The Glastonbury line-up is pretty good, actually

And we've made a list of recommendations to prove it.
Music
Words: Davy Reed, Jade Wickes
By this point, the Glastonbury organisers must be well used to getting a bit of flak when the line-up drops. You can’t please everyone, after all. But the comments section for this year’s announcement seemed particularly sour. People were upset that there was no Chappell, no Sabrina, no Gaga, no Fender and no Rihanna.
Although Glasto does seem to struggle with locking A‑list acts exclusively these days (I remember watching Pharrell warming up for Kanye back in 2015), the truth is, there’s always loads of great stuff on and you’ll only end up seeing half of it. We’ve picked out some highlights to prove it.
THURSDAY
Sportsbanger – Luna – 16.00 – 19.00
HiTech – Lonely Hearts Club – 18.00 – 19.30
You just can’t go wrong with HiTech. The Hennessy-spraying horndogs’ fusion of house, ghettotech and footwork is experimental enough to sound fresh, but silly enough to persuade everyone to lose their inhibitions. This could be the precise moment the party really gets going. DR
P‑rallel b2b Zack Fox – Lonely Hearts Club – 00.00 – 01.30
Roza Terenzi – Assembly – 00.00 — 01.30
Mina Galàn – Genosys – 01.30 – 03.00
If there’s anyone you can trust to bring the heaters and get the party started on Thursday night, it’s Mina Galàn. She’s the founder of trans-femme clubnight Club Stamina, best known for playing experimental Latin dance music and bringing hot, heavy vibes to the function. The clue’s in the name: come ready and dressed to sweat, ideally in the skimpiest get-up you can pull out of your rucksack. Alright, so you said you wouldn’t hit it too hard on Thursday night, but you’re here now, so just send it. JW
Bashkka – NYC Downlow – 1.00 — 3.00
Bambii b2b Jarreau Vandal – 1.30 — 3.00 – Lonely Hearts Club
FRIDAY
John Glacier – The Park Stage – 12.45 – 13.30
DJ AG – Lore – 15.00 – 17.00
Alanis Morissette – Pyramid Stage – 18.15 – 19.15
Anz – San Remo – 18.30 – 19.30
Gracie Abrams – Other Stage – 18.45 – 19.45
PinkPantheress – Woodsies – 19.30 – 20.30
We’ve been loving Pink’s vibe lately. The former FACE cover star’s new mixtape, the irreverent, nostalgia-tinged Fancy That, is really good, and she’s been finding her feet as a public figure by dropping camp one-liners and injecting plenty of humour into this promo cycle. She’s gone on the record to say her music isn’t necessarily best consumed in a big live setting, but we reckon that’s unfair – we’d watch PP swing a handbag around on stage any day of the week. Ease into your Friday evening with her at Woodsies, the big tent at the top of the festival. JW
Busta Rhymes – Other Stage 20.30 – 21.30
The 1975 – Pyramid Stage – 22.15 – 23.45
Alright, hear me out. The best Glastonbury headline sets are the ones where the artists appreciate the festival’s cultural significance, and so they do something bespoke. The underwhelming ones are when you get precisely the same they played at a festival in Belgium or wherever the previous weekend, or when they seem a bit miffed about the Glasto fee being comparatively stingy due to an absence of corporate overlords.
