NME recommends: the song that reminds me of Glastonbury

Here’s Glastonbury summed up in one lyric: “And if it’s crowded, all the better/Because we know we’re gonna be up late/But if you’re worried about the weather/Then you picked the wrong place to stay/That’s how it starts…” Crying yet? I bloody well was when LCD headlined the Other Stage in 2016, arm-in-arm with the people we love, dancing and cavorting until dawn. If only we could see all our friends tonight.
Andrew Trendell
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

Ever seen the Pyramid Stage when it’s shutdown? Skepta released his classic fourth album ‘Konnichiwa’ — a victory lap for everything grime had achieved — a month before we descended on Worthy Farm in 2016, and the year already belonged to Joseph Adenuga. Looking every inch the superstar in a maroon jacket and shades, he caused pandemonium by dropping this track as a cyclist cruised around behind him for some reason. This was proper ‘road to Glasto’ stuff, a celebration of a very British musical success story.
Jordan Bassett
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

Last year’s Glastonbury was a proper scorcher and any form of shade was hot property. After curling up in the fetal position underneath a poutine stall’s chalkboard for a while one early afternoon, I successfully wrestled my sunburned husk of a body away from my precious shade spot and made it to the Pyramid Stage, with the perfect, universe-defying timing that only really seems to happen at Worthy Farm. Sheryl Crow was belting out ‘Soak Up The Sun’, and I was so happy that I drop-kicked a pint of cider into my own face.

There are loads of things to love about Glastonbury, but most of all, I love that it’s possibly the only place on Earth where you could ever hope to catch the ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again and a bonafide hero like Kylie or our Shezza back-to-back with some of the most exciting new names in music.
El Hunt
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

The Norwegian DJ’s sunset slot on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury 2015 is one of the most joyous hours I’ve spent on Worthy Farm. The stunning set of buoyant house and disco concluded with ‘Inspector Norse’ — a world-beating track on any day — and across its seven minutes it whipped up the crowd into a pure carnival atmosphere, with drag queens strutting their stuff on stage and just as much hip-shaking going on in the crowd. Long after Terje departed, the track’s hook continued to bellow out as literally thousands sang it over and over as they conga-lined down to the Pyramid Stage to watch Kanye West, who was about to start. Utter bliss.
Will Richards
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

It’s hard to pick just one great moment from Stormzy’s triumphant headline slot in 2019, but his performance of ‘Vossi Bop’ certainly felt like the one where he officially established himself as the voice of a generation. After wasting no time in proving exactly why he deserved his moment on the Pyramid Stage, the chart-topping track delivered the moment when Stormzy, joined by thousands of others, delivered the most powerful of MOs to the rest of the world. “Fuck the government and Fuck Boris!” screamed thousands of fans in unison. It was a massive statement of intent, and it’s worth noting that it came a month before Boris was actually handed the keys to Number 10. Proving to be as prescient as ever, Stormzy had him sussed from day one.
Nick Reilly
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

When I think back to last year’s Glastonbury, it’s Daphni’s ‘Sizzling’ that I remember hearing everywhere — Daphni weren’t even playing the bloody festival! But that’s the power of a true festival anthem: everybody will pop it into their DJ sets. And it was the sheer joy brought about by hearing Hot Chip‘s Al Doyle play it during a midnight DJ set up at The Crows Nest that will long serve as one of my fondest memories of Glasto.
Hannah Mylrea
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

If you don’t like a band but have never seen them live, please go to a gig before you make up your mind – especially if they’re Foo Fighters and that gig is at Glastonbury. I couldn’t stand Dave Grohl when NME rocked up to Worthy Farm in 2017 – and I liked his ‘nicest guy in rock’ persona even less. But fast-forward to Saturday night by the Pyramid Stage and I was jumping about like a pissed-up teenager on his first lads holiday. That’s the power of set-opener ‘Times Like These’ – a frenzied rottweiler of a guitar anthem boasting quite possibly my favourite chorus of the entire noughties.
Alex Flood
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music