Glastonbury 2025 Day 1 review: The 1975, Lorde and Gracie Abrams

Time Out

30-06-2025

Friday has been an absolute scorcher on Worthy Farm, with many sunburned people out and about.
Thursday night saw the start of music with a tonne of stellar DJ sets. Crazy P kicked off Assembly with an ebulliant house and disco set, Ross From Friends drew a huge crowd at the Glade and Confidence Man 's raucous party shut down Levels.
This morning the live action kicked off with a packed out, and very sweaty, secret set by Lorde on Woodsies. Women ruled today, as CMAT, Wet Leg and Gracie Abrams all gathered sprawling crowds. Over at Woodsies, all the coolest young people gathered to watch PinkPantheress, where there was a sea of diamante-encrusted caps and oversized sunglasses, and everyone keen for a sing-along turned up for Lewis Capaldi's secret set on the Pyramid Stage.
Time Out is on the ground at Glasto 2025, and as well as other things (including headliner previews and guides to this year's full schedule, secret sets and how to watch online), we're also reporting back with daily reviews and round-ups. Here's the lowdown on Friday's best sets, with India Lawrence and Liv Kelly.
The 1975 on the Pyramid Stage: no more politics for a controversial headliner
This performance is a pretty big deal for British pop-rock band The 1975: not only is it their first time headlining the festival, but it's also set to be the band's only show this year. Paired with the controversy that came with the announcement of their inclusion in the lineup (thanks to frontman Matty Healy's historically problematic behaviour, like when he kissed his bandmate Ross MacDonald on stage in Malaysia in 2023), it's fair to say there was a decent amount of pressure on the band to deliver an energetic, hit-filled show.
So, did they? Well, from the get-go the band's experience as festival veterans was evident. This was not their first time on the Pyramid Stage (having performed in 2014), and despite Healy's clear nerves, they commanded it well. Their set began with twinkly digital artwork before the band joined the stage under pillars of brilliant white light, launching into 'Happiness' with a James Dean-like Matty Healy swirling a half-drunk pint of Guinness, cigarette in hand. While not everyone's cup of tea, he's a charismatic (and at some points, when he breaks 'character' charming and emotional) performer, pausing between songs to acknowledge the size of the crowd and exclaim: 'For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.' Their set was full of humour: at one moment a sign reading 'pompous arena synth pop' was plastered across the big screens. The show wasn't without its usual Healy-induced discomfort, though. After a bouncy 'It's Not Living If It's Not With You', the band's frontman began a brief, unnecessary ramble about how their show is not political, and that instead of more politics the world needs 'more love and friendship'. Healy also made a point of explaining that his comments are ironic throughout, and it gave the impression of them playing it very safe. Liv
Gracie Abrams on the Other Stage: solid, polished pop
She might have tried and failed to shed the label of 'nepo baby' (a title handed to her given her dad is acclaimed blockbuster movie director JJ Abrams), but 25-year old American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams needn't bother, as her skill at crafting introspective, journal-like songs and doing them justice in a live performance was clear from her Other Stage set this afternoon. Skipping barefoot into view in a burgundy boho dress with smokey red visuals to match, Abrams dived straight into 'Risk' and swiftly onto 'Blowing Smoke', followed by '21' to get the tempo up. The polished, no-frills set lulled into a swaying rhythm when she ditched the guitar for 'Where Do We Go Now' and dreamily knelt down to be eye to eye with the crowd, but culminated in a blinder crescendo of 'Normal Thing', 'Free Now' and 'Close To You'. The whole thing was pretty slick, with not much choreo and no special guests (though Abram's vibey cover of The Cure's 'Just Like A Dream' was a solid addition to the setlist) but with endearing little waves at the crowd and grateful acclamations for 'the gift' that was performing at Glastonbury, she was obviously chuffed to be there. Liv
Lorde at Woodsies: A stellar run-through of a moving, introspective, brand-new album
Whispers of Lorde making an appearance at the mysterious TBA set at Glastonbury's Woodsies stage were circulating well before the festival kicked off (her new studio album Virgin was released today) but when she posted a photo of a tent on her Instagram account yesterday, things were looking pretty certain. That's why the stage was almost completely packed an hour before her performance even began, with Glasto-goers piling into the stuffy cover of Woodsies and basking in the sun for rows and rows back. But no matter where you stood, this set was worth the wait and the heat. Lorde sauntered onto stage in bright white T-shirt and jeans, writhing and jumping around in her signature, peculiar way, as she took the crowd through the tracklist to Virgin from start to finish. 'What Was That' proved its status as an instant classic, but never-before performed songs like 'Shapeshifter' and 'Broken Glass' as well as 'Man of The Year' completely absorbed the crowd's attention. With just enough time to raise the roof with 'Ribs' and 'Green Light', this late-morning set was a killer way to kick off Glasto. Liv
