Glastonbury 2025: Lewis Capaldi, the 1975, and the top five moments from day one
A Glastonbury star is born
CMAT’s star-making set had the entire Pyramid hillside doing what must be the world’s biggest ever two-step shuffle. Her band dress like a pound shop ABBA to perform witty pop culture ditties like a country rock Pulp fronted by Ireland’s answer to Chappell Roan. It was glorious entertainment from a performer who knows what she’s got and seized her moment to show the rest of the world.
CMAT’s performance was one of Friday’s best - WIREIMAGELewis Capaldi brings the emotion
In 2023, the Scottish singer-songwriter was unable to finish his Glastonbury set, due to his Tourette’s syndrome leading to outbreaks of tics and vocal problems. He took time off to deal with health issues, but returned unannounced to complete his set. Capaldi was clearly emotional, the huge crowd that gathered for his comeback set at the Pyramid gave him the warmest of Glastonbury welcomes, and it was smiles, tears and singing all round. The skyscraper and sandpaper voice remains intact, and his by-the-numbers ballads hit all the right spots.
The Pyramid Stage crowd lap it up - REUTERSThe Search is over
Vintage Merseybeat band The Searchers drew what looked like the oldest audience in Glastonbury for their last ever show. The 1960’s hitmakers were once promoted as “the second best group in Liverpool” (you can guess the first). They may have largely been forgotten by a younger generation who still revere the Beatles, but they ended a formidable career spanning seven decades with a set of classic pop songs it would be hard for any of the other Glastonbury stars to match. Those 12-string guitars still rippled, and the crowd in the Acoustic Tent gave them a singalong send off.
Lorde of all she surveys
The first of Glastonbury’s not so secret sets was New Zealand pop superstar Lorde. They were queuing up the hillside all morning, and had to close off the Woodsies stage, where the 28-year-old demonstrated that she has the chops and the hits to headline much bigger spaces than this. My gripe would be that secret sets may add mystery – but not if everyone is in on the secret. In the end, wouldn’t it be better if artists were scheduled in spots with a capacity to accommodate their audience?
Lorde on the Woodsies Stage on Friday - PAAnd the 1975 bring a riot to the Pyramid Stage
The 1975 confused rather than commanded Glastonbury Festival, although that might well have been their intention. They are a post-modern pop group, so aware of the ironies, showbiz tropes and rock-star hypocrisies of the celebrity business that they want you to know they don’t take any of it too seriously… apart, that is, from their seriously impressive songcraft. I’m pretty sure there would have been people watching the BBC broadcast at home ready to throw things at the screen – but the band’s own fans sang along unperturbed by their heroes’ spectacular high-wire act, balancing precariously between pretension and sincerity, triumph and disaster. Read Neil McCormick’s full review here.
12:03 AM BST
That’s it for day one
Thank you for joining us for another corking first day at Glastonbury.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Rgiekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R10iekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframeCome back tomorrow for more live coverage – including the Pyramid Stage headline set from Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts.
Matty Healy and the 1975 were a highlight of day one - Joseph Okpako11:49 PM BST
No, politics, eh? That didn’t last long
Remember when Healy said the 1975 didn’t do grandstanding – oh, about ten minutes ago.
Well, that’s it is until this song, says James Hall. The freshly suited-and-booted boys performed their next song, I’d Love It If We Made It, they show clips of war, riots, dead babies, dogs being flogged, 9/11, explosions and marching armies in dictator-led countries.
Too much for me, dudes. Would be funny if it wasn’t so grim.
Fans during the 1975’s gig - ANDY RAIN/EPA/Shutterstock11:35 PM BST
...but at least he avoids politics
Despite all the “Free Palestine” chants this weekend, this set is a deliberately politics-free zone, reports James Hall.“We don’t want our legacy to be one of politics. We want it to be one of love and friendship,” says Matty. “We don’t need more politics, we need more love and friendship.”Personally, it’s nice to have a break from all that. With Kneecap and Neil Young tomorrow, Glastonbury certainly won’t remain politics-free for long.
11:21 PM BST
The energy crashes as... Matty Healy changes his trousers
There’s a massive mid-set lull, says James Hall. The gig’s energy has dipped massively after a couple of ballads and a punky number. Then a message flashed up on the screen.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Rh5ekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R115ekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe“Matty is changing his trousers.” OK. Then he came back on after a while and said, “Hi guys, sorry, girls are a lot better at quick changes.”
We’re back to the hits now. There’ll be a clear run of them for the last half hour, I hope.
Healy paused to change his trousers halfway through the set - Samir Hussein11:15 PM BST
Austin Healy
Matty Healy’s just climbed into a car that’s parked to the left of the Pyramid. It’s all lit up and he’s singing Somebody Else lounging on the back seat with a cordless mic. Nice touch, says James Hall.
The view from the mosh pit - James Hall11:00 PM BST
Healy’s a poet, you know?
The 1975 have pulled out all the stops with their set. A second oblong screen is under each big stage-side screen, and they’ve hung big screens along the sides of the stage to their left and right. The result is a much fuller visual vista. Musically, we’ve just had a snippet of I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys in one of the songs.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Rhiekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R11iekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframeMatty Healy claimed to be all nerves – “I know I’m a rock star but this is really scary and I’m really nervous” – but then he said this, appearing to fight back tears. “What this moment makes me realise is that I’m probably the best songwriter of my generation. A poet is what I am.”
Wow. Chutzpah. Then they played Chocolate. (Then he said he was joking about being a poet.)
“Sing your f–king songs, you kn–head.” Said the man behind me.
