Q. Will Arctic Monkeys make it to Glastonbury for their headline set??!!
A. Yes.

And there’s a massive crowd here to welcome them! KS pic.twitter.com/E7xiUGoumX

— Glastonbury Live (@GlastoLive) June 23, 2023

Perhaps rumours of frontman Alex Turner’s acute laryngitis- forcing the group to cancel on what is arguably Britain’s largest platform- were exaggerated to say the least but the apprehension the possibility caused was proof enough of how much the Arctic Monkeys mean to the hundreds of thousands strong at Worthy Farm.

And Turner was in fine vocal form. Amidst the dark, brooding opening notes of “Sculptures of Anything Goes,” the band slowly emerged within the smoke filtered lights of the stage-any doubts that Turner himself might not be operating at 100% quickly banished with immediate effect. Like many infamous acts through the ages, it is perhaps the strength and mere presence of the band’s frontman that have set them apart and earned their lofty position on Glastonbury’s hallowed stage.

Getting the crowd well and truly hyped, the Arctic Monkeys quickly moved into “Brainstorm” and Glastonbury was ready to rock. But it may be because Turner commands the stage as a character, an almost caricature-like alter ego of his real self that sometimes feels as if the audience is just slightly removed from being in on the act. Evident every time Turner would take a quick minute to address the crowd-his silky cool, almost flippant comments ringing a bit hollow with the adoring crowd-it could be felt that the Arctic Monkeys viewed their position in the Glastonbury ranks as just another set.

What cannot be denied is the band are dead set on doing things their way with a set list that mixed time honoured hits with crowd lulling tunes such as “Crying Lightning” whose, if one didn’t know better, muted response would have many wondering if members of the audience stole a quick toilet break or made a quick dash for refreshments.

Thoughts on Arctic Monkeys Glastonbury set? pic.twitter.com/l0j180e6ZV — The Rock Revival (@TheRockRevival_) June 23, 2023

Of course the crowd were with the band-it is an Arctic Monkeys headlining set at Glastonbury and the band duly treated the masses with fan favourites “Do I Wanna Know?” and “Mardy Bum” before a rousing encore finishing with “R U Mine?”

Headlining Glastonbury is, quite literally, rock royalty and although the Arctic Monkeys have taken pains over the last few years to distance themselves somewhat from their chart topping alt-rock anthems to dwell instead on more sweeping introspective tunes, one cannot help but feel that, at least on stage, the setlist comes across occasionally as uneven.

Many have expressed the feeling that Arctic Monkeys may not have delivered an era defining chest-thumping set that will see them go down in Glastonbury history, but fans will surely have not left the Pyramid Stage disappointed either.

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The last slide on the post seems to possibly reveal the much speculated Glastonbury secret sets and even some of the stages you can see them on. Artists and stages named included George Ezra on The Park Stage, Anderson Paak on the West Holts Stage, Arcade Fire on the John Peel Stage, Green Day on the BBC Introducing Stage, Chemical Brothers on the Arcadia Stage, Megan The Stallion playing with Due Lipa, and even… Drum roll please… Billie Eilish joining Harry Styles on stage. None of this has been confirmed, and knowing Sports Teams playful notoriety, none of it has probably been permitted by the powers that be at Worthy Farm either. One thing is for sure though, if any of it possesses even a glimmer of truth then Sports Team have just dropped a serious spoiler. With collaborations like Billie Eilish and Harry Styles possibly in the pipeline, it’s fair to say Glastonbury just got that little bit more interesting.

The world renowned festival is now well underway, with Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis opening the gates on Wednesday 22 June and revellers pitching their tents and flocking to Worthy Farms luscious fields in preparation for the main lineup to begin tomorrow. This years headliners include Gen Z superstar Billie Eilish, Beatles legend Paul McCartney, and American lyrical sensation Kendrick Lamar, all of whom are due to grace the historic Pyramid Stage throughout the weekend. It marks the first time the festival has opened its gates in 2 years due to the perpetual cancelations and delays caused by the pandemic, but back with a bang now, everyone attending seems to be enjoying themselves, happy and grateful to return after years of government enforced lockdowns and distancing measures.

To those there right now, we sincerely hope the rumours listed above are true, and if so, that Sports Team don’t get into too much trouble either.

So if you’re not going and you’re harbouring some serious envy towards those that are, then have no fear, the BBC has got you covered with their festive and celebratory coverage of the event. A little home brand tomato sauce rather than Heinz Ketchup maybe, but at least it’s something. Or maybe not, I’m getting FOMO writing this right now to be honest.

It’s officially Glastonbury month!

Cameras will soon be rolling, flags will be flying and your speakers will be blasting… Are you ready?

— BBC Glastonbury (@bbcglasto) June 1, 2022

Scheduled to take place from the 22nd – 26th June, this year will see headliners Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney, and Kendrick Lamar take to the stage and a suspected 210,000 people take to the fields, the grass bracing itself having enjoyed a nice 2 year lay off due to covid cancelations.

One of the programmes due to be broadcast across the BBC will be Glastonbury: 50 Years and Counting which has been described as a “kaleidoscopic portrait of Glastonbury and its social and musical history is given through the testimony of its principal curators, Michael and Emily Eavis, as well as artists who have appeared there“. Those contributing to the show will include; Aswad, Chris Martin (Coldplay), Dua Lipa, Ed O’Brien, Fatboy Slim, Florence Welch, Johnny Marr, Linda Lewis, Orbital, Noel Gallagher, The Levellers, Thom Yorke and Stormzy.

Also due to premier on Monday 20th June will be Stormzy: Road to the Pyramid Stage. It will be broadcast on BBC 1 and be a film in which “Stormzy reflects on the journey that led him to that iconic performance in 2019 at the festival” as reported by NME.

Speaking highly of their enduring relationship with the BBC, Glastonbury’s Emily Eavis said “It’s a joy to have the BBC and its brilliant team back and broadcasting live from Glastonbury for the first time since 2019 – continuing a special partnership that’s been evolving since 1997. I’m looking forward to Worthy Farm being filled with thousands of people once again and for millions more around the country being able to enjoy performances from our stellar line-up, courtesy of the BBC, wherever they are.”

Wherever you are, you can catch the BBC’s coverage of the world famous event live or in retrospect on iPlayer, and a full breakdown of the broadcast schedule here.