Rolf Harris wobbles Glastonbury into groove

Veteran Australian artist Rolf Harris used his wobble board to get Glastonbury fans into the party mood Friday, as the world's biggest music festival prepared to get into full swing.

The 80-year-old, famous for weird instruments also including the didgeridoo, played favourites including "Two Little Boys", "Waltzing Matilda" and "Stairway to Heaven" on the Pyramid Stage at the festival in southwest England.

"There's only one Rolf Harris," chanted fans, as revellers joined in mass singalongs with the bearded entertainer, who combines art and cartoons with comedy with music.

In contrast to previous years which have seen the Glastonbury site descend into a vast muddy field, the sun shone on the festival ahead of the main headline acts lined up for Friday and Saturday night.

"Tomorrow will be another hot one and Sunday appears to offer more of the same," said Meteogroup weather forecaster Steve Ellison.

Over 170,000 people are expected to attend the festival, which is renowned for attracting the planet's most revered musicians as well as encouraging more left-field and underground performance artists.

Organiser Michael Eavis, 74, received a blow when Irish rock megastars U2, who were due to headline the main Pyramid Stage on Friday, pulled out after frontman Bono injured his back.

Stepping into the breach are Gorillaz, the hip-hop influenced side-project of Blur singer Damon Albarn.

Other heavyweights performing this year are US soul pioneer Stevie Wonder, rapper Snoop Dogg, Latino superstar Shakira, American quartet Vampire Weekend, country icon Willie Nelson and rockers Muse, who headline on Saturday.