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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Elton John review, Glastonbury 2023: The glitziest, most high-energy retirement party the world has ever seen
Maybe I spoke too soon
OK, so I love Arctic Monkeys - nowhere near as much as my colleague, Jacob, but a fair bit. But things have definitely slowed down to a somewhat sluggish pace, I think. We’ve had the hits, sure, but all relatively sedate renditions, perhaps with the exception of “Brianstorm”. I wonder if it has something to do with Alex Turner’s vocal chords still being on the sore side, but also, he does tend to switch it up at their live shows.
On to “Do I Wanna Know?”
This is shaping up to be one of the Arctics’ finest shows in years
I know we were all worried, but wow, what a spectacular return to Worthy Farm for the Arctic Monkeys. Perhaps there’s a slight strain to Alex Turner’s voice, but it’s barely perceptible as he croons his way around “Cornerstone” and “Arabella”, then hollers on hits including “Teddy Picker” and “Brianstorm”. The band are superb, responding to one another with near-psychic precision.
Royal Blood review, Glastonbury 2023: Rock duo’s chest-puffing doesn’t make up for these riskless songs
Two stars for Royal Blood’s Pyramid Stage set from Jazz Monroe, OUCH.
Sandwiched between a surprise Foo Fighters set and headliners Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood take to the Pyramid stage Friday night in second billing – a milestone, or stumbling block, for any great band. But the stakes are higher still for the West Sussex duo, as they emerge from an international incident at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Dundee, when singer Mike Kerr lashed out against a “pathetic” crowd that failed to appreciate their rock bona fides, before flouncing off stage with middle fingers raised.
The vainglorious outburst was rooted in the authenticity fetishism that is at the heart of every argument about rock’s supremacy – which explains its intrigue, and hilariousness, to a streaming-era audience that is broadly unfactional and genre-agnostic. Then again, in an age of asinine, media-friendly posturing, it was so uncalculated as to be almost admirable – a rare case of a band whipping up a PR storm, in these enlightened times, not by patronising pop-star women or consorting with far-right provocateurs, but through the old-fashioned medium of being a bit of a dick.
Full review:
Royal Blood’s chest-puffing at Glastonbury can’t make up for riskless songs – review
After Mike Kerr caused an international incident with his outburst at Big Weekend, he and drummer Ben Thatcher struggle to inspire devotion with their hefty riffs and shallow mantras
Sheffield’s finest due on the stage any minute now
Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured.
This was Sparks’s Glastonbury debut?!
I can’t believe this was Sparks’s first ever performance at Glastonbury, is that right?! That’s what Russell seemed to say just now. Twenty-six albums in, proving that you don’t have to achieve everything you want in life before you hit 30.
Read The Independent’s review of Arctic Monkeys’ latest album, The Car
We’ve got Jazz Monroe reviewing the Arctics’ set tonight, but Mark Beaumont, also on site, offered his take on their most recent album, The Car.
Have a read here:
Alex Turner’s persona gives Arctic Monkeys’ The Car its charm - review
Designed to reward deep listening, these songs mark the start of a post-song era, where form and structure give way to mood and imagery
Some time to kill until Arctics?
You’ve got about 40 mins before Arctic Monkeys take to the Pyramid Stage as Friday’s headliners for Glastonbury 2023. I’d strongly advise you - should you be watching from home - to switch over to the Park Stage where Sparks are playing an absolutely electrifying set.
Pink cowboy hats are the order of the day
Cowboy hats a la Britney 2003 and Beyoncé 2023 are a big style moment at Glastonbury this year.
Here are Jess 30, Sinead 31, Rhi 31, and Morwana 28 from Bristol, who coordinated their outfits for the weekend.
“It’s pink day today,” they say. And in homage to the ultimate Y2K couple, Britney and Justin, no doubt: “Tomorrow is double denim.”
Here’s hoping they can manifest Britney herself to join Elton on tkkhe Pyramid on Sunday, too.
