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Kaiser Chiefs at Glastonbury 2014: Best songs to download and why you should watch their set

Gloriously unfashionable but sing-a-long anthems

Thursday 26 June 2014 15:56 BST

Ricky Wilson of the Kaiser Chiefs performs live on the other stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton, on 26 June, 2011 (Getty)

Who are they? You may not like it but when British rock is at its strongest, it’s usually because the latest product of a proud seam of guitar-based, observational British “art-school” pop-rock, stretching from The Who and The Kinks via The Jam to Blur is leading the charge. And right now the gloriously unfashionable Kaiser Chiefs are practically the last band standing from that glorious lineage.

When are they performing? Kaiser Chiefs will take to the John Peel Stage on Saturday night as headliners at 10.45pm.

Where can I catch them on TV? Kaiser Chiefs' set will be shown on BBC Three from 11pm on Saturday night.

Best bands to see at Glastonbury that might have slipped your radar

Show all 10

1/10Best bands to see at Glastonbury that might have slipped your radar

Best bands to see at Glastonbury that might have slipped your radar

Fat White Family (William’s Green, Friday and John Peel Stage and Snakepit, Saturday)

This year’s headliners Kasabian have given these filthy London kids their blessing, naming them as one of few bands that excite them these days. If that’s not an honour…

Best bands to see at Glastonbury that might have slipped your radar

The Correspondents (Hell Stage, Sunday)

This Soho-loving electro-swing duo cannot be missed. Mr Bruce and Chucks will linger in the mind for a long time, not least because their live show is brilliant and ridiculous in gloriously equal measures. There will be a Jungle Book remix involved, what more could you want?

Best bands to see at Glastonbury that might have slipped your radar

Jess Glynne (La Pussy Parlure Nouveau, Saturday)

You might recognise this 24-year-old’s name from Clean Bandit’s “Rather Be” and Route 94’s“My Love”. But while she may ‘feature’ on these chart-topping tracks, check Jess out at Glastonbury to sample some of her own songs live, including her catchy debut single “Right Here”

Best bands to see at Glastonbury that might have slipped your radar

John Grant (The Park Stage, Saturday)

Much of Grant’s lyrical content is intense (he sings about being HIV positive in “Ernest Bognine”, as one example), but there is a dry, subtle humour to his music that makes all that deeply-personal stuff bearable and, dare we say it, a damn good listen.

Best bands to see at Glastonbury that might have slipped your radar

Dry the River (Avalon Stage, John Peel Stage, Sunday)

Fronted by medical student Peter Liddle, this East London five-piece shun minimalist chord patterns and generic pop hooks in favour of complex harmonies and anthemic choruses. On at 4pm on a Sunday afternoon, all you need is sunshine and cider

Best bands to see at Glastonbury that might have slipped your radar

Chromeo (John Peel Stage, Saturday)

Dave-1and P-Thugg will be bringing their brand of modern funk with a catchy Eighties twist to Worthy Farm, all the way from Canada. Indulge those guilty pleasures folks

Getty Images

Best bands to see at Glastonbury that might have slipped your radar

East India Youth (William’s Green, Friday)

William Doyle’s first album was released in January and his sound is certainly unique. Some might say odd and over-dramatic, but it’s Glastonbury and you should try out something different, right? Awesome instrumental moments will set your heart racing no matter your music taste

Best bands to see at Glastonbury that might have slipped your radar

Public Service Broadcasting (West Holts Stage, Sunday)

Innovative duo J Willgoose, Esq and Wrigglesworth take samples from old public information footage and propaganda and set them to music, hoping to “teach the lessons of the past through the music of the future”. One of the hidden gems of this year’s festival

Best bands to see at Glastonbury that might have slipped your radar

Bajofondo (Other Stage, Sunday and Sonic, Sunday)

In case it’s slipped your notice, there’s a World Cup going on. Time for some South American tango dancing with these eight musicians from Argentina and Uruguay who fuse Latin alternative with contemporary drum and bass beats. Olé!

Best bands to see at Glastonbury that might have slipped your radar

Vance Joy (The Park Stage, Saturday)

This Aussie man-with-guitar’s storytelling abilities and hopeless romanticism will appeal to fans of Ben Howard. Past reviews have called him an “unassuming, funny and affable individual” so expect some on-stage banter

Why watch their set? There won’t be glitch-based experimentalism delivered by icily uncommunicative hipster singers at their Glasto set.

But there will be a brisk detonation of sing-a-long anthems, delivered with verve and fronted by a singer in Ricky Wilson who will charge into the crowd like a demented children’s entertainer in a bid to give the festival crowd value for their over-priced tickets.

While their 2005-era indie contemporaries have crumbled, the Kaisers fought back from adversity to regain the number one slot this year. If their failing is to write songs with tunes and memorable hooks then they’ll plead guilty.

Kaiser Chiefs will be entertaining festival crowds in ten years time so best to succumb now and join the Glastonbury first-timers throng chanting: “Oh my god I can’t believe it, I’ve never been this far away from home…”

Best Kaiser Chiefs hits to download

1) I Predict A Riot

2) Oh My God

3) The Angry Mob

4) The Factory Gates

5) Ruby

Recommended for Kaiser Chiefs fans: Kasabian - The Pyramid Stage, Sunday, 9.45pm

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