Glastonbury 2023: The first fans through the gates tell us what they’re looking forward to

Elton John performed potentially his final ever show at Glastonbury 2023, special guest Stephen Sanchez has revealed that the singer-songwriter changed his plans for the set at the last minute.The 20-year-old musician joined the ‘Rocketman’ onstage during his headline slot at the Pyramid Stage on Sunday (June 25) and the two duetted on his own TikTok hit ‘Until I Found You’.He was one of four special guests who joined the music icon on the night, and the show marked Sir Elton’s last scheduled performance of his mammoth ‘Farewell’ tour — which has seen him play over 350 shows across five years.Now, coming up to a week since the monumental set took place, Sanchez has revealed that he and Sir Elton were initially set to perform the latter’s hit 1983 song ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues’, but the decision was overturned by the pianist at the last minute.“We’d spent weeks [preparing for] that and then he came to see me and the boys at The Troubadour,” Sanchez said to Rolling Stone. “The week after, he just rang me and said, ‘Stephen, I’ve had a thought.

Sex Pistols guitarist Glen Matlock caught up with NME backstage at Glastonbury 2023 to tell us about returning to the festival to play with Blondie and his successful solo career.After being announced last year to appear on Blondie’s new album – the follow-up to 2017’s ‘Pollinator‘ – the punk veteran has also been playing with the art-pop icons for recent world tour commitments, performing to a huge Pyramid Stage on the closing day of Glastonbury on Sunday (June 24).Before he took to the stage, NME asked the bass legend if he could recall the first time he met the band.“I can’t remember exactly because I was probably really drunk and out of it, but I think I met them first when I did a for-one-night-only gig with Sid Vicious at the Electric Ballroom in ‘78 or ‘79,” he replied. “Blondie turned up as a band, and I think that’s when I met Clem [Burke] and Debbie [Harry] for the first time.“What I thought was quite sweet about them was that when bands go on tour and have a night off, everyone tends to filter off somewhere – but they always seemed to be out and about as a band.

Queens Of The Stone Age’s Glastonbury 2023 set has gone viral on social media.Queens Of The Stone Age took to the stage on the final night of Glastonbury 2023 this Sunday (June 25), and delivered one of the most explosive sets of the entire festival. The set marked their first performance at Worthy Farm since 2002, and saw them play hits such as ‘No One Knows’ and ‘Go With The Flow’.It was the closing track of the 16-song set that proved to be the highlight of the show, however, as Josh Homme and co.

Elton John‘s headline set at Glastonbury 2023 last night (June 25) broke viewing figures on the BBC, with millions watching across the UK.The legendary singer-songwriter played what seems to be his last ever UK show on Worthy Farm, bringing a hit-packed set to one of the biggest crowds the Pyramid Stage has ever seen.Now, according to overnights.tv (via The Independent), the set was watched by 7.3million viewers across the BBC, three times that which saw Paul McCartney headline last year and the most-viewed set on television in the festival’s history.The other two headliners, Guns N’ Roses and Arctic Monkeys attracted a viewership of 1million and 1.5million respectively.During the show, John was joined by Gabriels frontman Jacob Lusk, up-and-comer Stephen Sanchez, Rina Sawayama and The Killers’ Brandon Flowers, though rumours prior to the set included Britney Spears.Reviewing Elton John’s Glastonbury set, NME wrote: “Look at that setlist – it can’t be improved. As previously promised, the ending segment of the show saw “all hell break loose”. ‘Crocodile Rock’, massive.

Britney Spears fans have reacted to the singer’s rumoured guest slot with Elton John at Glastonbury 2023 not materialising.Ahead of Elton’s closing set at the 2023 festival last night (June 25), rumours had been swirling about a guest appearance, which would have been Britney’s first in five years and since her controversial conservatorship ended. The pair released a new version of ‘Tiny Dancer’ together last summer.Though John was confirmed to be joined by four special guests at his headline slot at Glastonbury, none of those ended up being Britney.

Sir Elton John performed what was set to be his last-ever UK show as he brought Glastonbury 2023 to a close.

Elton John remembered the late George Michael during his Glastonbury set on Sunday (June 25), on what would have been the Wham! singer’s 60th birthday.Closing out the final night of Glastonbury 2023 on the Pyramid Stage, John remembered “one of Britain’s most fantastic singers, songwriters, and artist”, George Michael.“He was my friend, an inspiration, and today would have been his 60th birthday – I want to dedicate this song to his memory, and all the music he left us with which is so gorgeous,” he said, before performing a powerful rendition of ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’.A picture of Michael appeared on the screens behind him, making for an emotional moment in the ‘Rocket Man’ singer’s set.#EltonJohn making a dedication to #GeorgeMichael on his birthday

Sir Elton John has left fans in awe with a stellar performance at Glastonbury as he took to the Pyramid Stage on Sunday night for a "special and emotional" show.

Lil Nas X ended his Pyramid Stage set at Glastonbury 2023 this evening (June 25) by welcoming Jack Harlow to the stage for a rendition of ‘Industry Baby’.The rapper gave the penultimate performance of the weekend on the Pyramid Stage before Elton John‘s farewell headline set.After kicking off the set with ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’, he ran through highlights from his debut album, also mounting a horse for ‘Old Town Road’.To close the set, he then welcomed Harlow to the stage for a rendition of their 2021 hit single.

