Blog ≫ 2025 ≫ Glastonbury day 3
Being the final day of Glastonbury proper, the last of the days with a big headliner. Still one more day of Glastonbury tales to look forward to after this one though.
I started the day off seeing The Selecter on the main stage, more not very modern music. Didn't see very much of them, just enough to see Pauline Black being supporting of the NHS. Good on her she used to work for the NHS apparently.
It's really been too long since I was at Glastonbury to remember clearly. It's even been a day since I started writing this. Can the Sunday compete with my Saturday? We'll see.
I do know I was heading to see Nadine Shah early on on the other stage. I got there in such good time I saw Louis Dunford before. And he was good! A bit like if Danny Dyer was a singer. But good songs with stories.
I was in a GREAT position for the next act. As well as the barrier across the front of the stage there are two barriers going across the middle of the crowd near the front. Partly to stop crushing I think but also to provide access to the middle of the crowd in case of an incident. You can't go straight from front to back in the crowd, but you can go round the side and back in again. So while it was quieter I went in to the front section and found a spot to sit in front of the back barrer of the front section. Does it make sense? Should I draw a picture? Our internet is mostly down at the moment so it's hard for me even to access my pictures, but I will put a picture here of me sat in my spot leaning against the barrier:
... and then another one here of my view of the stage:
That clear view wouldn't last of course. Imagine if I had enough food and drink and a nappy on and I could stay here all the way through to The Prodigy? OK, I had no real plan to see The Prodigy this day, but they would be the headliners on this stage much later.
Nadine Shah good, better than I'd imagine from my friend's description. She was gently political too, same cause as Kneecap and Bob Vylan the day before but less abrasive about it. She has a band and they actually rock. Best bit for me was realising the backdrop was a Cold War Steve in progress. Two actually. I haven't confirmed this yet, but one of thme went from a picture of Gaza as was to a picture of Gaza with Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu on lounges being served drinks by Kier Starmer. Powerful stuff. I will look up if it was actually Cold War Steve when the internet is working again. I can put in my picture of the stage about here:
I can't access my memory aids for the rest of the day until internet is back, but among others I also saw;
The Libertines
The Libertines were great, they played about and they had a backdrop that was a recreation of their Margate hotel.
Rod Stewart
Enormous! He is quite the professional, it was like a big old Vegas show. He started with a couple of songs I don't know I think, but after that it was all bangers. I brought out Ronnie Wood, and Lulu, and also Mick Hucknall for some reason. Michael Eavis got wheeled on by his daughter, and I'm not sure Rod really liked that. I also think Rod didn't like everyone going on about Palestine either. I saw an old Scottish footballer watching Rod Stewart, and I've forgotten his name again now, but I texted a picture to my friends, and they got it.
Wolf Alice
I know I saw Wolf Alice, on the other stage, a bit of them anyway. Everyone says they're going to be headlining next time.
After this I went wandering, mostly to try and get out of the sun. I was walking round, it was hot, I needed shade. I was very close to seeing Brian Jonestown Massacre, but I found a shady spot in the Left Field tent, where I'd seen Billy Bragg before. It suddenly started filling up, like people know something big is happening, have I accidentally stumbled across one of the secret sets? But no, was just a popular band from Liverpool that I can't remember the name of now. I did not get out to see Brian Jonestown Massacre.
About here I went for a big walk up to the Arcadia bit of the festival, but at about dusk. I can't imagine what it would be like when it's busy, not too pleasant. But at this point, with the sun low the big old spider made out of a helicopter is quite impressive. The head contains a DJ booth which moves round. Without me putting a picture up here that's going to sound insane. I also went to the "Glastonbury On Sea" part, an actual pier with all sorts of seaside attractions. I got an onion bhajia around now too, probably the biggest single meal I ate this whole week. Three massive freshly made onion bhajias, about as big as my head.
Olivia Rodrigo
I thought I should have a point of view on the main headliners, so got in place to watch Olivia Rodrigo. I was not expecting to like her. She's very American, comes across as quite insincere, but is an absolute pro performer. And then it turns out she writes all her own stuff and she plays it too, piano and guitar at least. She's very good. Part way through she said she was bringing on a guest, and people around me squealed with delight. "If it's Lily Allen I'll just scream" came from one side, and from another "I think it'll be Robbie Williams". Olivia said "He..." and the Lily Allen side's mood went down as the Robbie Williams side went up. But she followed up with "is the greatest British songwriter" and my hears pricked up, could it be someone good then? And out comes Robert Smith! And he wasn't just there to strum along to to some of Olivia's songs, first they did Friday I'm In Love, and then they did Just Like Heaven! It was quite amazing, mostly as it was so unexpected. #MakeGlastonbury1995Again, thank you Olivia Rodrigo.
At the end of the Sunday I went back to the cider bus, and before shutting down for the weekend they all got up on the counter to dance. They were trying to start something that didn't quite work, but it was a nice attempt. This was my favourite spot of the festival. I met my work friend again, but she was not having anothe drink as they were heading home at about 4am, so I drank and danced a bit alone.