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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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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Dance break!
We’re treated to a fabulous performance from Lil Nas X’s dancers (soundtracked to Rihanna’s “S&M”) while the Grammy-winner pops off stage for a speedy wardrobe change.
“SUN GOES DOWN"
It’s hard to think of a more perfect moment for Lil Nas X to perform his 2021 hit “SUN GOES DOWN” than right now, as the Glastonbury crowd become awash in the warm orange glow of sunset.
Ok, wow...!
Rocking a gold chest plate and white fringed flares, Lil Nas X looks incredible as he takes the Pyramid stage by storm – and by horse.
It’s certainly one of the biggest, most elaborate sets we’ve seen this weekend with a group of dancers, a sculptural backdrop, a giant horse and a massive bird sharing the stage with the musician.
An emotional post from Raye who absolutely smashed her set yesterday
Any minute now...
Lil Nas X is due on the Pyramid Stage – and if the musician’s past shows are anything to go by, it’ll be a spectacular, show-stopping performance!
PSA: Caroline Polachek on at Woodsies at 8pm
If I were at Glastonbury, I’d soon be making my way over to the Woodsies Stage where Caroline Polachek is due to perform in approximately an hour.
Having seen the New York artist at Primavera a couple of weeks ago, I can confidently say Polachek will be putting on a brilliant performance, complete with stunning vocals and swoon-worthy choreography.
Spice Girl Melanie C has raised hopes the famous girl band could play at Glastonbury in the future, saying they “all” would like to perform at the music festival.
The singer, 49, took to the stage on Saturday night on the Avalon Stage, and speaking to BBC Radio 6 Music’s Matt Everitt, she responded to whether the Spice Girls would accept an offer to play the legends slot.
According to BBC News, she told Everitt: “All of the Spice Girls would like to play Glasto, that is the truth.
“Like I said to the audience (on Saturday night), doing a couple of Spice Girls songs, ‘a bit of a warm-up for next year?’
“They’re rehearsed, they know the words, they’re ready.”
“So, if I can drag the other girls along... I say ‘drag’ the other girls along - all of the Spice Girls would like to play Glasto, that is the truth.
“It’s just getting it together, the timing being right.”
The pop star, also known by her nickname Sporty Spice, added: “And it’s quite daunting, some of the girls haven’t been up on stage for years.
“But I think it’s, we call it (playing Glastonbury) the bucket list, because as an artist it really is the ultimate.”
Video footage shared on Instagram shows Mel C, full name Melanie Chisholm, performing some of the band’s hits such as 2 Become 1 and Spice Up Your Life on Saturday night.
In a separate interview talking to Huw Stephens and Arielle Free, on the BBC’s iPlayer channel, Mel C said of the band doing Glastonbury: “There are certain members of the band, most of them, who would jump at the chance. We would love to do it, the thing is when we do it - do you like that?”
“I’m manifesting - when we do it, it’s got to be amazing. We’ve not been out since 2019 when we did our stadium tour.
“So we need to be out there, we need to be doing shows, we want to come to this stage being on top form.
“So, we’ve got a little bit more planning to do before we get here... you want to be brilliant and for some of the girls they’ve not been on stage since 2019 so a lot of it is psychological as well.”
In 2019, the beloved girl band of Mel B, Geri Halliwell, Mel C, and Emma Bunton, and minus Victoria Beckham, got back together for a string of tour dates across the UK and Ireland.
It was the first time the Spice Girls had performed together since the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony.
If they were to play in the legends slot they would be following in the footsteps of this year’s performer, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, and other prolific music names like Dolly Parton, Kylie Minogue and Dame Shirley Bassey.
Press Association
And on the West Holts Stage
Jamiacan reggae and dancehall artist Barrinton Levy is wowing the crowd over at the West Holts Stage, where Candi Station and Rudimental are due to perform later tonight.
Rami Malek loves Blondie, too
Kate Hudson isn’t the only celebrity Blondie fan at Glastonbury this year.
Oscar-winner Rami Malek was also spotted in the wings of Debbie Harry’s stellar performance on the Pyramid Stage.
What’s the weather looking like?
After a threat of rain clouds over the Pyramid Stage earlier today, it’s looking like Glastonbury is in the clear with the Met Office reporting less than a five per cent chance of rain tonight.
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