Last week, Glastonbury Festival opened its gates to tens of thousands of people who’d flocked to Worthy Farm for the iconic event.
From a sprinkling of impressive guests at Coldplay and a hit-filled legends’ slot from Shania Twain, to a huge crowd squeezing into The Park for Fontaines D.C’s snarling headline set, it was certainly a year to remember.
Though it’s difficult to get back into the flow of normal life after a magical Glastonbury experience, the memories made at Worthy Farm will last a lifetime. We’ve composed a roundup of some of our favourites.
Friday
The Snuts
Our festival opener, The Snuts, delivered an explosive set that was criminally unrecorded for television coverage. The Scottish indie rockers stormed through a line-up of bangers, from the anthemic ‘Glasgow’ and ‘Burn the Empire’ to tracks from their recently released third album, Millionaires.
Frank Turner
With his highly anticipated 3000th show approaching, Frank Turner reaffirmed his reputation as a touring powerhouse. At this year’s festival, he graced the stage three times: at Strummerville on Thursday, a surprise Greenpeace set on Friday, and his main performance at Avalon. We caught his Greenpeace and Avalon sets, where he showcased his exceptional ability to keep each performance unique. The Greenpeace Field, a hub of creativity at Glastonbury, witnessed Frank’s ambitious feat of playing Love, Ire & Song in just 45 minutes. Later on, his Avalon set spanned his entire career, from the poignant ‘A Wave Across The Bay‘ to the spirited ‘No Thank You For The Music’.
Kate Nash
Following the release of her latest album, 9 Sad Symphonies, the effervescent Kate Nash took to the Avalon stage on Friday night for a joyful set that seamlessly blended her newer tracks with well-known favourites from her back catalogue. Dancing around the stage and leaping into the crowd at every opportunity, Kate Nash captivated her audience from the moment she walked onstage and launched into ‘Foundations’ – the track that started it all. Although Kate’s repertoire extends far beyond a single hit and tracks like the cathartic ‘Dickhead’ and the acoustic gem ‘Birds’ received equally enthusiastic reactions.
Fontaines D.C.
Thousands of people packed into The Park area for Fontaines D.C.’s Friday night headline set, and there were definitely no regrets. Accompanied by impressive lighting, the band opted to let their music do the talking, storming through as many tracks as they could. One of the biggest bands on the scene at the minute, they certainly lived up to their reputation, delivering a standout performance. Few bands could close their set with two new songs, but ‘Favourite’ and ‘Starburster’ were undeniable highlights.
Saturday
Lucy Spraggan
Singer-songwriter, Lucy Spraggan, graced the Avalon stage on Saturday afternoon, marking her third appearance at the festival and second at Avalon. Her uplifting and captivating performance drew an impressively large crowd, showcasing her talent and connection with the audience. Lucy pours her heart and soul into every song and this was evident from the moment she kicked off with the irresistibly catchy ‘Run’. Addressing heartfelt topics, ‘Sober’ and ‘Balance’ brought tears to many, while anthems like ‘Lighthouse’ and ‘Unsinkable’ ignited spirited crowd participation. If there’s one thing a festival crowd loves, it’s a singalong, and Lucy delighted the crowd with her stripped-back cover of ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ by The Proclaimers.
Bloc Party
Bloc Party took to the Other Stage in the scorching sun of Saturday afternoon, delivering a perfect setlist of hits that included crowd favourites like ‘Helicopter‘ and ‘Flux‘. Their energetic performance captivated the audience and set the stage on fire with their infectious blend of indie rock anthems. The set also featured tracks like ‘So Here We Are’ and ‘I Still Remember‘, – showcasing the more intimate and introspective side of Bloc Party, as well as the compelling power of frontman Kele Okereke’s fiery vocals.
Russell Crowe
In the midst of his Indoor Garden Party tour, Russell Crowe surprised fans by performing on the acoustic stage. Backed by a sizeable band, the Hollywood actor and musician delivered a set of self-penned songs that are inspired by his own life. Transcending mere entertainment, the set showed us a different side of Russell, who showcased his talents as a storyteller with his fascinating and funny anecdotes between tracks. Further enhancing the party atmosphere, Russell and his band capped off the set with a triple whammy of covers: Dire Straits’ ‘Romeo & Juliet’, Amy Shark’s ‘Psycho’ – a duet with Lorraine O’Reilly – and a unique rework of Johnny Cash’s ‘Folsom Prison Blues’.
