As he spoke to the throng of fans gathered in front of him at Glastonbury’s Park stage in 2011, Jarvis Cocker remarked that it was possibly the worst-kept secret in the festival’s history as well as one of its best live music experiences.
It was reported that latecomers had to be turned away from the surprise set by the then-reformed Pulp, which was supposed to follow Radiohead the previous day, due to overwhelming demand.
That year’s headliners were Beyoncé, Coldplay, and U2, but more than anything, I recall the pleasure of singing along to Common People, Something Changed, and Do You recall The First Time? as one of the many people crammed in the Park Stage audience and squelching in the mud.
Over the years, Glastonbury has seen “unannounced” appearances by musicians such as The Killers, The Libertines, Lady Gaga, Foals, and Franz Ferdinand. Last year’s group that was supposed to be The Churnups turned out to be none other than The Foo Fighters, who could be easily identified by their late-night Pyramid Stage slot.
The festival is well-known for its secret sets, unexpected visitors, and well-known performers showing up in strange places. This year’s headliners include Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and SZA, but the TBA slots are what really.
