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Friday evening at Glastonbury 2019 – follow all the action live!
Friday evening at Glastonbury 2019: with Stormzy and George Ezra – follow it live!
(32 minutes later)
If you’re thinking Stormzy isn’t feeling the pressure of this headline show, then perhaps have a listen to the lyrics to The Crown in which he wrestles with his newfound position as the voice of black Britain: “I tried to be grateful and count all my blessings/But heavy is the head that wears the crown”
Oh here he is. From one Glastonbury headline expert to a soon-to-be other … Chris Martin is on stage taking it to church by playing the intro to Blinded By Your Grace on a keyboard. I wonder what tips he gave him as to how you get invited back? The pair sit on the piano stool crooning together. After George Ezra’s performance earlier, maybe the 90s “stool-rock” movement is back?
More fireworks and another cover, this time Kanye’s Ultralight Beam with the lyrics changed to reference “fallen soldier” Damiola Taylor and his South London roots. This one builds and builds to an epic crescendo
Stormzy gets his gospel choir to sing the chorus for his cover of Shanks & Bigfoot’s Sweet Like Chocolate. This is exactly the right time in the set to switch things up with a slightly silly crowd-pleaser
This is not a drill. History is being made in this moment.Make sure you're watching @Stormzy headline #Glastonbury2019 - you don't want to miss a second: https://t.co/8Js3LmwwwR pic.twitter.com/ASfGn1SJu7
Stormzy is now dressed top to toe in white for Cigarettes and Cush. How is he doing all this while I can’t even keep up with the typing?!
There’s a break and ... some choreography! Come on, who predicted ballet?
“Now there are ballet shoes to match all skin tones” reads the video screen as two black dancers twirl gracefully around the stage.
“This is the greatest night of my entire life. Who’s got energy today?” screams Stormzy before stripping it right back for One Track Freestyle.
The slightest of breathers and we’re on to First Things First. The video and lighting set up here is immense, the opposite approach to Kanye’s bold but ultimately disappointing minimalist approach in 2015.
Wife losing her mind at ‘South Norwood - West Norwood - Selhurst - Norbury - Croydon’ on the screens behind @stormzy for Know Me From
It’s Cold now. Stormzy performing the kind of exercise routine you can’t buy at Virgin Active. There are fireworks. And a line everyone at Worthy Farm probably agrees with: “So tell Boris Johnson, ‘suck your mum!’”
It’s Cold now. Stormzy performing the kind of exercise routine you can’t buy at Virgin Active. There are fireworks. And a line everyone at Worthy Farm probably agrees with: “So tell Boris Johnson, ‘suck your mum!’”
Wearing a union jack vest, Stormzy bounds on stage with energy levels turned up to 11. It’s Know Me From to open things and the crowd are singing back every word. He looks the exact opposite of nervous: “Oi Glasto, it’s only the fucking beginning!”
Wearing a black union jack stab vest, Stormzy bounds on stage with energy levels turned up to 11. It’s Know Me From to open things and the crowd are singing back every word. He looks the exact opposite of nervous: “Oi Glasto, it’s only the fucking beginning!”
From Croydon to Pilton ... Stormzy becomes the first British rapper to headline the Pyramid stage. Strap yourselves in, this could get epic (and sweary – they’re not censoring it). #merky
From Croydon to Pilton ... Stormzy becomes the first British rapper to headline the Pyramid stage. Strap yourselves in, this could get epic (and sweary – they’re not censoring it). #merky
Kieran speaks for everyone watching on TV right now
Jesus this is the most exciting film I’ve ever seen in my life why am I already screaming #Glasto19
And then of course there’s this from today ...
I feel my entire life has lead to this moment. Can’t explain or fathom what this all is but I am 100% sure this is all God and his favour. Giving him all the glory. Thank you to Emily & Mike Eavis for believing in me I can’t wait to see you and hug you both thank you so much ❤️
For Emily Eavis, this booking wasn’t so much a risk as a no-brainer:
When I saw him play the 2017 festival on the Other stage, I knew straight away that the next time he played he would be headlining the Pyramid. The reaction in the field was unbelievable. He’s got such a presence and the energy is incredible.
More Stormzy quotes to get you in the mood here from his recent interview with Dotty for Radio 1Xtra, in which he tells us what we might expect …
There were so many doubters being like, ‘Oh he hasn’t got no number one song’ or, ‘Oh he’s got one album out, he’s not ready’ … If you think you’re going to give me that Glastonbury 2019 headline slot and I’m not going to give you an incredible performance you’ve gone mad – you’ve gone crazy. I’ve never come here to play games. As a musician, I take that so seriously. I’m kind of done talking. There’s a build-up and this time round I’m ready… I got the album and we are going to show the world... exactly why I managed to get here in my career.
Stormzy: ‘Respect me like you would Frank Ocean or Adele’
Back in 2017, Stormzy told Miranda Sawyer on the Observer:
I don’t want to be the best rapper in the UK. I want to be the best artist in the UK. That takes my competitors from 20 people to 100 people, because now they’re indie bands, female singers, soul singers, legends, rock icons that I’m competing with. In my head I’m like, ‘Why can’t I compete with them? Why can’t Stormzy from south London do that as well?
Tonight he will become the first black British artist to headline Glastonbury festival. What a journey. This could get emotional
If you’ve spent all night watching the BBC coverage tonight then you’d be forgiven for thinking that Sheryl Crow was the biggest artist on the planet right now.
Over on the ITV2 stage, it looks like a few new lads are heading into the villa … sorry, got distracted! Besides we’ve no time for that, as BBC Two are back at Glastonbury with the build-up to Stormzy’s set.
It has the potential, I think, to be one of the all-time great Glastonbury headline slots. Yes Stormzy is a little short on material but he’s also big on charisma and connection, and that’s what you really need to carry a headline show like this. Plus, he seems to really “get” what Glastonbury is about and what it means to headline such a prestigious slot. We shall find out how he tackles the job in hand shortly …
Our verdict on George Ezra is in and it’s as thus: if he’s as rubbish as he seems why are we all having so much fun?
George Ezra at Glastonbury 2019 review – sunbeam blast of charisma
It’s safe to say that Jorja Smith’s vocals are slightly more impressive than Joe Talbot’s during his rendition of Someone Like You. She’s opened with Lost & Found and has gone for a “one leg in monochrome” look that more of us should consider adopting
Sat in the middle of the Venn diagram between “Idles fans” and “people who like sunsets”, Pip Blom blow up the little Crows Nest stage at the highest point of the Glastonbury site. Their ramshackle but highly melodic indie punk gads about with tongue-lolling energy, and sends a series of dads into raptures. It’s another great guerilla booking for one of the festival’s smallest but best stages, who only announce their lineup each morning; don’t miss Black Midi here later.