Newton Faulkner
Having been announced as the replacement for The Magic Numbers just one week before the festival opened its gates, Newton Faulkner was quite the surprise. Accompanied by an impressive one-man setup, he delivered a chilled set featuring tracks from across his career, ranging from his gentle cover of Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop’ to the uplifting ‘Write It on Your Skin’. Though as compelling and enjoyable that Newton’s setlist was, it can’t be denied that it was his genuine and humorous personality that truly shone brightest.
Jack Jones
Jack Jones had a whirlwind Glastonbury, showcasing his versatility with performances alongside his band Trampolene, a solo set, and a late-night secret performance at Strummerville. We were excited to catch his intimate secret set, during which he performed tracks from his self-titled debut solo album. Due for release at the end of September, the album sees Jack ditch his guitar and embrace more of a fresh and highly contemporary sound. The album’s lead single, ‘Breathe’, soared, and his charming persona between tracks not only reminded us why he’s one of our favourite frontmen but also showcased his remarkable talent for storytelling – something that was even more apparent when he treated the receptive crowd to Trampolene tracks ‘Uncle Brian’s Abattoir’ and ‘Poundland’. Transitioning from being part of a band to performing solo onstage can sometimes be tricky, but this wasn’t the case for Jack. He was in his element from the start. His tour later this year is sure to be something special.
Sunday
Jack Valero
We started our Sunday morning with singer-songwriter Jack Valero, who eased us into the day with a soulful acoustic set at The Bread & Roses. Playing an early set comes with many challenges, but Jack masterfully overcame them all. His powerful vocals pierced through the noise of people heading to the bar and moving in and out of the venue. Coupled with his warm and humorous demeanor, he captivated the audience, ensuring their unwavering attention. Acoustic guitar work doesn’t often receive the same praise as electric, yet Jack’s talent shone through his tuneful chords and melodic tracks. His melodic set, which included an emotive cover of ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’, perfectly set the tone for a relaxing and memorable start to the final day of festivities.
James
Eight years after their memorable opening of The Other Stage in 2016, James returned with an electric set that flew by. The band kicked off with the atmospheric ‘Sound‘ that highlighted Andy Diagram’s soaring trumpet skills, followed by the synth-fuelled ‘Come Home’. By the third song, ‘Life’s a Fucking Miracle’, Tim Booth was breaking that barrier between artist and fan by visiting the crowd – setting the tone for a set that only gained momentum from there. James have long mastered the skill of crafting a setlist and they never hit the same mark twice. Their inclusion of huge hits like ‘Getting Away With It’ and ‘Sit Down’ paved the way for ‘Shadow of a Giant’ and ‘Way Over Your Head’ – more atmospheric numbers from their latest album, Yummy, that place focus on Saul Davies’ beautiful violin work. As they ended with a euphoric rendition of ‘Sometimes’ that saw the crowd singing the lyrics back long after the track had finished, you couldn’t help but wonder why they weren’t higher up on the lineup.
Avril Lavigne
It’s a rarity for the Other Stage to close due to capacity issues, but that’s exactly what happened during Avril Lavigne’s set, prompting enthusiastic fans to head to nearby campsites in the hope of catching a glimpse of the performance. Electrifying the crowd with a setlist of favourites – kicking off energetically with ‘Girlfriend‘ and concluding with the anthemic ‘Sk8er Boi‘ – her performance marked a memorable and long-awaited moment for those present and watching at home.
Two Door Cinema Club
Two Door Cinema Club’s extensive catalogue of anthemic songs makes them the ideal festival band – and they didn’t disappoint on Sunday evening. Vibrant, punchy, and irresistibly enjoyable, their live performance perfectly complimented their multitude of catchy songs, with the likes of ‘Something Good Can Work’ and ‘Are We Ready? (Wreck)’ prompting enthusiastic crowd singalongs throughout.
The Feeling
The Feeling closed the Avalon stage with a nostalgic set that drew such a big crowd, many were gathered outside the tent, soaking in the music and atmosphere. Despite having seven studio albums under their belt, the band largely paid homage to their debut album, Twelve Stops and Home – from the jubilant ‘Fill My Little World’ to the more gentle ‘Sewn’. The Feeling haven’t just found success in the album charts, they’ve also ventured into musical theatre, having composing the soundtrack for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, which they played the fast paced title track from. Alas, that wasn’t the only surprise of the night and the band seized the opportunity of bass guitarist Richard Jones being married to Sophie Ellis-Bextor by inviting her on stage for a vibrant rendition of ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ that had the whole tent bouncing.
