Glastonbury 2022: Six of the biggest talking points from the Worthy Farm festival
US rapper Kendrick Lamar’s headline set closed an impressive weekend of live music
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Your support makes all the difference.The final day at Glastonbury ended with a jaw-dropping performance by American rapper Kendrick Lamar.
Over the course of five days, fans had danced to performances by top artists such as Paul McCartney, Little Simz, Pet Shop Boys, Sam Fender, and Billie Eilish.
On the last day of the festival, George Ezra turned up at the John Peel stage in what was possibly the worst-kept secret set in Glastonbury history, while jazz-fusion legend Herbie Hancock delighted crowds relaxing at the Pyramid stage with a virtuosic performance.
Here’s a look back at six of the biggest talking points from the entire Glastonbury 2022 festival...
Roe v Wade
News of the US Supreme Court’s highly controversial legal ruling broke on Friday, and it was clearly on a lot of people’s minds at Glastonbury. It certainly didn’t escape the attention of the artists, many of whom were American. From Billie Eilish, to Phoebe Bridgers, to Olivia Rodrigo, to Kendrick Lamar, lots of the performers included powerful statements about abortion rights in their sets.
From the youngest ever headliner…
Eilish made history with her Friday night headline slot, delighting fans with an intimate but lively set of songs from the 20-year-old’s two albums. As the festival’s youngest ever solo headliner, the pressure was certainly on Eilish’s shoulders, but as Mark Beaumont’s five-star review attests, she pulled it off with aplomb.
…to the oldest
On the other end of the spectrum, we had Paul McCartney, who delivered an absolute barnstormer of a set on Saturday. Performing a range of hits from his Beatles and Wings repertoires, as well as his solo career (and a couple of covers), Macca delivered a Glastonbury experience for the ages. At 80 years old, he became the festival’s oldest ever headliner.
Kendrick Lamar
Closing the festival on Sunday was Kendrick Lamar, who held the Pyramid Stage in the palm of his hand from the start of his electrifying, career-spanning set to the end. The stunning climax of his set – a rendition of “saviour” performed while blood dripped from his diamond crown of thorns, before he began a furious chant about women’s rights – was pure chills-down-the-spine stuff.
Ukraine
The ongoing war in Ukraine was also a core political issue for many of the festival’s acts and attendees. Ukrainian flags were spotted commonly around the festival site, with McCartney holding one aloft in solidarity as he took the stage for his encore. The Pyramid Stage also played host to Ukrainian band Dakhabrakha on Sunday, one of several Ukrainian artists the festival championed.
A little help from my friends…
While Kendrick’s set may have been all him, many of the festival’s other acts deployed some heavyweight guest stars. McCartney brought Bruce Springsteen and Dave Grohl on stage towards the end. Olivia Rodrigo welcomed Lily Allen for a duet of “F*** You”. Phoebe Bridges joined forces with Arlo Parks (who had her own full set at the festival) for a couple of numbers. Pete Doherty even showed up on stage during Hak Baker’s performance, having performed with the Libertines shortly before. It was a festival chock-full of unexpected – but thoroughly enjoyed – cameos.
Look back at our live blog below:
Dying Glastonbury fan to travel to festival via helicopter
A Glastonbury fan who has been told he has weeks to live has been granted his dying wish - to make it to the festival one last time.
Nigel Stonehouse, 58, from Hartlepool, will travel to Worthy Farm via helicopter after a GoFundMe campaign raised over £18,000 to fund the journey.
Any remaining donations will be donated to Water aid, Oxfam and Greenpeace, and a local cat rescue organisation, the fundraiser’s organisers said.
Stonehouse, who has been to Glastonbury 19 times, described the festival as being “like a family.”
‘We’re a family’: Dying Glastonbury fan to travel to festival via helicopter
A Glastonbury fan who has been told he has weeks to live has been granted his dying wish - to make it to the festival one last time.Nigel Stonehouse, 58, from Hartlepool, will travel to Worthy Farm via helicopter after a GoFundMe campaign raised over £18,000 to fund the journey.Any remaining donations will be donated to Water aid, Oxfam and Greenpeace, and a local cat rescue organisation, the fundraiser’s organisers said.Stonehouse, who has been to Glastonbury 19 times, described the festival as being “like a family.”Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
How to watch Glastonbury 2022 from home
Those who aren’t venturing to Worthy Farm for Glastonbury this year can keep up with the action from the comfort of their sofa.
This year’s festival – taking place from Friday 24 June to Sunday 26 June – will see Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar perform as headliners. Diana Ross will perform in the Legends slot.
Coverage will be spread across BBC One, Two, Three, Four, BBC Radio, the BBC Sounds app, and BBC Radio.
For the first time ever, BBC iPlayer will be hosting a special Glastonbury channel from Thursday (23 June), which will broadcast preview shows and live performances over the next four days.
Here’s the full schedule!
