Glastonbury 2025: Lewis Capaldi's epic return, Aussie stars and the death of brat

The Age

a day ago

Illusive masked performer Rajan Silva, performing as Glass Beams, presented a psychedelic set, while Sydney band Royel Otis belted out their hit covers of Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Murder on the Dancefloor and the Cranberries' Linger.
Organisers and UK prime minister condemn IDF chant
English punk duo Bob Vylan – who opened for Northern Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap – have been struck with widespread condemnation after leading their audience in a chant of 'death, death to the IDF' (Israel Defence Forces) during their set on Saturday.
The set was broadcast live on the BBC, but later removed from streaming, with the chant being described as appalling by both festival organisers and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Organisers said 'we are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday. Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.'
Police are investigating the performance for any potential offences.
Kneecap's set – which was almost cancelled after band member Mo Chara was charged last month with terrorism offences for displaying a Hezbollah flag at a concert – proceeded with more than 30,000 people flocking to the stage and ticket holders being turned away.
However, that was not broadcast by the BBC, which said it had made the decision due to the risk of impartiality guidelines being breached.
Glastonbury 2025: By the numbers
1,200,000 – pints of beer stocked across more festival bars
210,000 – full capacity of the festival
4000 – toilets
3972 – performers
1000 – acres of festival grounds
120 – stages
35 – minutes to sell out the festival
0 – plastic bottles sold on site
Charli XCX and the death of brat?
Could the brat era finally be over? Charli XCX opened her set with the burning of the now iconic green curtain that heralded the start of each concert performed since her album hit the top of the charts more than a year ago.
The set was not a total crowd pleaser, though, with many taking their criticism of the artist's use of autotune online. The singer took to X on Monday morning (AEST) to say: 'the idea that singing with deliberate autotune makes you a fraud or that not having a traditional band suddenly means you must not be a 'real artist' is like, the most boring take ever. yawn sorry just fell asleep'.
Lewis Capaldi makes his triumphant return
After a two-year hiatus from the stage, singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi returned to Glastonbury, performing a surprise set that was originally billed as a placeholder. At the 2023 edition of the festival, Capaldi – who has Tourette's syndrome – had difficulty finishing his set as he managed the tics that come with his condition.
The Someone You Loved singer described his set as 'the worst kept f---ing secret' when he appeared at the Pyramid stage to a packed crowd, after unofficial-looking flyers appeared across the festival the day before his performance announcing it.
'Glastonbury, it's so good to be back. I'm not going to say much up here today because if I do, I think I'll probably start crying,' Capaldi said.
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Lorde debuts album during secret set
Another surprise turn came from New Zealand singer Lorde, whose fourth album Virgin was released last week. Appearing on the Woodsie stage on Friday – a day after posting an image of the stage to Instagram – the singer played the entirety of her new album to fans who had barely had a chance to listen to it.
The singer thanked the audience for 'being here with us on the day that Virgin is born' as crowds were turned away from the overflowing field.