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:
Paul McCartney fans gather at the Pyramid Stage ahead of Glastonbury headline set
Many of Paul McCartney’s fans have already gathered at the Pyramid Stage to get a good spot for his headline show tonight.
Festival attendees were seen waiting at the foot of the Pyramid Stage barriers from early in the morning on Saturday, hours before the live music began.
Speaking to BBC News, one reveller, Jess Day, said she had been “training for it like a marathon”.
She claimed that she had been working out methods to avoid going to the toilet in order to maintain the front-of-crowd spot all day.
“Lots of pelvic floor exercises, lots of clenching,” she said. “It’ll be worth it.”
“I’ve been slightly dehydrating myself so hopefully it will be no problems,” another fan, Henry Thurgood, claimed.
Paul McCartney fans say ‘it’ll be worth it’ as they wait for hours at Pyramid Stage
One fan likened her preparation for the event to ‘marathon training’
Wondering what the weather’s looking like for the rest of the weekend?
Here’s what the Met Office is saying:
Latest forecast predicts blustery showers and breezy weather for Glastonbury
The Met Office has indicated heavy rain showers, with the possibility of thunderstorms, over the course of a breezy Saturday
The greatest Glastonbury performances
A 40-minute blast of pure, undiluted zeitgeist. A gigantic crowd stretching away over hill and vale. A generation’s prejudices and expectations overturned like a flick of dust off the shoulder. A setlist chiselled into quicksilver by Zeus and carried to the stage by a choir of winged roadies. Or maybe just the Dalai Lama, blowing out the candles on a birthday cake.
These are just a few of the reasons why a gig playing out on the hallowed grounds of Worthy Farm might go down in Glastonbury folklore – one of those iconic moments that don’t just make the weekend, but mark out the evolution of pop culture. Glastonbury is where musical history is made and cultural colossi are crowned on a near-annual basis.
Here are the 22 greatest Glastonbury performances of all time:
The 22 greatest Glastonbury performances ever
Ahead of the festival’s glorious return to Worthy Farm, Mark Beaumont picks some of Glastonbury’s greatest ever music moments
Greta Thunberg has announced a surprise appearance at Glastonbury festival.
The Swedish climate activist will appear on the main Pyramid Stage on Saturday afternoon (25 June), to deliver a short speech about the environment.
“I’m excited to announce that today I will be on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 5.15pm,” wrote Thunberg on Twitter. “See you there!”
Her appearance at Glastonbury comes ahead of the release of her latest project, The Climate Book.
Billed as a “holistic overview of the true state of the planet and an essential tool for everyone who wants to help save it”, the book sees more than 100 scientists, communicators and activists weigh in on the climate, ecological and sustainability crises.
Greta Thunberg announces surprise Glastonbury Pyramid Stage appearance
Swedish climate activist will deliver a speech on the festival’s main stage on Saturday afternoon
Self Esteem plays to a packed-out John Peel Stage and shouts out Big Jeff
The John Peel tent looks absolutely rammed for the fabulous Self Esteem and her boob corset (seriously, have a look).
She just did a lovely shout out for Big Jeff, the famous music fan known for attending pretty much every gig in Bristol. He was seriously injured in a fire at his home a couple of weeks ago and is currently in hospital in Swansea. IDLES also did a nice “get well soon” message for him yesterday. Sending love your way, Jeff, we need more people like you in the world.
Self Esteem review – John Peel Stage
The John Peel Stage has been one of the best settings of this Glastonbury, having played host to barnstorming sets from Sigrid and Phoebe Bridgers, and now Self Esteem.
“I feel like Robbie Williams,” announces Sheffield-bred singer-songwriter Rebecca Lucy Taylor, as she dives into the sublime “F**king Wizardry”, from her acclaimed 2021 album Prioritise Pleasure, a paean to owning your femininity.
Hers is a bold, catchy brand of maximalist pop: huge choruses, stabbing synths, slinky R&B. Live, it’s even more powerful, with her backing singers head-flicking, high-kicking and strutting in unison.
Performing under a backdrop that says, “There is nothing that terrifies a man more than a woman that appears completely deranged”, Self Esteem sounds superb: crisp and full of heart.
Highlights include “Moody”, a reflection on self-destruction that starts, “Sexting you at the mental health talk seems counterproductive”, the bassy, building “You Forever”, and set-closer “I Do This All the Time”, a gorgeous, sort-of 2020s Baz Luhrmann’s “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)”, but with more bite.
After a decade spent languishing in indie band Slow Club, Self Esteem has found her true voice, and we’re all richer for it. ★★★★☆
Which celebrities have been spotted at Glastonbury?
We’ve been doing a little bit of snooping around to see which stars have rocked up to Worthy Farm, there are a few of them around!
Louis Tomlinson has been spotted a bunch of times, including by TV presenter Jamie East, along with his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin and his longtime partner, actor Dakota Johnson, are also hanging around, and Paolo Nutini, who is definitely not not performing a secret set at 7pm this evening.
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