Glastonbury 2024
I used to do an annual review of the world’s greatest musical festival with gig ratings and everything, but reading through this year’s blog I realise it has become more of a diary to remind me why I enjoyed my Glastonbury week so much. In any case, here follows markontour’s Glastonbury experience 2024.
Wednesday
- Drones and fireworks
Wednedsay evening is for atching the crowds arrive from the Park Hill until sunset, after which we enjoyed the first Glastonbury drone show (those who followed the instructions to watch from the Pyramid Stage found it less spectacular btw), ending with big cheers as first a peace symbol and then Glastonbury was spelled out. Our group argued about whether or not the drone show meant that the usual fireworks were cancelled for just long enough that the debate was settled (as we stood up) by fireworks going off behind us. - HMS Sweet Charity
There a relatively limited options at Glastonbury on Wednesday night so markontour’s rule is that when you find something good, stay there. Thus all night dancing and drinking Mojitos at HMS Sweet Charity, a faux cruise liner at the bottom of the Park, followed by a pint in the Loving Arms crew bar when the ‘Lost in Music’ vibe finally switched to something heavier.
Thursday
- African Dance Class with Penny Avery, Humblewell Platform, The Park
Dancing is not one of my skills and I usually can’t keep up with the instructions in dance classes, but this was fun and I made it to the end. - Jayda G, Greenpeace, 9-10pm
The Greenpeace Stage was not nearly big enough for environmental scientist / DJ, Jayda G, and so her set was first delayed and then cut short to manage the crowds.. - Afriquoi, Croissant Neuf, 10-11pm
..so we headed for Afriquoi in Croissant Neuf, who delivered on their promise to fuse “Congolese guitar, Gambian kora and UK electronica”. - Gracie T B2b Shivum Sharma and Ahadadream B2B Nikki Nair B2B Raji Rags, Lonely Hearts Club, 11.45pm-3am
Someone told us there was a great secret gig at Firmly Rooted so we went there. It turned out to be so uninteresting that we’d been hanging around in the small crowd for 10 minutes before we realised it had started. But the dancehall/jungle DJ set next door at Lonely Hearts Club was fantastic!
Friday
- Shamanic drumming workshop, Humble Well Yurt, 12.30
Trance-inducing drumming, where the 20 or so participants were all basically encouraged to bang out whatever rhythms came to us, and somehow it all came together. - Squid, West Holts, 2pm
I’m really not sure how to categorise Squid. There was definitely a bit of shoe-gazy transcendence in this set, along with something closer to post-punk, but it was all brilliant. - The Mary Wallopers, The Park, 3.15pm
A big old, joyful Irish sing-a-long in the Park. Fantastic. - Liam Bailey, The Glade, 3.35pm
A chilled-out reggae vibe while I had a late lunch. Met the bass player up at Strummerville in the early hours. Must listen. - Billy Bragg, Leftfield, 9pm
I was only able to pop out from a bar shift for a few songs, but one of them was ‘Levi Stubbs’ Tears’, so I left a very happy Billy fan. - Idles, The Other Stage, 10.15pm
An incendiary set from start to finish. All high octane. A Banksy lifeboat raft surfed the crowd at one point, to draw attention to the plight of refugees seeking safety in Britain. - Fontaines D.C., Park Stage, 11pm
We legged it from our bar shift to make it for Televised Mind – their third song of the night, finding space near the front despite a big crowd. As intense as always and starting and finishing with incredibly strong songs from what is presumably a forthcoming LP – ‘Romance’, ‘Favourite’ and the brilliant ‘Starburster’. The biggest crowd reaction was, inevitably, for the raucous ‘Boys in the Better Land’ followed by the ballad, ‘I Love You’, although my favourite remains ‘A Hero’s Death’. - Coco Maria, HMS Sweet Charity, midnight
A very cool Japanese DJ playing Brazilian music – glorious - Dacrease, HMS Sweet Charity, 2am
Alongside Peggy Gou (see Saturday) as the surprise gift of Glastonbury 2024. A Dune-themed performance that was as weird as it was brilliant, with a beautiful female lead singer trying to stay in character as Timothy Chalament playing Paul Atreides. I particularly remember covers of ‘Leatherette’ and Kate Bush’s ‘Big Clouds’. - Will Skillz, Strummerville, 2am
Always good to end the night around the campfire at Strummerville, with Will Skillz DJ-ing for the first half hour or so.
