NEWS
Lewis Capaldi made a triumphant return to Glastonbury on Friday (June 27) in an unannounced Pyramid Stage performance – watch footage below.
Rumours had been swirling all week that the Scottish singer would fill the ‘TBA’ slot at 16:55 on the festival’s main stage, and whispers were further heightened when he released the powerful new single ‘Survive’ earlier today (June 27), his first new material since 2023.
The hopes were realised when he walked out in front of a giant sundrenched crowd and he soaked in their adulation, with the Pyramid audience immediately chanting his name back at him.
Capaldi last played at Worthy Farm in 2023, but throughout the set he struggled with tics brought on by Tourette’s and he ended the show prematurely. Fans had helped him that day, with his set being met with an outpouring of support from both those in attendance and those watching at home. One mother of a teenager with Tourette’s hailed the performance as “amazingly powerful” and said that she was “in tears” over it.
His return to the Pyramid served as a form of redemption, with Capaldi delivering a rousing and emotional 35-minute set of his best-loved tracks.
He opened with spirited renditions of ‘Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent’ singles ‘Before You Go’ and ‘Grace’, with the crowd singing along enthusiastically.
Addressing the crowd, he went on to say: “Glastonbury, it’s so good to be back. I’m not going to say much up here today, because if I do I think I’ll probably start crying. It’s just amazing to be here with you all and I can’t thank you all enough for coming out and seeing me.”
“Second time’s a charm on this one, everybody. We’re just going to do a short set today, I just wanted to come and finish what I couldn’t finish the first time round on this stage. I want to thank everyone at Glastonbury for letting me do so.”
He then quipped: “Also, this was like the worst kept fucking secret. So who’s been fucking telling people?!”
After ‘Hold Me While You Wait’, he said playfully chided the audience for singing his name, saying, “We’re on tight schedule here”. He added that he “hasn’t been on stage in two years”, and choked up as he thanked the crowd for showing up once again.
Introducing the new single ‘Survive’, Capaldi said: “The last two years haven’t been the best for me, it’s been difficult at times. I wanted to make a song that was about overcoming that stuff and getting through it. This has been my fucking goal, to get back here doing this. So this song is about that.”
“I’ve really missed doing this in the last two years. As I say, it’s been difficult at times, thinking maybe this wouldn’t ever happen again. I couldn’t sing this song two years ago for a different reason, I think I might struggle for another reason this time.”
“I’m Lewis Capaldi and I’m fucking back, baby!” he concluded, before launching into a massive singalong version of ‘Someone You Loved’, with the crowd taking on the final chorus a cappella as Capaldi fought back tears on stage.
‘Before You Go’
‘Grace’
‘Hold Me While You Wait’
‘Bruises’
‘Survive’
‘Forget Me’
‘Someone You Loved’
Capaldi’s set followed on from sets from Lorde, Supergrass, CMAT and Wet Leg, with The 1975, Biffy Clyro and Loyle Carner among those set to round out the Friday line-up.
Check back at NME here for the latest news, reviews, interviews, photos and more from Glastonbury 2025.
Taylor Swift believes Nashville has a music scene that stands apart from anywhere else.
The 36 year old singer moved to Nashville, Tennessee, when she was young to chase her dream of becoming a country music star. After being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on Monday (26.10.26), Taylor took the opportunity to recognise the city and the talented writers who have helped shape its music scene.
In her acceptance speech, Taylor said: "I believe you really get to master a craft by doing it again and again. That's exactly what the incredible songwriters in this wonderful town do every day."
Taylor also spoke about what makes Nashville such a special place for musicians.
The award winning singer, who ranks among the best selling music artists of all time, said: "You won't find another music community quite like this one. Trust me, I've checked them all."
Taylor also shared how being part of Nashville's songwriting scene had taught her valuable lessons about life and working with others.
She joked: "I've learned to be flexible when your co writer turns up with a hangover, or when they need to spend ages talking about their divorce before we can even get started on a song."
Taylor previously spoke about how Faith Hill and Shania Twain inspired her decision to move to Nashville.
Speaking to Time magazine, the singer said: "I couldn't get enough of watching TV biographies about Faith Hill and Shania Twain, and I realised they had both moved to Nashville to get their careers started. After that, I kept asking, pleading and begging my parents to take me there.
"When I was 11, my mum took my brother and me to Nashville during spring break, and we spent the trip driving around Music Row. She stayed in the car while I rushed into record companies one after another, giving my demo CD to the receptionists. I found it fascinating that so many major record labels were gathered along a single street, often inside little buildings and old houses.
"What really stayed with me was how welcoming people were to newcomers and complete strangers like us. We started visiting Nashville more often, and when I was 13, I received an offer for a development deal from a major record label. That was when my parents finally agreed to leave Pennsylvania and move with me."
