Glastonbury 2024: Celebrity cameos, secret sets and a 10-week-old star – the festival highlights from a brilliant year | Ents & Arts News
Glastonbury 2024 has come to an finish, with US singer-songwriter SZA closing the present on the Pyramid Stage following a spectacular weekend of celeb cameos, fireworks and crowd-surfing.
And music, in fact.
Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Little Simz, Shania Twain, Janelle Monae and Cyndi Lauper had been among the many large names performing, and that was simply on the primary stage – which is certainly one of greater than 100 throughout Glastonbury‘s huge Worthy Farm website in Somerset.
It has been a record-breaking yr. With SZA’s nature-inspired set on Sunday following Lipa’s on Friday, this yr’s occasion is the primary ever to characteristic two feminine headliners. And Coldplay have now headlined 5 occasions, greater than another act.
Let’s relive the highlights of one other weekend that confirmed precisely why that is the best pageant on the earth, from the primary occasions to the bits you might need missed.
Michael J Fox on stage, Tom Cruise backstage
Some sniffy corners of the web had been sceptical about Coldplay’s return to headline Glastonbury for a record-breaking fifth time, however on Saturday night time Chris Martin and co proved precisely why they’re excellent for this slot.
Their celeb followers actually appear to assume so. On stage, after appearances from different artists together with Little Simz, they had been joined by none aside from Hollywood legend Michael J Fox enjoying guitar for the tearjerker Repair You.
Behind the scenes, Tom Cruise was amongst these watching stage-side, whereas Martin’s associate Dakota Johnson additionally seemed to be seen on digicam.
Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis was additionally watching, and obtained a dedication ditty from the Coldplay frontman, who instructed him: “We simply need to thanks, as people go you are the most effective of all kinds. You are a musical charmer, you are the world’s best farmer. Whoever received knighted carrying shorts? Thanks Michael, we love you.”
The next day, Fox shared photos from the pageant on Instagram. “Oh yeah in case you had been questioning… it was f****** thoughts blowing. There’s a time for each band and a band for each time. That is Coldplay’s time.”
Dua Lipa joins the gang
Throughout her headline efficiency on the Friday night time, Dua Lipa defined to followers how she “manifested” the expertise, saying she had “written this second down… wished for it… labored so exhausting within the hopes that perhaps at some point I will get to do it”.
Greater than this, her want was particularly to headline on a Friday, “as a result of then I knew I may occasion for the following two days in the most effective place on Earth”.
Properly, we will affirm that for the Saturday a minimum of, the star did get to benefit from the pageant as a punter (albeit one with entry to a correct mattress and a bathe, in all probability). We noticed her strolling by way of the gang on the Different Stage forward of The Streets’ night slot, and later backstage within the hospitality space, together with her actor boyfriend Callum Turner.
Different celeb appearances
Ever because the days of Kate Moss in her micro shorts and wellies within the mid-2000s, Glastonbury has been synonymous with celeb recognizing.
This yr was no exception, with former headliner Stormzy, Maya Jama, Alexa Chung, Paul Mescal, Sienna Miller, Cara Delevingne, Leo Woodall and Anya Taylor-Pleasure among the many stars seen across the website.
Noel Gallagher and Dave Grohl (a shock performer a minimum of yr’s occasion) had been additionally reportedly noticed watching LCD Soundsystem stage-side, and Gallagher was later pictured with Belfast rap trio Kneecap, whereas Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett went to see Paloma Religion.
Russell Crowe was additionally on website – as a performer, not a visitor – along with his band Indoor Backyard Get together, whereas Idris Elba gave a speech on the West Holts stage to talk about knife crime and focus on his marketing campaign, Do not Cease Your Future.
Secret (and not-so secret) units
“It is Occurring! See you 6pm at Woodsies @glastonbury.”
It was presupposed to be hush hush, however with bookies and secret Glastonbury sources placing their cash on Kasabian being the massive shock act within the days beforehand, the Leicester band determined to spill the beans just a few hours forward of the present.
Their message on X was all of the affirmation wanted to deliver hundreds to the Woodsies Stage – so many, actually, the world was closed off nearly an hour forward of the group’s begin time as a mass of individuals tried to realize entry in sweltering sunshine.
Kasabian headlined the pageant again in 2014, so the tent was in succesful fingers. Theirs was the most important secret set slot – and featured crowd-surfing from frontman Sergio Pizzorno – however there have been quite a few others taking place throughout the positioning.
