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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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:
Billie Eilish has the entire Glastonbury audience jumping
I bet the ground at Worthy Farm was trembling just then – Billie managed to get pretty much the entire of her Glastonbury audience bouncing up and down for a full song. Then to the dark and eerie synth bloops of “ilomilo”.
The worst Glastonbury 2022 set clashes
“Clash” is a word that can cause any Glastonbury ticketowner to break out in cold sweats.
When organisers first release the poster, which is fit to bursting musicians booked to perform at the Worthy Farm festival, there is nothing more fun then making a list of all the sets you plan on seeing.
But then the set times are announced, and you come to the crushing realisation that you may have to skip a few of your favourites.
The 7 most brutal Glastonbury 2022 set clashes (and possible workarounds)
Because it’s impossible to see absolutely everyone
Billie Eilish says it’s a ‘dark day for women in the US’ after Roe vs Wade ruling by Supreme Court
“Today is a really dark day for women in the US,” Eilish said, before a pertinent performance of “Your Power”, one of her best songs to date.
“Just gonna say that, because I can't bear to think about it any longer in this moment.”
Billie Eilish says it’s a ‘dark day’ at Glastonbury after Roe vs Wade verdict
‘Today is a really dark day for women in the US,’ Eilish said
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.
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
The complete set times for artists on the Pyramid Stage, Other Stage and West Holts Stage are below.
Glastonbury 2022 full lineup and set times by day
Festival returns to Worthy Farm with major UK and international artists
In case you were wondering....
Billie Eilish fans curious about Glastonbury headliner’s ‘leg tattoos’
Eilish has spoken about suffering from shin splints in the past
Sam Fender review, Glastonbury 2022: Radio-targeted, entry level guitar rock
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
It might not be quite the same as pulling on your wellies and getting lost in a giant field in Somerset, but there are still plenty of ways to tune into Glastonbury festival from home.
Live sets from Worthy Farm will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds throughout the festival, which runs from Wednesday 22 – Sunday 26 June.
Coverage will be brought to audiences by presenters such as Cerys Matthews, Clara Amfo, Dermot O’Leary, Jo Whiley, Lauren Laverne, Vick Hope and Zoe Ball.
BBC iPlayer’s dedicated Glastonbury channel launches on Thursday 23 June, presenting a four-day stream of live performances, preview programmes and more.
The channel will feature the biggest sets from the Pyramid, Other, West Holts, John Peel and Park Stages.
How to watch the BBC’s live Glastonbury coverage
Kendrick Lamar, Diana Ross, Billie Eilish and Paul McCartney are all performing at this year’s 50th anniversary event
Goodnight from me...
Here’s Mark Beaumont’s review of Billie https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/billie-eilish-review-glastonbury-2022-b2108804.html
And that’s all from me tonight folks, I’ll be back on tomorrow for Paul McCartney and much, much more. See you then!
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