summer. The festivals will punctuate his world tour, along with the E Street Band, beginning in April.

Glastonbury organisers are yet to announce the rest of the festival’s line-up but Canadian music veteran Neil Young and the recently-reformed Brit Pop kings Blur are rumoured to be playing.

Advance tickets for this year’s festival have sold out, but a limited number will go on sale on April 5.

Glastonbury runs from June 24 – 28.

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