Glastonbury 2016 headliners 'in place' as Emily Eavis calls Kanye West's set 'one of the festival's bravest'

The festival organiser added: 'I think the Sunday afternoon slot is a fourth headline slot in a way'

Field of dreams: Emily Eavis (Tim Mossford/UNP)

After a mixed reception at last year’s Glastonbury Festival, Emily Eavis has spoken out about Kanye West’s infamous headline set, calling it “one of the bravest, most individual sets we have ever had”.

The festival organiser - daughter of co-founder Michael Eavis - also confirmed all three headliners for next year’s Worthy Farm bash had been confirmed, two in written confirmation while the other was verbal. She added that about 80 per cent of the bill was already in place.

Before the 2015 festival took place, a petition- signed by over 100,000 people - asked for West’s slot to be cancelled, and a “real rock band” put in his place. During the set itself, the rapper claimed he was the “greatest living rockstar in the world right now”, leading to a mixed reception by both critics and festival-goers alike.

When asked by the BBC whether the negative reaction to his set was a surprise, Eavis said: "I think it was one of the bravest, most individual sets we have ever had on the Pyramid Stage. No guests, completely out there on his own and then rapping whilst climbing onto a cherry picker to be lifted into the pitch black sky - that was incredible.

"Most of the young people in that field were completely blown away by his performance. Some people didn't get it, but that's not a bad thing. You've got to keep surprising people.”

She said that Glastonbury will continue to book artists of all genres, saying they have to “keep it fresh and moving along”, adding that there are “more headliners now than ever” to choose from "you just have to widen the net a bit"

Elsewhere, Eavis spoke about the Sunday ‘Legend’ slot, last year filled by Lionel Richie: "Lionel last year was just incredible, what a moment for us all. I think the Sunday afternoon slot is a fourth headline slot in a way, that's what it has become.

"Lionel had his first number one record in 25 years after that and Dolly Parton was on the front page of every paper the Monday after she played [in 2014]!”

There was also talk of a new area the woods and changes to the John Peel stage, yet neither were detailed.