Pop, Politics, and Pyramid Stage Stars Take Spotlight at Glastonbury 2024

Glastonbury 2024 came to a close on Sunday night, wrapping up a full weekend of live performances and discussions leading up to this week’s general election. The annual festival at Worthy Farm ended on a relatively high note, despite the usual complaints about the lineup, which organizer Emily Eavis has defended.

Some festival-goers criticized the selection of Coldplay as the headliner for a record-breaking fifth time, viewing it as an unoriginal choice. Additionally, SZA, who is more popular in the US than in the UK, puzzled some attendees. Dua Lipa’s latest album also fell short of producing blockbuster hits that could energize the Pyramid Stage crowd.

However, critics from The Independent did not share that negative sentiment. Reporting on Dua Lipa’s set, Jazz Monroe lauded the pop singer for her “cheeky theatricality” and her celebration of alternative culture. Lipa’s performance featured a “comically low-key guest” appearance by Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, who produced her latest record, Radical Optimism.

Mark Beaumont awarded five stars to Coldplay’s Saturday night performance, highlighting a surprise appearance by Michael J. Fox during a poignant rendition of “Fix You” and guest performances from Laura Mvula and rapper Little Simz.

Some performances were marred by sound issues. Shania Twain and Cyndi Lauper both encountered technical difficulties during their sets on the Pyramid Stage. During the Legends Slot on Sunday, Twain was seen adjusting her mic box and in-ears and gesturing to the sound crew. This issue was ultimately resolved by the enthusiastic singalong to “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” the closing song of her set.

Critics also pointed out that the Glastonbury organizers might have underestimated the popularity of some nostalgic acts. Pop-punk icon Avril Lavigne and Nineties trio Sugababes drew large crowds on smaller stages. Adam White noted Lavigne’s performance as a highlight, suggesting that Glastonbury could take lessons from overlooking the appeal of pop nostalgia while overestimating the interest in some Pyramid Stage performers.

Glastonbury, known for its left-leaning stance, didn’t avoid politics. Although MPs had to withdraw from the festival due to the upcoming general election on July 4, numerous debates transpired, focusing on issues ranging from climate change to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Musicians expressed their views more candidly. The rock band Idles led chants of “F*** the King,” and a small boat carrying models depicting young refugees—later revealed as a Banksy piece—floated over the crowd. Damon Albarn took jabs at both Joe Biden and Donald Trump while encouraging his audience to support Palestine.

Under gloomy skies on Sunday, Louis Tomlinson from One Direction became an unexpected hero of the festival. He brought a TV to the fields, allowing football fans to watch England’s Euro 2024 match against Slovakia. A BBC reporter enthusiastically called him “the god of this festival.”

The grand finale featured US R&B star SZA performing on the Pyramid Stage to a surprisingly sparse audience, as other major acts were scheduled on different stages at the same time. Nonetheless, SZA delivered a stunning show, even pausing to help fans in distress. Jazz Monroe remarked that although SZA is not yet a household name in the UK, she adeptly channeled heightened emotions, describing her as "too cerebral to raise the Pyramid roof but potent enough to eke out our last reserves of euphoria."

Source: The Independent, BBC