Thursday, Glastonbury 2022

To say that it’s been a long and arduous wait for the return of Glastonbury Festival is - duh - somewhat of an understatement. But as the gates finally open on 2022’s edition of the event, there’s a crackle of electricity in the air. William’s Green is already heaving by early Thursday evening, thanks to a DJ appearance from Actual Spice Girl, Melanie C. She’s mixing up all manner of hits, from ’90s club classics to ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and The Prodigy’s ‘Breathe’. It’s then a total 180 for the tent’s following act. The festival’s traditional opening of sorts, it’s founding father Michael Eavis and his band: think pub band karaoke, a series of polished standards - we’re warmed up by a handful of songs performed by the band themselves before the main man’s appearance; covers of classics ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love With You’, ‘Always On My Mind’ and ‘My Way’ all get a look in. Thursday evening usually finds this space hosting a series of unannounced sets, with the likes of Wolf Alice, Rat Boy and Yak given the task of warming up the masses for the weekend’s ensuing chaos. Bastille - also a veteran of this spot - have roped in Ol’ Dirty Brasstards for the occasion. In a manner not unlike the band’s Re-Orchestrated outing, which saw songs reimagined alongside a full blown orchestra, the short - albeit delayed after a lengthy series of technical issues - set sees Bastille’s big hitters similarly peppered with bombastic brass. Finishing with a triumphant ‘Pompeii’, it’s a little wholesome fun to kick off a weekend which for many, will be anything but.