‘Sing your f–king songs, you kn–head’ - Jim Dyson10:53 PM BST
Loyle Carner has a healthy showing at the Other Stage
A healthy crowd has gathered for Loyle Carner’s headline set on the Other Stage, reports Poppie Platt. The south London rapper has won widespread critical acclaim – Mercury and Brit nominations, rave reviews – for his intelligent songs; finely crafted, thought-provoking musings on modern anxieties, pressures and dark realities that fuse the spoken-word delivery of hip-hop and grime with grand orchestral arrangements and jazz-inflicted tones.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Rhrekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R11rekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframeWalking onto a dimly lit stage, dressed in a casual hoodie, Carner’s confidence oozes out from the get-go as he breaks into opener In My Mind, from his most recent album Hopefully!
But it remains to be seen if the crowd responds well to such a laid-back sound crowning off their Friday night – especially when Matty Healy is busy annoying and offending every bore in Britain on the Pyramid (decidedly more fun, depending on your taste).
He’s also attracting quite the starry crowd, says Laura Robinson. The 1975 may be an indie band but if you really want to be alternative, you’ll veto the headliner for the Other Stage.
Smooth-talking London rapper Loyle Carner has pulled a solid crowd, including Emma Corrin, who I spot having a little sit down with a drink in the grass pre-set. Carner’s verses are slick, the band is jazzy and there’s plenty of room for moving and grooving.
Loyle Carner performing earlier this year - Matt Crossick/PA Media Assignments10:46 PM BST
They should really be called The 1985
There are so many 1980s references in the 1975’s music that I think they’ve got the decade wrong, says James Hall. Earlier we had Wham!-like pop, and now we’ve got a Duran Duran-esque number with a bit of Prince thrown in. It’s really slick and slinky so far.“How you feeling, Glastonbury? Welcome to the weekend,” says Matty Healy. Why thank you.
The band on stage - Neil McCormick10:28 PM BST
And the 1975 are on!
The lights go up on The 1975’s headline set and Matty Healy is holding a half-drunk pint of Guinness and a fag, reports James Hall.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Ribekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R12bekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframeThey’re very relaxed for the biggest gig of their careers.
The Pyramid Stage ahead of the 1975’s set - James HallIt’s a nice breezy start. No sign of nerves. But a fab sax solo instead.
10:18 PM BST
A scene from Handmaid’s Tale at The Park Stage
Wait. Is that Elizabeth Moss in full Handmaid’s Tale garb on the Park Stage? Nope – it’s Sheffield-raised Rebecca Taylor, better known as Self Esteem. Lauded for her incisive lyrics that cut to the messy core of the female experience and all its contradictions.
“If I’m so empowered, why am I such a coward?” She taunts on her set opener, alongside a chorus of fellow sisters in pilgrim dress. And the crowd? Big, stretching past the ribbon tower, and freshly refuelled on various shades of beige grease. They’ll need the energy to take in the next trick from this art pop diva — and brace yourself, she’s got a reputation for getting a little weird — off she rips the black gown to reveal a pair of black Adidas trackies, as she launches into the club banger-beats of 69, a track in which she lists her favourite sex positions.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Rikekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R12kekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframeFitting, as she performs next to queer bars Flick shack and Scissors. Call it performance art. With a BBC Music Introducing Artist of the year title under her belt and Mercury prize recognition, her punchy brand of art pop seems to be working.
Self Esteem - Oli SCARFF / AFP10:06 PM BST
A cinematic set by Gracie Abrams
When your dad directed Star Wars and your boyfriend is Paul Mescal, you’re already running with the in-crowd — but don’t mistake 25-year-old Abrams as the type to release vanity project tunes, à la Paris Hilton’s Stars Are Blind (never forget), writes Laura Robinson.What started with the now-25-year-old Abrams gaining a following on Instagram by releasing clips of her singing acoustic young-love confessionals has blossomed into a music career that’s earned her a 2024 Grammy nomination for Best New artist and opening slots for Taylor Swift and headliner Olivia Rodrigo on their stadium tours.Given her film connections, her Other Stage performance is fittingly rather, er, cinematic. The evening breeze ripples through her burgundy dress as she sings breathy tones into the mic — she looks a bit like a Victorian ghost.She’s a gifted vocalist with a clutch of catchy singalongs – but when she strays from them she loses the crowd. That’s not to say she doesn’t have her superfans: I spied a pair of school-age girls glued to the set, trying their hardest to peek backstage.
Gracie Abrams performs during day three of Glastonbury festival 2025 - Joseph Okpako09:56 PM BST
Spotted: one very proud (and powerful) dad
Poppie Platt: Spotted buying an Oreo ice-cream during Busta Rhymes’s set: Hollywood film director JJ Abrams – whose daughter Gracie just happened to have performed before Rhymes.Who knew Star Wars’ directors were privy to a wee stroll around Worthy Farm, no bodyguards in sight? (Was he LOST?)
09:45 PM BST
Busta Rhymes brings the party to the Other Stage
Glasto-goers have turned out in their droves for veteran US rapper Busta Rhymes: he’s pulled one of the largest crowds I’ve seen so far this weekend, writes Poppie Platt.Ranging from a fist-pumping cover of Queen’s We Are the Champions to his own Noughties club classic Break Ya Neck – with its infectious blend of Rhymes’s rapid fire MCing and sample of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Give It Away – it’s a fun set designed to get the party started.Which, given he’s going to be followed by introspective British rapper Loyle Carner (more into discussing mental health than getting loose) might just prove to be a slightly strange choice…
Busta Rhymes performs on the Other Stage - Jim Dyson09:29 PM BST
Biffy Clyro cover the Beach Boys
It’s pyros, power and preposterously hard-edged rock from Kilmarnock trio Biffy Clyro on the Pyramid stage, writes James Hall.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Rj9ekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R139ekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframeLead vocalist and guitarist Simon Neil, tattooed of torso and drenched in sweat, is giving it his all, with twin brothers James Johnston, on bass, and Ben Johnston, drums, providing meaty backing.
This is hard-edged music with depth and melody that happily strays from rock tropes: there are two violinists on stage, and Neil has just performed a beautiful rendition of God Only Knows in memory of Brian Wilson. It’s epic.
Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro performs on The Pyramid stage - Ki Price09:10 PM BST
Nothing beats a karaoke party
I’ve stumbled upon the UK’s last great Eurovision hopeful Sam Ryder, reports Poppie Platt, singing to a buzzing crowd in a tiny bar near the Park (after his impromptu performance on a Castle Cary-bound train yesterday).And there’s one fun quirk: he’s only doing covers, randomly requested by the audience. First up, a luscious spin on Etta James’s At Last; then came Michael Jackson’s The Way You Make Me Feel and Marvin Gaye’s I Heard It Through the Grapevine.New music is all well and good – but nothing beats a karaoke party packed with classics, does it?
Sam Ryder performing on the train yesterday - David Parry/PA Media Assignments08:53 PM BST
Why is Matty Healy so controversial?
James Hall explains why Glastonbury is ‘apprehensive’ about the 1975 frontman ahead of his performance tonight.
08:45 PM BST
‘F–k Keir Starmer’
So chant a particularly disenchanted group of young people for no apparent reason as they wait patiently in the toilet queue. What the Prime Minister has in common with the nauseating stench of unkempt porta-loos I don’t know, says Eleanor Halls.
08:36 PM BST
It’s been quite the first day...
Lewis Capaldi on the Pyramid Stage, Alanis Morissette tearing it up, and Jarvis Cocker playing to all of... erm, 50 people. (Talk about a secret set.) It’s been a superb, steamy first day at Glastonbury. How to cap it off?
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Rjvekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R13vekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframeAs the sun begins to go down on Worthy Farm, the chatter is all about Friday night’s headliners, the 1975, led by the “problematic” Matty Healy.
08:28 PM BST
The Searchers pull in Glastonbury’s oldest-ever audience
Vintage Merseybeat band The Searchers have drawn what looks like the oldest audience in Glastonbury for their first ever appearance at the Festival – and their last ever show, says Neil McCormick.The 1960’s hitmakers were once promoted as “the second best group in Liverpool” (you can guess the first). They may have largely been forgotten by a younger generation who still revere the Beatles, but they ended a formidable career spanning seven decades with a set of classic pop songs it would be hard for any of the other Glastonbury stars to match, including Needles and Pins, Don’t Throw Your Love Away, Sweets for my Sweet, Sugar and Spice and When You Walk in the Room.Only one original member was still in the line-up, 83-year-old guitarist and vocalist John McNally, proving you’re never too old to make your Glastonbury debut. Those 12 string guitars still rippled, and the crowd in the Acoustic Tent are giving them a singalong send off.
The Searchers at the Acoustic Tent - Neil McCormick08:16 PM BST
The Robbie and Rod show
Sounds like Robbie Williams will appear as a special guest of Rod Stewart on Sunday afternoon, along with Ronnie Wood, writes James Hall.
Someone who knows someone I know was told by someone who knows (really!) that it’s definitely happening. The question is, what will the Rod-Robbie song be? Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? Sailing? Stay With Me? Maggie May? I wrote earlier this year how Rod’s solo career paved the way for the likes of Robbie. And now they’ll take Glasto together (probably).
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Rkbekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R14bekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframeWant more Glastonbury rumours? We’ve already had two “secret” guests confirmed – Lewis Capaldi and Jarvis Cocker of Pulp – but who else is likely on the bill? Stay tuned here.
Rod Stewart - Christopher Polk08:02 PM BST
Is Matty Healy a problem for the 1975?
The 1975 are one of Britain’s biggest bands. But when CMAT closed out her Pyramid stage session this afternoon, with the reasoning that “the 1975 are coming on”, fans (who chanted “free, free Palestine!”) booed, reports Lauren Shirreff.
Will the band draw the huge crowd that we’ve expected? The views of cool young fans suggest otherwise, the problem being their “problematic” frontman Matty Healy. He has a history of making insensitive or offensive comments, or a habit of putting his foot in his mouth, depending on who you ask.
For David, 25, who lives in Clapham, that’s no reason not to turn out, but there are other places to go and enthusiasm is dampened. “I think he’s a bit weird, and his other bandmates must be like, why are you being weird,” he says. “But it’s not like he’s personifying their music, I think they’re fine overall.” That said, you might find him at Four Tet tonight, rather than at the headline gig.
Matty Healy of the 1975 - Scott Garfitt07:52 PM BST
Meltdown!
Keeping cool at Glastonbury when the weather is this warm is a full-time occupation, writes Lauren Shirreff. There is a 15-minute queue for cocktails (yes, including Aperol) in the backstage area.
The frozen margheritas have unfrozen. It’s incredibly busy, with many of those with the access opting to skip some major sets to stay out of the sun and in reach of booze. Seeing a lot of pink shoulders and heads. And tomorrow is set to be even hotter...
A woman with an ice-cream at Glastonbury - Yui Mok/PA Wire07:25 PM BST
Gracie Abrams pulls in the other headliners
Poppie Platt: I’ve just spotted popstar of the moment – and tomorrow night’s Other Stage headliner – Charli XCX backstage, walking from the direction of Gracie Abrams’s set.Drink firmly in hand, and incognito sunglasses on, Charli (as famous for her messy, party girl persona as her tunes) certainly didn’t seem to be “resting” ahead of her big Saturday night showcase.
And she’s not the only person in her household having a rather special Glasto. Her fiancé George Daniel is headlining the Pyramid tonight with his band The 1975. Just imagine their joint after-party!