Full TV schedule of BBC’s Glastonbury coverage
Coverage will be spread across BBC channels over the next four days
Glastonbury 2022 – in pictures
Music fans are returning to Worthy Farm in their droves for the first Glastonbury Festival since 2019.
The world-famous event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, but has now returned and is set to be headlined by Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar.
Other acts on the billing include Diana Ross in the traditional Legends Slot, plus Sam Fender, Megan Thee Stallion, Foals, St Vincent, Lorde, Olivia Rodrigo, AJ Tracey and many more performing from 24 – 26 June.
On Wednesday 22 June, festival co-organisers Michael and Emily Eavis welcomed revellers back to the festival in Somerset.
“To actually be able to see people there and welcome in, watch them streaming in and running to pitch their tents up… it’s an amazing feeling,” Emily Eavis told Lauren Laverne in an interview with BBC Radio 6.
Check out some of the brilliant photos so far:
See all the best pictures from Glastonbury 2022
Fans are rejoicing as the world-famous festival returns to Worthy Farm in Somerset
Fat Boy Slim reflects on his Glastonbury memories
Fatboy Slim has reminisced about his first time playing Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage saying he’s “spent the rest of his career” trying to get back on it.
The DJ, real name Norman Cook, is now a household name but first performed at the music festival on Worthy Farm more than three decades ago as part of indie rock group, The Housemartins.
Glastonbury Festival opened its gates again this week for the first time in three years after being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with Cook, 58, one of the performers on the bill.
He told the festival’s on-site newspaper, the Glastonbury Free Press, about his first experience playing at the event, saying: “It was playing the Pyramid Stage with the Housemartins in 1986.
“Much to my shame, I thought it would be filled with old, stoned, bearded hippies who’d come from Stonehenge after the solstice. And we thought they’d all be flinging mud at us. We were pleasantly surprised to find out it wasn’t like that at all.”
Other big names at Glastonbury in 1986 included The Pogues, The Waterboys, The Cure, Level 42, Simply Red and Madness.
Press Association
The 7 most brutal set clashes – and how to get around them
“Clash” is a word that will cause any Glastonbury ticketowner to break out in a cold sweat.
Deciding between Billie Eilish and Foals and Little Simz feels impossible. Likewise, Haim, Olivia Rodrigo, Big Thief, and Glass Animals.
Here, we run through the biggest clashes of the 2022 festival – and some nifty workarounds.
The 7 most brutal Glastonbury 2022 set clashes (and possible workarounds)
Because it’s impossible to see absolutely everyone
18 highlights for Glastonbury from Healing Fields to Cineramageddon
Every Glastonbury weekend, the transformation of Worthy Farm from a West Country dairy farm into a glorious festival site never fails to wow.
Bars within bars, areas within areas, and festivals within festivals offer ticket holders a Russian doll of silliness and surrealism. The centre of which you’ll probably never reach – at least not without a comprehensive plan.
Take a look at our 18 hihglights for Glastonbury 202, from the Healing Fields to Cineramageddon.
From Herbie Hancock to the Healing Fields – 18 highlights for Glastonbury 2022
As Glastonbury returns for a belated 50th birthday at Worthy Farm, Annabel Nugent and Roisin O'Connor pick some of the highlights you should try and make time for during the festival
When does Billie Eilish perform and on what stage?
Tomorrow, Billie Eilish will make history as Glastonbury’s youngest ever solo headliner.
At 20 years and six months old, she will be the youngest solo act to headline Glastonbury. The youngest ever performer to headline Glastonbury as part of a group was Mark Hamilton of the UK band Ash who headlined in 1997 at the age of 20 and three months.
Find out when and where Eilish performs below.
What time, date and stage is Billie Eilish performing at Glastonbury?
Eilish will be the festival’s youngest ever solo headliner
Who are the secret sets? Everything you need to know
Sure, you may know who is headlining but Glastonbury – but are you clued up on who this year’s secret sets are?
With past secret sets including Lady Gaga, Franz Ferdinand and Pulp, it’s likely this year will see at least a few big names unexpectedly taking the stage.
George Ezra, Harry Styles, Green Day, Elton John, and Arcade Fire are among the artists rumoured to be making an appearance. Find out more below.
Glastonbury secret sets 2022: Rumours and how find out who will play
Bastille are the latest rumoured act for a secret set
A brief look at Glastonbury’s storied past
If you’ve ever been interested in the history of the iconic festival, we’ve got you covered.
Founded in 1970, Michael Eavis – a farmer from Somerset – decided to stage a festival to pay off his overdraft. The rest is history.
How to watch Glastonbury from home and full TV schedule
For those of us not at Worthy Farm, you can tune into the action live thanks to live coverage of the event.
Whether you want to follow it all or just catch a performance or two, BBC has you covered.
Coverage will be spread across BBC One, Two, Three, Four, BBC Radio, the BBC Sounds app, and BBC Radio.
See a comprehensive TV schedule below.
Full TV schedule of BBC’s Glastonbury coverage
Coverage will be spread across BBC channels over the next four days
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