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:
Fontaines DC can’t help but grin as the mosh pit broils up in front of them – five-stars
“My childhood was small, but I’m gonna be big!” These were the words promised on Fontaines DC’s debut album. With a steady build in the last few years and then one gigantic swoop of success following their No 1 album, this year’s Skinty Fia, the band have become just that. And on a hot Sunday afternoon at Glastonbury, the swarm of twitching fans who buzz around the Other Stage only serve to reaffirm it. A true showman, frontman Grian Chatten – wearing his usual Pogues T-shirt – throws his arms upwards to summon a cheer. The Dublin-formed group have landed a tough time slot, clashing with Diana Ross in the Legends Slot over on the Pyramid. It’s testament to their fearsome reputation as a live act that they’ve attracted such a huge crowd.
Now three albums deep, the five-piece have been at the forefront of the recent rock resurgence. They’ve also stubbornly resisted categorisation, instead defining themselves by Chatten’s sharp, observational lyrics and their intense, driving instrumentation.They throw out a few numbers from their 2019 debut, Dogrel, along with the sonically moodier, yet lyrically hopeful tracks of follow-up A Hero’s Death. Usually an unflinchingly cool collective, they can’t help but grin as mosh pits broil up in front of them. At the cue of “Jackie Down the Line”, a sea of sticky bodies bash into one another. Fontaines won’t be dying a death any time soon.
McFly’s set is packed to the rafters!
For a Noughties pop lover, there is simply nowhere else to be right now than at the Avalaon Stage for McFly...
Diana Ross fans defend her against ‘off-key’ criticism
We’ll die defending our queen!
Diana Ross fans defend singer after viewers complain Glastonbury set is ‘off-key’
Soul singer drew huge crowds for her Legends Slot at Worthy Farm
Feed your Glastonbury FOMO by checking out some photos from Worthy Farm...
For those of us not at Worthy Farm, here’s some photos from Glastonbury to really rub in the FOMO.
See all the best pictures from Glastonbury 2022
Fans are rejoicing as the world-famous festival returns to Worthy Farm in Somerset
McFly – three-star review
I know we’re living in an age of nostalgia, but even I (a former superfan) am shocked how big the crowd for McFly’s first Glastonbury set is.
You’ve got to give it to ‘em. Almost two decades since the sort-of-pop, sort-of-emo band burst into the scene with their debut single “Five Colours in Her Hair”, the four-piece have packed out the Avalon stage at Worthy Farm.
Things kick off, surprisingly, with “Red”, giving the band a chance to flex their live guitar skills. More rock-heavy deep cuts follow straight after: “Song for the Radio”, “Lies”. It’s some of their best material, but you can tell the audience is impatient for the hits. I think I might be the only person in a 10-metre radius singing along.
At least the band are self aware. “If you enjoyed that, we’re Mcfly. But if you didn’t enjoy that, we are Busted,” the crowd are told, before a rendition of “Obviously” that perks everyone up no end. A trio of crowd-pleasers follows: “All About You”, “Room on the Third Floor” and the band’s cover of “Don’t Stop Me Now”.
“Star Girl” gets the biggest reception for its eternally juvenile lyric: “There’s nothing on earth that could save us/ When I fell in love with Uranus.” Anything post-2008 falls a little flatter.
In short: a perfect McFly set for me, specifically. Others in the audience were left wanting more.
Lorde delivers the old-school bangers on the Pyramid Stage
Donning a blonde dye-job and pink tights, Lorde is on the Pyramid Stage delivering the crowd-pleasers! Tune into BBC iPlayer now to catch “Buzzcut Season”...
Lorde brings out Arlo Parks and Clairo!
Lorde has brought out Clairo and Arlo Parks for a group performance of “Stoned at the Nail Salon”!
“Shall we dance for our angsty 15-year-old selves tonight?!”
“Shall we dance for our angsty 15-year-old selves tonight?” Lorde asks the crowd before launching into her 2013 smash hit “Ribs”, which, yes, she wrote when she was 15!
Charli XCX teases Lorde special guest apperance
Another special guest may be on the way for Lorde’s set, with Charli XCX teasing a potential duet of “Royals”.
‘It’s a fever dream’: Glastonbury revellers celebrate the return to Worthy Farm
As the belated 50th anniversary celebrations of Glastonbury draws to a close, festival-goers, crew-members and artists share their verdict on the long-awaited weekend. Music correspondent Megan Graye reports from Worthy Farm
‘It’s a fever dream’: Glastonbury revellers celebrate the return to Worthy Farm
As the belated 50th anniversary celebrations of Glastonbury draws to a close, festival-goers, crew-members and artists share their verdict on the long-awaited weekend. Music correspondent Megan Graye reports from Worthy Farm
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