Plus, plenty of star cameos, corresponding to Mel C and Tilda Swinton becoming a member of Orbital, Sam Smith making an look with Disclosure, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor teaming up with Peggy Gou.
Mike Skinner for PM?
One other set that includes some energetic crowd-surfing, The Streets slot on the Different Stage was one of many highlights of the weekend.
Mike Skinner was out and in of the gang throughout a efficiency that embodied the spirit of Glastonbury, that includes hits together with Blinded By The Lights, Weak Grow to be Heroes, Match However You Know It, Dry Your Eyes and extra.
One fan on the entrance sharing messages on his cellphone managed to get them picked up by the cameras. “Mike Skinner for PM,” learn one, getting an enormous cheer.
Is it too late for subsequent week, do you assume?
Glastonbury’s youngest fan?
As DJ Annie Mac opened the Different Stage with a dance set on Friday morning, there was one fan within the crowd who stole the present.
Sporting stripey pyjamas and ear protectors, perched on prime of his dad Tom Kay’s shoulders, 10-week-old Finlay was met with cheers as he appeared on the massive display screen a number of occasions all through the set, with particular results turning his picture flip right into a hallucinatory visible.
“Oh my god, this child, what a bit legend,” Mac stated to the gang. She later signed off her efficiency by thanking “everybody, Glastonbury, and this child”.
Requested what suggestions they might give to oldsters considering of bringing their younger youngsters to a pageant, mum Rosie Lewis stated: “Do it – you may overthink it and it may put you off. However take extra nappies than you assume you may want and take extra vests and outfits than you assume you may want.”
She’s Nonetheless The One
In entrance of a sea of followers carrying cowboy hats, nation star Shania Twain carried out a “life-changing” set for the legends slot.
It has change into a Sunday afternoon favorite on the pageant, with stars together with Kylie Minogue, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton and Tom Jones filling it in earlier years.
And Twain revealed she had explored the pageant website forward of her debut efficiency. “This actually is a metropolis, it is a neighborhood,” she stated.
Political statements
Forward of the overall election, Glastonbury was certain to get political this yr.
Damon Albarn was among the many artists on stage urging music followers to vote subsequent week, whereas artists together with Charlotte Church made calls to “free Palestine” throughout their performances.
And an inflatable lifeboat that appeared hoisted into the gang throughout Idles’ set on Friday was later confirmed to be the work of artist Banksy.
The small boat was filled with migrant dummies in orange life jackets, and was criticised by James Cleverly, the house secretary, and deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden.
“Pageant-goers cosplaying as migrants, and celebrating the actions of individuals smugglers, whereas they occasion is terrible,” Mr Cleverly wrote on X, previously Twitter. “No matter your political beliefs, this is not one thing we should always trivialise.”
The boat appeared as Idles had been performing Danny Nedelko, a 2018 launch which begins with the lyrics: “My buddy is an immigrant, a gorgeous immigrant.” The band had been reportedly not conscious it had occurred till after the set had completed.
The boat additionally appeared above the gang throughout Lil Simz’s set the next day.
England v Slovakia courtesy of a 1D star
Formally, Glastonbury was not exhibiting the Euro 2024 sport, which began simply on the finish of Twain’s set and clashed with acts together with Nothing However Thieves, Janelle Monae and Avril Lavigne – however that did not cease these England followers who decided to see it.
At one nook of the pageant, close to to the Silver Hayes space, a crowd gathered round one fan who had arrange a flatscreen and a mifi unit to stream the match – who turned out to be One Path star Louis Tomlinson.
Others had been additionally noticed watching on telephones across the website.
It was very nearly a low-light, till additional time. Trailing 1-0 for many of the match, England had been saved by a Jude Bellingham equaliser in stoppage time, adopted rapidly by a purpose from Harry Kane in additional time.
Final score – 2-1 to England, who now face Switzerland within the quarter-finals.
Learn extra:
Coldplay joined by Michael J Fox for history-making headline set
Kneecap draw ‘headline-worthy’ crowd against the odds
How politics accompanies the music of Glastonbury
See you subsequent yr?
Followers will probably be happy to listen to organiser Emily Eavis is already in talks with some acts for 2025.
Talking to the Glastonbury Free Press, the pageant’s resident newspaper, she stated: “We’re taking a fallow yr in 2026 to present the land a relaxation, and the pageant earlier than a fallow yr is all the time a enjoyable one to plan since you nearly have to suit two years into one.
“We’re already in talks with some acts for it. It is thrilling.”
We’ll see you within the scramble for tickets in just a few months’ time.
