Stones Glasto Favourites

No sooner had Glastonbury Festival sold all its 137,500 tickets in 12 hours than the bookies were chalking up odds on who’ll headline, with William Hill making The Rolling Stones the favourite at 4/1.

Others at short odds to close the weekend by headlining the final Sunday night include Coldplay and David Bowie at 8/1 each.

John Giddings from Solo, agent for the Stones and Bowie, and X-Ray Touring’s Steve Strange (for Coldplay) are the stable insiders to call to get inside info straight from the proverbial horse’s mouth.

“We have lost a few quid on the headline act for two years running and it will be interesting to see if punters get it right again,” said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams, as his firm went Muse at 10/1, U2 and Arctic Monkeys at 12/1, and Radiohead at 14-1.

Anyone believing the Gallaghers will make up and re-form Oasis can get on at 33/1.

The Glastonbury tickets went on sale Oct. 4 and the last ones were snapped up at about 9 p.m. The bookies were offering odds within 24 hours.

The only confirmed act is The John Vistic Experience, which earned its slot by beating 23 other acts to win the festival’s rock competition. The Bristol-based band won the final at Pilton Sept. 4.

Although festival tickets are priced at £185 plus £5 booking fee and £4.95 post and packaging, fans need only make a £50 deposit to reserve a ticket. They can pay the balance by the end of February.

Emily Eavis, daughter of festival founder Michael Eavis and co-organiser of the event, has confirmed that more tickets for the festival from canceled or unfulfilled orders will go on sale in 2010.

“Registration will reopen on Oct. 12 and there will be another chance to buy tickets from canceled orders in 2010,” she explained.
Next year’s Glastonbury is June 23-27.