It’s finally back. It’s hard to believe that Glastonbury festival 2022 is mere weeks away but here we are. Now that the full line-up has been revealed, here are the 15 acts that I’m most looking forward to seeing.
15. Wet Leg
Friday 16:45 @ The Park
When the first line-up poster was revealed for this year, and I began listening to the Glasto 22 playlist, this was the first band I knew I needed to see. They’re effortlessly cool, instantly catchy and destined for big things. British indie is a genre that’s long sounded tired, so to hear something fresh is a revelation, and The Park is the ideal stage for them.
Try listening to…
- Wet Dream – catchy alt riffs and bizarre lyrics at their best
- Chaise Longue – an earworm that’ll stay stuck in your head all week
14. Idles
Friday 18:45 @ Other Stage
My last time at Glastonbury festival was my first experience hearing IDLES. Needless to say they left an impression, and became my most rewatched set on YouTube after the weekend. No doubt the punk powerhouses will summon an immense atmosphere this year.
Try listening to…
- Colossus – an ultra-powerful build up that’ll have anyone’s head bouncing
- Danny Nedelko – a fun, catchy shout-along with a real message
13. Chase and Status
Saturday 02:00 @ Arcadia
I can think of few better ways to end the first night of music at Glasto 22 with Carl Cox B2B Chase and Status at one of the world’s most insane stages after dark; Arcadia. Rumour has is the TBA slot ahead of this could be the Chemical Brothers – need I say more?
Try listening to…
- Blind Faith – simply anthemic vibes
- No Problem – premier jungle classic
12. Brass Against
Saturday 13:15 @ West Holts
I used to listen to these guys’ Tool, RATM and Led Zep covers and never imagined I’d get an opportunity to see them at Glastonbury. I think West Holts is the perfect stage for them, so let’s hope the crowd can match the energy they bring.
Try listening to…
- The Pot (Tool Cover) – for that fat bari sax playing
- Umbra – their first original song and everything you hoped it would be
11. Easy Life
Saturday 14:30 @ Pyramid Stage
Fingers crossed for sunny weather on Saturday afternoon because I can’t imagine better vibes than listening to these guys at the pyramid. It’s simply the perfect slot (weather pending) for their impeccably chill tunes.
Try listening to…
- Skeletons – the fact that I discovered this thanks to FIFA 22 makes it no less of a banger
- Nightmares – fantastic instrumentals and a chorus you can’t help but join in with
10. Beabadoobee
Saturday 16:30 @ John Peel Stage
Another band I’m shameful to admit I only discovered thanks to the Glasto playlist. Instantly nostalgic, Smashing Pumpkin-esque vibes. I’m aiming to disappear into the John Peel tent, feel like I’m in an early-2000s coming of age film, then re-emerge an hour later ready for the rest of the day.
Try listening to…
- Talk – vocals and guitar tones that will make any 90s kid nostalgic
- Worth It – more of the same (and not in a bad way) plus a killer chorus
9. Paul McCartney
Saturday 21:30 @ Pyramid Stage
This one’s a no-brainer. A chance to see a living Beatle performing live in the flesh (and the one that you’d likely pick too if given a choice). I expect one of the loudest crowd singalongs in Glasto history.
Try listening to…
- Hey Jude – to prepare in case you somehow don’t know the lyrics yet
- Any other Beatles track – you can’t really go wrong
8. Calvin Harris
Sunday 01:30 @ Arcadia
There’s a lot of worthy DJs lining up on Saturday night after McCartney’s exit. Between them, Calvin Harris stands out as the biggest name among a crowd of glasto regulars, with a back catalogue as long as your leg. If he mixes his older stuff in with the new, this set could be legendary. Arcadia comes up strong for the second night in a row.
Try listening to…
- I’m not alone – not a single member of the crowd will be stationary at the drop
- Acceptable in the 80s – early Calvin Harris (aka best Calvin Harris) in all it’s quirky goodness
7. Black Dyke Band
Sunday 11:30 @ Pyramid Stage
Arguably the most famous brass/silver band in the world, as a trumpet player I could not miss the chance to hear these fantastic musicians. I’ll be getting an early Sunday roast in a giant yorkshire pud or a square pie and soaking in the British pride at the pyramid. Simply an impeccable start to the Sunday morning.
Try listening to…
- William Tell Overture (Finale) – triple-tonguing skills so clean you could eat from them
- Queensbury – a surprisingly rocking tune that might catch you tapping your foot
6. Moulettes
Sunday 13:00 @ Croissant Neuf
Praise the glastonbury playlist! Yet again I’m introduced to a new, this time much more obscure, artist that I’d never have found otherwise. These guys seem to capture what makes glastonbury festival so great. What can only be described best as ‘Witchy music’, it’s sweet folky, harmonic goodness (with some surprisingly heavy/prog influence).
Try listening to…
- Sing Unto Me – try listening to this without tapping your foot; you can’t
- Behemooth – if you thought folk music couldn’t be heavy
5. Herbie Hancock
Sunday 14:00 @ Pyramid Stage
Somewhat amazingly not billed for the Sunday afternoon ‘legend’ slot – but perhaps not surprising since Jazz tends to be a less mainstream genre. Simply a living legend of the music world, unmissable for anyone who’s heard the name. Particularly unmissable as I’ve played plenty of his charts in Jazz bands over the years.
Try listening to…
- Chameleon – so funky it hurts
- Canteloupe Island – the dictionary definition of smooth jazz
4. Diana Ross
Sunday 16:00 @ Pyramid Stage
If I’ve learned one thing over the past decade of attending glastonbury festival, it’s that the Sunday afternoon ‘legend’ slot is not one to be missed. Good vibes ahead guaranteed, plenty of sing-along action and a great way to send you into the evening of the final day. Even if for whatever reason you’re unfamiliar with the legend, it’s always a case of “I didn’t know they sung/wrote that!” throughout the set.
Try listening to…
- You Can’t Hurry Love – the OG feel-good sing-along
- Chain Reaction – guaranteed mood booster
3. Snarky Puppy
Sunday 17:00 @ West Holts
It’s slightly surreal to fans of jazz music that you can see Herbie Hancock and Snarky Puppy within hours of each other. A blast straight from one of the forefathers of the genre to the most exciting modern jazz collective on the planet. Make no mistake that Michael League’s group comprises some of the most talented instrumentalists on earth, and their definition of jazz stretches from soulful fusion to funky electro.
Try listening to…
- Lingus – toe-tapping funk and face-melting solos
- Shofukan – something slower, with an elegant and understated trumpet performance
2. Little Dragon
Sunday 20:00 @ John Peel Stage
There are are handful of acts that fall into the category of: they’ve performed at glastonbury a number of times, and not once have I managed to catch them. Little Dragon are one such act, and analysing the set times it looks like 2022 is the year I’ll be able to prioritise seeing them at the festival. I’m a little surprised that they weren’t placed on West Holts, but the John Peel tent is a worthy choice. Sunday is a day for relaxing, recovering and going into the evening on a high note, and these guys capture that vibe perfectly.
Try listening to…
- Feather – super chilled, transcendental vibes
- Lover Chanting – for something a little more dancy
1. Pet Shop Boys
Sunday 21:45 @ Other Stage
I have a single important criteria for the Sunday night headliner. To close the festival on a high, with the crowd signing along to the lyrics of the last song. With that requirement, you can’t ask for much better than the Pet Shop Boys. Music aside, I’m expecting a highly choreographed visual feast, and there’s little doubt that this will be one hell of a show.
Try listening to…
- It’s a Sin – for ecclesiastical electro-synth
- Go West – iconic 90s goodness to lift the spirits
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