Glastonbury 2025: Skepta steps in for Deftones, Kneecap’s massive set and the biggest headlines from Saturday
Glastonbury’s busiest day, Saturday, is now over – from an eleventh-hour cancellation by Deftones to Pulp’s not-so-secret set, here are the biggest headlines from the day. (Scroll back further to see headlines from Friday.)
Saturday: Deftones cancel at the last-minute, Skepta steps in
Bad news came early in the day with Deftones unfortunately canceling their Other Stage performance due to illness in the band. But Glastonbury confirmed a replacement in the form of Skepta, who was on the farm after having performed a DJ set the day before. The grime don played an efficient. stripped-down 30-minute set that earned him praise for his ability on the mic.
Saturday: Pulp are Patchwork after all, Haim also play secret set
Two not-so-secret sets were confirmed and performed yesterday: The mysteriously named Patchwork were indeed Pulp, and Haim – who’d been dropping some heavy hints about their love for Glasto in recent weeks – played the Park Stage as a ‘TBA’ act.
Pulp began their much-lauded set with ‘Sorted for E’s & Wizz’ and ‘Disco 2000’, which the band first played live at Glastonbury in 1995. Haim on the other hand showcased their album ‘I Quit’, which was released over a week ago.
Saturday: Kneecap play most controversial – and most anticipated – set of the festival
Kneecap’s Glastonbury set was already the most controversial of the festival even before they took to the stage – the Irish rap trio had been dogged by calls to pull them from the line-up, with even British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Tory Leader Kemi Badenoch calling for their removal, and questions over whether the BBC would stream their set. (Michael and Emily Eavis defended their inclusion in the line-up, and the BBC said it would not livestream Kneecap’s set but would make it available on iPlayer afterward.)
At their set at West Holts – which was declared full-capacity half an hour before they came on – Kneecap hit out at their detractors including Starmer and Sharon Osbourne, played a new song and reaffirmed their solidarity with Palestine and the activist group Palestine Action.
Saturday: Bob Vylan and Amyl and the Sniffers stand in vocal solidarity with Palestine
Bob Vylan played West Holts before Kneecap did, and led chants of “death to the IDF” and “free, free Palestine” in their provocative set. Amy Taylor of Amyl and the Sniffers, too, spoke on Palestine during the Melbourne rockers’ set, as well as addressed AI and hit out at JK Rowling.
Saturday: Charli XCX burns down ‘Brat’ curtain, brings out Gracie Abrams for ‘Apple’ dance
Charli XCX headlined the Other Stage last night – in a brutal clash with Doechii at West Holts – and made a statement by burning down the massive ‘Brat’ curtain that has served as a backdrop to her stage production for this era thus far. But that may not mean that ‘Brat’ summer is over – in a parting message broadcast on the screen after her set ended, she wrote: “It wasn’t just a summer thing… it’s a forever thing.”
Charli also brought out Gracie Abrams to do the viral dance to ‘Apple’, a tradition at the ‘Brat’ shows where the camera focuses on one particular person to be the “‘Apple’ girl”.
Saturday: Ncuti Gatwa introduces Jade’s set
A year after her appeared on Jade’s single ‘Midnight Cowboy’, Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa made a surprise appearance at Worthy Farm to introduce “pop’s new crown princess” at her Woodsies set.
During her set, Jade played a few Little Mix songs, brought out Confidence Man to play a new collab and encouraged fans to chant “fuck you” to Reform UK, as well as “welfare cuts, transphobia, silencing protest, selling arms and justifying genocide”.
Saturday: Raye airs new music in her set
Raye was among the artists who previewed new music in their set, kicking off her evening performance at the Pyramid Stage with a new track and later playing a fresh song called ‘I Know You’re Hurting’.
Friday: Lorde plays ‘Virgin’ in full at Woodsies secret set
On Friday, Lorde released her fourth album ‘Virgin’ – and celebrated by playing the record in full in a secret 11am set at Woodsies that was packed to bursting.
“This record took me a lot – I didn’t know if I would make another record, to be honest, but I’m back here completely free,” she told the crowd at one point. Read NME’s 5-star review of the set and see our photos here.
