After a two-year break in the pandemic, one of the oldest and most popular music festivals in Europe took place this weekend in the UK – Glastonbury Festivalgathering about 200 thousand visitors.
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The main artists of the festival this year were the new pop superstar Billy Eilish, old master Paul McCartney and rapper Kendrik Lamar. An interesting coincidence is the fact that the 20-year-old Eiliss is the youngest star of all time to be the festival’s main artist, while McCartney, who celebrated his 80th anniversary, is Glastonbury’s oldest hedliner of all time.
R&B icon Daiena Rosa, former Oasis member Noel Gallagher and his band High Flying Birds, Sam Fender, singer Lorde, Robert Plant and Elison Krauss, the trio HAIM, Elbow and Wolf Alice also performed at the festival this year. “, old jazz master Herby Henkock, the upcoming Megan Thee Stallion in Riga, the group” Pet Shop Boys “and many others.
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The Glastonbury Festival is not only an ambitious entertainment event, but also a platform used by thousands of artists and audiences to protest or express their views on social and political issues. This year, the festival was marked by support for Ukraine and protests against the decision of the US Supreme Court to repeal the law on women’s abortion in 50 states.
The festival was opened this year with a video message from the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. The recording of his speech was broadcast shortly before the band “The Libertines” performed. He called on all festival-goers to support those Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the war, and not to relax and “put pressure on politicians in every country” to help Ukraine. “The more people join us to defend freedom and the truth, the sooner this war started by Russia will end,” Zelensky said.
A message from President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy was just played on the big screens at The Other Stage, shortly before The Libertines’ stage-opening set. #Glastonbury2022 pic.twitter.com/LuXf2FfEBf
— Glastonbury Festival (@glastonbury) June 24, 2022
Ukraine was represented at the festival by the internationally known world music group “Dakha Brakha”, the electro-folk group “Go_A”, as well as this year’s Eurovision winners “Kalush Orchestra”. Western musicians also expressed support for Ukraine in their performances. For example, Paul McCartney returned to the stage with the Ukrainian flag in his hands after his final performance of the song “Hey, Jude”. He has also previously announced that he will no longer include the 1968 song “Back in USSR” in his concert repertoire.
Also on Friday, June 24, the decision of the US Supreme Court to repeal the law on women’s right to abortion was widely resounded in Glastonbury concerts. Singer Billy Elysis called it a “dark day for US women,” and Megan Thee Stallion, Olivia Rodrigo, and Phoebe Bridger condemned the law. Rapper Kendrik Lamar also expressed support for women and their rights during his performances.
The Glastonbury Festival is one of Europe’s largest outdoor rock festivals, held annually in Somerset, Pilton, Worth. It has been run by the owner of the farm since its inception in 1970, and is now 86 years old. His daughter Emilija Īvis has been co-organizing the festival since 1999.
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