Gracie Abrams performs during the Glastonbury Festival - Scott A Garfitt07:18 PM BST
Head over Feet for Alanis Morissette
Damn, Alanis has still got it. Not that there was any question – but sometimes these legend slots snap into focus that though they may live larger than life in our minds, our music heroes age too (Shania Twain’s Lyme disease-affected vocals last year were a reminder), writes Lauren Robinson.She certainly got the “play the hits” memo: opening with One Hand in my Pocket, the entire crowd is singing along – but even in our thousands, we’re no match for her clear, rich belt.Morissette’s hair-down, devil-may-care attitude and quick wit are perfectly suited to the demands of the pyramid stage. She’s on her knees ripping into a harmonica. She’s bopping around the stage with as much tomboy spunk as ever.Seeing two dudes get on shoulders and sing along into an inflatable microphone as this fiftysomething mother-of-three is bringing the place down is something to behold. If you’ve got tickets to the UK/Europe tour she’s currently on, you’re in for a treat.
Festival-goers watch a performance by Alanis Morissette on the Pyramid Stage07:11 PM BST
Dhani Harrison batters the eardrums
Somewhat ironically, Dhani Harrison’s swampy psychedelic rock in the so-called Acoustic tent is so loud it’s the first time in the whole festival that I’ve felt compelled to put my ear plugs in. Neil McCormick
06:48 PM BST
... and stars like Anya Taylor-Joy
The actress is enjoying the angsty anthems of Alanis Morrisette from side stage - do we think she listened to Jagged Little Pill on repeat to channel her inner rebel for her fiery role in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga?
It’s a shame Sunday night headliner Olivia Rodrigo is busy headlining BST Hyde Park in London tonight, as she’d have made a terrific special guest here, reports Poppie Platt.
06:46 PM BST
Alanis Morissette brings out the millennial crowd
Never trust a Gen Z… of course Alanis is packed, writes Laura Robinson. The crowd is a mixed bag, though notably erring on the millennial side. We’re talking cigarettes, not vapes.
Jagged Little Pill turns 30 this month and they’re clearly ready to light one up and celebrate in true 1995 fashion. Going to smell of eau de marlboro after this…
Alanis Morissette performing in 2020 - Rob Ball/WireImage06:18 PM BST
Pulp are at Worthy Farm!
It’s Jarvis! The Pulp frontman is doing a DJ set from the giant tree in the Greenpeace field, surely confirming that the mysterious “Patchwork” performing on the Pyramid tomorrow evening is his Sheffield collective. This really is a well-kept secret because there are only 50 or so people here.
He’s playing some belters: Love Is In The Air by John Paul Young and Kiss by Prince. Sun dappling, clouds skudding, good vibes. His crowd tomorrow will, one imagines, be somewhat larger.
Jarvis Cocker’s surprise DJ set06:06 PM BST
Margot Robbie, Benedict Cumberbatch... and a couple dressed as flowerpots
It can only be our Glastonbury picture gallery!
Too many words? To soak up the Glastonbury spirit without having to read tedious prose, or risk sunstroke, head on over to the Telegraph’s Glastonbury in Pictures.
It’s got everything. Well, if you’re definition of everything is celebrities looking sweaty and eccentric fashion.
Revellers sport handmade Glastonbury trousers - OLI SCARFF/AFP05:48 PM BST
£30 just to play Pool? Glastonbury is truly for the have-yatchs
The expense of Glastonbury is hardly a joke... but sometimes you just have to laugh. That’s certainly the case at Scissors, says Lauren Shirreff.
Scissors was a new addition to the map last year. Nestled next to The Park, it’s the perfect location for a chilled out boogie and mingle, perfect if you’re one of the LGBT+ partiers that the festival attracts every year (as this is aimed directly at the community). You might get a bit heated if you visited the Dyke Bar on site, however, given that playing pool on the bar’s tables means paying a £30 deposit. It would be extortionate even in deepest Hackney or Shoreditch.This despite hot criticism on social media this year: the acts performing at Scissors have not been paid, and have had to buy their own tickets, it was claimed on X. (Last year, by contrast, at least some acts received free tickets.)
Is this a sign that the area has not been as popular as was hoped? It was pretty dead when I visited on Friday afternoon, though a remix of Don’t Cha by the Pussycat Dolls (in Simlich, the language used in the Sims games, rather than English) did draw a crowd of security guards when it was interrupted by a fire alarm. Just part of the performance; the relief was visible.
05:35 PM BST
...and he brings them to tears
The performance is becoming a regular therapy session, reports James Hall. I just walked past the Lewis Capaldi set, he says. Everyone crying. A man the size of an ox is wiping tears from his eyes. What’s going on?
05:29 PM BST
The crowd are behind Capaldi
Capaldi’s big, emotional ballads are perfect mid-afternoon Pyramid fare, writes Poppie Platt, and because he’s a genuine hit-maker, the massive crowd actually knows all the words! (The same couldn’t be said for Shania Twain’s flat Legends Slot, equal in crowd size, last year…)
Grace, Hold Me While You Wait, Something in the Water, brand new single Survive – they’re old-fashioned tales of love and longing, brought to life in song by this most unlikely of figures: self-effacing rather than cocky, shy rather than sexy. But he’s a homegrown talent worth protecting.
“I’m not gonna say too much, cause I’ll probably start crying. But I can’t thank you all enough for coming out and seeing me… Second time’s a charm on this one,” Capaldi told the crowd. Met with cheers, applause and chants of “Ohhhh Lewis Capaldi”, it was evident every person in this field was behind him.
Capaldi wasn’t the only rumoured performer this year. Will Pulp, for instance, make an appearance? For all the speculation, check our Glastonbury rumours feature.
Lewis Capaldi performing at the Pyramid stage - Scott A Garfitt05:18 PM BST
‘I wanna bring someone special out’
Says Lola Young to excited applause. However the special guest turned out to be…. A naked inflatable doll. ‘Yeah, it’s me’, she shrugs, deadpan, before shimmying along the stage, doll in hand, for some romantic one-on-one waltzing as she sings new single I’m F–king Myself, writes Eleanor Halls.
And who said narcissism in pop was dead?
05:09 PM BST
Handing the baton over...
Hello virtual Glastonbury, this is Alex Diggins taking over from Catherine Gee, and seeing you into the depths of Friday night.
