Lorde’s Secret Set and Surprise Wedding: Glastonbury 2024 Opens With Magical Moments

When Glastonbury kicks off, it’s never just another music festival. There’s always something in the air. This year, the sun came out right on cue as 200,000 people poured through Worthy Farm’s gates, ready for a weekend of music, odd surprises and moments you don’t see anywhere else.

Did Lorde Really Play A Secret Set?

Glastonbury is known for its hidden sets but some secrets are harder to keep than others. This year, all eyes were on the “TBA” slot at the Woodsies tent. Rumors were already swirling. Many guessed it right. It was Lorde.

She didn’t show up with a huge stage or fireworks. Just her and her new album Virgin in a small tent that could barely hold the crowd. People flooded in so fast that stewards had to block off the area. Fans outside the tent strained to hear every word. Catherine Shipton, who traveled from Southampton, said the moment was magic. She knew it would be Lorde but it still gave her goosebumps when the first note hit.

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How Did The Crowd Kick Off The Weekend?

Once the music started, the fields were alive. People drifted between stages dressed in pirate hats, tutus and superhero capes. Some went practical with raincoats and sun hats, ready for the unpredictable British weather.

The early birds who turned up Wednesday caught a circus show on the Pyramid stage. With no loud music allowed before Thursday, people hummed along to samba drums. There’s always something happening, even before the main acts hit.

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Supergrass blasted off on the Pyramid stage. Their song Alright felt right. A festival full of young hearts wanting to feel free. It set the tone for the sun-soaked fields ahead.

Who Else Was On The Rumor Mill?

Fans love to swap rumors about surprise sets. Chase Bartlett from Bristol was sure he’d cracked a big one. He spotted Robbie Williams’ Instagram post and was convinced he’d sneak in a secret gig. He might be right. Glastonbury has a history of pulling out stars when you least expect.

Some were buzzing about Lewis Capaldi too. He’s been away from live shows for two years, focusing on his mental health. Seeing him pop up for a surprise set would be a big moment. So people kept their ears open, ready for the next whisper in the crowds.

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How Did The Weather Add To The Vibe?

The sun showed mercy this year. The temperature hit around 25 degrees. Warm enough for people to sprawl out on the grass but not so hot that they melted in the crowds.

For some, the day started with the longest wait of the festival. The shower line. Chase and his friend Danielle queued near the Acoustic stage just to feel clean. But nobody complained. Danielle said it felt like stepping onto another planet. Where else do you wait for a shower next to a man pretending to call a potato, only to see another man play it like a harmonica?

Were There Any Big Political Moments?

Glastonbury isn’t just music. Flags always wave above the crowds, telling their own story. Palestinian flags flew high this year. With so much unrest in the world, people brought messages they wanted seen by thousands.

Kneecap, the Irish-language rap group, had people talking too. One member faces charges under terrorism laws but the festival didn’t drop them. Some politicians didn’t like that but fans in the field felt Glastonbury has always stood for freedom of speech. Sarah Hall from Ipswich summed it up. She expects the festival to tackle heavy stuff. To her, it’s always been about more than music.

What Were The Quirky Highlights This Year?

Alongside the politics and the big acts, Glastonbury keeps its weird side alive. Greenpeace hosted Letters Live. Surprise celebrities popped up to read letters spanning centuries. Benedict Cumberbatch. Bella Ramsay. Andrew Scott. Even Simon Pegg.

Andrew Scott’s reading of a soldier’s letter to a lover lost in 1944 left the crowd in silence. Then James Norton brought everyone back with a laugh, reading a 19th-century marriage proposal that had more jokes than romance. Where else do you get a history lesson, stand-up comedy and climate talks all wrapped into one field?

Who Got Married At Glastonbury?

You know a festival is special when people decide to tie the knot right there. Charles and Charlie Shires did just that. They said “I do” in the Healing Fields, surrounded by a handful of friends and the mud under their boots.

Charlie wore the same black boots she’s worn to other Glastonburys. She carried her wedding cake all the way from Harrogate. After the vows, they sliced up chocolate and pistachio slices and handed them out to strangers watching a live podcast nearby. For them, it wasn’t just a wedding. It was the right place, the right vibe, the right people.

When they were done, they didn’t run off to a fancy hotel. They stuck around for Charlie XCX and more music. That’s a Glastonbury honeymoon right there.

What Keeps People Coming Back Every Year?

Talk to anyone who’s been and they’ll say it’s not just the big names that pull you in. It’s the little surprises. The secret gigs. The sun breaking through the clouds just as your favorite song kicks off. The stranger next to you who shares their cider while you wave a flag you found on the ground.

It’s a wedding in a muddy field. A man playing a potato. A superstar playing an intimate set that feels like it was only for you. Glastonbury never promises perfection. It promises the unexpected. That’s enough to keep people coming back.