✕CloseMosh pit erupts during Royal Blood's 2023 Glastonbury set
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Arctic Monkeys fans are breathing a sigh of relief after it was confirmed that frontman Alex Turner would be able to perform tonight (Friday 23 June).
The Sheffield-formed band are headlining the Friday at this year’s festival, marking the first time they’ve topped the bill on the Pyramid Stage.
Earlier today, Brighton-based rock duo Royal Blood performed on the main stage three weeks after their controversial gig at BBC Radio 1’s Biggest Weekend in May. Read Jazz Monroe’s two-star review here.
Meanwhile, US rock band the Foo Fighters were confirmed as mystery band “The Churnups”, as they raced onto the Pyramid Stage for a raucous set comprising their biggest hits.
Friday has seen performances across the festival’s various stages from pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen, avant-garde pop-rock duo Sparks, electronic band Hot Chip, rock duo Royal Blood, and Nigerian singer Wizkid.
The BBC is broadcasting the festival across all of its main channels, including BBC Radio, iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
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Royal Blood review, Glastonbury 2023: Rock duo’s chest-puffing doesn’t make up for these riskless songs
Two stars for Royal Blood’s Pyramid Stage set from Jazz Monroe, OUCH.
Sandwiched between a surprise Foo Fighters set and headliners Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood take to the Pyramid stage Friday night in second billing – a milestone, or stumbling block, for any great band. But the stakes are higher still for the West Sussex duo, as they emerge from an international incident at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Dundee, when singer Mike Kerr lashed out against a “pathetic” crowd that failed to appreciate their rock bona fides, before flouncing off stage with middle fingers raised.
The vainglorious outburst was rooted in the authenticity fetishism that is at the heart of every argument about rock’s supremacy – which explains its intrigue, and hilariousness, to a streaming-era audience that is broadly unfactional and genre-agnostic. Then again, in an age of asinine, media-friendly posturing, it was so uncalculated as to be almost admirable – a rare case of a band whipping up a PR storm, in these enlightened times, not by patronising pop-star women or consorting with far-right provocateurs, but through the old-fashioned medium of being a bit of a dick.
Full review:
Royal Blood’s chest-puffing at Glastonbury can’t make up for riskless songs – review
After Mike Kerr caused an international incident with his outburst at Big Weekend, he and drummer Ben Thatcher struggle to inspire devotion with their hefty riffs and shallow mantras
Roisin O'Connor23 June 2023 22:371687555689
Sheffield’s finest due on the stage any minute now
Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured.
Roisin O'Connor23 June 2023 22:281687554650
This was Sparks’s Glastonbury debut?!
I can’t believe this was Sparks’s first ever performance at Glastonbury, is that right?! That’s what Russell seemed to say just now. Twenty-six albums in, proving that you don’t have to achieve everything you want in life before you hit 30.
Roisin O'Connor23 June 2023 22:101687553712
Read The Independent’s review of Arctic Monkeys’ latest album, The Car
We’ve got Jazz Monroe reviewing the Arctics’ set tonight, but Mark Beaumont, also on site, offered his take on their most recent album, The Car.
Have a read here:
Alex Turner’s persona gives Arctic Monkeys’ The Car its charm – review
Designed to reward deep listening, these songs mark the start of a post-song era, where form and structure give way to mood and imagery
Roisin O'Connor23 June 2023 21:551687552747
Some time to kill until Arctics?
You’ve got about 40 mins before Arctic Monkeys take to the Pyramid Stage as Friday’s headliners for Glastonbury 2023. I’d strongly advise you – should you be watching from home – to switch over to the Park Stage where Sparks are playing an absolutely electrifying set.
Roisin O'Connor23 June 2023 21:391687551775
Pink cowboy hats are the order of the day
Cowboy hats a la Britney 2003 and Beyoncé 2023 are a big style moment at Glastonbury this year.
Here are Jess 30, Sinead 31, Rhi 31, and Morwana 28 from Bristol, who coordinated their outfits for the weekend.
“It’s pink day today,” they say. And in homage to the ultimate Y2K couple, Britney and Justin, no doubt: “Tomorrow is double denim.”
Here’s hoping they can manifest Britney herself to join Elton on tkkhe Pyramid on Sunday, too.
On Fridays we wear pink: Y2K fashion at Glastonbury
(Kate Hutchinson/The Independent)
Kate Hutchinson23 June 2023 21:221687550496
Always a fan of Ben Thatcher’s ridiculous drum solo
… the musical equivalent of a “ludicrously capacious bag”.
Roisin O'Connor23 June 2023 21:011687550112
Foo Fighters perform on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2023
Foo Fighters take to the stage at Glastonbury 2023Roisin O'Connor23 June 2023 20:551687549872
How to watch Glastonbury live from home
If you’ve someone managed to find our liveblog but not the BBC’s livestream of Glastonbury, well, here you go:
How to watch Glastonbury live on TV this weekend
How to watch the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Lizzo and Elton John on Pyramid stage
Roisin O'Connor23 June 2023 20:511687548013
Royal Blood take to the Pyramid Stage, with drummer Ben Thatcher sporting an Arctic Monkeys T-shirt
Here they are, the UK’s sulkiest rock band! Kidding, Royal Blood are sounding very good this evening, and no surprise. When they’re not throwing tantrums, I reckon they’re probably one of the best live bands around, and they’re proving that right now. I’m enjoying drummer Ben Thatcher’s Arctic Monkey’s shirt, more so than the cheesy schtick where he pretends to be intimidating. He’s actually very chill in person.
Those chugging riffs frontman Mike Kerr grinds out are going down a storm. I would have loved a few more women on the main stage (headlining, preferably), but I’d never say Royal Blood were a poor choice for this slot. So far they’re absolutely smashing it.
Royal Blood frontman Mike Kerr on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, Friday 23 June 2023
(BBC)
Roisin O'Connor23 June 2023 20:20
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