As a reminder, tonight’s headliner is The 1975 on the Pyramid Stage, on at 10.15. But before then, we’ve got Alanis Morissette and Biffy Clyro. Meanwhile, on the Other stage, it’s Gracie Abrams and Busta Rhymes.
The beauty, though, of Glastonbury is in the serendipity, so do stay tuned for all the wild and weirdness. Enjoy!
05:05 PM BST
Get the tissues out... Lewis Capaldi has taken to the stage
It’s been TBC since the line-up was announced, but the secret has long since out that Lewis Capaldi would be making his comeback today. And here he is.
Poppie Platt has informed us that it is absolutely packed.
“This was the worst kept f---ing secret. I don’t know who’s been f---ing telling people,” Capaldi joked as he took to the stage.
Lewis Capaldi on the Pyramid Stage - Leon Neal/Getty04:58 PM BST
Richard Tice confirms he turned down an invite to Glastonbury
The Green Party’s deputy leader, Zack Polanski said at a talk on Thursday that Richard Tice had been invited to debate him on stage at Glastonbury, but the deputy Reform leader had said no.
Now it has been confirmed that Richard Tice did indeed turn down the offer.
Lauren Shirreff writes: The opportunity was turned down as “my team concluded that it would not be safe”, he said in a statement. Would the Glasto team agree? An interview with Michael Eavis in the Glastonbury Free Press yesterday said that those who hate the weekend’s leftist slant should “go somewhere else”.
Elsewhere, Caroline Lucas, former Green Party leader and CND vice-president, took to the Pyramid stage to criticise the government’s stance on Gaza (before apologising for not being the special guest, Lewis Capaldi), reports James Hall.
“Our government is incapable of saying a word. It’s entirely clear, the evidence is there - there’s a genocide going on in Gaza today,” Lucas said.
“What is our government doing? Our government is continuing to sell arms to Israel… Our government is complicit in war crimes. It is time for the government to recognise the state of Palestine now.”
Shall we get back to the music?
04:37 PM BST
Another clue from Robbie Williams
Pop’s prominent mischief maker has revealed on Instagram that he isn’t performing at Glastonbury, despite being backstage. Do we believe him? I’m not sure we do.
Robbie Williams posted a message on his Instagram story - Robbie Williams/MetaFun fact: in the 1980s, a teenage Busta Rhymes spent a few months living with his aunt in the seaside town of Morecambe.
04:33 PM BST
Aaaaaarrgghh!
That was the sound of the world’s longest scream, according to indie Isle of Wight duo Wet Leg, who, halfway through their excellent set on the Other stage, insisted we all scream. I can’t say that the sun-drunk crowd put much welly into it – my neighbours meekly asked me if I had any paracetamol midway through – so the band stepped in by renewing the scream after the crowd stopped.
Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg performs on the Other Stage - Samir Hussein/WireImageFollowing the release of their debut single Chaise Longue in 2021, Wet Leg became famous so quickly that cynics assumed they must be industry plants. Formed by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers in 2019, they stood apart from their leotard-clad pop star peers with high-necked, floor-length white ruffled dresses, and their satirical, absurdist lyrics delivered in a deadpan monotone. “Is your muffin buttered? Would you like me to assign someone to butter your muffin?” remains a particular highlight. Their self-titled album went on to win two Brits and a Grammy, and their new album Moisturise, out next month, couldn’t come soon enough.
03:54 PM BST
Wet Leg fan? You’re better off watching on TV
At least, if you’re a Wet Leg fan and don’t much like queuing.
James Hall writes: Wet Leg’s set is going to be rammed. There is a queue of hundreds of people trying to get OUT of the backstage compound to the Other Stage to watch them.
Wet Leg performing on the Other Stage - Yui Mok/PAThe English rock band’s Other Stage set has just begun on the iPlayer.
For those who are of more advanced years, Jamaican singer-songwriter Burning Spear (Pyramid Stage) and Yorkshire indie band Shed Seven (Woodsies) are in the midst of some wonderful performances.
Poppie Platt writes: Shed Seven are happily catering to the nostalgia-seekers. The Nineties rockers, still riding high off the success of last year’s Number 1 album A Matter of Time (29 years after their debut!), are garnering huge singalongs with hits like Going for Gold. Unsurprisingly, given their demographic, there’s a lot of children and families present; I spotted one particularly cute little boy jumping along, decked out in a matching bucket hat with his dad. Britpop lives on.
03:35 PM BST
The asylum-seekers immersive experience is back
Lauren Shirreff writes:
I’m on a tour of Terminal 1, an art installation and bar that’s meant to simulate “the uncertainty, frustration, and disorientation” experienced by people seeking asylum in Britain, according to a press release. It first debuted last year, and – minus last year’s artwork from Banksy – it looks much the same. The space is decorated with the wreckage of Heathrow’s demolished Terminal 1, with a DJ deck fitted out as an advert for a perfume called “Go Homme”. There are border guards in red vests and international flags made out of old fabric (the Union Jack is a mash-up of different paisley prints, arranged on a white background).
The experience inside is pretty different, however. There is, as last year, an entry test, where partygoers have to correctly answer a question from the official UK Government Citizenship Test to get access to a bar and dance floor at the centre. (I was asked whether there is a single written document that makes up the British constitution – there isn’t). This part is hosted by Miguel Torres Umba, who curated this year’s installation, which has used his own experiences as inspiration.
Inside Terminal 1 - Lauren ShirreffAfter having my photo taken, I passed through to the security area, where a woman speaking Japanese shouted at me to take my shoes off. I only got them back after an airport-style scan and walking through a room filled with stones. The most impressive part of the whole performance came in the next room, which was set out to mimic an asylum hospital, where an actor desperately asks where his young daughter is. A show is then projected onto a tent, where the actor describes his family’s journey to Britain on a small boat.
