Glastonbury Festival Kicks Off with a Bang
The wait is finally over, and the Glastonbury Festival has begun. After two days of preparation, the main stage will open on Friday with performances by music stars such as Alanis Morissette, Wet Leg, Rizzle Kicks, Denzel Curry, Pinkpantheress, Loyle Carner, and Busta Rhymes.
The 1975 Headlines the Pyramid Stage
The day will reach its climax when rock band The 1975 takes to the Pyramid stage at 10:15 p.m. BST. The band, led by Matty Healy, has donated their festival fee for the show. This will be their only concert of the year, and fans are hoping for a glimpse of their upcoming sixth album, titled "Ghemb" (God Has Entered My Body).
Mystery Acts and Surprise Guests
There is also feverish speculation about the mystery act that will perform on the Pyramid stage. Lewis Capaldi, who has been on a two-year break from live music, is returning to the stage at the festival. He has a new single, "Survive," which was released on Friday at midnight. Capaldi had a difficult performance at Glastonbury in 2023 due to a combination of fear and Tourette’s, which made him lose his voice. However, he received great support from fans who helped him finish his set by singing along to "Someone You Loved."
Other Performances and Events
The Woodsies tent will also host a surprise guest at 11:30 a.m. on Friday. The venue, previously known as the John Peel tent, is dedicated to alternative pop and indie acts. Rumored performers include Olivia Dean, Jamie XX, Lorde, and Haim. The main stage will feature The 1975, while the Woodsies tent will host other acts such as Confidence Man, Eliza Rose, and BBC News Analysis editor Ros Atkins.
A Political Dimension
This year’s festival is expected to have a political dimension, with performances and discussions addressing political upheavals, conflicts in the Middle East, the climate crisis, and the rise of the right wing. Former BBC presenter Gary Lineker will be speaking in a panel titled "They’re Trying to Take Over the World." Lineker said the talk was inspired by the idea that "everything is being done to try to divide us." He added, "And I think when people can get together – because I think most of us are decent people – then a little more kindness in the world would go a long way at the moment."
The Festival’s Left-Wing Ethos
The founder of the festival, Michael Eavis, said he is standing by the left-wing ethos of the event, which donates a share of its profits to organizations such as Oxfam, WaterAid, and Greenpeace. Eavis said, "I think the people who come here are all about these things. People who don’t agree with the politics of the event can go somewhere else." Tickets for the festival sold out in just 40 minutes last November, before the lineup was announced. The majority of festival-goers arrived on Wednesday and were treated to an opening ceremony featuring theater and circus performers in front of the Pyramid stage. Others started their festival with a 5km "Ravers to Runners" race on Thursday morning, despite a heavy downpour. Thousands of night owls also enjoyed the festival’s nightlife on Thursday evening, when the dance stages opened with DJ sets from acts such as Confidence Man, Eliza Rose, and Ros Atkins.
