Glastonbury 2008: Pyramid vs Other Stage

United Kingdom | by Daniel Fahey | 01 July 2008

Friday

Kings Of Leon - Pyramid Stage
"This is the greatest moment my life," exclaims Caleb Followill halfway through his band's epic 90 minute set.  With the balls to showcase two brand new tracks, including opener 'Crawl', the garage rock quartet show that the step up to their first headline slot is taken in their stride. Despite having a bad throat Caleb Followill manages to squeeze out the squeals of 'Charmer' as well as the softer tones of 'Tranni'.

We Are Scientists - Other Stage
America's favourite rock/comedy trio have acquired a fourth member for their current touring commitments.  Four become five over the weekend as Dev Hynes, AKA Lightspeed Champion, joins them on stage for recent single ‘After Hours'.  The set list runs through most of the first album with the usual banter from lead singer, Keith Murray, who tells the crowd to "Hump the mud."

The Subways - Pyramid Stage
Back for the first time since winning Glastonbury's Emerging Talent contest in 2003 the indie rock trio are still bashing out same brand of extravert punk personality that granted them their break in the first place.  Although front man Billy Lunn and bassist Charlotte Cooper have split up, the band remain as tight as ever, even when Lunn clambers into the crowd for frantic finale 'Rock and Roll Queen'.

Kate Nash - Pyramid Stage
Last year's pop darling returns to Worthy Farm with the exigent task of setting the precedence for the rest of the festival by opening the Pyramid Stage. With her piano plonked in the centre of a giant oyster (fitting following Thursday's downpour) Nash ploughs through hits 'Foundations', 'Mariella' and 'Merry Happy' to a sizable morning crowd.

Saturday

Jay-Z - Pyramid Stage
The most controversial headline slot in the festival's history provides one of the most exciting and dynamic set's in recent memory.  Heading up a barrage of hits by dubbing Noel Gallagher's, "Hip-hop at Glastonbury: no chance," over an acoustic version of Oasis' 'Wonderwall', the New York rapper gets the gripes out the way before performing a party set that includes 'Big Pimipin'', 'Girls, Girls, Girls' and covers of Amy Winehouse, Rhianna and Estelle. Hip hop at Glastonbury? Definitely.

Amy Winehouse - Pyramid Stage
Modern music's most commercial car crash continues her one-woman mission towards self-destruction.  Although her band remain tight, the singer slurs and swears her way through much of her set. She inevitably draws a huge crowd and even has time to get into the pit and punch one fan who allegedly threw a hat at her. She also calls Kayne West a "Cunt," before getting lead off stage by security after announcing that she was going to play one more song.

Elbow - Other Stage
Guy Garvey's band are often seen as miserablists, but the smile couldn’t be wider on the frontman's face as Elbow draw a massive, sun soaked crowd on the Other Stage.  Richard Hawley joins the band for 'The Fix', one of highlights for their latest offering 'The Seldom Seen Kid', before a choir march onstage for beautiful set closer 'One Day Like This'.

The Raconteurs - Pyramid Stage
While Jack White remains relieved from his duties with The White Stripes, the prolific guitarist has the chance to perform with his side project The Raconteurs.  Tight, loud and un-ashamedly cock-sure, the quartet sound like a throwback to Glastonbury's heyday as they pound the Pyramid Stage crowd with the best of their '70s inspired psyche-rock,  'Steady As She Goes', undeniably stealing the show.

Sunday

The Verve - Pyramid Stage
After the weekend's closing set we can all forgive Richard Ashcroft for his "If we don’t headline Glastonbury, it will be a travesty," comment.  The Verve's lightshow outshone both previous headliners combined, as the recently revived quartet made the most of their classic 1997 LP, 'Urban Hymns'. 'Drugs Don’t Work' was spine-tingling karaoke, while 'Bittersweet Symphony' saw many near the front of the stage clambering on friends shoulders to get a better view.  Closed on the dance-infused, up coming single 'Love is Noise' left no time, and simply no need, for an encore.

Mark Ronson - Other Stage
Joined by his mate Lily Allen, who's been spotted a little worse for wear at various stages over the weekend, Mark Ronson and his merry band inject some funk into the afternoon. Pink-haired Lily sings on a reworked version of her hit 'Littlest Things' and Kaiser Chiefs cover 'Oh My God', before Daniel Merriwether closes the show with 'Stop Me'.   

Neil Diamond - Pyramid Stage
Playing the coveted Sunday afternoon slot filled previously by Shirley Bassey and Brian Wilson, Neil Diamond steals the hearts of the packed Pyramid Stage. Clearly blown away by the reaction from the crowd as some weep tears of joy, the celebrated crooner treats tens of thousands to the likes of 'Cherry Cherry' and singalong favourite 'Sweet Caroline'. Truly one of the most uplifting moments from Glastonbury 2008.    

Newton Faulkner - Other Stage
Housewives acoustic favourite Newton Faulkner pulls a massive crowd of lazy Sunday afternoon dwindlers mainly perched on chairs.  Covering 2Unlimited's 'No Limit' and Dead Or Alive's 'Spin me Right Round', Faulkner shows that he will remain on Radio 2's radar for sometime to come.