Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by GQ/COLLIER SCHORR

Late November Glastonbury Festival announced Paul McCartney would headline the event’s 50th year.

With the full lineup having been announced today, it is clear the event’s organizers’ are intent on pressing ahead with the event despite a wake of global concert cancellations one account of coronavirus related health risks.

Expected to attract a crowd of over 200,00 Glastonbury remains scheduled from June 24th to June 28th at Worthy Farm, Somerset.

Some media outlets remain skeptical the event will proceed.

The Guardian notes that the UK government’s chief scientific adviser has predicted that the coronavirus infections will peak in 10 to 14 weeks.

With Glastonbury 15 weeks away, this doesn’t bode well for Paul McCartney and the 90 other acts listed on the festival bill.

“No one has a crystal ball to see exactly where we will all be 15 weeks from now,” the event’s organizers have stated,  “we are keeping our fingers firmly crossed that it will be here at Worthy Farm for the greatest show on Earth!”

The British government, unlike its US and Scottish counterparts, is yet to ban large scale gatherings in a bid to contain the virus.

Metro.co.uk. estimates Glastonbury’s cancellation would cost the UK economy £100 million, £60 million of which would be worn by festival organizers.

The news outlet also contends an artist like McCartney could face a personal loss of tens or hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of festival and tour cancellations.

McCartney himself has yet to comment on whether his Glastonbury appearance or a preceding European tour will go ahead.

At age 77, Paul McCartney sits within one of the age brackets most susceptible to the virus.

The full Glastonbury lineup below.

Glastonbury 2020 Lineup

Aitch
AJ Tracey
Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals
Angel Olsen
Anna Calvi
The Avalanches
Banks
Baxter Dury
Beabadoobee
The Big Moon
Big Thief
Black Uhuru
Blossoms
Brittany Howard
Burna Boy
Cage The Elephant
Camila Cabello
Candi Staton
Caribou
Cate Le Bon
Celeste
Charli XCX
Clairo
Confidence Man
Crowded House
Danny Brown
Declan McKenna
Dizzee Rascal
Dua Lipa
EarthGang
EOB
Editors
Elbow
Fatboy Slim
FKA twigs
Fontaines DC
Gilberto Gil & Family
Glass Animals
Goldfrapp
Greentea Peng
Groove Armada
Haim
Happy Mondays
Herbie Hancock
Imelda May
The Isley Brothers
Jarv Is
Jehnny Beth
The Jesus and Mary Chain
Kacey Musgraves
Kano
Kelis
Khruangbin
Kokoko!
La Roux
Lana Del Rey
Laura Marling
Lianne La Havas
The Lightning Seeds
London Grammar
Mabel
Manic Street Preachers
Metronomy
Nadine Shah
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Nubya Garcia
The Orielles
Pet Shop Boys
Phoebe Bridgers
Primal Scream
Richard Dawson
Robyn
Rufus Wainwright
Sam Fender
Sampa The Great
Seun Kuti
Sinéad O’Connor
Skunk Anansie
Snarky Puppy
Soccer Mommy
The Specials
Squid
The Staves
Supergrass
Suzanne Vega
Thom Yorke Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes
Thundercat
Tinariwen
TLC
Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes
Tones and I