The Glasto boss lets slip during Oxford Q&A...
Andrew Trendell

15:11 25th May 2016

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Glastonbury just wouldn't be the same without an appearance from a secret band or two. From Beady Eye, Kaiser Chiefs and The Libertines to Pulp, the fields of Worthy Farm have held their fair share of surprises over the years. 

One band who are no strangers to a last-minute, surprise performance at Glastonbury are Radiohead. They haven't headlined since 2003, and are currently absent from this year's line-up - but could they repeat history and shock us all again?

Well, in giving a Q&A at Oxford University's student Union, the Glasto boss may (or may not) have let slip that they will indeed be returning this year... 

"How about Underworld? You like Underworld," he said, looking at the line-up - before saying: “How about Radiohead, do you like Radiohead? Yeah, they are good aren’t they?”

The optimistic out there are hoping that this was Eavis thinking out loud and that Thom Yorke and co are set for an unnannounced show. Others who are more skeptical, think he may have been referring to how they're from Oxford, like Foals. Skip to the 40minute mark below and decide for yourself... 

Radiohead kicked off their world A Moon Shaped Pool tour last week - even playing 'Creep' for the first time in seven years this week, as the setlist continues to shake up with each show

Meanwhile, this week saw Glastonbury unveil the epic line-up for Arcadia.  

Headlined by Muse, Coldplay and Adele alongside the likes of New Order, The 1975, Chvrches, PJ Harvey, Bring Me The Horizon and many more, last week saw what is believed to be the stage performance times - showing where and when each band will be playing

Also, the Glastonbury weather forecast looks pretty promising too... 

Glastonbury takes place at Worthy Farm in Somerset from 22-26 June 2016.  

  • Radiohead: They’ve just released a new album, and there’s a gap in their schedule between two European festivals. Plus, Michael Eavis maybe, sort of, might have given away that they’re playing the festival during a Q&A in Oxford the other day.

  • Beyonce: Fresh from the release of her brilliant new visual album, Lemonade, Beyonce is scheduled to land in the UK on 28 June for a handful of tour dates. She’s got a lovely, two weeks gap between her US tour ending and her first UK show, which could so easily be filled with a quick stop at Glasto.

  • The Avalanches: After keeping fans waiting for 15 years, the band announced a small handful of festival dates and a one-off London show in June. They’ve got nothing scheduled during Glastonbury though, and they’ve got the sort of cult following that perfectly suits a surprise appearance.

  • Paul McCartney: It seems a little strange that the Beatles legend has shows throughout Europe, and is yet to announce anything for the UK. Perhaps that’s because he’s braced to play a surprise set at Glasto between his shows in Czech Republic and Norway.

  • Rihanna: She’ll be in the country during Glastonbury, and she’s got a few free days between her Dublin and London shows which coincide with the festival, then another day off between Coventry and Glasgow which would also allow an impromptu appearance.

  • The Faces: Last year, Rod Stewart said, “I just wish someone would phone us up from Glastonbury and ask us to do that.” Hopefully the Eavis’ were listening.

  • Sia: We will not accept that the only chance to see Sia live in the UK this summer is V Festival. We simply will not accept it.

  • Noel Gallagher: Obviously, we’re all hoping for a surprise Oasis reunion, but given that Liam called his brother a “potato” and then tweeted “FUCK OASIS” just a few days ago, that seems unlikely.

  • Massive Attack: Despite the brilliance of their recent Ritual Spirit EP, the band only have three live dates scheduled for the rest of the year. Granted, they’re pretty massive - one of them is a headline Hyde Park show as part of British Summer Time - but an extra festival slot wouldn’t go amiss.

  • Garbage: Their much-anticipated new album, Strange Little Birds, is set to drop on 10 June, and then they’ll be playing a couple of UK dates. Glastonbury’s a few weeks later, and it seems like the perfect opportunity to celebrate the album’s release before they head to America in July.

  • Richard Ashcroft: If we can’t have the whole of The Verve, Ashcroft on his own is the next best thing - and he’s got a gaping hole in his schedule between Isle Of Wight Festival and Glasgow Summer Sessions.

  • Iggy Pop: Just one UK show in support of his brilliant new album, Post Pop Depression, was not enough. He’s playing Isle Of Wight Festival earlier in the summer, but on his own - perhaps he could recruit Matt Helders and Josh Homme for a surprise Glastonbury slot.

  • Foo Fighters: It came as something of a shock when Foo Fighters weren’t among the headline acts for this year’s festival - given that they had to pull out of their slot last year when Dave Grohl broke his foot. Perhaps they’ve decided to show up unannounced instead.

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Photo: WENN