Charli XCX brings Brat back to Glastonbury in electric performance
'It's summertime and I was thinking about last summer – did anyone have a Brat summer?' she said.
The singer, wearing an all-black ensemble including sunglasses and knee-high boots, began her set with 360 and Von Dutch.
The 32-year-old played her Partygirl set at the festival in 2024, but this time the singer took to a much bigger stage amid a year that has seen her pick up a slew of awards.
She launched into upbeat dance track Club Classics after the two opening songs.
'These are all of my people who are going to (late night music venue) Block9 tonight', she said.
Alongside the songs from her new album, she performed tracks from her back catalogue, treating revellers to Unlock It (Lock It), Party 4 U, Vroom Vroom, and Speed Drive – which appeared on the Barbie movie soundtrack.
Performing her viral Apple dance at the show was US singer Gracie Abrams who had played on the same stage a day earlier.
Charli XCX has topped the charts with Brat (Matt Crossick/PA)
During her gigs Charli XCX often gets a famous person to perform the dance, which started as a trend on TikTok.
The British singer also performed her version of Guess with US superstar Billie Eilish and Girl, So Confusing with Lorde, though neither appeared for the performance.
Before ending her set on crowd-pleasing number one hit I Love It, featuring Icona Pop, she danced while water poured down from the stage ceiling amid a rendition of Blame It On Your Love.
In recent months the singer, real name Charlotte Aitchison, has been performing at festivals across the globe, including Coachella in California, Primavera Sound in Barcelona and a headline slot at Lido Festival in London.
Following the release of Brat, her infectious electronic-pop tracks soared up the charts and inspired a trend, with fans embracing the 'Brat summer' cultural movement.
The accolades followed, and in March she dominated the Brit Awards, winning five categories including songwriter of the year.
She also secured album of the year, artist of the year, dance act, and song of the year for her track Guess featuring Eilish.
In February she picked up three awards at the Grammys and she was named songwriter of the year at The Ivors in May.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Charli XCX puts on a very leggy display in black hotpants and a crop top as she parties with Cara Delevingne at Glastonbury
Charli XCX put on a very leggy display in black hotpants as she partied with Cara Delevingne in a round-up from her Glastonbury Festival weekend on Sunday. Sharing a series of snaps to Instagram, the Brat singer, 32, sent pulses racing as she slipped into a pair of shorts and a skimpy black strapless top. The headline act put on a quirky display with a black sheer scarf and a pair of knee-high leather boots. Alongside her post she penned: 'GLASTONBURY I HAD THE BEST TIME PERFORMING AND PARTYING TYSM FOR THE MOST FUN WEEKEND I LOVE YOU AND I LOVE DOING MY THING. I FEEL HAPPY XXX' Cara, 32, looked happier than ever as she wore a casual white T-shirt and an arm full of festival wristbands as the pals cheekily posed for snaps. Charli's post came after she hit back on social media at claims she is a 'fraud' after being criticised for her headline Glastonbury set on The Other Stage on Saturday night. The singer performed to a packed crowd at Worthy Farm but came under fire after many said they were convinced she was miming or using autotune. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Charli referenced the 'boomer vibe' comments as she hit back at claims. She wrote: 'Like the idea that singing with deliberate autotune makes you a fraud or that not having a traditional band suddenly means you must not be a 'real artist' is like, the most boring take ever. yawn sorry just fell asleep xx 'But to be honest… I enjoy the discourse. imo the best art is divisive and confrontational and often evolves into truly interesting culture rather than being like kind of ok, easily understood and sort of forgettable.' She added: 'Really enjoying these boomer vibe comments on my Glastonbury performance. 'It's super fascinating to me,' before thanking those who gave her five star reviews. Alongside her post she penned: 'GLASTONBURY I HAD THE BEST TIME PERFORMING AND PARTYING TYSM FOR THE MOST FUN WEEKEND I LOVE YOU AND I LOVE DOING MY THING' Viewers called the energetic performance 'truly terrible' and claimed she was the 'worst headline act' at the festival. They wrote: 'Can't be just me? Charlie xcx is truly truly terrible? This is not actual music is it? Who is listening to this on a playlist seriously it's torture sounds. Gotta be one of the worst headline acts ever at Glastonbury'; 'This Charlie xcx thing is the worst headline act in Glastonbury history. There may be headliners that you don't like. 'But at least they try and fkn sing. Her fee should be withheld, as tbh, you could have put a stripper on stage with a Spotify speaker and got the same results'; 'This Glastonbury set by Charli XCX is one of the worst things I've ever seen in my life. 