Then came the last and most strange stage: my photos (but no one else’s) had been used to morph my face onto different women shown in security footage on a big CCTV board, using AI. Getting to the top of the building and some fresh air is a relief – but then there’s Richard (Dick) Tate, of B-GET Media, waving a microphone in your face and asking if you’ve brought enough loo roll with you on your journey.
03:23 PM BST
Elijah Hewson’s a chip off Bono’s block
“I’d like to dedicate this next song to the people of Palestine,” says Inhaler’s Elijah Hewson, AKA son of Bono, on the Other Stage. It Won’t Always Be Like This is the song. He’s a chip off the old block, isn’t he?
Elijah Hewson performs with the rock band Inhaler - Scott A Garfitt/InvisionInhaler are a fine band. And they drew a big crowd under a hot sun. But comparisons are inevitable. Forty years ago this summer, Hewson’s dad crossed over into the mainstream with U2 at Live Aid. Will this set do the same for Inhaler? Well, no, it’s not quite at those levels, don’t be daft. “One twist of the kaleidoscope and they’d be incredible,” says the man next to me. Still, this was an enjoyable set of impassioned, meaty rock from an exciting young band.
“Thank you. Enjoy the best place on earth,” Henson says as they wrap up. James Hall
03:08 PM BST
Yet more secret set-stress
I have just found myself turned away from the heaving Strummerville stage, where rising British star Olivia Dean is about to perform a secret set. Other disappointed festival-goers reactions included: “Jokes aside, why isn’t Olivia Dean on a big stage?” and “Why the f--- have I just bothered walking up this massive hill?!” Guess we’ll have to settle for the not-so-soothing tones of the Abba-loving karaoke singer wafting in from down the hill… Poppie Platt
03:00 PM BST
Fashion disasters, political hot potatoes and more
If you’d rather just look at pictures, take a look at our Glastonbury gallery that’s being regularly updated with the best of the festival.
CMAT performing on the Pyramid Stage - Yui Mok/PA02:28 PM BST
CMAT’s career-making set ends in a ‘free Palestine’ chant
CMAT, AKA Dublin singer Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, took to the Pyramid Stage in a retro blue plastic minidress and white boots and shades, looking like a cross between Barbarella and a giant Quality Street. Her dress says Dunboyne Diana on the back.
Her literate, sassy, sing-along pop, with a touch of Adele, a touch of country music and a lot of soul has gone down a treat, along with some she’s line-dancing with her band. There was even a “Bucks Fizz” skirt-pull. We’re getting it all here, folks.
“I have middle child complex, an amazing arse, and the best Irish rock n roll country band in the world,” the 29-year-old shouts. Her new album, Euro-Country, is out in August. She’s winning here. Maybe she should actually try Eurovision. She’d surely win that too.
“Stay safe and…. Free Palestine,” said CMAT at the end of her blistering set. “Free free Palestine, free free Palestine,” she and the crowd chant. Even this career-making set – and you could see her come of age on stage – isn’t immune from this most political of Glastonburys.
02:19 PM BST
A One Directioner, the wife of a former PM and a rugby star have been spotted in the crowd
Poppie Platt: The first celebrity I’ve spotted gallivanting around the site this weekend is One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson (and his new girlfriend Zara McDermott, influencer turned toast of the BBC documentary department). Fans might remember his appearance on Worthy Farm last year, when he went viral for carting in his own TV for his campmates to watch the Euros on.
And he just so happens to be camping right next to Team Telegraph. Here’s hoping I don’t drunk serenade him with a 1D anthem when stumbling home…
James Hall: Spotted at The Park backstage bar last night: wife of the ex-PM Samantha Cameron and actor Dominic West, plus former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio. I’ve always said that Glastonbury’s become a bit of a scrum.
Eleanor Halls: Kneecap were seen dancing at the backstage 24-hour “crew bar” Maceo’s last night, being very polite to enamoured fans.
And yesterday, Eurovision runner-up Sam Ryder serenaded a whole train carriage on his way to the festival. He’ll be performing on Saturday.
Sam Ryder on the train to Glastonbury - PAApparently, it’s all part of an “I came by train” campaign supported by Trainline, designed to help us lower our carbon footprint (and boost train ticket sales, no doubt).
02:04 PM BST
Is Glastonbury less feminist this year?
The festival has had a reputation for leftist and feminist politics since its beginnings in the seventies. But there’s an interesting split at Left Field in the attendees of a panel on feminism in the age of the manosphere: when asked by host Nim Ralph, half of the room say that they are there because they’re feminists, about a quarter say that they’re there because of what they’ve heard about Andrew Tate, and about a quarter say that they’re only under the huge tent to escape the heat.
Susie McDonald, from the organisation Tender, which promotes healthy relationships to children in schools, reads out an anecdote that united the room. A secondary school boy told her this month: “Women are born to cheat, and men are born to be powerful. It’s no wonder that some men kill women when so many of them cheat.”
We “at least need to try” a ban on smartphones for under 16s, says McDonald. “Like the infected blood scandal, there will be a generation of adults who say that their mental health has been ruined because we gave them a poisoned chalice.” It’s strong stuff. There are some serious conversations happening among all the fun.
01:56 PM BST
Glastonbury goers are already flagging – in the best way
James Hall writes, the Pyramid stage crowd is peppered with flags, as usual.
Some fun ones I’ve seen:
• Gerald Cooper from Clarkson’s Farm. The mumbling fellow’s legend grows. “Ought to right then check witcha woof I’m thinking for, OK.”
• “I’m broke but I’m happy.” An Alanis Morissette lyric, but also perhaps a reflection on how festival-goers feel about the economy (or Glasto tickets themselves, which are almost £400 a pop)
• Bob Mortimer. A simple picture of the comic. Shhhhh.
• “Bring back Ceefax.” OK.
