The year is 2003. Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena and Siobhan Doherty of the Sugababes are on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, dressed in matching low-waist, stonewashed bootcut jeans, black T-shirts and hoop earrings. They sway their hips from side to side, as thousands of gooey-eyed fans chant their lyrics back to them. Their harmonies are bewitching; choreography slick; style unmistakably Noughties. This is the era of the Great British Girlband.
This weekend, the original Sugababes will reunite on the stage of Glastonbury for the first time in 19 years. They’re the only UK girl group on the lineup, and are performing just over a month after pop trio Little Mix went on hiatus to pursue solo careers. At first glance, the future landscape of girl groups in contemporary pop looks decidedly flat. Is there any hope of a renaissance?
