Glastonbury 2023 – latest: Elton John says thank-you to festival audience after farewell UK performance
Rocket Man bids farewell as he played what could be his final live show in the UK, with a jaw-dropping, career-spanning set of his greatest songs
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Your support makes all the difference.Elton John performed what will go down as one of the greatest headline shows in Glastonbury history last night (Sunday 25 June), to one of the biggest crowds the festival has seen in years.
Lil Nas X was the final artist to take to the main stage before the 76-year-old at Worthy Farm, Somerset, after a joyful Yusuf/Cat Stevens entertained fans with songs including “Wild World” and “Father and Son”.
The revered folk singer-songwriter performed with his band in the coveted Legends Slot, a gig previously handed to artists including Lionel Richie, Kylie Minogue and Dolly Parton. He also gave superfan/comedian Ricky Gervais a shout-out on his birthday, before playing his song “Tea for the Tillerman”.
At 9pm, John launched his performance with some of his best-known songs, including his 1975 cover of “Pinball Wizard” and “Benny and the Jets”. From the moment he sat down at the piano, the show was a pure blast of euphoria from one of the world’s greatest living entertainers, with surprise guests including The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, and Gabriels singer Jacob Lusk.
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Lewis Capaldi review
Lewis Capaldi was seen struggling with tics during his Sunday (25 June) performance on the Pyramid Stage.
The 26-year-old Scottish crooner revealed he had been diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome last September.
While he continued with the set, and was enthusiastically supported by the crowd, he struggled to make it through the final songs, and ultimately ended up cutting his set short.
In his three-star review for The Independent, music critic Mark Beaumont wrote: “Early in his most iconic hit ‘Someone You Loved’ [Capaldi’s voice] collapses completely. But this is an emotion-charged singalong of everyman heartache that carries itself – as Capaldi roams the stage dejected, convinced he’s blown the biggest show of his life, 200,000 voices offer him support in one of the most moving moments in recent Glastonbury memory.”
Read more:
Watch: Spectacular fireworks bring close to Elton John's final UK performance
Arctic Monkeys accused of ‘butchering’ Glastonbury set: ‘Just play your belters!’
Despite receiving a full five stars from The Independent’s reviewer Jazz Monroe, Arctic Monkeys’s Pyramid Stage set on Friday night didn’t work for everyone.
The Sheffield band drew a mixed reaction from the Glastonbury crowd and viewers at home due to the lack of songs from their earlier albums, which include Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not and Favourite Worst Nightmare.
Louis Chilton and Tom Murray have the full report:
Arctic Monkeys accused of ‘butchering’ Glastonbury set
Sheffield rock band played a number of popular hits from their back catalogue, but many in the audience at Worthy Farm and fans watching from home were left feeling unsatisfied
Elton John’s farewell at Glastonbury breaks festival record for viewing figures
And if the conversation around Elton John’s set couldn’t get better, it has now been announced as the most-watched broadcast in Glastonbury history, raking in more than 7 million viewers across the BBC.
The viewership for his performance far beats that of Guns N’ Roses on Saturday (just above 1 million) and Arctic Monkeys on Friday (1.5 million).
Full report here:
Elton John’s farewell at Glastonbury breaks festival record for viewing figures
Billed as his final UK performance, Elton John’s three-hour set was watched by more than 7 million people on Sunday (25 June)
‘What a farewell’: Elton John’s thank-you after final UK performance
Elton John has shared a heartfelt message following last night’s headline set at Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage.
In an Instagram post on Monday, the 76-year-old star thanked the festival and the audience for taking part in his acclaimed performance, billed as his final-ever show in the UK.
“The energy last night was like nothing else, and I couldn’t be more grateful to the crowd and the people watching at home for all your love and support,” John wrote. “You will be in my heart and soul forever.
“UK, what a farewell. I love you,” he concluded, adding emoji of a hand waving and the Union Jack.
Lil Nas X review, Glastonbury 2023: Grammy-winner injects some needed oomph into a mostly sedate weekend
Lil Nas X returned to Glastonbury for a stunning set on Sunday afternoon.
Ben Bryant gave the Georgia rapper’s show four stars – here’s why:
Lil Nas X injects some needed oomph into a pretty sedate Glastonbury weekend – review
Lil Nas X lives up to his reputation for putting on exciting and inventive shows
Watch: Rick Astley, Lizzo and Guns N' Roses light up Pyramid Stage on Saturday
Watch the highlights from Glastonbury 2023
Here’s your speedy look at all the best bits from Glastonbury 2023:
Glastonbury highlights: Elton John’s last UK show to Lana Del Rey booed off stage
This year’s Glastonbury Festival has come to a close after the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Elton John descended upon the Pyramid Stage. Surprises were in store for hundreds of thousands of campers on Worthy Farm, with Dave Grohl and Johnny Marr joining the Pretenders on the Park Stage and Rick Astley became a fan favourite as he made his Glastonbury debut by showing off his drumming skills. Lana Del Rey’s late-running set ended with an acapella version of “Video Games” as the power was cut at midnight as she headlined the Other Stage. Elsewhere, Lewis Capaldi shared an emotional moment with fans when they took over singing as he suffered vocal issues.
Glastonbury cleanup – the results
Volunteers were on the Glastonbury Festival site early this morning to get Worthy Farm back in top condition.
Here’s how it started...
And here’s how it ended:
