There was little mystery as the Pyramid Stage field packed out for Patchwork’s afternoon set. Word had got out that Pulp were set to play under the cryptic moniker some time ago – despite various denials and claiming that the festival didn’t want them – and Jarvis Cocker being on site for a surprise DJ set earlier in the weekend sealed the deal.
A line of stewards in black and white rain macs stood in patchwork formation conceal the backline of the stage to disguise the band getting into position before the opening synth stabs of unofficial Glastonbury anthem ‘Sorted For E’s & Wizz’ pierce the air as we’re asked “are you ready for PULP SUMMER?” Hell yes.
Following up with another ‘Different Class’ ‘90s indie banger in ‘Disco 2000’, Cocker takes us back to those heady Britpop days when they headlined Glasto back in ‘95 as replacement for The Stone Roses. “Those songs were played here 30 years and four days ago, they were played for the first time,” he tells us. “You could say they were born at Glastonbury.”
“We played here with just 10 days’ notice after John Squire broke his collarbone. We were so nervous, but today feels very different – I feel relaxed…”
It shows. “I was born to perform, it’s a calling”, he sings on their comeback album ‘More’ single and already fan favourite ‘Spike Island’. “It took me a long time to come round to thinking that again,” Cocker told NME last month. Now, and as showcased on their immaculate and career-high recent arena tour, the spindly icon is in his finest fettle as a singer and showman – not least because they too feel like a band made for these fields. “The first time I came to Glastonbury I couldn’t handle it,” Cocker tells the crowd, regaling us with an all-too familiar tale of losing his tent and having a bad time. “You have to submit to it,” he says of the festival. “It’s bigger than all of us.”
And that’s how you win over the hearts of Worthy Farm. In this somewhat humble secret set that’s momentous and joyous enough to be a headline set (not least for the warm reception for Number One album ‘More’, let alone the relentless bangers that make up the setlist), Pulp give themselves over to Glasto and make it all about the people and the moment.
With songs for the mis-shapes, a whole lotta ‘L-O-V-E’ and even a Red Arrows fly-past for the glorious crowd-engulfing ‘Common People’, these legends capture the spirit of these hallowed grounds with a little peace, love and joyous wonky-pop hedonism. One for the books? Sure, but as Cocker puts it: “History and stuff like that doesn’t matter because it’s all about now and what we can do right now.”
Pulp’s Glastonbury 2025 setlist was:
‘Sorted for E’s & Wizz’
‘Disco 2000’
‘Spike Island’
‘O.U. (Gone, Gone)’
‘Acrylic Afternoons’
‘Something Changed’
‘Do You Remember The First Time?’
‘Mis-Shapes’
‘Got To Have Love’
‘Babies’
‘Common People’
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