This is a Glastonbury of round numbers. The youngest-ever headliner, Billie Eilish, is 20. The oldest, Paul McCartney, is 80. If not for two years of Covid this festival would have been the 50th anniversary. “We’ve been through some shit,” said St Vincent during her extraordinary Friday sunset performance, “but miraculously we’re here.”
This year’s line-up features more women than ever. That might be down to conscious effort but it feels like an accurate reflection of the shape of music in 2022. While Skunk Anansie’s Skin made out like a heavy metal Grace Jones on the Other stage on Saturday afternoon, Self Esteem inspired adoration in the John Peel tent with her sharp, defiant dance-pop, crowning one of the most uplifting breakthrough stories of recent years. “I feel like Robbie Williams!” she whooped.