'Barely singing, autotune in the rare moments she does sing a bit and horrendous dancing. Be fuming if you spent ages getting into that crowd only to see that'. During her performance, Charli put on a very racy display showing off her toned figure in tiny black leather hot pants and a mesh skull crop top. The crowd went wild as she performed hits including Party 4 U, Speed Drive, Sympathy Is a Knife, and 360. She wrote: 'Like the idea that singing with deliberate autotune makes you a fraud or that not having a traditional band suddenly means you must not be a 'real artist' is like, the most boring take ever' It comes after viewers called the energetic performance 'truly terrible' and claimed she was the 'worst headline act' at the festival Charli later performed her song Apple, and the person doing the viral dance was Gracie Abrams, daughter of Star Wars director JJ Abrams. While the singer headlined The Other Stage, Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts performed on The Pyramid Stage. The Scissors Sisters were performing on the Woodsies stage - and the venue had to be shut down because there were too many people there. Festival goers branded Nile Rodgers and Chic the 'best act they've seen in years' after his set on Sunday, as he led the performers rounding out the festival's final day.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Glastonbury mixed pop and politics long before the Bob Vylan controversy
The Glastonbury Festival is making headlines for controversy rather than music. The likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Rod Stewart, Neil Young, Charli XCX, Busta Rhymes and Doechii played to tens of thousands onsite, and millions more on TV, during Britain's biggest and most famous music extravaganza. But it's little-known rap-punk duo Bob Vylan attracting politicians' ire — and a police probe — after leading a chant calling for 'death' to the Israeli military. This isn't the first time politics has collided with pop at the festival. For half a century, Britain's big political and cultural divides have found their way onstage at Glastonbury. Glastonbury grew from the counterculture The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, to give it its full name, was founded by Michael Eavis in 1970 on his Worthy Farm, 120 miles (some 200 kilometers) southwest of London. It's still run by the 90-year-old farmer and his daughter, Emily Eavis. Originally a hippie happening with a 1 pound ticket price (about 20 pounds or $27 today), Glastonbury has largely shed its counterculture cachet. These days, tickets for the three-day event cost close to 400 pounds. But it remains famous for its eclectic lineup, unique atmosphere and commitment to environmentalism and other progressive causes. This year's event drew about 200,000 people to see almost 4,000 performers on 120 stages, alongside film screenings and live debates on a variety of issues. The festival has always had a political side Glastonbury was founded in a spirit of hippie idealism that has never entirely faded. In the 1980s, the festival donated some of its profits to the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which protested U.S. nuclear weapons on British soil. It continues to support charities including Oxfam and Greenpeace. By the late 1980s, attendees included New Age 'travelers' involved with the U.K.'s unofficial and anarchic rave scene. In 1990, some travelers clashed with security at the site, leading to significant damage and more than 200 arrests. Since then, the festival's security and organization have grown increasingly professional, sparking regret from some fans who feel it has lost its alternative spirit. The 2016 festival coincided with the U.K.'s referendum on European Union membership, and the decision to leave the bloc — which most young people opposed — overshadowed the event. Many performers mentioned Brexit and the dispirited mood, including headliner Adele, who urged people to 'look after each other.' Performers have often vented their opposition to politicians from the stage. In 2019, rapper Stormzy led the crowd in 'F___ Boris' chants aimed at then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson. This year, Irish rappers Kneecap directed the same expletive at Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Emotions are high over the Gaza war Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has provoked heightened emotions that spilled over onto Glastonbury's stages. Before the event, some politicians called for Glastonbury to cancel a performance by Irish-language hip-hop trio Kneecap, whose pro-Palestinian comments, critics say, have crossed a line into support for violence. Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been charged under the Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed organization for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London in November. He denies the charge, and Kneecap has accused critics of trying to silence the band because of its support for the Palestinian cause. Kneecap's energetic set included plenty of pro-Palestinian comments and criticism of the government. But it was the act that preceded them, Bob Vylan, that caused a furor when a member of the duo led chants of 'death to the IDF,' the Israel Defense Forces. The Avon and Somerset Police force said officers would review video evidence 'to determine whether any offenses may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation. Michael and Emily Eavis said Bob Vylan had 'very much crossed a line.' They said 'there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.' The BBC is facing criticism Britain's publicly funded national broadcaster is under fire for showing Bob Vylan's set, one of dozens of Glastonbury performances it streamed live online. The BBC said Monday that it should have cut off the broadcast after the 'antisemitic' and 'utterly unacceptable' comments, and has removed the performance from its website. But the government is demanding to know what 'due diligence' it did on Bob Vylan before the broadcast. Some media experts say the broadcaster is in a difficult position. Steven Barnett, professor of communications at the University of Westminster, said Britain's influential right-wing press,' including newspapers such as the Daily Mail and The Sun, frequently attack the BBC, 'for both commercial and ideological reasons.' Right-leaning newspapers featured the Bob Vylan story prominently, and Barnett said that attention 'puts any political leader under enormous pressure' to express an opinion.