Arctic Monkeys' headline set at Glastonbury Festival has been confirmed after concerns Alex Turner would not be well enough to play. The Sheffield band will take to the Pyramid Stage tonight (Friday) and their crew has already been seen on site this morning carrying out preparations.
They cancelled their gig in Dublin on Tuesday night (June 20), leaving fans worried that their Glastonbury performance was in jeopardy. In an announcement, they said that lead singer Alex had fallen unwell with "acute laryngitis".
But sound checks have been carried out this morning, with fans hurrying to the Pyramid Stage after hearing an instrumental of Snap Out of It booming out from behind the stage. A trolley with the words 'Arctic Monkeys Mirror Ball' could also be seen just to the right of the stage.
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One fan tweeted just before 9pm last night after seeing it being wheeled in, but this morning the trolley appeared empty from what could be seen of it behind the barrier. One eagle-eyed spectator watching the sound check told Bristol Live he thought it was already in situ and covered up, pointing to a piece of black fabric that appeared to be covering something in the centre of the stage ceiling.
The Arctic Monkeys are lined up in the 10.15pm slot after Royal Blood and the mystery band 'The Churnups', which fans are convinced to be Foo Fighters.
Glastonbury Festival co-organiser Emily Eavis confirmed the good news about the headline act to music fans this morning. Asked by Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 if the band were still set to play, Eavis said: “They’re on,” which was welcomed with uproarious applause.
She added: “It was a little bit close there for a minute and we were thinking about whether we should have a serious back-up plan in place, but, no, thankfully there on, so that’s great.”
The band's trucks were spotted at the site this morning after arriving overnight, with the giant mirror ball. The prop relates to the Arctic Monkeys' recent hit-single 'There'd Better Be a Mirroball'. The song was included on their seventh studio album 'The Car' which was released last year.
Pyramid Stage set list for today
- 12pm - 12.45pm: The Master Musicians of Joujouka
- 1.15pm - 2.15pm: Maisie Peters
- 2.45pm - 3.45pm: Stefflon Don
- 4.15pm - 5:15pm: Texas
- 6.15pm - 7.20pm: The Churnups
- 8.15pm - 9.15pm: Royal Blood
- 10.15pm - 11.45pm: Arctic Monkeys
For all of the latest updates from Glastonbury Festival 2023, follow our live blog here.