CMAT on the Pyramid Stage: a life-affirming, 'very sexy' country-pop party
Strutting onto the main stage in a blue vinyl mini dress, emblazoned with 'Dunboyne Diana' across the backside, rising pop-country star CMAT had utter control of the crowd this afternoon on the Pyramid Stage. Opening with jangly piano hit 'Have Fun', CMAT immediately splayed herself face down on the floor and began to sing, and we knew we were in for a fun, eccentric show. Joined by a six-piece band, also dressed in blue vinyl, CMAT's voice was at its best, with powerful vocals reaching high warbles that only Kate Bush could rival. For the next hour she galloped, jumped and kicked her way around the stage, occasionally stopping to tell a hilarious joke ('Please don't sue me, Jamie Oliver,' after singing new single 'The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station'), or give an emotional talk to the crowd about body image, or being grateful for being here. She closed off with sentimental indie hit, 'Stay For Something' jumping into the pit and starting a (very polite) mosh pit, in true rock-star fashion. Not everyone in the crowd may have known CMAT before, but they will certainly remember her after this. India
Alanis Morisette on the Pyramid Stage: beloved rock-chick still has it
Alanis Morissette swaggered around the Pyramid in a sparkly mesh top, her long brunette mop falling over her eyes like the rockstar she is. She delivered a feminist (the screen is showing some slightly jarring text about sexual assault, and women experiencing anxiety and depression), anthemic performance of all her greatest hits. She let the crowd sing the chorus of 'Ironic' for her, she rolled and writhed on the floor, she killed it on the harmonica. Her voice was flawless with as much power as ever. It's pretty much exactly what you'd want from this throwback Pyramid performance. India
PinkPantheress on Woodsies: bedroom producer grows in confidence as a performer
Gone is PinkPantheress's infamous handbag, which she used to clutch like a safety blanket throughout her live performances. As is her uncomfortable stage presence, as this TikTok pop star has proved she can actually perform live.
Joined by a band made up of brass, drums and backing singers, Pink managed to get the party started with a range of deep cuts and new material from her latest mixtape Fancy. Although, sometimes her sweet falsetto voice didn't always stand up to the live instruments. All of Glastonbury's youngest and trendiest punters turned out to see PinkPantheress at Woodsies, where there was a sea of diamente encrusted caps and oversized sunglasses. At times, the dodgy, echoey sound didn't fully allow Pink to command the crowd, but she still managed to act like everyone's big sister when addressing the punters. India
Wet Leg on the Other Stage: 50,000 people screaming in a cathartic rock and roll show
The last time Wet Leg played Glasto, the indie five-piece from the Isle of Wight shut down the Park Stage after drawing in an unprecedented crowd. Today they returned triumphantly, all clad in white t-shirts with ironic slogans (classic Wet Leg), to the Other Stage. Commanding the crowd, lead singer Rhian Teasdale held her arms in a strong-man flex, showing off her ripped biceps and abs in a fur-collared cropped top. Opening with new snarky single 'Catch These Fists', the band has ditched some of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl whimsy of their early shows, and are fully leaning into the rock'n'roll vibe to go with their grittier upcoming album 'Moisturizer'. Teasdale and her bandmates (including lead guitarist Hester Chambers) stroll through their well known material while dropping in some new tracks like the grungey 'Pillow Talk' and romantic 'Davina McCall' (which Teasdale sweetly dedicates to her partner). Fan favourite 'Ur Mum' provides a proper moment of catharsis when the sprawling crowd all scream in unison. It goes on for about two minutes – the band say it's their longest yet, and I believe them. Do all of Wet Leg's songs kind of sound the same? Sure. But when they are this fun live it doesn't really matter. India
Rizzle Kicks on the Other Stage: guilty pleasure pop act puts on an energetic, nostalgic show
Judging by the Gen-Z packed crowd, the school years of most of the people here were soundtracked by Rizzle Kicks' early albums – even if it felt a bit like a school disco. The Brighton-born hip-hop duo made a lively comeback with their fourth record Competition Is For Losers earlier in 2025, and their itch to be back in front of fans was well and truly scratched at this snappy set. Jordan Stephens, donning a 'Linekar' emblazoned England shirt and Harley Alexander-Sule stormed to the stage on Friday afternoon, straight into classics 'Lost Generation' and 'When I Was A Youngster'. Stephens' mum Emma Boulting joined them for 'Mama Do The Hump', with Rachel Chinouriri and Niko B also making appearances. A couple of new songs were played, but this was a nostalgia-fuelled set for us and them, with the duo and their band having just as much fun as the crowd. Liv