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Charli XCX crowns Gracie Abrams as her 'Apple girl' as she performs headline slot at Glastonbury
Charli XCX crowned Gracie Abrams as her 'Apple girl' during her Glastonbury headline slot on Saturday. The Dance The Night hitmaker, 32, has made it a tradition to have a special surprise guest perform the viral TikTok dance to her track Apple. While performing on The Other Stage, Charli clutched a glass of white wine as she said: 'You know what time it is, now who the f**k is going to be 'Apple girl' at Glastonbury? 'Who did you find out there? Someone cute?' The camera then panned to singer Gracie, 25 - the daughter of director J. J. Abrams - who was quick to showcase the dance that made the 'under-appreciated' song on Charli's 2024 album Brat a viral sensation. Created by TikTok star Kelley Heyer, the simple dance features several moves including, famously, pretending to hold an apple. Gracie threw herself into the challenge, playfully performing the moves and miming along to the track. The That's So True hitmaker previously took to the Glastonbury stage herself on Friday night as a headliner at The West Holts Stage, with Charli in attendance in the crowd. Previous 'Apple girls' have included Chappell Roan, Charli's fiancé The 1975 drummer George Daniel, Rosé from Blackpink and Chicken Shop Date podcaster Amelia Dimoldenberg. Reactions to Charli's choice of Apple girl at this weekend's festival were mixed on social media, with one commentator even making a viral meme to imply that Gracie's director father had paid for her to get the position. Others remarked: 'GRACIE ABRAMS WAS THE APPLE GIRL AT GLASTONBURY OH MY F**KING GOD SHES INSANE.'; 'I wasn't Charli xcx's Apple girl at Glastonbury so I blocked Gracie Abrams #glastonbury.' But many had positive reactions such as: 'gracie as the apple girl shut up this is everything to me.'; 'U WERE LEGENDARY TY FOR BEING APPLE GIRL TOO BTW MADE MY NIGHT [sic].' Reactions to Charli's choice of an Apple girl were mixed - one commentator even made a viral meme implying that Gracie's director father had paid for her to get the position Many had positive reactions such as: 'gracie as the apple girl shut up this is everything to me' Following the performance, Charli hit back on social media at claims she is a 'fraud' after being criticised for her headline Glastonbury set. The singer performed to a packed crowd at Worthy Farm but came under fire after many said they were convinced she was miming or using autotune. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Charli referenced the 'boomer vibe' comments as she hit back at claims. She wrote: 'Like the idea that singing with deliberate autotune makes you a fraud or that not having a traditional band suddenly means you must not be a 'real artist' is like, the most boring take ever. yawn sorry just fell asleep xx 'But to be honest… I enjoy the discourse. imo the best art is divisive and confrontational and often evolves into truly interesting culture rather than being like kind of ok, easily understood and sort of forgettable.' She added: 'Really enjoying these boomer vibe comments on my Glastonbury performance. It's super fascinating to me,' before thanking those who gave her five star reviews. It comes after viewers called the energetic performance 'truly terrible' and claimed she was the 'worst headline act' at the festival. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Charli referenced the 'boomer vibe' comments as she hit back at claims It comes after viewers called the energetic performance 'truly terrible' and claimed she was the 'worst headline act' at the festival They wrote: 'Can't be just me? Charlie xcx is truly truly terrible? This is not actual music is it? Who is listening to this on a playlist seriously it's torture sounds. Gotta be one of the worst headline acts ever at Glastonbury'; 'This Charlie xcx thing is the worst headline act in Glastonbury history. There may be headliners that you don't like. 'But at least they try and fkn sing. Her fee should be withheld, as tbh, you could have put a stripper on stage with a Spotify speaker and got the same results'; 'This Glastonbury set by Charli XCX is one of the worst things I've ever seen in my life. Barely singing, autotune in the rare moments she does sing a bit and horrendous dancing. Be fuming if you spent ages getting into that crowd only to see that'. During her performance, Charli put on a very racy display showing off her toned figure in tiny black leather hot pants and a mesh skull crop top. Charli accessorised with a floaty Alexander McQueen scarf, and hid her eyes behind oversized dark sunglasses. As well as playing Apple, the crowd went wild as she performed hits including Party 4 U, Speed Drive, Sympathy Is a Knife, and 360.
