Maximo Park's Paul Smith Praises Glastonbury Headliners

Paul Smith of Maximo Park has defended this year's Glastonbury headliners, saying the Worthy Farm event is for all ages.

Speaking exclusively to Gigwise, the singer said: “I’m a massive fan of Neil Young, all his stuff is great so to be able to see him perform all of his material will be amazing. It’s a shame he is on at the same time as Animal Collective though as I’d love to see them too.

“That’s the thing with Glastonbury, it seems to be defined by the media by the headline acts but if you wander around the fields you can see so much interesting stuff in the dance tents or the African music that plays.”

Maximo Park will be opening the festival at Worthy Farm on the Thursday night with a special set list chosen by their fans, “We opened it up online and I think we’re going to find out the results soon and do a little practise if we’ve got to play any older stuff.

“All of our songs come from a passionate place so we’re excited to play anything that is selected really.”

Describing himself as “not really a person for the mud” Smith explained that he prefers the Butlins based All Tomorrow’s Party festivals, but Bjork on The Other Stage at Glastonbury 2007 is one of his Glastonbury highlights as well as the first time Maximo played in 2005.

He commented: “We had just released our debut album and were playing in the John Peel tent, he had just died and it was a very emotional time. Playing last year on the Other Stage too was fantastic.”

Smith rounded up by saying that he was hoping to stay for the whole weekend but has to leave on the Sunday so will miss Nick Cave and Blur, a band he’s loved since a child.

“It’s weird because their songs are such a part of the public conscious that it doesn’t feel like they’ve ever gone away. I remember hearing ‘Parklife’ when I was about thirteen in my brother’s bedroom,” he said.

Maximo Park will open Glastonbury Festival with an intimate Tuborg gig at the Queen’s Head on Thursday at 4pm and will then play The Other Stage on the Saturday night at 7.50pm.