Richard Hawley has admitted that he turned down the opportunity to play at this year's Glastonbury, because he feels the event "doesn't have any meaning".

The former Pulp star - who was recently nominated for a Brit Award and the Mercury Music Prize - said that he prefers focusing on his upcoming smaller shows, rather than big festival performances.

Asked if he was tempted to play at this year's Glastonbury, Hawley told Gigwise: "Nah. Good luck to everyone that does it, but I've done all that s**t.

"I'd rather do these gigs at Graves Park and say something to the people of Sheffield and South Yorkshire than do Glastonbury, which has become meaningless to me.

"I got offered a lot of money to play there and I turned it down because it doesn't have any meaning. All of the political sides of it seem to have been whitewashed and airbrushed over.

"The Rolling Stones are playing and that just seems weird to me if you think about what it's supposed to be and what it's become."

He added: "I played it with Duane Eddy and I didn't want to turn down any chance of playing with Duane because he's not over here that much and I don't get that much time with him, so that was great."

"It's not just Glastonbury," he continued. "I don't like the whole corporate festival thing. I've done V Festival with Pulp and as a solo artist and I hated every minute of it. It's just nasty and not what I'm about - I want something a bit more free and organic.

"I want the audiences to feel included rather than trapped. They've paid for the privilege to be trapped in a field and marketed to.

"What the f**k is that all about? I won't be there. I'll probably be in a place I love. I love the British coast - it's f**king awesome."

Hawley's latest album Standing At The Sky's Edge reached number three on the UK chart upon its release in May 2012.

The Rolling Stones, Arctic Monkeys and Mumford & Sons will headline this year's Glastonbury festival, which takes place over the weekend June 28-30.

Watch Richard Hawley perform 'Don't Stare At The Sun' below:

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