Gerald Cooper from Clarkson’s Farm has made it - James Hall
Alanis Morissette too - James Hall
Gone Fishing fans assemble - James Hall01:33 PM BST
Lewis Capaldi looks set to make his big comeback at Glastonbury
In 2023, it was Lewis Capaldi’s Glastonbury performance that triggered his long break from music. At the peak of his career, his mental health was suffering and he’d been diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome. When his voice faltered during his Pyramid Stage performance, fans stepped in to sing it for him. It was a heartbreakingly sad moment, and he wisely took a step back from music to focus on getting well again.
Now, he’s back with a new song, Survive. And rumours are rife that he’ll be filling 4.55pm TBC slot on the Pyramid Stage today.
These posters have also been spotted around the site.
If it’s true, it’ll be an emotional return and one to keep an eye out for.
As Poppie Platt writes: It goes without saying, but the only downside of being one of the lucky few (well, 200,000) to get tickets is actually choosing who you want to see – because there’s simply so much choice. As we speak, there’s Brit Rising Star winner Myles Smith in Woodsies, funky duo Rizzle Kicks delighting crowds on the Other, and rising Irish country-pop star CMAT on the Pyramid (very jealous of my colleague James Hall at that).
I’m taking the “see a bit of everything” approach, but mostly holding out for the second secret set of the day this afternoon on the Pyramid – widely rumoured to be Scottish songwriter Lewis Capaldi. Here’s hoping – he’ll provoke a fabulous singalong.
01:21 PM BST
All star drama at Greenpeace
Letter Live on the Greenpeace stage drew the biggest celebrity gathering of Glastonbury so far, albeit they were all on the small stage. Simon Pegg, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott, James Norton and young star Bella Ramsey were among a cast of acclaimed thespians reading historic letters live to a small but receptive audience basking in extreme sunshine, while Greenpeace volunteers circulated trying to sign us up to protest climate change. It was really too hot to fret about the irony.
Simon Pegg, Bella Ramsey, Andrew Scott, Ambika Mod, Benedict Cumberbatch, James Norton, Paapa Essiedu and Caitlin Moran were among the readers on stage - Neil McCormickNorwegian star Aurora closed the set with a solo piano rendition of her moving song Through the Eyes of a Child, rising to the challenge of singing in tune while a band boomed and echoed from another stage playing jazz funk in a different key. In its own small way, the charmingly dissonant result expressed Glastonbury’s essence in miniature.Neil McCormick
01:09 PM BST
The Telegraph’s own Tim Stanley has had a shout-out
Ash Sarkar gave a shout-out to the Telegraph’s Tim Stanley during a panel (for more on the panel, see below). While she disagrees with him “on basically everything”, she loves speaking to him because “I know that he’s going to give me a run for my money in a way that improves my politics”. Least likely combo of the year! Lauren Shirreff
01:07 PM BST
Who wants to urinate in a bag?
Forgive me if this is Too Much Information, but I have found the best festival invention ever: the loo-in-a-bag. Originally designed in Japan for people stuck in traffic jams who are caught short, these grey bags are equally useful at 3am at a festival when the nearest loo is 300 tents and 3,000 hazardous guy ropes away.
The ‘emergency mini-toilet’ - James HallThe bag contains magic crystals (not the scientific term) that make the liquid rigid on impact. So no spillage. From Tokyo tailbacks to Glasto emergencies. Who knew? Here’s a picture of the “before”. I’ll spare you the “after”. James Hall
01:01 PM BST
Wet Grass? No chance
Supergrass lead singer Gaz Coombes performs at the Pyramid Stage - Andy Rain/EPA/ShutterstockThose cheeky Britpop scamps (and now middle-aged men) Supergrass have drawn a huge crowd as they kick things off on the Pyramid Stage. As rain hammered down last night, I feared Supergrass would have to form a supergroup with Wet Leg – Wet Grass – to better reflect the conditions. But the ground is bone dry and all generations are singing along under hazy blue skies. It’s 30 years since Supergrass’s debut I Should Coco came out. What with Pulp’s rumoured appearance tomorrow (and ahead with the Oasis reunion next week), there’s oodles of Britpop nostalgia around right now. No Robbie Williams as yet… Will his guest slot be with Rod on Sunday instead? James Hall
12:54 PM BST
Identity politics “needs to go in the bin”
“It’s a weird time to be on the left in the UK,” says Ayeisha Thomas-Smith, who is hosting a panel on what’s next for the left, with journalists Ash Sarkar and Gary Younge, and two political organisers from Merseyside and Wales.
“The left does not know how to talk to people it disagrees with, the left does not know how to change people’s minds,” says Welsh speaker Harriet Proterhoe-Soltani, who is very concerned about the upcoming Senedd elections. (The applause was hesitant.)
“Identity politics needs to go in the bin,” says Sarkar, who waits for applause and gets a single whoop. It’s about being “obsessed with yourself, obsessed with your victim status”, she says. People do cheer when she mentions Zohran Mamdani: “It helps that he’s incredibly charming and good looking” and that Andrew Cuomo is “possibly the worst person in the world”, says Sarkar, but she believes he could be a good model for success on the left in Britain.Lauren Shirreff
12:46 PM BST
And the first mystery guest was... Lorde!
The first mysterious TBC of the event was taken up by Lorde. Obviously, the secret was out long before she came on, so much so that an enormous queue of people assembled outside the tent, waiting to be allowed to run in and take their places.
The crowd patiently waiting to be allowed into the Woodsies tent - Poppie PlattPoppie Platt writes:
As expected, Lorde absolutely smashed her secret set in the tiny Woodsies tent. I’d been queuing for entry almost two hours in advance and was still nowhere near the front. Playing her new album, Virgin (released today), in full, its techno-drenched beats and themes of identity and self-discovery got the half-asleep crowd jumping soon enough. But it was closing bangers Ribs and Green Light that had everyone joyously singing along, arms wrapped around their (sweaty) best friends.
