Key events
Over the weekend I’ve been working on my theory that Glastonbury is a bit of a nostalgia festival these days, especially for ageing millennials (hi). I think that’ll be in full effect later on when Avril Lavigne plays the Other stage: it’s kind of horrifying to realise that her debut single Complicated is 22 years old. If you need any reminding, you can catch up on her catalogue with Alexis’s recent Ranked here…
…and revisit my frankly torturous 2019 interview with her here.
The Zutons reviewed
Gwilym Mumford
Other stage, 11.15am
If you’re looking for a new iPhone alarm, you could do worse than Zuton Fever. Many a dishevelled, bleary head emerges out of a Glasto tent at the screeching riff of the Zutons’s unofficial theme tune.
The Zutons, who haven’t played Glastonbury for 16 years, are a more noisy, abrasive band than you may remember, with Abi Harding’s squawking sax bringing a power and sharpness to their bluesy rhythm section. Tracks such as Pauline and the insistent You Will You Won’t feel like a cold, invigorating slap at this time in the morning.
Obviously one song receives a cheer 10 times as big all the others combined: Glasto singalongs are a rarity before midday, but Valerie prompts one. The Zutons’ original is never likely to dislodge Amy Winehouse’s cover in most people’s affections, but its more energised stomp feels ideal for a big Other stage crowd.
“We were shitting ourselves about this,” admits vocalist Dave McCabe midway through the set. But, bar a few false starts for Pressure Point, they don’t look flustered at all. Instead there’s a tightness and synchronicity in keeping with a band who have been around, on or off, for more than 20 years now. A consummately professional – if noisy – way to kick Sunday off.
I’m going to need more than Berocca to mitigate against the infernal thud-thud-thud of Seasick Steve pounding over from the Pyramid stage.
And here’s Alexis on last night’s headliners, Coldplay, whose laser-heavy razzle dazzle made “Dua Lipa’s performance on Friday night look like the dernier cri in shy understatement”, he writes.
As Sunday gets going, revisit the best of yesterday from our crack photography team, who really have the hardest job of all of us in the Guardian Glasto team, hoofing around heavy equipment in often punishing heat.
Interlinked by Birmingham Royal Ballet reviewed
Ben Beaumont-Thomas
Pyramid stage, 11.30am
For any sore heads, jangled nerves and discombobulated limbic systems after what was a very big Saturday night out for many, no full-sugar beverage or shoulder massage will have matched what Birmingham Royal Ballet so beautifully bring to the Pyramid stage. Interlinked is a production from 2022, choreographed by Juliano Nunes, and inspired by “how the energy that we exude bounces from one person to the next, in a never ending circle” – ie an extremely Glastonbury vibe.
Luke Howard’s string-led score features a central melancholy octave-jumping motif that seems to mirror the dancers’ leaping and stretching towards one another. Large groups contract to pairs of dancers, allowing intense bonds to form before being folded into the group again, much like your average Saturday night at Glasto spent copping off with someone you’ve just met before blending your friend groups later on. And with men and women alike in flowing tulle skirts, Birmingham Royal Ballet have clearly got the memo about Glastonbury’s radically relaxed attitude to gendered clothing, while one male dancer has an impressively punkish amount of ink.
The dancing is exquisite – poised but not brittle, and so alive to the possibility of human connection. One of the best feelings at Glastonbury is that everyone here is reaching towards beauty in one way or another; towards the best of what humanity can do and be. This performance thrillingly embodied those values.
Let’s go girls!
Laura Snapes
Approximating the words of today’s legends slot: let’s crack on. It’s Sunday at Glastonbury (which seems to have gone extremely fast), it’s overcast outside, spirits are reasonably high in the Guardian cabin and I feel like I saw the sun rise far too recently to be up at this hour. We have reviews to come of the likes of Rachel Chinouriri, Janelle Monáe, Avril Lavigne, SZA and more. Absolutely no prizes for guessing who I’m most excited to see today (for the 38th time).