The 1975 have been dreaming of headlining Glastonbury throughout their career, and this will be their only live show of 2025. Having played together since they were teenagers, they’re also one of the tightest live bands in the world. Matty’s not always made headlines for the right reasons, and if you find that off-putting, fair enough. But I don’t think anyone who watches this will walk away without thinking it was an incredible show. DR
Romy – Arcadia – 01.00 – 2.00
Two Shell – IICON – 02.00 – 03.00
Pxssy Place takeover – Nomad – 02.00 – 06.00
SATURDAY
Nilüfer Yanya – West Holts – 13.00 – 14.00
Nilüfer Yanya has been killing it this year. The West Londoner released her lush, introspective fifth album Method Actor, in 2024, and it seems like she’s still raring to go: there’s a new EP coming next month, Dancing Shoes, which she’s described as “an extension of the album”. Nilüfer’s got a soulful, commanding stage presence – she’ll likely feel right at home on the festival’s West Holts stage, which is usually where Glasto’s best alternative acts play. Tucking into a toffee apple cider from the nearby Brothers tent while you watch this one is a requirement, and I won’t hear any different. JW
Fcukers – Woodsies – 14.00 – 14.45
There might only be one reliable formula for success in the music industry: when indie kids learn how to make good dance music. DR
Beabadoobee – Other Stage – 14.00 – 15.00
Not Completely Unknown – Acoustic Stage – 15:00 – 16:00
Rumours are swirling that Timmy himself might be joining this Dylan tribute act stage. Yes, it’s an unlikely scenario, but given his antics on the film’s promo tour last year, we can almost see it happening. We can also see Kylie Jenner in wellies turning up to support. JW
Macca – San Remo – 15.30 – 17.00
Liverpool’s finest, Macca, is one of NTS radio’s greatest DJ hosts (along with Flo Dill, who’s also playing at San Remo on Friday). His breakfast show, One Glove, which airs every Saturday morning, always adds a nice touch to the weekend, whether you’re having a chill one or gearing up for a rager. It’ll most likely be the latter on this occasion. JW
Kneecap – West Holts – 16.00 – 17.00
Kneecap’s collaborator Toddla T claims there’s been a “coordinated attempt by 30 members of the music elite” to pressure Glastonbury into dropping the provocative rap group. The thing is, the more the media, the music industry, the police and the politicians try to shut Kneecap down, the more popular they get. So if you want to witness this moment, you’re probably going to need to head down to the West Holts stage early. DR
A.G. Cook – Lonely Hearts Club – 20.30 – 21.30
Amaarae – West Holts – 20.30 – 21.30
Deftones – Other Stage – 20.30 – 21.30
Cheetah – 22.00 – 23.00
Charli xcx – 22.30 – 23.45
Doechii – West Holts – 22.45 – 23.30
There are loads of cool new rappers out there, but let’s be honest, most of them don’t sound great live. Maybe it’s because they slather their voices in AutoTune and punch in their bars in the studio, making it almost impossible to recreate the sound onstage. Or maybe the fans are too focused on filming the moshpit on their phones to really care. But Doechii spits with clarity while executing slick choreography, and last year she graduated from promising up-and-comer to an era-defining artist thanks to a string of viral performances. If you end up at Charli on the Other Stage instead, this is at least one to watch back on BBC while you’re recovering on Monday night. DR
George Daniel (DH2 & Friends) – San Remo – 01.00 – 02.00
Benji B – IICON – 01.30 – 03.30
SUNDAY
Geordie Greep – The Park Stage – 12.45 – 13.30
Rod Stewart – Pyramid – 15.45 – 17.15
By this point, you’re feeling delirious, dirty and sleep-deprived. You lost your phone and your voice somewhere in Block9 last night, and the Tequila Rita Buzzballz you’d packed for a bit of a laugh are lukewarm. But the sun is shining, the bass is pulsating and Rod Stewart is thrusting his hips to the intro of Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? Maybe this is the best day of your life. DR
Turnstile – Other Stage – 16.30 – 17.30
Nabihah Iqbal & Nicolas Daley takeover (Sherelle, Skinny Girl Diet, Bradley Zero, Nabihah Iqbal b2b Haseeb Iqbal, Riz La Teef) – Firmly Rooted – 18.00 – 00.00
Wolf Alice – Other Stage – 19.45 – 20.45
Jorja Smith – Woodsies – 21.30 – 22.45
Olivia Rodrigo – Pyramid Stage – 21.45 – 23.15
Another former FACE cover star performing at Glasto, only this time, she’s headlining the Pyramid Stage on Sunday night. We can’t overstate how much of a massive deal this is for 22-year-old Olivia Rodrigo, who’s an unexpected booking given she’s only got two albums under her belt. This set will make her the second youngest ever headliner after Billie Eilish, and probably speaks to Glastonbury trying to lure in a younger audience. To be fair, Olivia’s 2023 set at the Other Stage, where she brought out Lily Allen and dedicated her song Fuck You to the US Supreme Court, was probably the highlight from the festival that year. The crowd were gassed then; let’s hope they can bring the energy for Olivia’s headline set this year. She’s got the tunes for it, and she’ll probably bring out some guests (David Byrne joined her at the Governors Ball last week, which was a good get, minus the heinous red dungarees.) JW
Ki/Ki – The Temple – 1:30 — 2:30
Your brain will likely be completely depleted of serotonin by this point, but you should push through one last time for the techno-laden speedy bangers from Ki/Ki. The Dutch DJ/producer’s high-powered sets are consistently amongst some of the best I’ve seen on the festival circuit. Maybe keep your sunglasses on for this one. JW