Saturday
- Jamie Webster, Other Stage, 11.30am
One of the punters on our bar pointed out to me that, like him, half the crowd for Jamie Webster’s set were fellow Scousers. Really enjoyed his Billy Bragg / Frank Turner-esque style and about to buy an album or two. - Callum Bowie, Leftfield, 5.35pm
Scottish singer-songwriter whom I only caught for a couple of songs but intend to listen too properly now. - Lankum, The Park, 6pm
I only lasted one song at Lankum’s Green Man set last year and much regretted it, as everyone I know who stayed said it was the gig of the festival. This time I enjoyed a sit-down during the slow opener, and became more and more mesmerised at this Irish folk band gradually built up the intensity, including an entire song in solidarity with the people of Palestine. 5 out of 5. - Little Simz, 7.45pm, Pyramid Stage
Oh wow! How Little Simz has grown in performance stature. This was good enough to be a headline set, starting with the rapper alone on the massive Pyramid stage and commanding it, telling us she is great and we are too, later to be joined by dancers in futuristic motorbike helmets, along with her band. ‘Gorilla’ was a brilliant closer. - The Streets, The Other Stage, 8.30pm
I only caught the end of the set, including a convoluted attempt by the singer to surf out to a Streets flag and then get every other flag holder to hold still their pole while he waved his..But ‘Dry Your Eyes’ was so, so beautiful. - Peggy Gou, The Park, 11pm
Without doubt the big surprise of the festival and thanks to my Korean friend for recommending our group attend this cracking DJ set by her compatriot, featuring a brilliant cameo by Sophie Ellis-Bextor for Peggy’s remix of ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’. Joyful. - Kneecap, Peace Stage, 1.30am
A blistering set by the witty rap trio who have rapidly become a sensation in their native Ireland and whose debut film won awards at Sundance. The Peace Stage is becoming a great venue for radical late night performances (Bob Vylans played on Sunday) and I was so glad to have caught this, having missed Kneecap’s daytime shows. Fontaines’ Grian Chatten joined for a top-drawer version of ‘Better Way to Live’. - The Trojans, Rocket Lounge, 2.30am
Full throttle ska to dance along to - The Downsetters, Rocket Lounge, 4am
Ska / Reggae – I don’t remember much except loving it!
Sunday
- James, 3pm, The Other Stage, 3pm
I only intended to stay for the first couple of songs, but it was so joyous to sing and dance along with 50,000 other people to some of songs that defined by university years that I ended up getting to the front and staying for the whole set. Loved the very smiley version of ‘Sit Down’, which had been excluded from James’ set for years, as well as Tim Booth’s admirably controlled crowd surfing in Superman pose. - Shania Twain, Pyramid Stage, 3.45pm
I didn’t know many of the songs, but it’s hard not to like this brand of accessible country rock and Glastonbury debutante, Shania Twain, seemed to have soaked up a fair amount of the Glastonbury spirit, being sure to express her gratitude for being at this magical festival rather than telling us how lucky we were to see her (take note Bono, 2011). - Songwriters Arc, Acoustic Stage, 5pm
A group of songwriters who have mostly made their careers writing songs for other people, brought together by Squeeze’s Chris Difford. I particularly enjoyed Guy Chambers demonstrating why Robbie Williams was the best choice to sing ‘Feel’, one of the many songs they wrote together. Plus we got ‘Up The Junction’ from Chris Difford. Fun for 15 minutes. - New York Brass Band, Circus field, 5.30pm
There are many reasons to wander around Glastonbury without a plan, and one is that you might stumble across a performance by the New York Brass Band. I think I last saw them unofficially starting things off in the Stone Circle a decade ago and they were just as fun this time, engaging a small but happy crowd in brass covers of fellow Yorkshiremen, The Arctic Monkeys, and offering up Richie Benaud impressions. - The Lottery Winners, Leftfield, 6.35pm
As much chat as singing from this ADHD sufferer, who told us he was having the time of his life and sounded like it! Must go out and buy. - Two Door Cinema Club, The Other Stage, 7.45pm
Heard, rather than seen, as I was working but they sounded really strong. - The National, The Other Stage, 9.45pm
If I had to pick just one show from Glastobury 2024 then it would The National. It is hard to explain how such melancholy fare can be so uplifting, better every song was a sing-a-long and lead singer, Matt Berninger, generated even greater adulation through the intensity with which he sang every line and threw himself into the audience at every opportunity, including one wander through the field which seemed to take him all the way to the Dreamtime bar.
markontour 
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