Music fans heading to the Glastonbury Festival are in for a treat with the promise of "dry, sunny weather" as the renowned Pyramid Stage comes alive on Friday. Despite a recent setback due to lead vocalist Alex Turner's acute laryngitis leading to the cancellation of their earlier gig, Arctic Monkeys are still billed as Friday's headliners.
As the festival enters its third day at the revered Worthy Farm in Somerset's Pilton, attendees can also look forward to a diverse range of activities including film screenings, theatre performances, circus acts, and a compelling debate entitled "Solidarity With Iran." Notably, this discussion will feature British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who endured a harrowing six-year imprisonment in Iran.
Kicking off this year's main stage performances will be The Master Musicians of Joujouka, an enthralling collective of Sufi trance musicians hailing from a village nestled in Morocco's scenic southern Rif Mountains. Throughout the afternoon and early evening, the stage will witness the enchanting melodies of singer-songwriter Maisie Peters, the rhythmic prowess of rapper Stefflon Don, and the commanding presence of Scottish rockers Texas.
Adding to the intrigue, a mysterious band called The Churnups is scheduled to perform, leading to speculation that they might be the Foo Fighters incognito. Following The Churnups, the stage will be taken over by the rock duo Royal Blood. However, the pair faced criticism earlier this month when lead singer Mike Kerr labelled the crowd at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Dundee as "pathetic" while defiantly raising his middle fingers.
Kerr later clarified that his intent was not to offend and described his sense of humor as "dry as MDF." If Arctic Monkeys indeed grace the main stage, it will mark the Sheffield band's third headlining performance at the festival, following their triumphs in 2007 and 2013. Unfortunately, their planned concert in Dublin's Marlay Park had to be canceled after Turner received medical advice to prioritize rest.
For those seeking an energetic start to their day, lockdown fitness guru Joe Wicks will be leading an exercise class on Friday morning. According to the Met Office, Friday is expected to offer festivalgoers a generous dose of dry and sunny weather, with temperatures peaking around 25°C, following a recorded high of 25.2°C in nearby Yeovilton on Thursday.
In a heartwarming moment that marked the festival's commencement, Glastonbury co-founder Michael Eavis took to the Park Stage, drawing cheers from the crowd. Emily Eavis, Michael's daughter and co-organizer, described it as a "lovely moment" that set the festival in motion. The 87-year-old Eavis, still recovering from a leg operation, was wheeled onstage in an office chair to perform a medley of classics, prompting hundreds to chant "Michael."
Speaking to the PA news agency after her father's performance, Emily Eavis expressed her delight, stating, "It was brilliant, wasn't it? That was such a lovely moment. It's really nice to see him here just to kick off the festival."
Among the festival highlights, Emily revealed that she is most eager for Sir Elton John's long-awaited debut performance at Glastonbury. The iconic singer, known as the Rocket Man, is set to close the festival on Sunday night, marking the final UK show of his monumental farewell tour.
When asked about her most anticipated moment of the weekend, Emily shared her excitement, saying, "I can't choose one thing. I think probably Elton coming after such a long time; a lifetime waiting essentially. And there’s a lot of significance to this show being his last and being Sunday night and the closing point of the festival.
“So I think that’s going to be really, really spectacular and a very special moment for everybody. Sunday night’s always an emotional night. Remember Beyonce or Blur? We’ve had some really incredibly epic sets on Sunday night and I think this is going to be incredible.”
The festival co-organiser confessed she could not reveal any of Sir Elton’s four surprise collaborators as she did not yet know who they were, adding: “Best kept secret, that one.”
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