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:
Brass Against are currently playing on the West Holts stage.
Safe to say they won’t be repeating some of their much-publicised stage antics from last year.
In case anyone’s forgotten:
Brass Against apologise after frontwoman urinates on fan’s face during live show
Band have since apologised in a post on social media
George Ezra and Green Day are among the rumoured acts who could perform secret sets at Glastonbury.
The festival’s belated 50th anniversary has officially kicked off, and speculation is rife about who might be filling the missing lineup slots.
The 2022 schedule already includes huge names like Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish and Diana Ross, but there are still a few spaces left for some surprise performances.
Check out the biggest rumours here...
Glastonbury secret sets 2022: Rumours and how find out who will play
Paolo Nutini is strongly rumoured to be playing a set on Saturday
After facing two years of cancellations, Glastonbury Festival is finally back.
The celebration of music and arts, which is held at Worthy Farm in Somerset, is taking place from 22 to 26 June. You can find out more information about the weather forecast for the festival here.
The full line-up and set times have already been announced, with Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar headlining.
Let’s go!
Glastonbury 2023 registration, tickets and everything you need to know
How much are Glastonbury tickets?
Glastonbury presenter Lauren Laverne ‘heartbroken’ over death of mother
Lauren Laverne has said she is “utterly heartbroken” as she announced the death of her mother, Celia.
The BBC presenter revealed on Instagram that her mother had died on Friday (24 June), describing her as “the kindest, most compassionate and most tenacious person I have ever met”.
Laverne had been hosting Glastonbury coverage for the BBC this weekend.
Lauren Laverne drops out of Glastonbury after mother dies
‘Mam, I love you forever. Thank you for my fantastic life,’ she wrote in an extended post on Instagram
Little Simz review, Glastonbury 2022: Rapper’s star shines brighter than ever on the West Holts Stage
Little Simz’s star shines brighter than ever at Glastonbury – review
Little Simz’s raw musicality, accompanied by her bittersweet, confessional lyrics, elevates the musician’s status to 21st-century storyteller and poet
Joy Crookes – Pyramid Stage
Maybe it was the dark voodoo summoned by Billie Eilish last night, or some kind of cloud seeding operation emanating from the giant Arcadia spider’s laser eyes, but there has only been one torrential downpour at Glastonbury so far, and it happens on Saturday morning at around 8am.
Everyone under canvas holds their breath. The baptism lasts less than an hour. The clouds clear. The sunlit uplands of the Pyramid Stage return.
To be real, though, is there any other way to see Joy Crookes? Her Amy Winehouse-esque nu soul lands so perfectly on a sunny Saturday afternoon it feels like a privilege to be here. “It’s an appropriate time to be drinking a cherry and b,” she laughs, swigging from the tiny bottle and launching into “Wild Jasmine”.
Singing in front of a giant Om sculpture, she gives a blessed rendition of single “Feet” don’t fail me now. A cover of The Clash’s “London Calling” has never sounded so laidback and soothing. It’s an emotional set - especially when Crookes unexpectedly starts crying
“Today js such a big day for me. This is a crazy moment,” she says, tears streaming down her face. Then, laughing: “This is not cute, I’m sorry!”
But it’s one downpour this crowd doesn’t mind a bit. ★★★★☆
What time is Paul McCartney on today?
Paul McCartney is one of the headliners at Glastonbury festival this year.
The Worthy Farm music festival is back for the first time since 2019, with the 50th anniversary in 2020 and last year’s festival both having been cancelled due to the pandemic.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Macca’s show:
What day and time will Paul McCartney perform at Glastonbury?
Former Beatle will headline Worthy Farm festival for second time
In case you need to check what time your favourite artists are on, here’s the full schedule for Glastonbury weekend:
Glastonbury 2022 full lineup and set times by day
Festival returns to Worthy Farm with major UK and international artists
Billie Eilish took her history-making headline set on the Pyramid Stage in her stride. Here’s our critic Mark Beaumont’s five-star review:
Billie Eilish’s Glastonbury set was 90 minutes of noir-pop catharsis – review
Eilish’s headline set is just as significant as Jay-Z’s or Stormzy’s because it marks the ascendence of alternative pop
Sam Fender review – Friday at Glastonbury
“Me and the boys have never been here before,” Sam Fender admits, and perhaps three or four members of his field-filling Pyramid Stage audience might be surprised. His music isn’t exactly steeped in the psychedelic ciders or 12th-dimensional mindset of this mystic vale. Rather, it’s radio-targeted, entry level guitar rock, The Courteeners with training wheels.
We’d politely call it “playlist indie”, a cheekbone-led phenomenon that has evolved from the glut of post-Oasis anthem rock and the monumental success of stadium folk dullards Mumford & Sons. It’s conquered Reading & Leeds and, judging by Fender’s vast and enthusiastic crowd, he’s the newly crowned prince invading Glastonbury with the stuff.
Sam Fender’s Glastonbury set was radio-targeted, entry-level guitar rock – review
There’s real bite and clatter in some of these tunes, promising a legitimately exciting future if Fender risks building on them
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