Welcome to Glastonbury 2024 with the Evening Standard team! Read on for the first of our daily round-ups as we roam Britain’s biggest festival.
Kicking things off
First up on the Pyramid stage under sullen skies were circuit stalwarts Squeeze, who came on stage with a shrug: ‘We’re first then’. The set started slowly, but Up the Junction and a pared back version of Tempted got the crowd swaying. The set was quietly moving, with the band saying they’ve now been together 50 years, and songwriting duo Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook paying tribute to each other. Cool for Cats got the crowd dancing, before Tilbrook walked off saying ‘you’ve brought a tear to an old man’s eye’. RG
Making dreams
Over at West Holts, Peruvian DJ and producer Sofia Kourtesis brought her unique brand of Latin flavoured electronica to the 11am crowds. Dressed all in white and swaying ethereally, she paused to thank the audience profusely in between renditions of her hit songs Madre and By Your Side. “This is such a big dream for somebody from South America and Peru,” she said. “I can feel the love you guys are giving us.” VJ
Disco pioneer
Cult Indian singer-songwriter, Asha Puthli graced the West Holts stage on Friday afternoon dressed in a flowing white dress decorated in flowers. Despite being on vocal rest due to a recent illness, the 79 year-old jazz singer and disco pioneer did not disappoint, with her operatic melodies beaming out to the eager crowd. Her most prominent hit ‘Space Talk’ had the audience in a trance. KM
Pop open the Lambrini
Up at Woodies, Brighton punk duo Lambrini Girls thrashed through the perfect wake-up call for any knackered punters. “Have we got any queer legends in the house?” yelled vocalist Phoebe Lunny. “Put your hands up, I wanna come and say hello”. Then, the singer jumped the barrier for an impromptu meet and greet. If punters weren’t fully awake when they walked into Woodsies, this set remedied things.
Dive into the afternoon
Olivia Dean eased us into Friday afternoon with a soulful performance that had the crowd wiping away tears by the end. A year ago, the 25-year-old Londoner had just put out her debut album and was playing Glastonbury’s Lonely Hearts stage. Flash forward and she’s performing to her biggest crowd yet, front and centre of the Pyramid stage. ‘I’ve been dreaming of playing on this stage since I was 8-years-old,’ she gushed, following opening songs Ok, Love You Bye and Echo. The biggest emotional blow came via Carmen, a song dedicated to her grandmother and to the Windrush generation. Wearing a custom Chopova Lowena outfit with a photograph of her grandmother on her chest, Dean wept as the song drew to a close (as did the rest of us). IVD
Remi-dial music
Rising US pop star Remi Wolf pulled in an impressive crowd up at Woodsies, which only grew larger as the set went on. Riding the wave of opening for Olivia Rodrigo last month on her UK tour, the slot felt like a real milestone moment. Whistle-laden banger Cinderella and triumphant closer Photo ID got the whole tent singing, while a 3-step exercise class got them moving. “I want you to be so loose that you’re able to forget about all the shit you came into the weekend with…. You’re leaving it outside!” Flawless vocals, a cover of Valarie, a brief excerpt of Shaggy’s It Wasn’t Me, and a ridiculously fun stage presence throughout sealed the deal in an early standout set. EH
Talking pop and politics
It’s not all music: Glastonbury is a place for talking politics and art too. Veteran primatologist Dr Jane Goodall gave a speech in the Greenpeace field. “We really are going through tough times all over the world”, she said, but added that she has hope in the “the indomitable human spirit”. Later on on the Pyramid Stage, artist Marina Abramović led a seven minute silence, which she framed as a "public intervention" to reflect on conflict and peace. She looked cool, too. RG
Surprise appearances
Who'd be a Strummerville fan? Those expecting to see Giya at the tiny Stone Circle music venue earlier today were left gobsmacked when dance music wunderkind Fred Again.. showed up for an ultra secret set. Right place, right time? VJ
Not to be outdone, Blur singer Damon Albarn turned up during Bombay Bicycle Club’s set for their new song Heaven, which he appears on. Albarn had a message, saying: “Three things - you have to show me how you feel about it - are you pro Palestine? Do you feel that's an unfair war?”. He went on to encourage people to vote, and said of the US election: “maybe it's time we stopped putting octogenarians in charge of the whole world?”. Albarn’s Blur bandmate Dave Rowntree is Labour’s candidate for Mid Sussex.
