Over this past weekend, music adorers from across the world gathered at Worthy Farm in the U.K. for one of the biggest festivals of the year. Glastonbury Festival has always had eclectic lineups and this year was no different. Everyone from Dianna Ross to Billie Ellish all graced one of the festival’s dozens of stages, each bringing their electric live shows to life at the remote festival.
The original lineup was stacked, to begin with but as the weekend rolled on, surprises were popping up left and right. Between surprise sets and welcomed guest appearances, festival-goers were treated to some of the year’s most exciting sets.
Glastonbury wasn’t the only place for massive musical memories. Across the pond in the U.S. social unrest spilled over to concert venues and the new albums released Friday came to life. Green Day voiced their feelings on current events while Goose celebrated their new album.
Here is everything you missed this weekend.
Jack White Surprise Set
Jack White is no stranger to Glastonbury, he’s played sets with his bands the White Stripes and the Raconteurs and performed full solo sets. This year, White appeared almost out of the blue (pun about his freshly dyed blue hair unintended). He blasted on to the stage for a full hour set filled with classics and new material.
Father John Misty and Trey Anastasio Join Goose in NYC
Across the pond from Glastonbury, Radio City Music Hall hosted Goose fresh off the release of their new album Dripfield. To celebrate the release of the new material, Goose brought up some close friends to join the 5-piece band. Father John Misty joined them to perform Misty’s own track “I’m Writing a Novel” then came back out for the encore to cover The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows” along with Trey Anastasio where lead vocals were traded. The big meetup however was where jam present and future united as Anastasio joined the band for a 35-plus minute spin through Goose’s “Hungersite>Arcadia” – with Trey handling lead vocals on the latter, which might be the utmost sign of respect.
Paul McCartney Joined by Dave Grohl and Bruce Springsteen at Glastonbury
At 80-years old, Paul McCartney still has one of the most legendary and exciting live performances in the game. His set at this year’s Glastonbury was no different, McCartney was joined by Foo Fighters Dave Grohl and The Boss Bruce Springsteen. Each special guest came out to perform two songs, Grohl and McCartney dueted “I Saw Her Standing There” and “Band on the Run” while Springsteen came out to perform “Glory Days” and “I Wanna Be Your Man”.
Artists React to Roe V. Wade
Just before the weekend, The U.S. The Supreme Court overturned the pivotal decision of Roe V. Wade, which made it legal for states to outlaw abortion, and now over half of the country has decided to make it illegal for women to have safe abortions. Artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Megan Thee Stallion took time out of their set to blast the Supreme Court’s Decision. Kendrick Lamar dedicated his performance of “United In Grief” to the women who will be affected by this new ruling.
Pet Shop Boys bring out Years & Years’ Olly Alexander
In all their shiny, pop glory, Pet Shop Boys brought out hitmaker Olly Alexander to perform their collaboration “Dreamland”. The track was featured on Pet Shop Boys’ 2020 project Hotspot, the up-tempo dance record set the stage on fire and watching frontman Neil Tennant and Alexander come together for a full-blown dance party of a performance was such a treat.
What a moment ????@alexander_olly joined @petshopboys for this spectacular performance of Dreamland on the Other Stage.
Watch on @BBCiPlayer | Listen on @BBCSounds pic.twitter.com/S0e0QX1MFz
— BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) June 26, 2022
Billie Joe Armstrong Takes A Strong Stance
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong held nothing back during his appearances over the weekend. During a stop on their current European tour, the band projected a “Fuck Ted Cruz” banner to perform in front of. The band expressed their displeasure in how the Texas senator handled the mass shooting that took place in March at a local elementary school. Armstrong took it one step further and renounced his citizenship in the U.S. following the overturning of Roe V Wade.
And now for the really unusual…
L.A. Guns Guitarists Tracii Guns Performs from Backstage Bathroom
During a performance in Texas this weekend, veteran band L.A. Guns guitarists Tracii Guns had to play the show from a bathroom in the backstage area of the outdoor venue. Guns said his panic disorder was so bad that day due to the excessive heat that Texas was experiencing that day. Roadies helped set up an intimate setting in a backstage bathroom so Tracii could still fulfill his guitarist duties during the set. He did make an appearance at the end of the show to wave to fans and throw out his guitar picks.
