A festival goer holds a placard protesting against Irish group U2
A festival goer holds a placard protesting against Irish group U2 who are due to headline the Pyramid Stage on the third day of the Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

The 2011 Glastonbury Festival kicks off the weekend with performances by U2, B.B. King, and Wu-Tang Clan.

Performances on Saturday include Coldplay, Paolo Nutini and Rumer. On Sunday, Beyoncé, Paul Simon and Don McLean will be performing.

U2 takes center stage tonight in a highly anticipated show. But fans aren't the only people excited to see U2. Protesters known as the Arts Uncut, look forward to express their unhappiness with the band moving their businesses out of Ireland, to the Netherlands for a break in taxes.

Saturday, English alternative rock band Coldplay's dreams come true as they headline the main stage. The band members have stated that to play at Glastonbury was their childhood dream.

According to Contactmusic.com, guitarist Johnny Buckland stated, It's the ultimate festival, the mother of all festivals, the peak, and the one we dreamed of playing when we were kids. I'm already feeling nervous!

Recently, the band announced songs off their new digital album, 'Every Teardrop is a Waterfall,' on their official wesbite. Songs released include Major Minus and Moving to Mars, in addition to their brand new single, Every Teardrop is a Waterfall. The album will be available on iTunes this Sunday.

R&B singer Beyoncé will headline Sunday in a performance set to include pyrotechnics. Her husband Jay-Z is expected to make an appearance on stage, as well as rapper and artist Kanye West.

In a statement made by Beyoncé, she expresses her excitement of performing at Glastonbury: This really is the biggest festival in the world and I cannot wait to perform there . . . Everyone who attends is really appreciative of music and is in such a good mood that entire weekend. I'm pumped just thinking about that huge audience and soaking up their energy.

Britain's Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts is one of the largest festivals in the world. For more information and a detailed schedule of complete lineup, please visit their official website.

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