Glastonbury 2023 – latest: Elton John says thank-you to festival audience after farewell UK performance

Rocket Man bids farewell as he played what could be his final live show in the UK, with a jaw-dropping, career-spanning set of his greatest songs

Elton John steps out onto Pyramid stage at Glastonbury 2023

Elton John performed what will go down as one of the greatest headline shows in Glastonbury history last night (Sunday 25 June), to one of the biggest crowds the festival has seen in years.

Lil Nas X was the final artist to take to the main stage before the 76-year-old at Worthy Farm, Somerset, after a joyful Yusuf/Cat Stevens entertained fans with songs including “Wild World” and “Father and Son”.

The revered folk singer-songwriter performed with his band in the coveted Legends Slot, a gig previously handed to artists including Lionel Richie, Kylie Minogue and Dolly Parton. He also gave superfan/comedian Ricky Gervais a shout-out on his birthday, before playing his song “Tea for the Tillerman”.

At 9pm, John launched his performance with some of his best-known songs, including his 1975 cover of “Pinball Wizard” and “Benny and the Jets”. From the moment he sat down at the piano, the show was a pure blast of euphoria from one of the world’s greatest living entertainers, with surprise guests including The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, and Gabriels singer Jacob Lusk.

Glastonbury 2023 highlights

• In pictures: Elton John’s breathtaking headline set on the Pyramid Stage
• What the audience is saying - reactions to Elton John’s set
• Who is Stephen Sanchez? Meet Elton John’s second musical guest
• Meet Elton John’s first surprise guest of the night
• The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers joins Elton for ‘Tiny Dancer'

[27 June 2023 01:13 · Tom Murray]

Lewis Capaldi review

Lewis Capaldi was seen struggling with tics during his Sunday (25 June) performance on the Pyramid Stage.

The 26-year-old Scottish crooner revealed he had been diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome last September.

While he continued with the set, and was enthusiastically supported by the crowd, he struggled to make it through the final songs, and ultimately ended up cutting his set short.

In his three-star review for The Independent, music critic Mark Beaumont wrote: “Early in his most iconic hit ‘Someone You Loved’ [Capaldi’s voice] collapses completely. But this is an emotion-charged singalong of everyman heartache that carries itself – as Capaldi roams the stage dejected, convinced he’s blown the biggest show of his life, 200,000 voices offer him support in one of the most moving moments in recent Glastonbury memory.”

Read more:

[27 June 2023 00:00 · Nicole Vassell]

Watch: Spectacular fireworks bring close to Elton John's final UK performance

[26 June 2023 23:30 · Nicole Vassell]

Arctic Monkeys accused of ‘butchering’ Glastonbury set: ‘Just play your belters!’

Despite receiving a full five stars from The Independent’s reviewer Jazz Monroe, Arctic Monkeys’s Pyramid Stage set on Friday night didn’t work for everyone.

The Sheffield band drew a mixed reaction from the Glastonbury crowd and viewers at home due to the lack of songs from their earlier albums, which include Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not and Favourite Worst Nightmare.

Louis Chilton and Tom Murray have the full report:

[26 June 2023 23:00 · Nicole Vassell]

Elton John’s farewell at Glastonbury breaks festival record for viewing figures

And if the conversation around Elton John’s set couldn’t get better, it has now been announced as the most-watched broadcast in Glastonbury history, raking in more than 7 million viewers across the BBC.

The viewership for his performance far beats that of Guns N’ Roses on Saturday (just above 1 million) and Arctic Monkeys on Friday (1.5 million).

Full report here:

[26 June 2023 22:30 · Nicole Vassell]

‘What a farewell’: Elton John’s thank-you after final UK performance

Elton John has shared a heartfelt message following last night’s headline set at Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage.

In an Instagram post on Monday, the 76-year-old star thanked the festival and the audience for taking part in his acclaimed performance, billed as his final-ever show in the UK.

“The energy last night was like nothing else, and I couldn’t be more grateful to the crowd and the people watching at home for all your love and support,” John wrote. “You will be in my heart and soul forever.

“UK, what a farewell. I love you,” he concluded, adding emoji of a hand waving and the Union Jack.

[26 June 2023 22:00 · Nicole Vassell]

Lil Nas X review, Glastonbury 2023: Grammy-winner injects some needed oomph into a mostly sedate weekend

Lil Nas X returned to Glastonbury for a stunning set on Sunday afternoon.

Ben Bryant gave the Georgia rapper’s show four stars – here’s why:

[26 June 2023 21:30 · Nicole Vassell]

Watch: Rick Astley, Lizzo and Guns N' Roses light up Pyramid Stage on Saturday

[26 June 2023 21:00 · Nicole Vassell]

Watch the highlights from Glastonbury 2023

Here’s your speedy look at all the best bits from Glastonbury 2023:

[26 June 2023 20:30 · Nicole Vassell]

Glastonbury cleanup – the results

Volunteers were on the Glastonbury Festival site early this morning to get Worthy Farm back in top condition.

Here’s how it started...

Glastonbury site clean-up operation in progress (PA)

And here’s how it ended:

Glastonbury site cleaned up (PA)

[26 June 2023 20:00 · Nicole Vassell]

Legends supporting legends

If you’ve ever thought you needed to see a clip of Paul McCartney taking a video of Elton John from the side of the Pyramid Stage... your wish is our command.