The best of Glastonbury 2015's secret sets
How many of these surprise performances did you predict would happen?
Long gone are the days when fans with Glastonbury tickets would amble down on a Friday afternoon, not too bothered about missing a couple of bands playing early. On Friday this year, the Guardian reported that "up to 90% of the 135,000 ticket-holders are believed to have arrived yesterday". They wanted music, of course - and they got a proper earful, with Drenge, Wolf Alice and the wonderfully named brass covers band Old Dirty Brasstards all playing secret sets on Thursday night. And that was just the beginning of the surprise performances...
1. Circa Waves, Friday, 12:15
Circa Waves - Surprise Set at Glastonbury 2015
Circa Waves play a special guest set on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury 2015
Unannounced, The Charlatans opened the Pyramid Stage, but here's how you really start a festival: get Circa Waves to kick things off in the BBC Introducing tent with a raucous surprise set. The Liverpool group then played, as scheduled, on the John Peel Stage later that afternoon.
2. The Libertines, Friday, 20:20
The Libertines - Don't Look Back Into The Sun
The Libertines perform Don't Look Back Into The Sun at Glastonbury 2015
Depending on whether you were sitting on Twitter all day on Friday or not, The Libertines filling the spot on the bill vacated by Florence + The Machine after they got the nod to headline was either the worst or best kept secret of Glastonbury 2015. The Libs flew in by chopper, destroyed, then promptly departed for Moscow, where they played on Saturday.
3. James Bay, Saturday, 15.05
James Bay - Surprise Set at Glastonbury 2015
James Bay plays a surprise set on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury 2015
BBC Sound of 2015 runner-up James Bay dazzled on the Pyramid Stage on Friday, but he clearly had much left in the tank. One sleep later, he reappeared on the BBC Introducing Stage suprising fans of newcomers Robyn Sherwell and Asylums, who he played in-between. See his entire secret set above.
4. Fuse ODG, Sunday, 12:00
Fuse ODG - Surprise Set at Glastonbury 2015
Fuse ODG plays a surprise set on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury 2015
Sunday ending up becoming a veritable bonanza of secret sets, begining with London-born/Ghana-raised rapper, singer and songwriter Fuse ODG. Perfect vibes for midday on Glastonbury's final day? You betcha.
5. Slaves, Sunday, 15:00
Slaves - BBC Introducing - Surprise Set
Slaves play a surprise set on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury 2015
Kent duo Slaves pulled a monstrous crowd to the John Peel Stage on Friday, then turned up in the BBC Introducing tent on Sunday to administer more musical punishment. Breakout band of Glastonbury 2015? It's a toss-up between them Wolf Alice and Catfish and the Bottlemen, although you suspect Slaves might win in an arm-wrestling contest.
6. Rae Morris, Sunday, 18:05
Rae Morris - Surprise Set at Glastonbury 2015
Rae Morris plays a surprise set on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury 2015
Double dose of BBC Sound of 2015 longlister Rae Morris on Sunday - first on the Park Stage, then over in the more intimate BBC Introducing tent. And what a wonderful performance from the singer-songwriter known round these parts for playing the last ever Live Lounge for Fearne, among many other achievements.
