The famed Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts made its grand return last weekend after two years of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

First held in 1970, the British music festival has cemented itself as a leading cultural event in Britain, amassing an average of 200,000 people in attendance every year. Past headliners include British icons like Radiohead and Muse, as well as global juggernauts like Beyoncé and Kanye West.  

This year, the iconic Pyramid Stage was headlined by legendary Beatle Paul McCartney, hip-hop icon Kendrick Lamar, and singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, where the latter became the youngest Glastonbury headliner to date at just 20 years old. 

Other notable performances include Olivia Rodrigo, Lorde, beabadoobee, HAIM, Mitski, Jack White, and more.

Here are some highlights from this year's Glastonbury Festival.

Olivia Rodrigo and Lily Allen

Gen Z icon Olivia Rodrigo brought out British singer-songwriter Lily Allen as a surprise guest on her set, and the two shared the stage with a feisty performance of Allen's 2009 anthem 'F*** You'. "I'm sharing the stage with Lily, which is the biggest dream come true ever." Rodrigo says as she introduces Allen with a big smile. She then shifts gears to explain the deliberate intention of her song choice.

"The Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade, which is a law that ensures a woman's right to a safe abortion and other basic human rights. And I'm devastated and terrified, and so many women and so many girls are going to die because of this. I wanted to dedicate this next song to the five members of the Supreme Court who have shown us that, at the end of the day, they truly don't give a sh*t about freedom. This song goes out to the Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and Brett Kavanaugh. We hate you." Rodrigo elaborates.

Griff

21-year-old Chinese-Jamaican singer Griff made her Glastonbury debut with an intimate 10-track set, before closing it off with her hit 'Black Hole' which prompted a huge sing-along amongst the audience. 

Kendrick Lamar

Following the release of his acclaimed fifth album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, the 'HUMBLE.' hitmaker took on the Pyramid Stage donning a diamond-encrusted crown of thorns and fake blood dripping from his forehead. He concluded his set by chanting “They judge you, they judged Christ, godspeed for women’s rights” repeatedly, as his voice becomes more charged with passion.

Billie Eilish

While currently on a world tour, Billie Eilish took some time off her European leg to become the youngest headliner in Glastonbury history. Headlining the second night of the festival, the 'Happier Than Ever' act rocked the crowd with familiar tunes like 'when the party's over' and 'bad guy', but she was particularly striking in her performance for 'Oxytocin', where she commanded the crowd to jump with her in step to the song's pulsating beat.

Lorde, Arlo Parks, and Clairo

New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde flaunted her new bleached blonde hair, much to the surprise of fans. The 'Solar Power' hitmaker performed a collection of hits from her three albums, including the acoustic ballad 'Stoned at the Nail Salon', where she was joined by fellow female singer-songerwriters Arlo Parks and Clairo.

beabadoobee

22-year-old Beatrice Laus, or better known as beabadoobee, was another rising star who made her Glastonbury debut last weekend. Performing at the John Peel stage, the Filipino-British act delivered 15 songs, from old favourites like 'Coffee' to her new single 'Talk'. 

TLC

R&B legends TLC reunited on the Glastonbury stage to perform their 1999 single 'No Scrubs' much to the pleasure of the fervent crowd who knew every single word to the classic hit.

Mitski

Japanese-American singer Mitski charmed the Glastonbury crowd with her spellbinding choreography and crystal clear vocals. The 'Nobody' act was dripping with infectious energy, but arguably most enchanting in 'Washing Machine Heart', where she breaks out into dance in the middle of the song. 

Jack White

Jack White is no stranger to the Glastonbury stage, having previously headlined the 2005 festival as part of The White Stripes. The rock icon stunned the crowd with his striking blue hair and signature guitar riffs, and concluded his set with none other than the enduring stadium staple 'Seven Nation Army'.

Khruangbin and Leon Bridges

Heavily inspired by the soundscapes of Thai funk, Khruangbin put on a trippy and hypnotic set last weekend. The rock trio was joined by American soul singer Leon Bridges, where they performed their 2020 collaboration 'Texas Sun' to the roaring crowd.

HAIM

The girls of HAIM channelled their inner 'Summer Girl' and brought a ray of sunshine to the Glastonbury stage. Their electrifying set was met with rousing acclaim, proving that they are just as great as live performers as they are in the studio.

What was your favourite set from Glastonbury 2022?