Glastonbury day three, as it happened: Friday with Stormzy, Rosalia, Lewis Capaldi and George Ezra
Grime star became the first British rapper to headline the music festival in a set that featured appearances from Chris Martin, Dave and Fredo
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Your support makes all the difference.Stormzy made history with an explosive headline set on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2019.
The grime star became the first British rapper to headline the world-famous music festival on Friday 28 June, with a performance that included guest appearances from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, and fellow MCs Dave and Fredo.
As expected following an announcement by the BBC, Stormzy’s set was uncensored and included a stand-out line from his single “Vossi Bop”: “F*** the government and f*** Boris.”
Elsewhere, he sampled a speech by Labour MP David Lammy, who responded with a tweet: "Stormzy using his headline spot at #glastonburyfestival2019 to speak out about the injustice of young black kids being criminalised in a biased and disproportionate justice system. Humbled and inspired that he sampled my speech. Salute #Merky."
Stormzy also featured a gospel choir for his song “Blinded By Your Grace”, dance troupes, and a special shout out his fellow artists, from established grime pioneers such as Wiley and Skepta to future stars including AJ Tracey, Ms Banks, Yxng Bane and Stefflon Don.
“This is the greatest night of my entire life. Who’s got energy today?” he asked the thousands of people watching his show.
For his grand finale he closed on “Big For Your Boots”, the track from his Brit Award-winning, record-breaking debut album Gang Signs & Prayer.
The liveblog is now closed
See all the best pictures from Glastonbury here.
Anna Leskiewicz, one of our critics this week, has sent in this observation:
“Within five minutes of arrival I’d had three sightings of that British festival staple: a shirtless man, neck and forearms red as blood, chest and shoulders white as snow, barebacking a North Face rucksack. Also - and I blame Love Island - an extraordinary number of bums.”
Two Door Cinema club might have changed their dress style with those bright suits, but their ability to deliver a crowd-pleasing performance hasn’t.
The Northern Irish band have been a constant presence on the Indie music scene for over a decade, sticking to their winning formula of agile yet simple guitar riffs and melodious vocals courtesy of lead singer Alex Trimble. The crowd came alive as soon as "Undercover Martin” was cranked out, suggesting that they came of age to these peppy summer anthems. It’s one of the songs that, for me, will be forever be associated with passing my driving test.
Performing their hits against the setting midsummer sun, with flags gently wafting in the breeze... it’s the perfect festival tableau. If this is the life then who'd argue? (sorry)
Glad to see Gary Lineker is resisting temptation so far, although it is only Friday.
Latest dispatch from Anna Leskiewicz in the field:
“The utterly inexplicable gramophone on stage at George Ezra pumping out deliberately frazzled vocals unfortunately emphasises the more twee aspects of his brand - but by the time he’s pumping out brass-backed summer bangers like Paradise, I’m past the point of smug cynicism.”
The 24-year-old Ezra has taken the airwaves by storm, appealing to a Radio 2 audience in particular with his feel good tunes. His album Staying at Tamara's might have been dismissed as "unchallenging" by some critics, but it was the best selling album of 2018. There's not denying that this troubadour knows how to write an ear worm.
Lauryn Hill's sound issues, and her frustration, didn't go unnoticed by critics. It's never a good look when a reputed diva starts giving the sound crew stick. NME has flagged it in their review, and there have been gripes on Twitter about how the technical issues marred a mostly punchy performance.
Roisin O'Connor has weighed in on the incontrovertibly uncontroversial George Ezra:
"George Ezra is literally impossible to hate. He's just too nice. And not like an Ed Sheeran kind of nice, like "I'm just a normal bloke who you see hanging out with Elton John and 50 Cent". He's naturally down-to-Earth and completely charming, with a catalogue of uplifting pop songs that are perfect both for Glastonbury and also such splendid weather."
Here's Roisin O'Connor's take on Michael Kiwanka, "who's killing it over on the Park Stage, with funk-laden grooves and a superb band, recalling Kamasi Washington with the set's ethereal female chorus and sprawling, technically brilliant jams."
George Ezra's feel-good tunes are infectious, just look at the previously cynical Anna Leskiewicz for proof.
Stormzy is about to take to the Pyramid Stage for his history-making set as Glastonbury's first black British headliner. He's still found time to tweet about another success though: "CROWN straight into the Top 5 thank you guys and thank God, 2 singles in the top 5 and reunited with my brother Ed".
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