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:
What it’s like being a child at Glastonbury
My colleague Adam White has written a beautiful piece about what it was like to be at Glastonbury as a child.
“Born and raised in nearby Bristol, I first visited in 1994, aged two with potty in hand, and attended for the five years that followed. I have not been back since. But even if Glastonbury has changed hugely in the decades in between, it still exists as a joyous, creative paradise of jugglers, acrobats and enormous fire-breathing spiders for those lucky enough to experience it as a child. Enough to grant it an almost mythical hold over many of the children who have passed through over the years, like a soothing imprinton the soul.”
Read the full story here...
The earthy magic and lawless energy of being a child at Glastonbury
Adam White recalls the years he was more interested in seeing The Corrs than Courtney Love, and when the colours, noise and fire-breathing spiders gripped his imagination
Wolf Alice have made it to the UK after original flight from LA cancelled
Fans of Wolf Alice have been waiting with bated breath to find out if the band would make it to the UK to perform their Glastonbury show this afternoon.
Earlier this week, they issued a plea for help after a flight cancellation left them stranded in the US, quipping on Twitter: “Has anyone got a private jet in LA?”
Wolf Alice fans can now rejoice, because at approximately 9.45am this morning, the group posted a video on their Instagram story revealing they have arrived at Heathrow Airport.
It’s looking like they’ll make their set after all...
The magic of Worthy Farm
Live music and festivals returned a year ago, but Glastonbury 2022 is the major signifier that the post-pandemic party is back in full swing.
Read Mark Beaumont’s celebration of its return, below...
The emotional return to Glastonbury Festival
Live music and festivals returned almost a year ago, but Glastonbury 2022 will still be the major signifier that the post-pandemic party is back in full swing. Mark Beaumont explores the magic of Worthy Farm
An update from our Culture editor, Patrick Smith, who’s one of the 200,000 people at this weekend’s festival...
“Few weary bodies today, myself included... having gone to the Rabbit Hole, where Four Tet was playing.
“Off to watch The Libertines shortly; Ben Bryant will be reviewing. Drizzly start to the day. Here’s hoping the site doesn’t turn into a quagmire ahead of Billie Eilish’s headline set...”
Find out the latest weather forecast here and the full lineup for today here.
Foals are back to play Glastonbury tonight after a surprise set in 2019
I was lucky enough to watch this incredible secret set by Foals at Glastonbury three years ago.
The band have been sharing throwbacks to it ahead of their set at The Other stage later on...
Read our recent interview with the band’s frontman Yannis Philippakis here.
Our pick of the trickiest clashes - and how to work around them...
Tonight, Billie Eilish, Foals and Little Simz are all on at pretty similar times. I’m not even there and it’s making me feel on edge.
Take a look at our selection of the biggest clashes at Glastonbury this year – and ways that you can get to see at least some of the best sets...
The 7 most brutal Glastonbury 2022 set clashes (and possible workarounds)
Because it’s impossible to see absolutely everyone
Libertines open the Other Stage
Hello! I’m taking over the liveblog for the rest of today, let’s crack on!
The Libertines are taking to the Other Stage right now for what will undoubtedly be a typically rowdy set with Pete Doherty, Carl Barat and co. The band recently announced a 20th anniversary celebration for their debut album, Up the Bracket, so I’m sure we’ll be getting plenty of renditions of tracks from that incendiary record.
Zelensky shares powerful message to Glastonbury attendees
Ukraine’s president Zelensky just shared a powerful message to Glastonbury revellers ahead of the Libertines set on the Other Stage.
The Ukrainian leader, who is leading the fight against Putin’s Russian troops, urged people to put pressure on “all the politicians you know” to “help restore peace in Ukraine”.
“Spread the truth about Russia’s war,” he said. “Help Ukrainians who are forced to flee their homes because of the war.”
Clip shows Zelensky address to Glastonbury festival
Here’s a clip from Luke Newton at Glastonbury of that Zelensky address:
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