Seventeen rising
Korean boyband Seventeen made history by becoming the first K-Pop band in history to play the Pyramid stage. Used to selling out stadiums in their home country, they drew a smaller crowd here, but won them over with uptempo hits Maestro, Ready to Love, and SOS, followed by a bass-heavy version of Lalali that rattled the eardrums and sternum. “We are just extremely honoured to be here,” they said as the set kicked off. Read our full review of their historic set here). VJ
Up on the hill, just as energy levels were flagging, the Mary Wallopers brought a burst of mid-afternoon energy to the Park stage with their tight modern take on Irish traditional music. RG
Push the sun button
Following a cool and collected performance from Chicago rapper Noname, the sun finally put its hat on during a throwback to her 2016 breakthrough mixtape Telefone, West Holts welcomed Noughties pop heroes Sugababes. The girls admitted that they had been worried nobody would show up; a concern proved wrong in comically epic fashion by grounds so huge that the area was closed to newcomers. One of the most joyous, energetic crowds of the weekend so far went wild to Overload, Round Round, Push the Button, Too Lost In You, and jubilant closer About You Now. A ridiculously fun way to spend an hour – I may have lost my voice as a direct result of all the sing-alongs. EH
Celebrity spotting
Dream Glasto squad ✌️Andrew Haigh, Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal stopped by the @PiltonPalais with Saoirse Ronan for a festival edition screening and Q&A of All of Us Strangers. pic.twitter.com/RPqQzZbqMe
— Searchlight Pictures UK (@SearchlightUK) June 29, 2024
As the festival ramped up, the hospitality area began to buzz with more and more celebrity action: Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal enjoyed a pint together backstage, Stormzy led a procession through the bar, Glastonbury veteran Cate Blanchett rocked double-denim, and Tilda Swinton was spotted taking a stroll around the Healing Fields. Later, Mescal and Scott did a Q&A for their film All of Us Strangers at the Pilton Palais cinema. EH
Cara Delevigne and Anya Taylor Joy were seen hanging out in the VIP section, whilst a chic Sienna Miller breezed by posing for photographs along the way. Matt Smith was spotted leaving the festival’s exclusive Hideout area along with friends before heading out for some music. KM
All his friends
🎥 LCD Soundsystem playing ‘All My Friends’ as the sun sets on the Pyramid stage. It does not get better than this. Come here, give us a cuddle ❤️⛺️#glastonbury #Glastonbury2024 pic.twitter.com/5zjdDbMhde
— Far Out Magazine #Glastonbury2024 (@FarOutMag) June 28, 2024
As the evening sun lit the hills behind the Pyramid Stage the scene was set for laconic American rockers LCD Soundsystem to bring their unique sound to the waiting revellers. “You outnumber us all again but it's OK because we have stuff,” lead singer James Murphy said. They did indeed have all the stuff; the next hour and a half saw them blaze through their back catalogue, finishing with a triumphant rendition of All My Friends that set the many flags in the crowd waving triumphantly along. VJ
Declan’s day out
“This is my fifth time playing Glastonbury” said Declan McKenna before taking his top off, accessorising with a tie around his neck and guitar. He welcomed in a dedicated crowd of youngsters to Woodsies who sang his songs back to him. The crowd simmered slightly before piping up for his hit song Brazil, which called for smoke flares and a mass dance before he closed on the politically charged hit British Bombs. KM
Best outfits
Glastonbury is awash with colourful stetson hats, in tribute to Sunday’s pop-country legend Shania Twain. While many people tried to get the right balance of clothing for the changing temperatures, others were more inventive. One group were spotted in full astronaut costumes, but the winners were a party all in beekeepers costumes. All except one, who was dressed as the bee. Naturally. RG
XX marks the spot
Glastonbury 2024 has been a good year for fans of The xx. To start with, singer-turned-solo artist Romy celebrated her upgrade from San Remo (where she played last year) to the 7,000 capacity Levels club with a jubilant Nineties flavoured afternoon set that saw her play everything from Ariana Grande to her recent album Enjoy Your Life. She was joined in the evening by bandmate Jamie XX, who then had the unenviable job of playing the same time slot as headliner Dua Lipa at the neighbouring Woodsies. Not to worry: the tent was filled to capacity, as he brought on his xx bandmates Romy and Oliver Sim, and then Robyn for a final tune. VJ
Getting political
Migrant lifeboat crowdsurfing at Glastonbury #Idles pic.twitter.com/XSLmr1zmlN
— cello (@MrCarb1) June 28, 2024
Carrying the torch for guitar music were Irish favourites Fontaines DC, who packed out the Park with their brand of snarling post punk, led by charismatic frontman Grian Chatten. Over at the Other Stage, Bristol-born rockers Idles got political, leading chants of ‘F**k the King’, saying their final tune was “anti-fascist… anti-Farage”, while an inflatable prop of migrants crossing the sea in a small boat appeared in the crowd. The band later claimed they knew nothing about it, and it was said to be reclusive artist Banksy’s doing. RG
Dua takes over
Over on the Pyramid, the night belonged to Dua Lipa, who silenced the naysayers with a huge pop party, full of choreography, fireworks, and singalongs. “I’ve written this moment down and wished for it and dreamt it and worked so hard,” she said, comparing it to her first shows playing to just ten people. And they “only came because we offered them free drinks,” she joked. Read a full review here. EH
Party with Charli
Charli XCX brought out Robyn for "With Every Heartbeat" at her #Glastonbury "Partygirl" DJ set. https://t.co/s6ndJEU8NL pic.twitter.com/1YykcKI8WN
— Variety (@Variety) June 29, 2024
Lime green – or Brat Green, as it must now be known – has proven the must-have colour of Glastonbury, adorning flags, homemade t-shirts, and entire costumes. With this in mind, it felt like something of an oversight scheduling Charli XCX’s Partygirl DJ set at The Levels; the dance venue was packed to capacity long before she came on. Those lucky enough to make it through the monster queue were treated to a fun, Brat-centric DJ set, with bonus guest appearances from Robyn, Shygirl, and Romy. EH