Britney Spears’ Instagram has led fans to speculate that it’s another clue she could be appearing at Elton John’s Glastonbury headline show this evening.Yesterday (June 24) it was confirmed that John will be joined by four special guests at his headline slot at Glastonbury. The legendary singer-songwriter is set to perform his last ever UK show at the festival.

Texas’ Sharleen Spiteri has thanked Glastonbury’s Emily Eavis for being a “massive supporter of female musicians” during the band’s performance on the Pyramid Stage.The Glaswegian group took to the stage on Friday afternoon (June 23) to perform a career-spanning set. Towards the end of their one hour slot, Spiteri praised Eavis.“Not because she’s ticking a fucking box to put us on these stages, she’s putting us on these stages because she thinks we’re fucking amazing,” Spiteri told the audience.

Glastonbury Festival is officially underway, with all the action kicking off across the main stages from Friday, June 23.

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl was joined by his daughter Violet at Glastonbury 2023 today (June 23) to perform ‘Show Me How’ from new album ‘But Here We Are‘.Introducing his daughter to the Pyramid Stage, where the band performed in the mystery slot originally billed as The Churnups, Grohl shared: “My favourite singer in the world. This is a song I wrote for my mother, Violet’s grandmother.

Foo Fighters have taken to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2023, finally confirming that they are behind mystery band The Churnups.The band were one of several acts rumoured to be performing under the moniker The Churnups on the opening Friday of Glasto (June 2023).Foos frontman Dave Grohl was spotted backstage earlier today, with eagled-eyed fans noticing Arctic Monkeys stage gear in the background which appeared to confirmed that the picture is new.The band opened with ‘All My Life’, with Grohl telling the crowd: “All right motherfuckers, let’s dance!”“We only have one hour, so we’re going to try fit in as many songs as we can,” he added.The band also played a furious rendition of ‘The Pretender’, sharing: “Last time we played here was 2017, I don’t know how many of you were there but we sang that shit loud back then.”No introduction, just straight into ‘All My Life’#TheChurnups #Glastonbury2023 pic.twitter.com/rDIYUkypp5— Foo Fighters Archive (@FooArchive) June 23, 2023

Emily Eavis has revealed that Sir Elton John finally performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury is the event she is really looking forward to during this year’s festival, saying: "I think that’s going to be a very special moment for everybody." The Rocket Man singer, 76, is due to close the festival on Sunday night for what has been billed as the final UK show of his mammoth farewell tour. Not only that, festival-goers also get to enjoy performances from Arctic Monkeys, Manic Street Preachers and Guns N' Roses, as well as Lana Del Rey, Lizzo and The Chemical Brothers.

Dave Grohl has been spotted backstage at Glastonbury 2023, seemingly confirming that Foo Fighters are behind mystery band The Churnups.The band, who just released their acclaimed new album ‘But Here We Are‘, were one of several acts rumoured to be performing under the moniker The Churnups on the opening Friday of Glasto.The Foos frontman has now been spotted backstage standing with a pair of stage hands, with eagled-eyed fans noticing Arctic Monkeys stage gear in the background, which appears to confirm that the picture is new.Dave Grohl at Glastonbury right now

The Hives played an early set on The Other Stage at Glastonbury 2023 today (Friday June 23), pulling in the first massive crowd of the weekend.The Swedish indie icons were first on the stage, which will later see performances from the likes of Krept & Konan, Chvrches, Fred Again.., and headliner Wizkid.After opening with recent single ‘Bogus Operandi’ from upcoming album ‘The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons’, frontman Pelle Almqvist told the packed out field: “Put your hands up for The Hives. Looking good, Glastonbury.”Introducing ‘Walk Idiot Walk’, he said: “Ladies and gentlemen, it sure is a pleasure and privilege to be playing for you wonderful people tonight… or is it this morning?” After a brief pause, he continued: “Did you guys just wake up? We’d like to thank all the bands who warmed Glastonbury up for The Hives, and all the bands who will cool you down offer.”Noting the huge audience gathered, the frontman joked that there were “900,000 people attending The Hives concert. Never before has this happened in the history of man”.Best.

Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis has confirmed that Arctic Monkeys‘ headline set at the festival tonight (June 23) will go ahead as planned.The band cancelled their Dublin show scheduled for June 20 due to frontman Alex Turner dealing with an acute case of laryngitis, with fans then worrying that the singer would not recover for Friday night’s show.After Eavis said she was “confident” but that the festival had a back-up plan, it has now been confirmed by Emily herself that the Sheffield band will play Glastonbury tonight as planned.Speaking to Zoe Ball from the site on BBC Radio 2 this morning, she was asked about the worries over Turner’s health.“Now Arctic Monkeys, we’ve all been concerned about Alex, he’s had laryngitis,” Ball said. “And listeners have been messaging in asking will it happen? If it doesn’t happen, what’s the contingency plan? Someone has spotted a giant mirror ball on its way here.”“That’s a very good spot,” Eavis responded, before being asked about the status of the performance.

A mystery band will take to Glastonbury's famous Pyramid Stage on Friday night - and festival fans are in a frenzy trying to work out who it will be.

Elton John praised the Nova Twins in a recent interview ahead of their performances on the same day of Glastonbury.Speaking with BBC Radio 1’s Clara Amfo, John shared his adoration of the duo claiming that their energy “Could light up Sheffield”. He shared: “These girls rock my world. I’ve had them on the [Apple Music Radio] show, I’ve played their music, too.“It’s so wonderful, what they do.