Friday: Paul McCartney spotted on Worthy Farm seeing sets by Inhaler and Gracie Abrams
Three years after headlining Glastonbury, Paul McCartney was back on the farm – and was spotted checking out sets by Inhaler and Gracie Abrams.
Inhaler frontman Elijah Hewson dedicated their song ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’ to “the people of Palestine”, while Abrams performed a new song thought to be titled ‘Out Of Nowhere’ and a cover of The Cure’s ‘Just Like Heaven’.
Friday: Lewis Capaldi makes return to Pyramid Stage after premature exit in 2023
In 2023, Lewis Capaldi was unable to finish his Glastonbury set, leaving the Pyramid Stage early due to Tourette’s tics. On Friday, he made a redemptive return with a 35-minute set, getting choked up as he addressed the massive, vocal crowd. “Second time’s a charm on this one,” he said.
Friday: Olivia Dean confirms secret set while Robbie Williams quashes his rumours and Jarvis Cocker stokes more Pulp speculation
In other secret set news, Olivia Dean confirmed she’d be playing a surprise afternoon set at Strummerville – while Robbie Williams swiftly stoked and quashed rumours that he’d be a secret performer this year.
The popstar had shared photos of a plaque in the Glasto hospitality area that commemorated 30 years since he made headlines for partying with Oasis following his departure from Take That. However, he quickly poured cold water on rumours he’d perform, telling fans to go see The 1975, Busta Rhymes, Self Esteem, Charli XCX and Reverend and the Makers instead.
Jarvis Cocker also made an unannounced appearance yesterday, playing a DJ set to 50 people, further stoking rumours that Pulp are the mysterious band ‘Patchwork’ playing the Pyramid Stage on Saturday.
Friday: CMAT plays a massive set at the Pyramid Stage
It’s the summer of CMAT – the Irish alt-folk-pop artist played a huge set at the Pyramid Stage on Friday. “From her full-band line-dancing, bum slappin’ moves and effortless crowd control, she’s the everywoman people’s champion that Glasto needs,” NME wrote in our five-star review. “There’s nothing cooler than truly not giving a fuck, and [CMAT’s] a real one, oozing with confidence and abandon like she’s on a never-ending night out.”
Friday: Franz Ferdinand bring out Peter Capaldi and Master Peace
Franz Ferdinand brought out Peter Capaldi for a huge rendition of ‘Take Me Out’, while Master Peace joined the Glaswegians for ‘Hooked’.
Check out our interview with Al Kapranos, Capaldi and Master Peace:
Friday: Biffy Clyro cover ‘God Only Knows’ in tribute to Brian Wilson
Biffy Clyro played a storming set on Friday – one that included a tender tribute to the late Brian Wilson via a cover of Beach Boys’ ‘God Only Knows’, a song that soundtracked the first dance at Biffy frontman Simon Neil’s wedding.
Friday: Jorja Smith and Sampha join Loyle Carner on the Other Stage
Loyle Carner was joined by Sampha for ‘Desoleil (Brilliant Corners)’ and by Jorja Smith for ‘Loose Ends’ at his biggest Glastonbury performance yet at the Other Stage.
Friday: The 1975 wrap up with a headline set on the Pyramid Stage
The 1975 played their first and only gig of the year at Glastonbury as the Friday headliner. Matty Healy walked onstage with a pint of Guinness in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other, and the band launched into a set that included a nod to the Backstreet Boys and a cryptic reference to ‘Dogs’ that fans are speculating is linked to new music.
During the set Healy had wisecracks for the crowd about being “the best songwriter of my generation”, and urged fans to see Deftones and Charli XCX perform. He also said: “Use your platform. The people watching this might have a problem with the lack of politics at this or future shows. We don’t want our legacy to be that of politics, we want it to be that of love and friendship. There are loads of politics everywhere, we need more love and politics.”
See the full setlist and more details of The 1975’s headline set here.
Check back at NME for more from Glastonbury 2025
The post Glastonbury 2025: Skepta steps in for Deftones, Kneecap’s massive set and the biggest headlines from Saturday appeared first on NME.
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