The sheer number of people who showed up for Lorde sums up an annual challenge for Glastonbury’s organisers: massive artist + small venue = great atmosphere (but potential crush and fainting fans)… or plonk singers on the Pyramid and let the chilled crowd mill around at their own pace.
The Woodsies tent (and surrounding field) reached capacity before she even came on stage, with fans desperately asking for water and one near me asking to be carried out to safety (or rather, the breezy outside area) by the stewards. Luckily, it turned out to be a great set – but safety is, as ever, a concern.
Lorde performs on the Woodsies stage - Samir Hussein/WireImage12:39 PM BST
Led By Donkeys set up a “Send them to Mars” wall – and it’s proving popular
Over in Block 9, there’s a massive mural displaying inmates of the “Mars penal colony”. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos (married this weekend) and Mark Zuckerberg get their own frames (as “far right extremist”, “tax avoider” and “spreader of dangerous lies” respectively).
Keir Starmer, Boris Johnson and Rupert Murdoch are among those on the wall - Lauren Sherriff
Donald Trump and Jeff Bezos also feature - Lauren SherriffThe main installation has Musk in a spaceship saluting, while his fellow prisoners enter the vessel. I think that’s Nigella Lawson at the back, with a white substance on the floor… behind JK Rowling (cigar and whiskey in hand); then there’s Nick Clegg, Keir Starmer, Boris Johnson, and Suella Braverman (with a protest sign: Down With Earth!).
American characters include President Trump, of course, but also JD Vance and Jordan Peterson. Liz Truss and Nigel Farage get prime spots at the front of the queue. “Send them to Mars while we party on earth,” it reads – I’m sure it would be one hell of a tense ride!Lauren Sherriff
A reveller stands next to a graphic by Block 9 and Led by Donkeys - Jaimi Joy/REUTERS12:23 PM BST
Will we see an appearance from Robbie Williams?
Robbie Williams has put a series of cryptic (ish) pics on Instagram about Glastonbury, leading to rumours that he’s going to put in an appearance. It’s 30 years since the former boyband member turned up here with peroxided hair and danced on stage with Oasis, pre-empting his departure from Take That.
Word in the fields suggests that he will appear as a special guest of Rod Stewart on Sunday afternoon, along with Ronnie Wood. Someone who knows someone I know was told by someone who knows (really!) that it’s definitely happening. The question is, what will the Rod-Robbie song be? Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? Sailing? Stay With Me? Maggie May? I wrote earlier this year about how Rod’s solo career paved the way for the likes of Robbie. And now they’ll take Glasto together (probably). James Hall
Hopefully this will produce more photos of Williams romping his way around the backstage area, a la 1995. There’s little chance of Oasis turning up this year but Lennon Gallagher, son of Liam, is apparently at the festival so perhaps they can recreate this infamous photo.
Liam Gallagher and Robbie Williams in 1995 - Brian Rasic/Getty12:17 PM BST
What happened on Thursday
The dispatches from the field have already been coming thick and fast. On Thursday, former Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa, Andrew Garfield have already made on-stage appearances.
From Lauren Shirreff:
Ncuti Gatwa came out to greet fans at a screening of The Importance of Being Earnest in a t-shirt penned with “queer past”. The actor formally came out as queer in 2023, after a great deal of speculation about his sexuality. Is he referring to his former role as the Time Lord, or his recent steps back from public work, such as hosting Eurovision? He didn’t give much away.
Meanwhile, hundreds of fans queued up to see actor Andrew Garfield speak at a full Pilton Palais cinema on Thursday afternoon, ahead of a screening of We Live In Time. “Isn’t this the best place in the world?” he said as the crowd applauded.
Andrew Garfield at the Pilton Palais cinema - Lauren ShirreffGarfield said he was there with “old school friends and people very important to me”, who he asked not to attend the Q&A as “20 people are going to show up and I don’t want to be embarrassed”.
He also reminisced on Glastonburys past: “I almost s--t myself at 4am on Monday morning because I’d taken too many drugs,” he admitted. “We shouldn’t be celebrating doing ourselves neurological damage, but it was a very short-lived period for me,” he added. Now he’s the “sober driver” of his friend group. It “still remains one of the best nights of my life”.
He said, too, that “I’ve never seen a fight at Glastonbury.” Could Saturday’s Kneecap set change that?
12:09 PM BST
How the blog works
If you would like a peek behind the newspaper curtain, here’s how the live blog works. We have six journalists (Neil McCormick, Eleanor Halls, Poppie Platt, James Hall, LA Robinson and Lauren Shirreff) who have been dispatched to the fields of Worthy Farm to send back reports, reviews, photos, videos and anything else they can rustle up. This may appear like a nice cushty job indeed, but I promise it is much, much harder work than it sounds, not least because Glastonbury festival is absolutely enormous.
Meanwhile, in the air-conditioned office of Telegraph HQ in Victoria, London, is me, Catherine Gee, and later Alex Diggins, keeping the blog updated, monitoring the pictures that come in from the press agency photographers, picking out the cream of social media, keeping a close on the TV, and adding our own updates.
We hope you enjoy our coverage of the world’s biggest greenfield festival.
12:00 PM BST
Welcome to Glastonbury on Friday
Most festival-goers will already be at least one day into their Glastonbury camping experience. But for us at home, it just begins. Coverage has already begun on BBC iPlayer. It’ll be on old-fashioned linear television from 7pm, across BBC One, Two and Four.
Today’s Pyramid Stage line-up is:
The 1975: 22:15 - 23:45
Biffy Clyro: 20:15 - 21:25
Alanis Morissette: 18:15 - 19:15
TBA (rumoured to be Lewis Capaldi): 16:55 - 17:30
Burning Spear - 15:00 - 16:00
CMAT - 13:30 - 14:30
Supergrass: 12:00 - 13:00
For the full line-up of the major stages, plus an expert’s guide of what to watch, click here
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