Organizers of England’s Glastonbury Festival are in emergency talks to decide if this year’s event should be canceled if H1N1, affectionately known as swine flu, reaches pandemic status.
Over 135,000 people plan to attend the music and performing arts gathering this year, an obvious breeding ground for the virus. Four new cases were announced in England this morning–all tied to recent trips to Mexico–prompting festival organizers to discuss how best to manage the situation. “It would be crazy not to put a plan in place,” a spokesperson told The Sun. “Right now, though, it’s full steam ahead.”
Last year the controversy at Glastonbury was Jay-Z’s slot as a headliner; the festival is known as a rock destination. But the Brooklyn boy silenced critics, including beef-starter Noel Gallagher, with a funny, if imperfect, rendition of Oasis hit “Wonderwall.”
Confirmed headliners this year include Blur, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young, with artists like Franz Ferdinand, Kasabian and Animal Collective also slated to perform. Tickets are already sold out for the event taking place in Pilton, Somerset, U.K. June 24-29.
-Sultanpepper
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